Humble Pie..?

Now; I’m not gonna say “ I know it all” but i “personally” think i have a good handle on the game. SO lets put it to the test and see how stupid or correct i am. For the record, this is entirely honest and not been researched previous...so. If i am proven right then I’m a god !! lol
So, this is not a dissection of the season gone, but more like a “front up” to crimes commited; more like those of us who used the theory of “minority report” to predict our seasons outcome. If i had used that system, there would be 28 players in the nick right now !!
Following on from last seasons success and total “football fest” we all had our own ideas of what we thought would happen this season and where our players would sit, in terms of success or not. We all had ideas
Now; pre season, before i know our outcome, I’m willing to publish my thoughts, predictions and eat humble pie; should i have too.
Kenny /Cerny – personally i said they had done not much wrong in the championship and i still believe they have performed OK in front of an ever changing defence, against some of the world’s top strikers.. No cake their then
Orr /Hill /Hall /Gorks /Connolly. I never had any individual thoughts regarding this back line except i thought they would struggle in the prem. The first half a dozen games proved this correct and the precision ad clinical finishing in limited opportunities proved this correct. No pie thanks
BUT – CLINT HILL – NEVER in my life have i ever been so wrong about a player!. Sent away and came back bigger, bader and more intense as a giant. – ‘Ill take a slice for the big H man!
Derry – I said he wasn’t quick enough to handle a full season in the prem. He is clearly good enough and can read the game but he cant keep up. Many games early on he was passed by and looked lost. In later games he has seemed to get used to it but still found out by better teams. A very good Championship player and bottom 3 prem thats all..No cake there.
Tarrabt – Well..Now we come to it don’t we. My views are well documented but I’m always open to reason. For a player that promised so much this season, the great man himself must admit its been a bit of a mess. Storming off, average performances and a sending off are the remnants of a season that promised so much.
For the record. Pre season i said Tarbs isn’t a premiership player. I do not doubt his talent,but a top prem player has SO MUCH MORE than that. It seems under Mh he is finally getting to grips with prem footy and what is needed. The likes of Heskey ,downing and carrick have been used in his defence; but these are players who produce the same consistant goods 95 % of the season and whom teams can be built around. 1 good performance in 30 is of no use to any team. Especially one trying to consolidate in the hardest league in the world. I don’t believe i have to eat for that?
HH. – I’ve alway liked him but was unsure whether he could cut it against the best. In his limited opportunities he proved he has something to offer - I’ll take a slice for that
Buz – i like Buz but had no opinion. He’s a good champs player in my opinion ?
Mackie – I posted he may hold his own in the prem as defenders would hate him - may surprise you but he is OUR ONE AND ONLY CONSTANT this season. Love him or loathe him, he puts in the graft and gives his all. gets found out technically but the likes of Spurs hate to ply against him. Nt the most gifted but tries for tre cause and cant be faulted – no cake for me
Smith – always liked him at Watford but never seemed to step up - NMA
Ephraim
Rowlie –never thought he could make he prem after his injury.
FAURS – I predicted an easy step up for a classy midfielder with everything it takes - the classiest, most skilful player in our team. Make no mistake; He is the reason we won the championship. His partnership alongside Derry allowed Tarbs to do what he did. I cannot praise Faurs highly enough. Looked totally at ease early season and this player is what we need to build around. Should we go down, His Injury will be to our advantage as teams may not want to take the risk. This guy is potentially a TOP prem player (ask bobmid?) – No cake
So in the whole; I wasn’t far off.i said i’d be happy with 17th this year and maybe next.
We have the potential to be a good team, just seem to lack the correct leadership. Hpopefully with MH we now have that.
Its hard enough being this far away from my team and not being at HQ.
Sorry – getting worked up..its SB73’s fault !

Ok - so i didnt intend o post this for a few weeks or so, but i decided that its prob best posted as raw as is. I dont expect al possitive comments, but some comments pro or anti would be good.
How afr out am i?

 

Anything you got right is just luck.

 

Ive been right about most players, Mackie is one I got totally wrong, I never thought hed do as well as he has.

I knew Hill wasnt a PL LB but he surprised me as a CB.

Damn right Ricardo.

 

Thanks mate !!

 

No problem, one of our posters wouldn't even have given you that much credit. You could have predicted Chelsea to beat you 6-1 with a Torres hat-trick and a late consolation for you and now he'd still be saying you were just being negative and his 3-0 win with 4 Chelsea players sent off was a more realistic prediction.

 

Interesting views. I suppose we can all go back through the last 9 months and pick snipets of posts where we made correct predictions (except Cerny). It's been an amazing season, thats for sure. Think all of our fans will have one thing in common and thats understanding the effect that the goons had on us last summer. We will never know the players that NW would have bought in and how he and the team would have performed under the current owners. Many will feel that NW was not given a fair crack of the whip. It's hard to argue with this, but i remember questioning NW managerial ability last summer. I liked the man, i wanted to see him succeed but never felt that he was going to be the one to stabilise us in the prem. Many of our Champ players have given a decent account of themselves this year, but several of them have faded as the season has gone on. Hill has played well recently, but he is not a LB and let's be honest, he will continue to be shown up against teams that have very pacey forwards. A good cover as CB, but for me, he is not our future and may be released in the summer. He has had 6-7 good games.Fully committed and will die for the cause but i still don't rate him. The Prem is to fast for him. Derry wears his heart on his sleeve and i would like to see him given some coaching role at the club. I would not have him playing next season. I agree with your comments there. Mackie has been the one player tha has surprised me also. My player of the season. He will get better. Totally agree with you there. I never saw it coming and was wrong with my initial thoughts about him. Tarbs has simply been a disappointment. This is backed up by the fact that he has improved in recent weeks under MH. He is/was capable of this all season. We needed his goals/assists this season and for me he has not delivered on his potential. Part of me wants to keep him and part of me would sell him at the right price. We may not get a player as creative but i would take a more consistent player. You described his season as a mess and i tend to sadly agree. IMHO, i dont agree with Paddys comments. I personally think he has been responsible for at least 10 odd goals. He is a decent shot stopper but simply not big enough to control his box. I hope his inability in the air does not cost us against Stoke. A new keeper is a top top priority. I agree with your comments on Buz, one good game in every 4 is just not good enough. He should never play away from home either as it's like playing with 11 men. Would have like Smith to have been given more chances, but MH does not seem to rate him. Finally, i totally agree with your comments on Ali. A fine player. Our future captain me thinks.

 

Thanks Nuts. this was not meant as a dig at anyone except myself. Everything i posted i had previously posted on "our" old site and Flyer & ric can confirm that.
They are simply what I predicted and I'm not too big to admit i got some of it wrong.
With regards to tarbs i believe i was right THIS SEASON. Its become veryapparent that given a seasons coaching by MH he can become a good prem player and his latest performances have proved that. Sell or Keep? I dont really know.
Personally, my priority would be to tie Ali up for as long as poss, as soon as poss.
As for the rest, everyone will have had thier own opinions and it would be intresting to see who else will out thier hands up.

Now as for me, I'm off to the gym to work off some of that pir that Hill has so happily rammed down my throat.!! I do agree with 99% or your post though mate!