Would say that my doubts about Ali's actual ability have nothing to do with Saturday - or with the Leeds home game where the television commentor was bigging him up on the back of the FA verdict and then noted he'd gone missing again. My judgement in drawn from lots of games live and/or telly where I'm looking for that special something and get disappointed when it's just not apparent. Like I suggested earlier, the proof is in the pudding: Derry seems to draw more respect from opposing players... Ali's a big boy now and whilst they all need to adjust to prem standards, pedigree should be apparent by the age of 25. Shame I know, but there you go. As we all say when expressing a doubt, hope I'm proven wrong.
Don't think GMG was abusing you LIUTB... as an Ali fan he's just saying he 'can't take you or the thread seriously' on this particular point... doesn't mean you personally 'cos presumably he doesn't even know you!
I haven't read any of the responses because the initial post was so ludicrous. He's been man of the match time and time again over the past few seasons, consistently in the running for players/fans player of the year. Clive from Loftforwords agrees, with practically every match report last season proclaiming "what it there left to say" on the topic of faurlin. This is the real clincher that makes me think you haven't got a clue. Not to be pretentious, but do you go to games? He didn't have his best game against bolton second half, but then who did? He was still noticable by his effort, even if it sometimes didn't come to fruition. So you don't recall any significant errors either? The most significant thing any of our players did was gabbidons own goal, so perhaps not recalling isn't such a bad thing. Which by implication means you don't think faurlin wasn't trying. I think all of our players bar Taraabt gave everything, in many ways we can't blame them for the loss. They did their best.
Plus, what's all this about derry being star man? It's quite moving seeing our old crusador chasing down lost causes, that flash of grey hair nipping at the ankles of the opposition, but i think you're being fooled into believing those qualities make a MOM performace. Everybody tried hard, but derry was no better than faurlin. Looking at their qualities in isolation, derry's not as fast, not as accurate with his passing, and doesn't have as good vision. I'd put them about equal on everything else. Swap the nationalities around, imagine faurlin was english and derry argentinian. I think people are just too romantically taken with the idea of an old English warhorse, and do faurlin a disservice just because he's an "argie" or whatever. To me it was pretty clear that Bothroyd was our most effective player(MOM) on the day for his first half performance, and everyone faded into obscurity during the second. disclaimer: i love Derry, but i think many people are bigging him up too much for this performance!
What was stopping you saying it last season then? It's far too easy to make these kinds of threads on the back of a woeful result. Also, look up the definition of abuse sometime, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Why the need for these comments I say what I want when I want, believe me when I tell you I know what abuse is mental and physical I am known for it but prefer not to hide behind a keyboard. I have stated that I knew no nasty comments were made having a go at me, so stop being a little smart arse and get your facts right,
I think what he's asking LIUTB is why you didn't voice your concerns last season when you said you had them??
So some of us rate Ali Faulin then and others are not so sure. All in all, a good topic for debate lads.
Sounds like a macho post!! You're known for physical and mental abuse, what a nice chap! I think you need to calm down a little... I am a keyboard warrior though, but frail and insignificant in the real world
Ali has something about him, but only time will tell. This thread should have been posted after 38 games, then a full post mortem could be carried out. But surely the whole team has to prove themselves at this level, not just Ali. Even DJ, OK, he scored 13 last season, but a lot of players can do it once, it's a lot harder to replicate it. Let's see how it pans out before one or more players are written off as not good enough! My main concern is lack of pace in defence, in my opinion that needs addressing sooner rather than later!
