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dannytrfc

Listed below are comments made by dannytrfc between Friday, 25th September 2009 and Monday, 23rd November 2009.

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Huddersfield's young guns heading to the top 2:50pm on 23 Nov 2009 Paul, it’s Antony Kay, not Anthony, but I’m not going to nit-pick in what is an excellent article.

While I’m still bitter about them nicking said player from Tranmere in the summer, it’s the signing of these experienced yet still fairly young players (Kay, 26, Peter Clarke, 27) as a spine mixed with young hungry playrs like Rhodes that seems to have worked well thus far.

That being said, I would have liked to have seen how Clark would have done without being bankrolled, as while I regard him as a good coach, whether he could manage without such resources would’ve been an interesting test.
Nicest people in sport - My Top 20 2:15pm on 18 Nov 2009 #79/80 – Dean Windass???? I’m sorry did I read that wrong, Dean Windass???

One of the dirtiest players of a generation and a deplorable character off it…that Dean Windass?

The same Dean Windass that got a four-game ban for a 4-letter word tirade at a referee in a club car park after a match??

Don’t be fooled by him acting like an angel just because he’s fishing for a managers job!!
A great Dane and really nice guy 12:18pm on 12 Nov 2009 In a footballing world of prima donnas and teenage millionaire brats, it’s refreshing to see there are still a few decent blokes out there! Great blog again Dan.

My nomination for football’s nicest guy goes to Tranmere’s legendary Goalkeeper John Achterberg, now a coach at Liverpool’s Academy and reserves.

He always had time for the fans and after seemingly years of campaigning he was finally granted a testimonial earlier this calendar year. Rather than make it all about him, he gave 4 lucky fans (including myself) the chance to play in the game (1 on each side for a half each). A tremendous gesture from a tremendous chap.

Two blokes I played alongside that night would also make my top 5, Alan Morgan (now manager of Aberystwyth Town) and, perhaps surprisingly, Georges Santos. I say that because as a player he was known for his tough tackilng and fiery temper, but off the pitch he’s a really nice bloke!
Where would Sven exit leave Notts County? 1:58pm on 19 Oct 2009 I actually think Eriksson going would be a good thing for County. It’s not that he’s done a bad job or couldn’t help them, but I think he embodies what is currently wrong with the current regime (as I see it as an outsider, County fans are justified to disagree) - this attitude of getting the top players now and a big-name manager.

They need to dampen expectations and build slowly. Rather than aim to entice Premier League players (e.g. Campbell), they need to be looking at top League One players (maybe even lower-end Championship players) that are willing to drop a division or two for a year or two. That should get them up to League One, then they could look a bit higher with top Championship players etc etc.

You don’t need the ‘big names’, your has-beens looking for a final pay day or to prolong their careers, you need proven players with the ability to get you up and to build on that slowly and patiently!
Not so Big Four 1:44pm on 19 Oct 2009 #1 – The Upson/Huth thing can’t have been a penalty as the ball was dead. Only if the ball is live can it be a penalty, but still I’d expect a letter addressed to Mr Huth to be on it’s way (just whether it reaches him at the moment with the postal strike – maybe he will avoid a ban!).

I don’t know why the ref is getting so much grief for “Beach Ball-gate”, as I don’t think anyone actually realised it should have been disallowed – didn’t Man City lose in the cup thanks to the ball being deflected off a load of balloons (again in the colours of the team it did the damage to!)?
Notts County cannot stay out of the headlines 1:19pm on 13 Oct 2009 I’m not going to call this sacking “a disgrace” as many people have commented similarly from the outside on our recent managerial change without knowing the facts and having seen us play, so as I have not seen County play this year I cannot comment on the correctness of the decision from a purely footballing standpoint.

It does, however, appear that the writing was on the wall early on. Short of running away with the division on a long unbeaten run, McParland didn’t have a chance. It is a shame that seemingly capable managers are being replaced by “big names” on the basis of the fact that armchair fans may not have heard of them.

County need to beware of this appointment, as appointing a “big name” based on their reputation outside of management is a dangerous practice. Anyone sceptical need only look at our League position right now to see this!

PS Another excellent piece Paul - keep up the good work!
Barnes gamble was doomed from the start 09:59am on 12 Oct 2009 #47, I think it is my comment you are referring to. I used that as an example to demonstrate how wide of the mark Barnes’ approach was, as in when he arrived he was questioned about his knowledge of League One football and his response was that he knew nothing about League One but that ‘football is football whatever level it is played at’. I think the last 4 months have shown that not to be the case, so I won’t be expecting a phone call from Match of the Day any time soon!
Barnes gamble was doomed from the start 3:22pm on 09 Oct 2009 Paul, I read your previous blog with interest and there were some raised eyebrows at the time at Barnes’ philosophy. He did talk a good game, but that was never related on the pitch (barring a couple early season games). This philosophy did not last long either in terms of “empowering players” as he quickly blamed defeats on individuals. This culminated in him saying he would bring in 16-year-olds that had the right desire, back-tracking saying that this might do irreparable damage to their confidence, before blaming a 17-year-old debutant for a defeat. It was this personal attack on Joe Collister that saw the tide turn on Barnes from “unhappy, but give him time” to “enough is enough”.

In reality, whoever was appointed was going to be given a bit of a rough ride, as I’m yet to meet a single fan who thinks sacking Ronnie was the right decision. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that having the second-best home record in the division and being unbeaten at home for around 7 months is not why attendances have dropped.

While it’s easy to criticise Barnes, it’s also easy to sympathise with him. You mention his character, and I would concur that he is one of the nicest blokes I have met in football; however being nice doesn’t win you matches. Ronnie’s success was built upon years of experience of this level, knowing the players and knowing the style and approach needed at this level, unfortunately Barnes has none of that. This isn’t his fault, as I would agree how could you hire someone with zero experience of the field they will be operating in? It’s like me asking for John Motson’s job because I’ve spoken before! It makes no sense.

It’s not just the results that the fans were unhappy about; it’s the nature of them and the performances that go with them. We looked clueless as a unit, with players unsure of their roles and visibly not confident in themselves, the system or the management.

While a cliché, I genuinely wish John well in whatever he finds himself doing next. We all would have liked it to work and him get us a step further than Ronnie, but in reality it wasn’t meant to be.
Sign of the chimes 3:51pm on 08 Oct 2009 #14 – You can’t have it both ways! You want to be a successful team but have no-one talk about you? It’s never going to happen.

We appointed John Barnes to raise the profile of our club – and we’ve certainly hit the headlines!! – I for one would’ve preferred to have kept Ronnie Moore and stayed under the radar.

In terms of ownership and “chasing the dream”, Portsmouth aren’t the first and won’t be the last to suffer at the hands of overspending to break the top 4/get into Europe/get up the League/get promoted/win silverware. Just ask Leeds and Darlington fans to name a few how that feels.

For every successful team there will be at least a handful of unsuccessful ones. I fear for these teams once their owners lose interest and walk away!
Review of the week 3:54pm on 25 Sep 2009 Good to see one of our former midfield players having an eventful Saturday afternoon, shame none of our current midfield do! Maybe Mickey could threaten the team with getting back on that coach if the lose another away game!!

Another fine blog Chris, keep up the good work!

Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah has to be up there on the nicknames, though rugby, not football.

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