I've never seen a referee change his mind because a player has got in his face and argued a decision. I've seen cards come out though. On the subject of Lucas Neill, he's 35, and obviously not the same player he was when he was younger. He's an experienced professional with a contribution to make, and his inclusion in our squad should be seen as a positive thing. We've lacked leaders and 'characters', and he's certainly got the personality to fill a few gaps on that front.
I have to admit I am not overly enamoured about his signing, but I'm open minded as to how he will perform. Maybe it is a good thing for us that he has been dropped from the Aussie squad, it might just give him more incentive to play well for us in order to win his place back :sign12:
I agree with this. He has been sent a very clear message that his club form will dictate whether he is selected. You can't add talent where none exists. However, motivation can play a huge role in performance (or lack of it)
They're both old, I'll give you that. But one came from Roma, the other couldn't get into the Sydney FC team. With nothing to play for, its a bit of a pointless signing.
I struggle to see how anyone would actually find themselves in a position where they're reading that article, let alone agreeing with it. First you'd have to buy the Daily Mail or go on their website and then you'd have to see that the article is written by Adrian Durham and make a conscious decision that you want to read the views of that man. It's like a code and finger print scanner for a lock but instead of ensuring security it ensures that you are a special type of simpleton.
I've been out of action the last few days so just catching up with this one. I'm seeing it as cover. I remember someone talking about the "Pozzo model" - I think it was Sherlock (always a very good source) and saying it isn't always about the resale value but also about experience and age. We've been crying out for a bit of leadership, Lucas Neill can offer this. Toszer has been great too and the more we have people like that the better it will be. Obviously, this season is slipping away from us fast and I don't think it will have a big impact on us signing him.
If we wanted an older head with good leadership qualities, and drive to win, we should have kept John Eustace. I'm totally underwhelmed by this signing.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/11042007._/ He's on a very modest wage, with performance incentives to reach the playoffs.
Homegrown, modest wage, wants to play for Australia this summer, "vastly experienced and a natural leader".. I feel better about this signing than I did a few days ago. I really hope he can help improve this squad both on and off the pitch.
Here's the interview as to why he joined. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...ayers_understand_what_is_expected_in_England/
He just sounds like he's listing off weak justifications for the collapse of his career, and bull****ting non-existent positives.
Agree with this. We've all complained about the loss of leaders like Eustace (I wonder whether Sannino would have let him go?) so addressing the gap with players like Neill makes a lot of sense, even at this late stage in the season.
More likely that he'll replace Reece Brown who's presumably only been getting in the first team squad recently to fill the homegrown quota.
I'd like to say, today is a sad day for the club. Neill has been a wonderful servant, and his 6 minutes this season has been vital. I'd like to wish him all the best for the future and I for one will miss the quality of his warm up routine on a match day.
This is all very well, but I'm worried that we won't be able to put four centre-backs on the bench any more. How will we shut up shop to defend a one-goal lead now?
Considering most of his wage was based on playoff incentives/bonus is this the first sign that the club now think the season is done?
Number of Nani signings this season who are now out on loan without proving their worth for us...5 I find this move very interesting (as well as perplexing). While having a debate about Sannino and Nani recently, I made the point that Nani seemed to be in total charge of the signings. The friend put the point to me that he believed in fact Sannino was behind this one. But surely not now?
Of course Nani was behind this one. West Ham mates. Neill needed a club before the world cup, Blackburn didn't want him. We're seeing with the Pozzo family the standard business idea of "it's not what you know but who you know" If called upon, Neill could have done the job we needed. I 100% believe myself when I say that.
Nothing that's happened today has changed my mind that the season as a whole has been an unmitigated disaster for transfers. Even allowing for the fact that in any season any club will make a few mistakes, such is the nature of the beast, and of course one can always write with the benefit of hindsight too.. Fabbrini, Acuna and Iriney all out on loan, possibly some of them not to return. 3 defensive midfielders all signed on loan, none adding to the future of the club. Money wasted on the likes of Diakite and Neil. Park injury prone. Ditto Belkalem. An unbalanced squad short of genuine strikers, while one we let go in the summer bangs in 30 goals for his new club. I really hope Nani is held to account after the season. We need a more cohesive, longer-term strategy.
Any season that included Daniel Toszer as an incoming player, cannot be considered an "unmitigated disaster"......but I do understand where you're coming from.
Agree. Unmitigated disaster would have been relegation. Mid table in the Championship is hardly a disaster.
I didn't say the season had been an unmitigated disaster. I said the season FOR TRANSFERS had been! Tozser has indeed been an excellent loan signing, and full marks to Nani for that one (although I don't feel he yet merits the near mythological status he gets on here..he's a very decent player and I hope we can sign him and build the team around him next season, although I'd like to see more goal ouput from him)
Hahahahhahahahahahhahaha that is hilarious. Like I said this signing was a favour and I'm even more convinced now.