royalgull wrote:Whilst i don't really agree with the above post, i too made the point about Ling's skills in front of the cameras. Definitely not of the same standard as Buckle's. Seems a nervous character or more likely just out of his comfort zone having to talk to papers/websites. Probably a different bloke in the flesh as it were.
McPhee is a totally different player to the one that was here previously. He was 7 or 8 years younger for a start at his first club where he was really involved in the first team and on top of that was in a shocking side. He's gone away and done well everywere he's been sicne developing his game so he can play in a load of different positions. The only concern for me is that it was at a lower level. But he's local, he's now at a good age, he's a free transfer, 18 goals last season he's just worth a punt. if he hadn't been here previously I'm fairly sure there would be a bit more support for this move.
Maybe a combination of my memory of him in a poor side, his inexperience when he was with us and him scoring a penalty against us at Wembley has hindered my opinion on him. I sincerley hope he is a better player now than when he was with us last and his statistics show this is the case.AndyC wrote: Bucks was much better at telling porkies as well.
Seems like everything Ling said he was going to do, he has done.
I'm with you with regards to the signings, but until the jury comes in with a verdict and we actually see them gel as a team, there is no point beating Ling down with a stick.
McPhee is certainly a better player than he was when he left us, that I will guarantee.
We are all well aware of Buckle antics, but you cannot argue that the players he brought into the club in the main took the club forward, even his unpopular decisions such as Hargreaves/Sills/Woods/Hill. He was always looking to take the club to the next level, So far I feel Ling is looking to keep us here rather than take us forward, and given that he has been told by the board this is a consolidation period I guess he is just doing his job, and my/our expectations should be redirected. It just seems such a shock to the system going from buckle's 'over' enthusiastic approach about a players potential, to Lings "I've seen him play twice" approach.
Of course it is not fair to judge how we will fair next season on this signing alone, but I do hope we bring in a bit more Quality because if our options next year are Manse/McPhee in midfield or Kee/McPhee up front I fear we will struggle.
