Too much Negativity, Posters.
If a Fella comes in and does his best that is all we can ask.
To be fair, if you hadn't being backing up the over the top "worst player ever" post and had instead said that his call up was a sign of our lack of depth then I'd have agreed. It's where we are l.
We had a similar conversation around bazunu. We are in a position where we need to bring on players with potential. That's why I'm open to lads like that playing. Our lack of strength in depth won't be helped by writing off players who are being blooded.
I'd be open to criticizing the players in and around the squad who have had multiple years worth of chances to do a job and failed though! There's no shortage.
If Mandriou can do what Jamie McGrath has done then this call up early in his career will look better. McGrath has excelled with St Mirren and is rightly called up. If he was called up while he was playing with Dundalk I wouldnt have agreed with the call up.
Mandriou could have a super rest of season and get himself a good move abroad. If he does, then he could go on to have a decent international career, but as it stands right now the LOI isnt strong enough for players to play regularly for Ireland while staying in the league. Its fine at U21 level because playing mens football probably benefits them compared to lads still in youth teams. Hopefully the league grows and it becomes viable to stay long term and play internationally, but we are far from that yet.
Richie Towell is signing for Rovers soon and he will most likely become best player in the league instantly, like he was before. But we've seen that he was pretty average in the English Leagues. I've said before that if Hourihane played there he would be sensational.
I dont think Im being negative about Mandrious call up, just that it doesnt excite me right now. He is definitely one of best players in the league, I just dont think that means much in International football
Well, at the time I was disagreeing with Charlie over a couple of things, one of which was that the view of Mandriou as one of the worst players we've called up was simply "begrudgery". I think - and still do think - it's a valid view to hold. That's the context of my original comment.
Hourihane has only started to do well recently at Championship level though wouldn't you say? For what it's worth, Towell would've been playing Championship level with Rotherham if he hadn't decided to make more money at Salford. Completely remains to be seen what level Towell is at now. He was a standout physical specimen when he dominated for Dundalk but the league has caught up on that front now. Forrester may also have something to say about who the leagues best player is.
Bringing Mandroiu in now is the same as bringing in Parrot or Byrne or any number of other young players we've exposed to the national side during training camps to see how they gel etc. As you say it could be a great move or it could amount to nothing. It's fairly low risk.
To switch things up a bit as we all seem to be saying roughly the same thing but in different ways - who else was an option in the 10 role? We've looked bereft of ideas and creativity playing lads out of position there so far. I can't think of another option in that role who is available. I'd like to have a look at how we play with a natural 10 myself. Sometimes it's better to have someone who knows the role than an overall better player playing where he doesn't feel comfortable e.g. Matt Doherty was top quality at Wolves at RWB but has been poor for Ireland and Spurs in a more traditional RB role. I'd rather Cyrus Christie over Doherty based on form for Ireland but I know who the better overall player is.
Last edited by ontheotherhand; 26/05/2021 at 5:52 PM.
No matter who you are ~ You can only do your best.
& Conor Grant, is he a 10 ?
Brian Barry Murphy going on about him here in a big way, saying he's comparable to Wes at that age and feels he will go on and play for Ireland
- https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...ove-on-3250157
I didn't name any of names of potentially worse players for a reason, mainly because many of the players could well see it themselves. He's got his call-up now and I find the reaction bizarre. Somehow I get the impression if he was playing for another LOI club, let alone Bolton Wanderers or Newport County, the reaction would be a bit different.
See the thing is you've still not given any sort of reason why I should believe you though.
A FIFPro survey of the players in the league versus a random punter on the internet. Do you not see that the actual evidence will win out every time?
As I've said, I'm all for having my mind changed here. But "Cos I said so" doesn't cut it
And there was a discussion as to whether Bazunu/Travers (both in the relegation zone in the third tier) were the capped players at the lowest clubs ever as well.
The idea that this is a Rovers bias is as fanciful as the idea we should believe a random internet poster on LoI finances over the players themselves
Last edited by pineapple stu; 27/05/2021 at 8:49 AM.
Let it go.
Surveys are notoriously inaccurate. There's no obligation to be truthful in responses, no penalty for not - everything is conducted anonymously. You don't know who responded to the survey. For example, is the First Division over-represented in the sample?
A survey is a random sampling of anonymous responses that may or may not be accurate. The opinion of a random punter on the internet if you will.
Is Mandroiu full time or part time btw? If he is part time, maybe we can bracket him into a worst ever categorisation.
As I say, I'm more than happy to be swayed by a valid counter-argument. But "I said so" isn't one. And neither is suggesting that the FIFPro survey is as flawed as you suggest. It could be the case, but that claim needs some sort of evidence to back it up. Without any evidence, I'm happy to believe the (quite reasonable-sounding) results of the survey.
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