His time is over, wonderful, magnificent player he was in our shirt but it's over and time to move on, the constant injuries were a warning , maybe we should have brought in his successor earlier.
Loyalty is a great attribute but it can also be a dangerous and damaging one.At least 12 months past his sell-by date imo.
There's been a near critical need for a replacement for two seasons. Poor succession planning by the club.
Tough sh1t, his manager wanted him on for that period and that's all that matters.He always wears his heart on his sleeve and will not have enjoyed coming on when 4-1 down. Hopefully there's nothing more to it than his desire to win. There will be a lot hurting. But that's not enough. The tactics are wrong for the players available, and based on his short cameo he's not going to solve anything.
Made the same point last week in the Stones thread Peps loyalty to the senior players is admirable but forcing out the younger players.Loyalty is a great attribute but it can also be a dangerous and damaging one.
At the end of the day these players are hired hands, they are hansomely rewarded by the club for their incredible efforts but there comes a time when for the best interests of the CLUB you have to say thankyou and goodbye.
We are now at the stage where that is going to have to happen in the next 2/3 windows to many of our players whom have become club legends.
If we don't we will be like the dippers and rags and forget the title for a long period.
Time to get ruthless.
Stones is the perfect example, in the treble season he was magnificent, even greater in the final of the CL where he was simply world class and MOM, has he ever got back to anywhere near that level since? and how many times has he been unavailable?Made the same point last week in the Stones thread Peps loyalty to the senior players is admirable but forcing out the younger players.
Still managed to win some valuable points lately though. But I accept your point. He is most certainly not made of granite.Stones is the perfect example, in the treble season he was magnificent, even greater in the final of the CL where he was simply world class and MOM, has he ever got back to anywhere near that level since? and how many times has he been unavailable?
Harsh? Yes, very harsh but we want to be at the very top of elite football and that is an incredibly harsh environment.