Tell me that you're joking, people, please. Silva? No balls? Hull away in 13-14, with our captain off the pitch? Silva's stones were clashing so loud you could hear them on the telly. Goals not part of his game? Long run last season with Sergio out in the lead up to New Year's Day? Silva scored regularly, because he had to step up to the plate and just do it. He was not tempted to defer to Sergio, and pass to him when he is so obviously, and so often, in a better scoring position.
Merlin's been quite poor since coming back from his injury, and overall, this is one of his most mediocre seasons for us since coming. It's a major reason, although not the only one, why we're battling for fourth place rather than first. That's my considered opinion. It's also my considered opinion that he is the best player, taking the last few years into account, to have played for us that I've seen, with the single exception of Colin Bell. I don't quite think, somehow, that's he's finished with us…
