The only bit of enjoyment I've had from this season..

Is that I've got to watch Paddy McCourt play football.

The rest of it has been absolutely diabolic.

Every game I've been to over the last few weeks the only thing I've looked forward to is watching Paddy play. Okay, he doesn't tackle, he doesn't track back and he can often give the ball away. But at least with Paddy in the side there's a hope that he just might do something genius. I honestly cant understand why our supporters tear this guy to pieces. I would much rather play Paddy and run the risk of giving the ball away a few times than play a midfield of Dawson, Perkins, Etuhu and O'brien, which offers absolutely nothing other than sideways passes, which in effect are just as bad as giving the ball away anyway.

Why can our fans not just embrace a player that's a little bit different. Alongside Mellis and Cwyka he literally is the only player who is in anyway enjoyable to watch at our football club.

 

This ^

 

I agree

.

 

I think the problem is, Paddy has set himself such a high standard from the flashes of brilliance he as shown, that when he does have a bad game it gets magnified. He's inconsistent but certainly talented. I don't understand why people want rid of him from the club, its a severe overreaction to a few bad displays imo

 

I agree anyone who can't see this just baffles me do they go to the match to be bored rigid and lose or watch a genius at work that sometimes comes off and sometimes doesn't. Of all the targets in our team people have him at the top. Just weird.

 

The counter argument is that it rarely comes off and normally doesn't. I like to watch a team, not just 1 player who might do something special once in a blue moon. I appreciate he has great ability on occasions but not sure it's right for us right now.

 

I agree, I love the way he moves with the ball.
To be a creative player means taking risks - risky through balls, high speed passes or taking on more than one player at a time.
You're obviously going to get it wrong more of the time than if you don't take those risks, but it's often the very thing the opposition didn't expect.

The only thing I wonder is whether the midfield players around him are then tempted to give it to him rather than look at all their options when they pick up the ball.

 

We've won three games. Paddy was key to two of them, and not here for the other.
I want Perkins, Dawson or Etuhu to win us a couple. In fact, just an assist or maybe a goal even would be sumat to work with.

 

I would rather play Paddy who's style of play 'rarely' comes off than play Dawson, Etuhu and Perkins whos never comes off.

 

I honestly think Perkins will go all season without a goal or an assistant.

 

Damn. Too late to edit now an' all. Ah well.

 

I hope Danny doesn't sell him or Cywka. Although bringing in Brek Shea on loan is ominous with regard to Cywka's future. Or am I just worrying unnecessarily?

 

I'll always love McCourt. I know he can be intensely frustrating and his decision making can be bizarre BUT he is by far the most talented player we've got / have had in a while and we're just not making the most of him. The way we set teams out at the minute makes it impossible for him to get any joy because.

A) he's the only creative outlet and so teams know to gang up on him and they can afford to leave the likes of O'Brien and Perkins who are....less talented.
B) our build up play is SO PEDESTRIAN by the time we get the ball to Paddy there are two banks of four in front of him
C) when the two banks of four are set in front of him (and its not just a myth watch it actually happens) EVERYONE stands still and waits for Paddy to try and beat everyone.

Sometimes he does this because...he wants to beat everyone and it goes wrong and fair enough that's his fault. But no-one makes any kind of movement for him at all, if they did, we've seen how good his passing can be, and he showed with his goal against Brighton that if someone offers themselves for a piece of link up play he'll use them. One-two, goal, brilliant.

If Paddy McCourt was playing for one of the better sides in this league he would be unreal.

 

That's the first thought that came into my mind, when we signed Brek Shea......is Cwyka on his way?

Just thought we needed strengthening in other parts of the team.

 

As far as I'm concerned the negatives far outweigh the positives when it comes to Paddy.

There's this myth that if you don't like Paddy you don't like creative players. That's nonsense.

I want a 4 man midfield of O'Brien or Jennings on the right, Mellis central with a holding player preferably Hassell but either Dawson or Perkins when he's injured & either Cwyka or Shea wide left with O'Grady having a strike partner.

Plenty of creativity & pace there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

O'Brien is as much of a 'toiler' as the other midfielders who gets ridiculous amounts of abuse. His goal and assist record, for a winger especially, isn't the best. And his all-round play...isn't the best. Runs around a lot and gives his all but so does Dawson and everyone hates him apparently. I will admit his last few games have been his best for us mind.

Not seen Shea so I'll reserve opinion.

I like Cywka and think he should play every game BUT he blows hot and cold like McCourt, though perhaps not as drastically.

Jennings I want to see more of, hope he'll come good.

But realistically atm this midfield would be.


Cywka Hassel/Dawson Mellis O'Brien

that's very similar to the midfield we've had all along and I've not seen much by way of pace or creativity.

 

Why do you want Jennings in but not Paddy?

 

You must really dislike Paddy if you'd prefer Jennings and Shea, with nothing to base it on. I hope both - especially Dale - come good for us, but I've already seen Paddy win games for us, and star in others. Again, why are we having to justify Paddy's worth when I can name at least ten players yet to justify their being here?