Yes it's a results business. His results at Barnsley made him the worst football manager in the football league whilst his results at Richdale make him one of the better ones. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Some managers, particularly those with big gobs, do better as big fish in little ponds and can't progress beyond that. Hill may be one of these.
We didn't have a choice over Vaz Te, he had a clause in his contract giving him permission to speak to other clubs if we got the staggering offer of *ahem* half a million for him. Despite the fact that he didn't have many offers before coming to us, his agent did well in sneaking that little clause into his contract. By his tenth goal, Ricardo saw pound signs a plenty and jumped ship before you could say Stephen Dawson.
Not really strange - Hill can spot a player. Done, Dawson have been superb this season, RNL has scored 2 worldies in 3 appearances and Cwyzka looks to have enough to make an impact at this level.
I was surprised at both Dawson and Done as the Rochdale posse had talked of their transformation into Ronaldo and Makele. They were still *****. What a surprise...
In a nutshell. I've tried telling them this in the kindest way possible, but they never understand it. I may only support Barnsley, a small club ourselves, but I've seen talent they can only dream of. For and against us. Dawson was appalling against us that day. He's been great otherwise, apparently. And I didn't notice Done was playing. Jamie Allen stood out, and their giant keeper Logan. Says a lot that Reuben's gone there and lit it up. I think he would here too, but he can't get in. In a nutshell.
He's gone there because he wasn't getting games here. He loves BFC. But yep, he wants to play. All he ever needed was a chance, a proper run in his proper position.
When? He only had one game this season, at left back. I can name others who've had 10 games and done worse. Last time he got a couple of games, he scored at Reading and was decent at Yeovil. But anyway, **** all that. I've always believed in him, always been told he's *****, I'm just happy to see him doing well at the moment and hope it continues and we get him back here doing it, rather than at a club above us.
He hasn't lit it up - he's scored a couple of worldies but looks off the pace at the minute - which is understandable given his lack of games for your lot. Can only get better,fitter,stronger the more he plays. As for our players - yes they didn't appear for whatever reason when you came to town - but more than made up for that blip at Swindon, Mk Dons and at home to Preston. Big game Saturday against Oldham but with a few injuries to Dawson,Lund and Vincenti and Done suspended its gonna be an interesting team selection.
That sums up his career at Barnsley. That's what we all thought too. However, no manager at Barnsley (and we've had five permanent managers since he made his debut, including Keith Hill) has been prepared to give him the games to do it. I don't know why that is. Whitey will tell you RNL is an amazing talent. When you see the goals he's scored you can certainly see where he's coming from. Trouble is, those flashes of brilliance have been all too rare and he's played a number of games where he doesn't look like a footballer at all. He's young, you've got to expect and allow for inconsistency, but where RNL differs from the majority of young kids who have come up through the ranks is that he often looks unfit. I've seen plenty of kids given their opportunity who just weren't quite good enough. I've seen young players of all abilities tire in the second half as they're not used to the demands of the professional game. But in many games RNL appears to have struggled with the pace of the game and the work rate required from the minute he gets on the pitch. A couple of managers have spoken about his desire and willingness to display in training why he should be selected. If Keith Hill can get the best out of him and get him to show that desire then he might be better off staying with you. I don't want us to let a talented player slip through our fingers, but it won't do anyone any good to have him come back here and slip back in to old ways. We'll see what happens, it's early days.
Could be describing Dale Jennings here as well. In fact, I reckon that little summary fits Dale better.