I've been watching my club for 54 years. My dad took a beer crate to the match so that I could stand on it and see over the w all from the spion kop. I've seen so many class acts wear our shirt...... Too many to mention......in my opinion, young stonesy is as good as I've ever seen. Mark my words, he will be an England captain and, bar serious injury, one of the greatest footballers this country has ever seen....and he's one of ours. We should be proud.
I thought he was a very exciting, potentially brilliant talent. However, I never thought he'd break through as soon as he has. I think the fact he was played out of position at right back for us probably contributed towards my thoughts at the time. He was very hit and miss. Whereas, at centre half for Everton he's looked dynamic, a proper footballing centre half. Only seen him have one really bad game (for us or them) and that was at right back when Suarez and co ripped him to pieces. I'm very proud of his blossoming career. I look forward to watching it develop further. I do not though, in my heart of hearts, remember him being some kind of superstar when wearing BFC red. He was very good at times, iffy at others. He was a kid, it's to be expected. I'll remember him as a reds player fondly, but he certainly (for the 20 odd games as a Tarn laiker) wasn't "as good as" I've ever seen at Oakwell. In fact, he's nowhere near. Funny how development via time, alters folks memory/thinking/recall. You Reds.
I know nowt about football and the first time I saw him I thought "what a player". I suppose I put this down to optimism for our youngsters and never expected him to be basically in the full England squad barely two years later. I had similar feelings when I saw Paul Digby and it's a shame we didn't see more of him this season, he can't have been injured for all of it. For what it's worth I wasn't convinced by Jacob Butterfield in his first couple of years in the first team but he suddenly turned into a proper laiker, been hoping RNL would end up similar but I fear he could end up no more than a L2/Conference player unless he really kicks on next season. Danny Rose reminds me of a young Michael Owen but needs to be playing week in week out to realise his potential.
Funny that, because although when I first saw Stonesy I thought "wow, we've a player here", I thought even more of RNL on my first few viewings. I still believe that on ability, he's got it. It's up to him now to finally force his way through. Last chance saloon I feel. Only ever been impressed by Digby the once. Last pre season. Thought he looked amazing. Been so so in proper games, at best. Agree with you on Rose. Fox in the box I reckon. Certainly a player in there. I expect him to shine next season. People need to click on though and realise that a manager can decide a players fate. I dread to think where Jacob would be now if Keith hadn't taken over. Robins just didn't trust him. And if Danny doesn't trust these lads either, there's little they can do. I think he proper likes Reuben though. He's needed a manager to trust him for years. Again, it's down to the lad now to show folk what he's about, regularly. Keeping fit is a big ******* help, like.
Don't get me wrong I haven't seen that much of him, but when I have he's generally looked very composed and played some good balls but of course I've seen games where he's come on and been completely anonymous, but no more so than the rest of the team at the time.
We haven't seen enough of RNL, Rose or Digby. I'm hoping that changes. Then we'll be better able to judge. Night all.
It was strange watching Stones, you expect youngsters to make mistakes at times but that never seemed to happen with him. Despite him only been a kid he never seemed to be caught out of position, give the ball away or lose out in a tackle. I always felt he was good enough to go all the way but didn't think it would happen so soon. Distin & Jagielka's injuries along with Alcaraz been a bit dodgy have probably advanced his career by a year or two.
Last chance saloon at 20 years old ha ha ha ha theirs some lads at that age yet to make their pro debut
The way Rose played against QPR I can't see why him and O'Grady wouldnt be a bad partnership (if we keep ogrady)
I remember seeing Karl Barraowclough, Stewart's lad, in the few appearances that he made, and he was electrifying. Such a massive shame he didn't come through. Was it injury? He scared the **** out of defences.
I think with a lot of the young 'ens their 'raw' talent gets coached out of them and they become very average. It's probably easier to develop defenders as it's more about discipline.
He looked very dangerous at Middlesbrough as well, was unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions even though he was only on the pitch about ten minutes. Would be fantastic if we could keep O'Grady but the fact he is getting linked all over the shop suggests we will probably receive an acceptable offer for him but I'd be happy with Rose up front with another target man type.
As a BFC player I would imagine it is. And there isn't a bigger RNL fan than me on here. Unless Hemsy returns. And what's with the ha ha ha on all your posts of late? Nearly as pathetic as your **** wind ups.
