Ched Evans

[ross.mcfc]

i had such high hopes for Lee Croft. what a shame.

Currently plying his trade for 500 quid a week at St Johnstone under Steve Lomas and Tommy Wright.

[ross.mcfc]

IMO the main reason why Croft didn't make it in the topflight was because he was unfit and he didn't have the technique/skills required. He was simply not good enough

As a 15 yeard od he was unbelieveably good and had everything to make it, but fitness was a key factor I think. Once he got in the 1st team he always seemed slow, overweight and not physically strong enough.

Absolutely about the fitness. And lack of real pace. I think I've never seen 20 year old as unfit.

If anything, I think he stopped working hard because he started believing his own hype. Hype we were all building.

I read an interview with him when he came up to Scotland and he claimed that we was a player that came into his peak in the last ten minutes. Did not sound like the player I saw blowing out of his ass after 50 minutes.

Perhaps he traded some of that skill he did have for some fitness hence why he is now playing in the SPL.

[Grob]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

[Nigels Tackle]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

was always going to be difficult combining top flight football with playing tyrone in corrie....

[Yffi_88]

St Johnstone is the only team in the Scottish AND English leagues to contain the letter 'J'.

So its not all doom and gloom for Crofty.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

To be fair, Elliott looked legit pretty good. I never quite understood why we sold him.

[Mase]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

To be fair, Elliott looked legit pretty good. I never quite understood why we sold him.

We didn't mate, he chose to leave and the fee was settled at a tribunal

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

To be fair, Elliott looked legit pretty good. I never quite understood why we sold him.

We didn't mate, he chose to leave and the fee was settled at a tribunal

Oh yeah, that was it.

Well fuck him then!

[Dubciteh]

I saw Croft's development a slightly differently Mate.
I agree he was physically advanced and he did reach a level before his peers. After that though, he was left at the reserve level for a long time and was never given the challenges to push him on. I made a comment at the time that he had been playing against the same 16/17 years olds for too long. When he got his chance, his development had stagnated.
Not sure he would have made it, but too late when given the chance, the damage was done and his level already set.

Maybe he was left down in the reserves for too long but in the cold light of day he wasnt any better than anything else we had at the time, we were just so rubbish in those days that we wanted a saviour and because he could beat a man every now and again, which was a novelty at the time, we thought he was the answer. I was one years back who hoped he could do something, same with BWP and Flood, but all 3 when they did get their chances were just not good enough. All 3 in the end got fair chances under Pearce.

At least we got Nedum, Ireland, and Richards through from that era.

2 players I did think deserved a chance under Keegen were Tyronne Mears and Stephen Elliott. Those were two players who I thought were better talents than Croft in terms of having the ability to play at the top level. They were never given a chance here then both had alot of injury trouble after they had prematurely moved on at the final part of their development which meant they never hit their potential.

To be fair, Elliott looked legit pretty good. I never quite understood why we sold him.

We didn't mate, he chose to leave and the fee was settled at a tribunal

Oh yeah, that was it.

Well fuck him then!

Injuries ruined him. I think he only left cos the closest he got to a sniff of football was a few mins at the end of a match against bolton. He went to sunderland was top scorer in championship when they got promoted, scored a few goals in the premiership and for ireland the following season and then got horrendous injuries. ironically also up in scotland now with Hearts and willo flood at dundee utd.

[Beeks]

35 fucking goals this season now!!

[RodneyRodney]

St Johnstone is the only team in the Scottish AND English leagues to contain the letter 'J'.

So its not all doom and gloom for Crofty.

How can they be in TWO leagues ? They would have to choose one or the other, surely .

[Ted Hughes]

35 fucking goals this season now!!

Surprised he didn't do it at City personally. Out of all the young strikers playing at reserve/youth level I saw in that period, playing for us or anyone else, he looked right up there amongst the best, if not THE best .

Then the ball bounced off his shins when he played in the 1st team. Bizarre. Hope Guidetti fares better when he gets a chance.

[Bianchi on Ice]

I know its easy to look back now and be mildly critical..but the players we had coming through were by and large frustratingly short of the quality needed. There always seemed to be a vital component missing..as if Cassell had been instructed to find a player with a specific attribute but no remit to provide anything else.

Kelvin Etuhu...pace, strength...but zero crossing ability
Ishmael Miller...pace...power...no composure
Ched Evans...physicality...willing...no pace
Willo Flood..willing..brave..lightweight
Lee Croft...skilful...no stamina
Stephen Jordan...decent composure...no pace...sluggish on the turn
Bradley Wright-Phillips...related to SWP...but not SWP

I dont mean to be flippant but thats as I saw it. Most have found their level.

[Nigels Tackle]

i always thought that ched had the touch of a rapist...

[Ted Hughes]

I know its easy to look back now and be mildly critical..but the players we had coming through were by and large frustratingly short of the quality needed. There always seemed to be a vital component missing..as if Cassell had been instructed to find a player with a specific attribute but no remit to provide anything else.

Kelvin Etuhu...pace, strength...but zero crossing ability
Ishmael Miller...pace...power...no composure
Ched Evans...physicality...willing...no pace
Willo Flood..willing..brave..lightweight
Lee Croft...skilful...no stamina
Stephen Jordan...decent composure...no pace...sluggish on the turn
Bradley Wright-Phillips...related to SWP...but not SWP

I dont mean to be flippant but thats as I saw it. Most have found their level.

It's fair enough to say Evans had little pace but it's the 'physicality ..willing' tag which I find unfortunate for a bloke who scored some of the classiest & best goals I've ever seen at that level, combining a great touch with a shot like a cannonball.

It's a pity he couldn't come to terms with 1st team football but I put his lack of 1st touch down to him bottling it in the Prem, he had no problems in that department when on loan at Norwich or for the Welsh U21's, just for City's 1st team.

The common fact amongst most City players of that era was that they arrived at 1st team level seemingly with no idea whatsoever how to actually play football; just ability & nothing else.

I have the feeling that will change with the new set up.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Sturridge was the star player from our academy. Had it all, ability wise.(as well as Richards). It's a shame it never worked out for him here.

[Dubciteh]

He got 5 years for rape.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17781842

[Ted Hughes]

What a stupid waste of a career. Some of these characters are such shits.

More of them need locking up & for longer imo.

Clayton Macdonald was from our academy too.

[lets all have a disco]

Gonna be tough to come back from this Cheggars lad.

Shame really,that these lads are such wankers.

[carl_feedthegoat]

zero sympathy.