I wish him no ill will, but he was rubbish.
I never rated him but I don't hate players when they are trying their best. Not sure why some fans feel the need to be hysterical all the time, and I never get why people think getting on players' backs is going to help. He seems to have done better there. Probably a combination of better coaching, lower expectations/less pressure and perhaps an improvement in his mental health/confidence. Which may be associated to not having idiots like SH call him a "wanker" if he fails to score a hat-trick every week.FWIW, I'm not saying no players ever deserve criticism. But I save my main ire for those who have ability but don't try. Agbonlahor, Ireland and N'Zogbia, for instance.
Laughed at my Burnley supporting mate when they signed him, telling him what a waste of space Westwood was and thanking him for taking him off our hands. Didn't take long for him to come back and thank me for Westwood, claiming he's a cracking player. By all accounts he's done well at Burnley much to the surprise I imagine of everybody at Villa Park.
Wasn't as bad as remembered in his first two seasons. Had a fantastic semi final game v Liverpool for instance.Really missed Delph's energy when he left though.Done well at Burnley, better than I thought actually.
Part of it may be that expectations are lower at Burnley.
I never rated him but I don't hate players when they are trying their best. Not sure why some fans feel the need to be hysterical all the time, and I never get why people think getting on players' backs is going to help. He seems to have done better there. Probably a combination of better coaching, lower expectations/less pressure and perhaps an improvement in his mental health/confidence. Which may be associated with not having idiots like SH call him a "wanker" if he fails to score a hat-trick every week.FWIW, I'm not saying no players ever deserve criticism. But I save my main ire for those who have ability but don't try. Agbonlahor, Ireland and N'Zogbia, for instance.
Quote from: Clampy on February 22, 2020, 07:50:59 AMQuote from: saunders_heroes on February 21, 2020, 07:04:00 PMI still have nightmares of those shitty floaty corners he kept throwing at us. Wanker. I didn't rate the bloke either and I'm amazed we got as much money for him as we did, but why would anyone feel the need to call a player a wanker because took a crap corner? It's totally unnecessary. Yup agreed. Also I suspect those corners were very much a tactical request.
Quote from: saunders_heroes on February 21, 2020, 07:04:00 PMI still have nightmares of those shitty floaty corners he kept throwing at us. Wanker. I didn't rate the bloke either and I'm amazed we got as much money for him as we did, but why would anyone feel the need to call a player a wanker because took a crap corner? It's totally unnecessary.
I still have nightmares of those shitty floaty corners he kept throwing at us. Wanker.
Quote from: SoccerHQ on February 22, 2020, 12:22:36 AMWasn't as bad as remembered in his first two seasons. Had a fantastic semi final game v Liverpool for instance.Really missed Delph's energy when he left though.Done well at Burnley, better than I thought actually.I think it is fair to acknowledge that he had a couple of decent periods in his time with us - the run-in during Lambert's first season when he played in a three with Sylla and Delph, and the run-up to and including the semi-final under Sherwood when he again played in a three with Delph and Cleverley.I've not seen much of him at a Burnley, but always felt during his time with us that he needed to play in a holding role alongside two energetic midfielders. During the two periods mentioned above, we were playing well as a side and were on the front foot in games. For the long periods during his time at the club when that wasn't the case and we were very much second best in games, his lack of athleticism and physicality were exposed. The analogy that comes to mind is a fly-half in rugby who looks great when the forwards are on top and they are getting good, quick ball, but looks completely different when their side is on the back foot and they are called upon to do the more physical aspects of the game.I was surprised when a top flight club came in for him, but it sounds like has done OK there. Never really seemed to have a bad attitude unlike a number of the charlatans who were at the club at the time, so wish him well really.