Oundle Diamond #2 wrote:None of you have engaged with my point. It was only a question. If the majority consensus on this forum is Gearing is better than ELJ, then why as fans on an unofficial fans forum can we not ask why ELJ is starting? I'm pretty sure 15 years ago if Daniel Talbot was starting ahead of Paul Underwood, fans would not be villified for asking the question, I merely suggested a logical potential answer for this dichotomy between fan and managerial opinion.
Well I think some of the posts on this thread have certainly reflected far too harshly on ELJ and I really don't think its 'obvious' at all that he's being selected because of our assistant because he's not a bad player by any means, 16 assists and some impressive performances demonstrate that, so its a bit unreasonable on our management team to so easily assume he's simply being picked because of our assistant. He's a good player with great potential and like already said on his day can be unplayable, its just that he doesn't seem to perform consistently enough to warrant starting so regularly at the moment.
So yeah, its not a Daniel Talbot situation at all.
In many games this season ELJ has been a consistent threat, often our only outlet when the defence & midfield have been looking for an incisive ball forward. His movement is excellent, his willingness to get involved great, and his conversion rate as good as any at this level in my opinion. He's a great Step 5 player.
Many teams put 10 players behind the ball against us, so any attacking player that consistently gets behind the opposition and sets up goals deserves praise. Bad games are frustrating, especially hard to take in the big games like Saturday, but they are just part and parcel of the game.
SouthRushdenJFC wrote:Is it the majority though? Number of calls for ELJ to be benched against numbers of fans at games? I think it would be a single figure percentile.
But quite a noisy single figure percentile ;) :lol:
Noise gets you noticed, whether that be good or bad. It works. Why suffer in silence lol!
I think the assists stats say enough. However no one looks at the way he has 2 men on him creating space for others or the defensive work he does do if the ball is lost.
Oundle Diamond #2 wrote:None of you have engaged with my point. It was only a question. If the majority consensus on this forum is Gearing is better than ELJ, then why as fans on an unofficial fans forum can we not ask why ELJ is starting? I'm pretty sure 15 years ago if Daniel Talbot was starting ahead of Paul Underwood, fans would not be villified for asking the question, I merely suggested a logical potential answer for this dichotomy between fan and managerial opinion.
Because it was a stupid point.
Managerial opinion comes with experience, coaching knowledge and knowing players better than anyone on this forum does. There may be reasons with fitness, illness, form, training attendance, that means Gearing doesn't start, simple fact is that you don't know what goes on.
The amount of abuse aimed at Neil King and ELJ on Saturday from one moron in the crowd was summed up by Sam when he walked past, utterly ridiculous and the person in question should be ashamed.
this is going to be my last point on this thread, but I am saying now in my opinion this sort of thing is going to affect the team if it carries on like this after each match. It will turn our crowd from being a potential 12th man positive to a hindrance.
Put aside all this they get paid or we pay our entrance so we can shout what we want or the we aren't allowed to criticise players.
Everyone has had their say lets get on with getting out of this league together.
Baffled by some of these comments re: ELJ. I've nailed my colours to that particular mast. To compare him to Daniel Talbot and to suggest he's only getting picked because of his Dad is madness. Daniel Talbot was hopelessly out of his depth, ELJ is anything but.
He's 18 and exceptionally good for his age. I like Matty Gearing but he's not massively consistent himself. I wouldn't be disappointed to see either of them on the team sheet.
They say we've lost our money we're not famous anymore.....
I'm an ELJ fan and would start him ahead of gearing but would have taken him off on Saturday early in the second half, it was one of them games for him when he struggles to make an impact and his temperment gets the better of him. I think the fact he stayed on and gearing was brought on 25 mins to late is what annoyed most people.
12th man!! Don't post very often but after reading all this rubbish found it hard not to.its no wonder why other clubs,fans,management etc all laugh at us its embarrassing at times,were suppose to be in it together not hammering our OWN management and PLAYERS maybe instead of all the moaning or criticism get behind the boys you never no you might get a positive response.yes football is all about opinions and we all think we're right but come on give the lad a break.people need to remember what level of football their watching because at times I think their forgetting.all I'm saying is were in a good position so instead of slagging the management,players etc let's ALL get behind them and win this bloody league.no player deserves the abuse that elj is getting and how fans can call kingy he's only played four games for us,but saying that I hurd someone criticise Declan after 10 min of his home debut.It needs to stop and all stick together
