CovveeBreak
Well-Known Member
Been chewing on this for a while so keen to see if anyone else sees this.
But I do think a huge part of the players profile Mark would sign off on / request / expect, were basically "nice guys". He clearly cared a lot about making sure there were no egos and that everyone could get along. When he was forced to accept players like Todd Kane who didn't fit that mould they were quickly exiled.
I'm actually all for the sentiment, but I do think it means we have acquired more mentally fragile players on the whole. Take Haji Wright and MVE as examples. If they carried themselves in the way that matches their clear talent, they'd absolutely destroy thus league. But they are nice guys, get pushed around a lot and it affects their confidence as a result.
Now look at Bassette - that was a firesale by Caen because he wanted out, so think DA / DK knew they had an opportunity to get a clear mega talent at a good price. However he's got a bit of that "football arrogance" that most of our squad lacks. He knows he is hot shit and brings that to the pitch. Absolutely oozing with confidence at 19, even despite the fact he can't head the ball for toffee
When I think about some of the best players in this league right now (Sainz at Norwich an example), they are arrogant as shit. That mindset - total and utter wild self belief and confidence - brings with it a steadfastness and a fight that I just don't see in our players.
So all that is to say, I think if we want to get out of this league we have to accept that nice guys with talent isn't it. Or at least is only part of it anyway. We either need to recruit differently, or hope that our coaches and performance director can cultivate that mindset.
But I do think a huge part of the players profile Mark would sign off on / request / expect, were basically "nice guys". He clearly cared a lot about making sure there were no egos and that everyone could get along. When he was forced to accept players like Todd Kane who didn't fit that mould they were quickly exiled.
I'm actually all for the sentiment, but I do think it means we have acquired more mentally fragile players on the whole. Take Haji Wright and MVE as examples. If they carried themselves in the way that matches their clear talent, they'd absolutely destroy thus league. But they are nice guys, get pushed around a lot and it affects their confidence as a result.
Now look at Bassette - that was a firesale by Caen because he wanted out, so think DA / DK knew they had an opportunity to get a clear mega talent at a good price. However he's got a bit of that "football arrogance" that most of our squad lacks. He knows he is hot shit and brings that to the pitch. Absolutely oozing with confidence at 19, even despite the fact he can't head the ball for toffee
When I think about some of the best players in this league right now (Sainz at Norwich an example), they are arrogant as shit. That mindset - total and utter wild self belief and confidence - brings with it a steadfastness and a fight that I just don't see in our players.
So all that is to say, I think if we want to get out of this league we have to accept that nice guys with talent isn't it. Or at least is only part of it anyway. We either need to recruit differently, or hope that our coaches and performance director can cultivate that mindset.