"First impressions never have a second chance." Some players you see and can't help but think, "He's bloody awful". Sometimes you're right, sometimes it's wrong. I'm not actually sure if it was his first game (probably?), but I won't forget Jakupovic's errors The errors followed up by him faking the injury Pitchforks and torches on here after that game.... I'm actually quite impressed how well he managed to recover from that. One of the better keepers to wear the City jersey on his day (?) Gutted when he left, from what I've been able to tell I think he regretted it as well. You've got any contenders?
His reaction after watching the replay of the save against Arsenal is priceless I was stood in the Arsenal section behind goal (free ticket, Gooner-mate) and it was one hell of a sweaty 0-0 to watch
I think a lot of the names that will appear are the ones who worked hard (and so people liked them) but didn’t do much in terms of actual footballing ability. Meyler for me went through a period where he just looked out of his depth, his passing was woeful and games just passed him by. But over time I came to appreciate his combative approach and by the time he had left I actually liked him.
Billy Whitehurst was a 'raw' talent in his early games and got flak for his lack of abilty. . Thanks to Chillo's coaching he improved greatly and became a key player rather than just a Proschwitz type useless lump. Before him Mally Lord. Unpopular local lad who slowly but steadily turned it round to become admired and appreciated.. l
Don’t half the numpties think our players are **** at first ?? Curtis Davies **** cos he replaced Hobbs Kamil waste of space apparently Loads more
I remember Delaney being one, I think he started out at LB, before coming into the centre. I also seem to remember Micheal Turner having a few games early on & not settling in well. Ian Goodison, great tackler, very cool on the ball, then he would go for the pass....that’s why he was playing for us in Division 4! Stuart Green, on his day he was excellent, unfortunately like a lot of players for us, his days weren’t consistent enough.
Vaguely remember Mark Greaves being bab as a younger player, but seemed outstanding when he was older, comparitively.
Remember Chris Simpkin who started off playing has a forward being dross until he was converted into an halfback and was a completely different player.
Whitehurst ... sorted out by Chillo Damien Delaney ... looked bloody hopeless til he went to centre of defence then became a cult hero Of the current crop Jordi De Wijs comesto mind ... very shakey early on and guaranteed to make a howler each game .. but how we miss him when he aint there these days. Has got up to the physicality and speed of the English game and when fit has to be captain material.
I was also going to mention him, the first season I saw him, my mates and myself said he was like a sugar plum fairy, wouldn't tackle and he looked more like a ballet dancer than a footballer. Cliff Britten changed him into a hard-tackling mid-fielder, quite a transformation.
On a slightly different angle, I am sure Rossy must be grateful to Nigel Pearson for taking him on. From memory, he had had one or two trials with other clubs and was not really been given a chance, Nigel signed him and he turned out to be a real favourite with us.
i remember delaney early on being very unfortunate to give away a penalty that was not his fault, but he got busloads of ****ing idiots giving him grief for ages over that. i couldn't believe the reaction at the time. it seriously made me ashamed of those low i.q. pillocks following my team without the first idea of how football is played. i also remember at boothferry park. i stood in the east stand, usually as close to halfway as I could get. almost every single right back got unwarranted grief due to playing nearest to certain mentally retarded ****wits that infested the east stand. the left backs tended to get away with it for some reason.
Maybe slightly different but everytime we got promoted I said I love Ashbee but I dont think he will be able to make the step up and everytime I was pleased I was proved wrong
The left backs were getting unwarranted grief from the Main stand. Albeit much more polite and respectful unwarranted grief. Roger Devries got dogs abuse for his inability to get the ball up to Ian Butler along the left hand touchline without it going out of play. Mainly from my old man to be honest.
Turner was the one that stands out for me, he went from looking way out his depth when he came in at the start of 2006-07, to being our player of the season in 2007-08.
In reverse Irvine, when he first came thought he was ok, but due to his massive dip in form this season I can only think dog toffee.