frogusmaximus

The problem in general for every team outside the top 6 is that players being signed from outside England are coming from smaller leagues. They often play for the glamour side in their present league, the top team and their attitudes are naturally quite arrogant and they think they are destined for the top 6 clubs here. What they fail to realise is the standard of where they presently play is actually quite poor.For example I give you Urby Emanualson, ex-Ajax left back/left midfielder. I cannot recall the club but an English one wanted him. Van Basten spoke out and said an Ajax player should be aiming for a better club and he eventually signed for Milan. He was there two years and rarely held down a place and was in january loaned to Fulham.A well rounded and advised player takes the move to a club outside the top six and seeks to prove himself before hoping one of them may take a interest in him.

Ignoring Bates and his complete lack of investment in players diuring the last 6 years (we had the best wage to turnover ratio) whilst he bled the club dry, there were three main issues.1. Woeful defensive frailty, especially at set pieces. Kisnorbo and Naylor led us out of league one but both were injured. The former had been almost perfect at that level and was never the same player again after missing the whole season. Grayson brought in O''Brien on big money. Fantastic on loan, he simply lost it mentally (fiance troubles we heard).2. Left back - had been a problem position for more years than you care to remember and never adressed.3. Holding midfield - Leeds had Bradley Johnson (BJ) and Kilkenny who were just bloody awful. When we played with two central midfielders we were simply overrun by every team and couldn''t find a partnership that worked, so we used Howson in front of them. Kilkenny was a sideways passer (a playmaker who flattered to deceive - now enjoying his big money contract at relegated Bristol City) who couldn''t run and covered little ground. BJ was a headless chicken, blazing shots over the bar and with both an awful passing accuracy and pass selection.The thing BJ had was commitment, physical strength and an aerial threat. He needed to be told to give a simple pass, to recognise his strengths and weakneness. He was the most criticised player in the team at the time as he''d win the ball and then give it away with a misplaced pass. He''d dribble when he should have passed and passed when he should have dribbled. Very few were sad when his contract ran out - he was going to be a squad player but wanted a salary on a par with Howson - and all of us have been amazed at how his reputation has developed. I''m assuming he learnt his lesson, though be interested to hear your opinions. 

Leeds should have been promoted under Grayson the same year you went up. We played a 4231 formation with Becchio up top and Snoddy, Howson and Gradel in support. Sadly the defensive lynchpin at the base of that attack was Andy O''Brien, who basically had a breakdown in his personal life and couldn''t hold it together. Add to that Bates'' foolishness at not investing at any time during his reign and we missed the opportunity unlike yourselves, and have now lost all 4 players.My point of this tale as far as Norwich goes, and considering the above comment, is Howson plays wonderfully as a an AM/CF.

Ok, here is the Becchio side of things as far as the LUFC fanbase know it.Great player for LUFC, never caused a problem and he will not be a trouble maker, cult hero with the fanbase.Having now experienced Warnock, we understand how he works. He is very good at playing his little press games, but slowly the truth unravels. LUFC played the worst football I''ve ever seen under Warnock. He has his favourite players, he signed, and never criticises them in public. Certian other players, Becchio and Lees, were repeatedly singled out. Becchio amazingly scored 19 goals (some were penalties) with almost zero service from out wide. He is a great finisher when in the box, with both head and feet and knows exactly where to go to score. He single handedly kept us from relegation last year, as we would almost certainly have gone down without those goals. Outside the box, Becchio needs to keep it simple. He cannot dribble and his first touch in not too good, but then my memories are diminished with constant hoofs from the back he was suppoed to make something of.Anyhow, so Warnock starts a press campaign. starting slowly with his assistant manager stating the big clubs will be in for Becchio in the January transfer window. Pretty clear Warnock wants him out. Becchio understandably wasn''t happy with the style of play or manager mutterings, but didn''t look to instigate. Anyhow this builds by the week until Leeds get outplayed horribly by Barnsley. This is a signifiacnt fixture for us as Grayson also left his post following a horrow show there. Leeds had been lifeless in the previous away fixture at Hull and it was the fourth away defeat in a row where we had hardly had a shot on goal or competed. The fanbase had finally sussed Warnock and wanted him out but the new owners were afraid as Warnock talks the talk and they knew nothing about football.Canny Warnock diverts the pressure and blames Becchio and his attitude. He initiates the exchange deal claiming Morison will go down as a  legend. I''ve seen Morison before. He is garbage with a woeful lower league technique and Becchio was my favourite player. Not the best player but he did the business and gave a shit. From day one it was clear Morison didn''t. He made no effort at all and was dreadful, despite his obvious lack of fitness. Brian McDermott dropped him and has now loaned him out. Once again we are lumbered with a high wage earner (reputedly £17K a week) who we simply don''t want and no-one else can afford.Yes, Norwich got the better deal. Becchio will natuarlly be frustrated and I suspect he is not Premiership class, but he is a good guy with the right attitude. By the way, the word is out he is available for a season long loan to Championship clubs, so expect some movement.MOT