The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I think very few are expecting to cheer GL all afternoon Dowlo - I disagree with you about his lack of effort, but agree I dont want to see him to start.

The point is, there is a healthy middle ground between 'come on Greg' and...well...the Dowlo approach!

SouthRushdenJFC wrote:

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote:Has anyone actually seen Greg Ling have a good game? Or ever put in any decent levels of effort?

Under normal circumstances I'd say booing players is too far, but this appears to be an exceptional case of an exceptional lack of talent and an exceptional lack of effort. Fans deserve their say, especially at this level when there's no transfer windows, no end of players out there, and no solid commitments to the player in question. We're not going to make it to the top by giving endless chances to a player.

Two options. Ling starts performing, or Peaks gets rid of him, then we can all get back to cheering on players who deserve to wear the shirt.

Who would you sign to replace him?

For starters I'd play Fazel on the wing and start Turner or Lorraine up front with Dunkley.

Then I'd probably go to my dressing room moles (who aren't Lings mates) and ask if they have any good connections to trial. I'm sure Joe Henderson could sort something.

If that failed, I'd read up on local match reports in the equivalent/higher divisions in Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties, and identify 2 or 3 left wingers to go and watch play with a view to offering them a deal.

Has Football Manager taught me well enough for your liking? I'm sorry I don't have a UCL player database in my head :(

So basically OD, you're questioning Peaksie, Lambie and Biff's judgement?

Was rather confused when I saw the Bedford line up, Turner and Lorraine up front but it paid off massively. A brave and bold move by management, but at the end of the day they know what they're doing and I put my trust in them. If they carry on playing Greg ling then so be it, people ain't keen but will have to accept it. You never know, ling could have a few words in his ear by management and put in a blinder of a game Saturday. This game is massive and the lads need our support.......all of them

Koriya played at Bedford, Ling didn't. Koriya was unavailable on Saturday and Ling was the only player available for that position.
In fact we only had 4 subs on Saturday including Hewitt and Quincy both who lack match fitness. The other two subs, Bunting and Dunkley, who clearly are not fully fit played just 10-15 minutes.

Everyweeker wrote:I think very few are expecting to cheer GL all afternoon Dowlo - I disagree with you about his lack of effort, but agree I dont want to see him to start.

The point is, there is a healthy middle ground between 'come on Greg' and...well...the Dowlo approach!

NAIL ON THE HEAD!

Diamond_ Wolf wrote:

Everyweeker wrote:I think very few are expecting to cheer GL all afternoon Dowlo - I disagree with you about his lack of effort, but agree I dont want to see him to start.

The point is, there is a healthy middle ground between 'come on Greg' and...well...the Dowlo approach!

NAIL ON THE HEAD!

This is true, but sometimes I just can't help myself. At least there's never any doubt in the message I'm trying to get across

Trek wrote:So basically OD, you're questioning Peaksie, Lambie and Biff's judgement?

I was asked a question about who I would sign, so I explained what process I would go through if I was manager and had to sign a winger instead of Ling.

You also ask that question as if it's a grave sin. What do we reckon? About 90-95% of supporters complain about managerial decisions. If Ling continues to play as badly as he has whenever I've seen him and remains in the starting XI, it's only natural to question the judgment of the managerial team. It's not just me that's thinking this, I'm sure it's the majority of the fanbase. :roll:

A challenge of the managerial team isn't a challenge of the people that picked them. Armchair football managers supporting their sides is part and parcel of the game. It seems there are some utopian dreams for this football club flying about on some issues.

I wasn't going to get involved with this thread after the way Dowlo responded when I asked an innocent question regarding Gilly. But I would just say how sad that even folk who were our volunteers have been shocked by his behaviour, but hey he admits he can't help it :roll:

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote: You also ask that question as if it's a grave sin.

Not at all. It's was obvious that Peaksie, aided by Biff was the part of the management team with the UCL and local player contacts, even when Starms was the manager. This is now supplemented by Lambie's inclusion in the management team. Nothing wrong in being critical about player's performances, team selection etc. but it's the manner of that criticism that is central to the debate on this topic.