- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 28,468
I was just trying to fit the timing but it wasn’t when it was thought that Johnson was going to leave, was it?
Nah. I reckon that's the reason we signed Bayliss though...
I was just trying to fit the timing but it wasn’t when it was thought that Johnson was going to leave, was it?
Nah. I reckon that's the reason we signed Bayliss though...
NopeSorry I just re read your post. I thought you was talking about Potts. I must be still pissed.
The situation with Bayliss was that he suddenly became available and it was an opportunity the club felt they had to take, given his potential.
Wigan’s enquiry for DJ caused a bit of a stir behind the scenes but it was never AN’s intention to let him leave.
As for the discussion about Potts on this thread, a “lazy” player would not be selected by a manager as intense and hard-working as Alex Neil for Leeds home and away, Fulham home and away, West Brom at home, Forest away……
Potts’ technical ability is very limited at best and I think it makes him inessential at home against teams sitting deep. However in big games, especially away from home when we need to press, he is an excellent option and that is why AN uses him in those games. He also provides good movement and runs in behind defenders.
He wasn’t a panic buy because he was someone the club had been monitoring for some time and attempted to sign 6 months before he joined.
we're talking about an attacking forward player with no goals or assists all season. So we have a player for a handful of 'big away games'. All of which the description of the player versus the reality is for me way off the mark. Ok Neil may pick him for some of these games, but I wouldn't read into it too much. We need him every game, which I think somewhat you acknowledge, but it's a bit lame to credit him for running around a bit. Too much leeway for these sorts of players, I dunno why we shouldn't expect a lot more out if him to be honest.
I admire both your positivity and optimismI understand your point but realistically on our budget, we aren’t going to have a full squad of players who are complete players and are suited to every game. What we have is a group of players with different strengths and weaknesses, and it’s the manager’s job to pick the team best-suited to win each game.
It would be nice to pick the same 11 who could go out there and win every type of game against every style of opponent, but we’re not in that position. Look at Stockley for example. Against certain teams he’s totally useless but when Blackburn sat deep against us at Deepdale after going 2-0 up, he was the perfect option to bring on.
As for pressing, it’s a very important part of the modern game and more than just ‘running around’. I also think that a squad player like Potts coming into the side against the toughest opponents is something notable, not a coincidence.
I don’t doubt that there have been times this season when Potts could’ve done better. As I have said I think he is very limited at times.
That said I also think some of the stick he’s had has been totally OTT, especially compared to other players in the squad when they underperform.
I understand your point but realistically on our budget, we aren’t going to have a full squad of players who are complete players and are suited to every game. What we have is a group of players with different strengths and weaknesses, and it’s the manager’s job to pick the team best-suited to win each game.
It would be nice to pick the same 11 who could go out there and win every type of game against every style of opponent, but we’re not in that position. Look at Stockley for example. Against certain teams he’s totally useless but when Blackburn sat deep against us at Deepdale after going 2-0 up, he was the perfect option to bring on.
As for pressing, it’s a very important part of the modern game and more than just ‘running around’. I also think that a squad player like Potts coming into the side against the toughest opponents is something notable, not a coincidence.
I don’t doubt that there have been times this season when Potts could’ve done better. As I have said I think he is very limited at times.
That said I also think some of the stick he’s had has been totally OTT, especially compared to other players in the squad when they underperform.
By the wayI admire both your positivity and optimism
He does make the shorts look a size too small but that's been dealt with since match day thread community urged @Sid Snot to write to pnefc and address the issue. He's a unit, something our squad misses, he has a lot of the things we're after, we just don't see it enough.Potts had a knee injury at the start of the season and when he came back into the side he looked a completely different player to what we saw when he first came the season before. As others have said he relies more on his energy than maybe technical ability and I can only put that down the difference to not being 100% fit them. I have also to say he did a little over chunky but surely the fitness staff are right on top of weight etc ? I remain hopeful that injury free he’ll contribute positively in the games to come, more from the bench maybe initially.
He does make the shorts look a size too small but that's been dealt with since match day thread community urged @Sid Snot to write to pnefc and address the issue. He's a unit, something our squad misses, he has a lot of the things we're after, we just don't see it enough.
As for the discussion about Potts on this thread, a “lazy” player would not be selected by a manager as intense and hard-working as Alex Neil for Leeds home and away, Fulham home and away, West Brom at home, Forest away…
I remember Deco when we played ChelseaDoes bug me the “lazy” tag. Messi runs less than any other player but it’s targeted. Just because someone’s not throwing themselves around doesn’t mean they are lazy.
Nope
he is shocking. Totally shocking (Potts that is)
we have learned to be over tolerant as PNE fans and are the worlds experts in “he might come good” whilst in truth we just know inside “he won’t”
and in Potts case “he won’t”
its sad
its a bit rubbish
and it’s terribly harsh
but it is an inevitability
ps
mods
please add an option for me to delete if by some miracle he proves me wrong
Good challenges to my very direct viewSee I'm not one of these who are hoping Potts 'might come good' because I have seen with my own eyes really good performances but I have also seen really bad performances.
Saying he's totally shocking though is way off the mark. He was as you remember key in our 11 game unbeaten run January last year.
He also starts in big matches -leeds home and away, Fulham home and away, West Brom at home, Nottingham Forest away. I would say he played pretty well in most/all of them considering our best two performances for me have been Leeds and Forest away.
I mean AN wouldn't trust Potts in starting these games if he thought he was 'totally shocking.'
You might have been watching with your eyes closed these performances and this is what frustrates me with Potts because I know in some games he has been very effective. In other's not so much.
To act as though Potts has never put in a good performance for PNE (which you are by the way) is way off the mark (I've already told you some of the good matches he has played) and sometimes I do wander why fans want to be so negative about some of our players.
A few goals from Potts and the narrative changes.
Personally, I think he is playing within himself.
Unleash the talent lad!