I think you've just proved my point RC. You criticise Tilson in quite strong terms, but when I criticise your post you accuse me of being patronising. I wasn't being patronising, I was being honest about what annoys me in your style of posting. Then you deny that you had been personal or abusive in your criticism - despite having said that if he didn't agree with you he must either be "incredibly incompetent" or unwilliing "to eat humble pie" - ie full of hubris. How can you claim that that is not personal or abusive? In a previous post, you even admit that it is a dig at Tilson, and at the end of your post you then stand by it.
My issue with your post was not your point of view (bring back Billy) but the aggressive and insulting swipe at our management that accompanied it. I wasn't rude or aggressive in pointing it out, but you still took offence and clearly resented my comments. For someone who is very quick to pepper his postings with strong criticisms of the management and players, you seem very sensitive to any hint of criticism of yourself. I would suggest that if you can't take it don't give it.
As to the second part of the post above, fbm has answered that very well in another thread. But dismissing the whole psychological aspect of football (and in my view football is played as much in the mind as on the pitch) by saying:
is painfully simplistic. It simply doesn't work like that. People who are lucky enough to be gifted with some footballing skill are not therefore supermen or different from the common herd. Some are naturally very strong characters, but others more sensitive. There has already been some suggestion on here that Paynter found the criticism he faced more than he wanted to cope with. Tilson has to deal with real people, not caracatures and on balance, though no one would deny that he has made mistakes, he has done a good job of it. I am prepared to accept, based on all that Tilly and Brush have achieved for us, that if he isn't bringing Paynter back then there is probably a good reason for it and until strong evidence is produced to the contrary I will refrain from questioning his intelligence, competence, or moral character.
I was not offended by the fact you didnt like my post, or in fact the manner in which I post, far from it, this is an open forum, and it would all be incredibly boring if we all thought and spoke in the same manner. In fact, I dont think I was that bothered by any of what you wrote, I merely pointed out that the way in which you phrased your last point was patronising - I still stand by that. I also added that I would not be quite so rude about your style of writing, but thats just my way. In fact, if you re read my original opening line, at what point did I take offence? I believe I started with a LoL!!!
My criticism of Tilly is another issue however, and everything I have said I stand by, regardless of whether or not you agree, or regardless of whether or not you think some of my criticism is harsh and of a personal nature.
If you had been reading my posts on both here and shrimpers.net you will know that as harsh as I am critical, I am equally praiseworthy when it is due, like it has been for the previous two and a half years. Unfortunately, these are not mutally exclusive and just because Tilly has accomplished many great things over the last two and a half years does not mean now that he is exempt from either making bad decisions or receiving criticism.
The performances both last Saturday at Hull and yesterday were very much worthy of criticism, and of the strongest type. If you think I crossed over into personal abuse then so be it, I dont believe I did. I suggested that not bringing back one or both of our loan strikers would be incredibly imcompetent, that is not personal abuse, that is in my opinion fact. You may disagree, which you are perfectly entitled to. But I did not abuse him, I did not start swearing at him or calling him names as some people have done.
I think you will find that England fans chanting 'Steve MacClaren is a wa***r' is personal abuse, my criticism was based merely on a professional basis.
I also still stand by what I said about Paynter, he is scoring goals, playing well and must be full of confidence, if now is not a good time to bring him back, then there simply isnt going to be one. But to not try it when we are so clearly lacking altenative attacking options is just odd. If it doesnt work, then so what? We're headed for League One anyway, and while he is part of our squad and part of our wage bill he should be here helping out, and in my view, there is no counter argument to that which will make me feel any different about it.
If, however, you think that he should not bring him back and that Tilly has a valid reason for not doing so, I can then only assume you are on some level criticising the management of this club for wasting £250,000 of our precious transfer fund on someone who doesnt cut the mustard and doesnt have the mental strength to come back here and prove the doubters wrong? Which one is it?
