Quote[/b] (fbm @ May 17 2004,22:44)]
[b said:
Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ May 17 2004,20:25)]
[b said:
Quote[/b] (shrimpboy @ May 17 2004,19:19)]Bl**dy hell, Matt! What's with all the stats!
The best way to disprove an argument is to do it with facts, not clever theories.
FBM argued that the consistent factor in our mediocre midfield displays over the last 5 years is Kevin Maher.
I sought to prove, instead, that the consisent factor in our mediocre midfield displays over the last 5 years is
not Kevin Maher, but the sub-standard partners for Kevin Maher.
It is up to the good people of SZ to decide whether my proposition or FBM's is the more accurate.
I would argue, in my favour, that now that Maher has got a good midifield playing alongside him, the team has definitely started to move forward and look like a good outfit.
There you have it...
Matt
Gauntlet well and truly thrown down then Matt.
Well, in a strange sort of way, your argument for Kevin Maher actually backs up mine against.
I shall explain.
Let me first state that I totally agree with your comments regarding previous midfields, the majority of which have contained some really dodgy players. Maher has been one of the most consistent performers over the last 3/4 seasons, and as I said earlier, previous managers have made him the kingpin and built teams around him.
This is probably because his midfield partners were not quite up to his standard. But now, as you say, we have much more talent in the middle of the park.
So should a team still be built around him?
Definitely not. He is no longer the main man in the midfield. I would say that falls on Gower, who is by far the most creative of our midfield. He is not as industrious as Kev, but Gower has laid on or scored more goals this season than Kev has in his whole career.
Even in the centre, Bentley is more box-to-box than Maher, and has scored more in half a season than Kev has in a whole season.
Jay Smith is a different prospect altogether, and to be honest when he was on top of his game before his injury he was getting goals, winning MOTM awards regularly and making Maher look ordinary.
Fullarton, when he was here, was more vocal and encouraging than Maher, although I don't think we ever saw the best of him, and of course now never will.
So, in amongst the ordinary midfields of the past, Kev has been the kingpin. He has supplied corners and free kicks that have led to goals.
But then he has taken 90% of them. And most of them are either woeful or predictable.
He has certainly given 110% every game, I cannot take that away from him.
But I guess the point is that in the poor or average midfields of the past he failed to create chances, score goals, or lay that incisive pass inside the full back for the wingers or forwards to chase.
And now, in a talented and promising midfield, he STILL fails to create chances, score goals, or lay that incisive pass inside the full back etc etc.
So what's changed?
His teammates. His game is the same, and the end product from his play is unchanged. It's just that others are now doing the jobs that others should have been doing before and didn't.
That to me does not underline an argument to keep Kev as a kingpin in this much more promising team.
As a captain, my views on him are well known I would imagine. He leads by example when the going is good; when it gets tough he cannot rally the troops.
Since Christmas his form has been excellent - the best form since he has been here, undoubtably. Kev the player I would be sorry to see leave. But Kev the captain and kingpin? I now think we have more - and better - options.
In a team containing Gower, Constantine, Smith and Dudfield, why build a team around anyone? There are enough personnel with sufficient diversification of assets and abilities to cause most Div 3 teams a lot of problems next year. Grimsby will be tough, otherwise I don't think we need fear any of the relegated teams.
Chester and Shrewsbury will be on highs and I would imagine will have good seasons next year.
But otherwise I predict that we will be up there, Kev or no Kev. And that is because of his teammates, not him.