Oh dear. It seems my positive opinion of you was somewhat misplaced. Surely we can disagree on the merits of Carey without you resorting to ridiculous suggestions about the style of football I enjoy.
Having watched Pool play in all 4 divisions more than once, for me, a huge difference between levels is the awareness and speed of thought of good players, to add to any technical skill they may possess.
Carey looked like he'd be better off in the Peter Pan 11 earlier this season.
Come now, surely you know by now that I always have one player who is beyond critique!
I would agree that he had a spell (a short spell fwiw) earlier this season when he looked lost. He hasn't played like that for months though and what I've seen of late (both in this spell and his earlier spell before Morgan (who I agree is a very good player and probably ahead of Sonny if you're only picking one of them)) took his place) has been a player who has wanted the ball and looked to do something with it and actually created most of what we've done in the last three games.
Earlier in the year I think he'd really lost a sense of what he was there to do - which, to be honest, after being played at 21 in the championship as a defensive midfielder with Patino for company the season before was probably not a great surprise. I think it's taken him some time to find his game again - some experienced players - Connolly for example, Marvin perhaps as another to an extent (though he's playing well now) have had similar crisis of confidence.
Like any player, there is a level of uncertainty about how good they actually are - but having also watched us in all 4 divisions (though sadly, only the lower leagues multiple times) I rate Carey as he has a certain quality to him that I think is quite elusive. I've gone through it above. Sometimes he doesn't always execute his skills perfectly, but my god, I'd rather he tried to be that player instead of trying to be an identikit midfielder.
I generally like players who are a bit idiosycratic - who don't always fit the mould of their position or whatever, so perhaps it's that to an extent but none the less, I think he's a positive force and if we're to have future as a club as a moulder and developer of young players then Carey is absolutely vital to persist with.
What I really dislike is that he's become a sort of symbol for 'what is wrong' and I think that's really unfair because I don't think he's 'what is wrong' at all. I think he's a player that for whatever reason it is, some have taken against. Similar in a way to how every flippin' week on here there was a 'Kaikai is the problem' thread.
I'm only teasing with the 1872 stuff, just as I'm only teasing with the Neil Bishop stuff. I actually like players like Bishop. You need a bit of all sorts to make a good team and the Bishps and the Careys need to be moulded into a whole effectively by a manager.
