td53
Well-known member
It's so subtle that it's statistically evident over the course of his career. On Tuesday alone, he won 6 aerial duels and probably several more balls he took on his chest. He turned the ball round the corner to make our only chance, when CJ crossed and eventually Carey put it wide. I'm not going to argue that other players in football don't have better skills, or make use of the ball better (though he's very aware in general of what is around him) but he has a singular, statistically verifiable ability to win possession of a ball in the air against a defender (or defensively against an attacker) - that's not glamorous or especially thrilling to watch, but it's nonetheless one of the few aspects of our squad, where we have a player who you can rely on, week after week to be better at *something* than most other players in the league. Ultimately, that's why, despite all his other shortcomings, manager after manager has ended up relying on Gaz and not a more well rounded player who lacks a stand out attribute.I'm sorry but I don't see this. It's like the 'he's good at physicality' trope too. Just not true but I understand some will clamour not to be wholly negative about a Pool stalwart. Feels like clutching at straws to me.
I watched the Liverpool away Prem game on DVD last night. Missed it first time around as it was my son's christening that day, we decided to watch it together for the first time yesterday. Now that first half was a masterclass in holding long balls up or ensuring they are headed to another Pool player. DJ and Varney mostly finding each other, even when being jostled by taller players and being ten plus yards apart. Yet it hardly ever gets mentioned as there were so many other elements to that performance which were so good as well eg the pressing and slick passing/movement.
We really do need to disabuse ourselves of the idea that GM offers rare and unique abilities, so subtle that they mostly go unseen by the untrained eye.
We need to disabuse ourselves of absurd notion that without Beesley for the season that we can survive relying entirely on two strikers who are similar in style in Lavery and Yates, neither of whom offer a lot in the air.
Gary should have been plan B - the Burnley game was absolutely textbook in terms of how we should have used madine - 30 minutes of intense physicality. He terrified their defence.
I know I have built a mildly comic persona based on Gaz but if I'm utterly objective, it's definitely time for Gary to move on in summer unless he's going to accept a bit part role and move into coaching (which I'm not sure is his destiny) - but till then, he is literally our only forward who can win the ball regularly if we go direct - which we will and will have to at times.
The idea that somehow we can always be a slick one touch passing side if we just chuck all the flair on and that's all we need to do in every minute of every game is fanciful at best. Yes, Poveda has had a couple of games. Yes Rogers looks quite handy, Yes, Bowler is Bowler and yes, Mick, please don't waste that, but we sure as hell could do with a few cameos like Burnley where he comes on and changes the direction of the game utterly, or few games like Coventry where he's the fulcrum of everything because his centre back just can't get round him.
He's a daft sod. He's got a lot of flaws. He's an odd player in a lot of ways. (that's why I like him - cos he doesn't really make sense as a modern forward but sort of works nonetheless - at least sometimes)
He could also be as big a part in us staying up as anyone else.