Since the other thread got closed....
Always great to see him back playing and more importantly affecting the game with his presence today by all accounts. Obviously still loads of question marks there but if IF we could somehow manage him and get the best of him for 30 odd games from the bench this year... could change our season... or alternatively in 3 games time he's back on the shelf and normal service resumes???
Its the hope that bloody kills you ain't it!
18
Comments
Nobody has ever questioned his ability as far as I can recall.
But that makes the complete frustration even worse as we know what he CAN do on his day and, crucially, when he's fit.
But we've been down this road many many times before.
I think we all hope he stays fit, plays more games and scores goals.
If we could keep him relatively fit for a whole season I think you'd see a big change in the latter. I know we are questioning the wealth of our ownership but if I was them I would move heaven and earth to keep him fit.
Maybe not hated but certainly despised and reviled by some and seen as faking or taking advantage of his injuries by others.
Glad for him personally that he's back playing.
He should be a super sub for us given the above. He can change games.
Needs a top sports psychologist to convince him he can start matches. He’s way better than Mikes is at this stage of his development, and would be awesome alongside May.
If he can come on as sub with 30 minutes to go on a regular basis then I think that's as good as it gets.
Wish him all the best in both aspects. I wasn't expecting to see him play yesterday and hope that whatever Appleton does helps Chicks continue with a run in the first team that helps improve both parts of his football.
Mind you, acknowledging the truth of your point about the Twitter crowd, I wouldn’t rule out that some of them are the same people🤣🤣
btw I thought his body profile looked a bit different yesterday- but more than likely it was just the black kit.
Chunks of the crowd are pleased to seem him on the bench because he's more popular than Charlie Kirk and might have an impact - even if it's only one impact before breaking down again - in contrast to Kirk who could turn out for 110 minutes every week and never come close to making and impact
That's not so much "a low bar" as the total absence of expectation
Brings to mind professional misery guts, poet and balladeer: the late great Leonard Cohen. When asked in an interview how he felt about being branded a pessimist he replied "I think those descriptions of me are quite inappropriate to the gravity of the predicament that faces us all."
I don't think there is something massively wrong with being pleased that an injured player is back and hoping he can make a success of himself this season after what has been a terrible 18 month spell. I don't think there is a fan among us that wouldn't love to see him being able to start games and affecting our season positively - but saying that i think fans are being realistic in their expectations and i don't think that indicates what you are suggesting in my view.