What The Hell Was That?!!

[Merv]

Pabird, perhaps you could let me know where you have read any of my match reports where I am guilty of "...being severely critical of individuals in earlier games." I have made many general comments about poor team performances, but individuals? Perhaps there's a problem with the cache on your computer.

 

You may not have liked the comments I made about the Aveley game, where I wrote, "On 52 minutes Bertie Brayley came on for Scott Forbes and, suddenly, Canvey seemed to click into life. When Lee Protheroe came on for Craig Davidson 8 minutes later the transformation was just about complete. With some speed introduced down the left, the service started coming through to the front line and Smith now found himself quite busy." However, that was my (subjective) view of the game and not intended as a direct criticism of any individual player.

 

The other report where I 'let rip' was the Slough FA Cup game, but again, there is no direct criticism of any individual player although I do go to some lengths to air my views on the perforance of the team as a whole. I make no apology for writing, "There can be no excuse for players who so obviously lack pace and are beaten to the ball regularly; for players who fight shy of tackles and let attack after attack through or for players who simply can't distribute a ball, so that hardly any attacking situations get set up." Note, I was very careful not to name any player by name.

 

Please re-read my reports and let me know where you think I have been severely critical of individual players.

[pabird]

I never said that I had any argument with you stating the facts as you see them

Certainly no argument with the particular match report you quote

I was stating that you had felt it was not good to mug individuals (my words) as it would effect their morale whereas you have done exactly that in the past

In effect I was saying why? hold back now

You have said individual players "did not seem up for the game" IE lack of character

You have said players lacked pace required at this level

enough said

 

[Merv]

Now let's be fair pabird. You said, of me, "...we have (strongly) been critical of individuals this season in reports." You also accuse me of, "...being severely critical of individuals."

 

And yet all you could find in something like 20,000 words of match report written by me this season is that a named player did not seem up for the game and that an unspecified player lacked pace at this level.

 

I think we must have very different ideas of what criticism really is. Strongly? Severely? Come off it.

 

When writing a report I try hard to stick to my rule that I don't write anything about an individual that I would not be prepared to say to him, face to face, should I meet him in the bar.

 

Being honest and yet at the same time remaining tactful has proved to be very difficult this season as so many of the performances have been below par and we all know it (Tuesday was a good example). However, I try extremely hard to avoid 'severe' or 'strong' criticism about individuals. In fact it's rare for me to even name a player when making a negative point of view. The other 'rule of thumb' I try to follow is that for every negative comment, I try to make three positives.

 

I'm glad you couldn't find any real examples of 'severe' or 'strong' criticism in the way your postings imply. It proves I must be getting it at least partly right.

 

[CANV EFM]

if a player has a mare then fair enough.. it happens..

if the team fk up, big deal thats football..

if a player cant be arsed then anyone who paid 9 quid is more than entitled to voice their opinion, either on the terrace, on here, in the bar, wherever...

i dont agree with 'dont say it unless you say it to their face' if its justified criticism...

unless that is, the players who cant be arsed to play in the yellow want to stand at the turnstile and collect the money from every one face to face..

[Merv]

Agree with all you say, Canv. If you pay your dosh, you are entitled to have your say. It's in my personal situation, as webmaster, that I won't say anything in a match report that I wouldn't be prepared to repeat face to face.

 

To run the website well, I need to earn a certain amount of respect and trust from the club. I depend on Frances, Wayne and Keith (and others) keeping me up to date with signings, fixture news and gossip, etc. We scratch each other's backs when I provide publicity or take photographs. If I want to work closely with the club in this way, I have to walk that fine line between truth and tact, referred to earlier. Difficult for me to go onto the pitch and ask Ross Johnson for his photo if I have called him a [****!!****] in an earlier match report.

 

For the fans on the terrace, who don't rely on this 'special relationship', I totally agree with your point of view. You pay your £9 and that entitles you to voice an opinion - which you do admirably, I might add. I have no agument with you there.

 

My disagreement with pabird is that he is saying that I am guilty of severe and strong criticism of individual players. If that is true, I am disappointed in myself because I have tried very hard to avoid that situation.

[Basil-Don]

I think the criticism Merv is getting is grossly unfair,i think we all agree he does a brilliant job with the match report and i cant ever remember him criticising individuals,and we must appreciate his position with the club when reporting on games.

I also agree with CANV that the rest of us pay our 9 quid and have every right to criticise players who are not giving their all for the club,so come on lay off Merv and give him some support for the great job he does!

[CANV EFM]

i think Merz does a A1 job, probably the best in the league (and a good few other leagues as well) with matts help.. and also his last point is exceptionally valid, concerning his priveliged access to information

[Matt H]

Cheers CANV!!

 

Merv is away visiing his Father in Bristol today, so it's my turn to write the report. I'll be keeping all these comments in mind while I'm typing away tonight. But hopefully after today's game there won't be anything to criticise!!

 

COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!!!

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

[CANV EFM]

looks bruddy cold out there as well.. wheres that hip flask..