Coyle on Talksport now

[89bwfc89]

It might be fine if it wasn't bollocks.

[BWFC_Insane]

Surely we have the likes of Dougie, Curtis, Lennie, Phillips and Lee to influence the young players in the right way. I'm not entirely convinced what Kevin Davies can add to that. But if they feel he can then I think it would have to be in the correct role, not just as some "overpaid bench warmer".

I think you're underestimating the differences between a player/player relationship and a player/coach relationship. There's a significant difference between those two, even though the end goal is the same.

Michael Owen was signed by Man United because they needed someone to help the younger players in the squad. They didn't need him on the pitch, which is why he played so infrequently as a starter, yet they kept him around for 3 years, presumably on a good wage. Stoke are a good side too, and they want to keep him on for a second year, even though he very rarely gets a chance to play, and even when he does he's well past his peak. Both Pulis and Ferguson want him around, not because he sells shirts, which he doesn't, or because he's a supersub, but solely because of his influence on a squad. Even though fans can't see what he is bringing to the table, the managers can and they know how invaluable it is. Del Piero hung around at Juventus for the same reason, as did quite a few other Italians like Costacurta, for example. Generally, your leaders or good influences at clubs are kept around, not for financial reasons or because they are needed on the pitch for 15 minutes every 2 months, but because they add something else to a squad, which a coach doesn't really bring.

Not that I'm arguing every old player should be given the same treatment, of course, but I do think there's a role for a club legend. Give him a deal which only sees him receive a decent wage when he gets played, and keep him around for the younger players to learn off. It's a good deal for everyone involved.

I don't know where to start with this. The bizarro citation of Michael Owen (who apparently Stoke will not be keeping next season) or the rather random naming of elderly Italian players who were still contributing to their clubs in their later years on the pitch, or the suggestion that every club legend somehow should be kept on, even if you're not intending to play them.

Where is the cut off point? And how do you know what sort of influence Kevin Davies has, or doesn't have? ESPECIALLY if he's not in the team week in week out.

I do like the idea though, that instead of using the examples of Giggs and Scholes, who still both contribute to Manchester United on the pitch (and in fact Ferguson in general has been quick to ship out "club legends" who haven't been contributing enough on the pitch) you've gone with Owen. A player who notoriously now has little time or interest for football, and really given his injuries who can blame him? What's he teaching the young players? How to spot a good racehorse? How to pick a jockey? How to start a fledgling media career when you're out for the 19th time that season with another niggling injury.

Come off it.

There are countless, countless players down the years we could have kept on for their "experience" or "influence". But it doesn't work like that. It was sad to see Bergsson go, for example. And he is a player you could really say was a true role model and professional. But when the time is up, it's up.

If Kevin Davies wants to continue his playing career, he'll want, at his age, to play relatively regularly, more often than not. I suspect if we are prepared to offer him a deal on that basis, he will stay, and part of the reason for that may be the experience and professionalism he brings. BUT I certainly don't think he'll hang around here to be a glorified mascot wheeled out like a museum for the carling cup games. And nor fecking should he. And I don't think we have a manager silly enough to offer a decent salary to someone who he doesn't see as contributing to the team.

Though I'd love to see Eddie Davies' face at the thought his money should be used to pay for that.

[Prufrock]

You could argue we've never really replaced Robbie Blake.

[Enoch]

Palace fans favourite, club legend and all round good egg Darren Ambrose, has spent this season keeping the bench warm at Birmingham!

Probably not relevant.

[bobo the clown]

You could argue we've never really replaced Robbie Blake.

[coffeymagic]

Whether Davies stays or goes will probably depend on where we are next season (apologies if this has already been said).

I think he's still good to have on the bench and, in the little time they've played together I thought him and SCD looked like they might have a good rapport.

Davies is good against defenders who treat football as a 'battle of strength', he's lost against defenders with skill and/or pace who don't get drawn into the physical side so much.

A good option on the bench and still a leader on the pitch.

Not as effective as he used to be but Marvin Sordell, David N'Gog, Craig Davies all have their chance to take his starting place. They could try scoring a few goals and making the decision for Freedman/us.

But they're not.

[BWFC_Insane]

Whether Davies stays or goes will probably depend on where we are next season (apologies if this has already been said).

I think he's still good to have on the bench and, in the little time they've played together I thought him and SCD looked like they might have a good rapport.

Davies is good against defenders who treat football as a 'battle of strength', he's lost against defenders with skill and/or pace who don't get drawn into the physical side so much.

A good option on the bench and still a leader on the pitch.

Not as effective as he used to be but Marvin Sordell, David N'Gog, Craig Davies all have their chance to take his starting place. They could try scoring a few goals and making the decision for Freedman/us.

But they're not.

Kevin Davies' last goal was in November away at Blackburn.

Since then NGog has scored 4, Craig Davies 2 and Sordell 5.

So lets be 100% clear, if you want to base it on goalscoring, they've all done more than enough to be comfortably, comfortably in front of Kevin Davies, all three of them. If you want to talk about goalscoring!

[chester white]

For the first time in his career, I thought Davies got out battled by Matthew Upson this weekend. It was a sad thing so see.

[Beefheart]

Whether Davies stays or goes will probably depend on where we are next season (apologies if this has already been said).

I think he's still good to have on the bench and, in the little time they've played together I thought him and SCD looked like they might have a good rapport.

Davies is good against defenders who treat football as a 'battle of strength', he's lost against defenders with skill and/or pace who don't get drawn into the physical side so much.

A good option on the bench and still a leader on the pitch.

Not as effective as he used to be but Marvin Sordell, David N'Gog, Craig Davies all have their chance to take his starting place. They could try scoring a few goals and making the decision for Freedman/us.

But they're not.

Kevin Davies' last goal was in November away at Blackburn.

Since then NGog has scored 4, Craig Davies 2 and Sordell 5.

So lets be 100% clear, if you want to base it on goalscoring, they've all done more than enough to be comfortably, comfortably in front of Kevin Davies, all three of them. If you want to talk about goalscoring!

Also, I'd argue, if you don't want to talk about goal scoring.

[coffeymagic]

Whether Davies stays or goes will probably depend on where we are next season (apologies if this has already been said).

I think he's still good to have on the bench and, in the little time they've played together I thought him and SCD looked like they might have a good rapport.

Davies is good against defenders who treat football as a 'battle of strength', he's lost against defenders with skill and/or pace who don't get drawn into the physical side so much.

A good option on the bench and still a leader on the pitch.

Not as effective as he used to be but Marvin Sordell, David N'Gog, Craig Davies all have their chance to take his starting place. They could try scoring a few goals and making the decision for Freedman/us.

But they're not.

Kevin Davies' last goal was in November away at Blackburn.

Since then NGog has scored 4, Craig Davies 2 and Sordell 5.

So lets be 100% clear, if you want to base it on goalscoring, they've all done more than enough to be comfortably, comfortably in front of Kevin Davies, all three of them. If you want to talk about goalscoring!

Also, I'd argue, if you don't want to talk about goal scoring.

I can see the arguments against as well as the argument for, I'm not an idiot but you can't hold up 9 goals from the un-dynamic duo(let's knock Craig Davies out of the equation given his recent arrival) as a reason to drop Kevin.

Surely even the most ardent supporter of releasing Davies must admit that the other forwards aren't doing enough in front of goal to justify an automatic place in the starting XI.

Like I say, SKD is still worth a place on the bench.

Doesn't mean he HAS to play.

[BWFC_Insane]

Whether Davies stays or goes will probably depend on where we are next season (apologies if this has already been said).

I think he's still good to have on the bench and, in the little time they've played together I thought him and SCD looked like they might have a good rapport.

Davies is good against defenders who treat football as a 'battle of strength', he's lost against defenders with skill and/or pace who don't get drawn into the physical side so much.

A good option on the bench and still a leader on the pitch.

Not as effective as he used to be but Marvin Sordell, David N'Gog, Craig Davies all have their chance to take his starting place. They could try scoring a few goals and making the decision for Freedman/us.

But they're not.

Kevin Davies' last goal was in November away at Blackburn.

Since then NGog has scored 4, Craig Davies 2 and Sordell 5.

So lets be 100% clear, if you want to base it on goalscoring, they've all done more than enough to be comfortably, comfortably in front of Kevin Davies, all three of them. If you want to talk about goalscoring!

Also, I'd argue, if you don't want to talk about goal scoring.

I can see the arguments against as well as the argument for, I'm not an idiot but you can't hold up 9 goals from the un-dynamic duo(let's knock Craig Davies out of the equation given his recent arrival) as a reason to drop Kevin.

Surely even the most ardent supporter of releasing Davies must admit that the other forwards aren't doing enough in front of goal to justify an automatic place in the starting XI.

Like I say, SKD is still worth a place on the bench.

Doesn't mean he HAS to play.

9 goals between NGog and Sordell, but they haven't played every game. In fact Sordell hasn't played for a while.

And remember thats 9 goals since Kevin Davies last scored.

So I don't see what your argument is.

They've only scored 9 so we best drop them for a player who hasn't got any in the same period? Is that REALLY what you're saying?

[coffeymagic]

You know that isn't what I'm saying. If you read what I wrote you'll see that I'm not saying that.

In simple term. I think that Kevin Davies is worth a place on the bench.

That's my opinion.

Is that clear enough?

[Wandering Willy]

You know that isn't what I'm saying. If you read what I wrote you'll see that I'm not saying that.

In simple term. I think that Kevin Davies is worth a place as a bench.

That's my opinion.

Is that clear enough?

Corrected for you.

[BWFC_Insane]

You know that isn't what I'm saying. If you read what I wrote you'll see that I'm not saying that.

In simple term. I think that Kevin Davies is worth a place on the bench.

That's my opinion.

Is that clear enough?

I don't think many, Wandering Willy apart, would disagree with that.

It was just that you chose to bring goalscoring in as an argument for why Davies should be in ahead of the rest, that I found a bit bizarre!

[Wandering Willy]

Then you'd be wrong.

[BWFC_Insane]

Then you'd be wrong.

Wrong on which part? You think he's worth a place on the bench? Apologies if so!

[CAPSLOCK]

I want him out of the club

Alice Cooper had it reet

[coffeymagic]

I want him out of the club

Alice Cooper had it reet

To elaborate on the simple then. Listen if Sordell, N'Gog or heaven forfend Eaves start scoring goals week-in-week-out (y'know like other strikers do) I'd be more than happy to roll Kevin Davies up in a carpet and chuck him off a bridge.

We've had strikers who score but don't do anything else. We have strikers that do everything else but don't score.

I'd love one who did plenty of everything and scores.

Who's going to stake a claim for that roll eh?

[BWFC_Insane]

I want him out of the club

Alice Cooper had it reet

To elaborate on the simple then. Listen if Sordell, N'Gog or heaven forfend Eaves start scoring goals week-in-week-out (y'know like other strikers do) I'd be more than happy to roll Kevin Davies up in a carpet and chuck him off a bridge.

We've had strikers who score but don't do anything else. We have strikers that do everything else but don't score.

I'd love one who did plenty of everything and scores.

Who's going to stake a claim for that roll eh?

In Kevin Davies we've a striker who doesn't score and doesn't do much else anymore and can't run.

In NGog we've a striker who isn't a great finisher, is never going to get 20 a season, but does a lot outside the box, and a lot of running.

In Craig Davies we've a bit of an unknown. Looks a bustler and harrier and worker with a few goals in him.

In Sordell we look to have a goalscorer who is fairly useless at everything else.

Thats the bottom line IMO.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I certainly don't think he'll hang around here to be a glorified mascot wheeled out like a museum

Sod the KD discussion – I wanna see this museum on wheels...