Lion-in-exile
Well-known member
We've gotta plan??
George Long
- Thread starter Lionsteele
- Start date
northern lion
Well-known member
With Long leaving on a free transfer, to me something does not quite add up. I’m sure there are issues behind the scenes that we are not aware of yet. Maybe someone on here with a contact inside the club, might find out the true picture of events.
champs08
Well-known member
Agree. It’s not normal for a settled team to axe the number 1 between the sticks in such ruthless fashion without upsetting the applecart. Whatever fans thought, his team mates in front of him would’ve had his back. He’s now gone in a heart beat and we’ve a new unproven keeper turn up. It’s very very strange.
Ilderton Wanderer
Well-known member
Nothing odd about it at all, the club have done the same thing with other players in the past. It’s a mutual agreement, the player wants to leave, the club are happy to let him go and get a player off the wage bill.
I’m pretty certain that Long would have been aware that we were looking for a new keeper over the summer and his agent would have been sussing out a new club for him in the meantime. In the end everyone’s happy.
I’m pretty certain that Long would have been aware that we were looking for a new keeper over the summer and his agent would have been sussing out a new club for him in the meantime. In the end everyone’s happy.
Murray Wallace then the new keeper.
Life with the Lions
Well-known member
Yep, I think that’s pretty much it!
Whether it was the last ten games or so, or it was over most of last season, Rowett could see that Long wasn’t that much of an upgrade on Bart, so the die was cast. A new keeper would be needed and maybe Rowett wanted to get his new No. 1 in place before pre season started, but nothing presented itself until Sarkic became available?
He'll get a chance now after all those calling for Bart have gone very quiet since his nightmare showing against Reading. They must feel like a right bunch of fools. Bart would have,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Look at all of those appearences and not a single goal! What a waste of money!
northern lion
Well-known member
You may well be right. However GW apparently knew him when was at Birmingham so that was why he was brought in. Just like some other players he has brought in, who have worked with him before. So obviously knew his ability.
If Barts performance against Reading is anything to go by he was a huge upgrade. The poor bloke looks shot to bits. It's a shame the experts on here didn't know that, or our best fans in the world that stood behind the goal and abused him game after game.
Saxon Lion
Well-known member
Who do you support mate - you keep saying “your” - instead of our players?
Ilderton Wanderer
Well-known member
Knew who? Long? Long never played for Birmingham or for Rowett before he joined Millwall.
We signed Long from Hull, he was at Sheffield united prior to that and a few loan clubs but never Birmingham.
northern lion
Well-known member
Apologies, I thought I saw a reference that there was a connection before he signed with us. I should have checked beforehand.
Life with the Lions
Well-known member
I meant an upgrade on Bart after Long took over from him last season!
Rowett must have seen something not right about Bart for him to replace him with Long in the first place!
Ilderton Wanderer
Well-known member
No worries. You might have got mixed up with Sarkic who did play for Birmingham a couple of years ago and has previously worked with Andy Marshall our goalkeeping coach who was a factor in him joining us.
They do see them in training everyday. You are correct in my opinion. Maybe he wasn't as quick agility wise which is understandable cause age catches up with every man. Many said Long was chosen over Bart purley for his distribution so that may well be the truth although it seems a bit odd and drastic to me. I mean would a manager opt for a keeper for tactical reasons? One who is perhaps weak in some deprtments and the lessar keeper of the two just because he can kick better? Seems a bit self defeating to me but what would i know.
Football is no longer jumpers for goalposts stuff. As we spoke about on another thread, it's all very scientific and stats based now. Lots of number crunching and theoretical scenarios. Can imagine it must be very frustrating for a manager when has to make changes which are essentially forced on him.
We see players who are playing well in a game hooked off for what us fans think is no logical reason and bad decision making. But a manager will have been told and may well be getting a nudge from the physio telling him that the player has done his lot and liable to injury should he play more than the suggested minutes.
I know the managment have data at hand which tells them at what point a certain player is likely to slow down, be susceptible to muscle tears, strains and injury of a certain limb/groin/ tendon etc. Managers rarley take off players who are threat for no apparent reason.
You often see the assistants in the dugout fervently scrolling through their ipads and showing it to the manager. It's clear that he isn't the only one making the decisions and certainly ones that are outside of tactical ones.
Nothing in the world seems simplistic or straight forward anymore and football is no different. This is coming from a man that thinks a laptop only needs and should only have three buttons. Porn- Football- Music
Make that four- A MO button so we can all argue, scrap and sometimes agree over our beloved Millwall.
King of The Jungle
Well-known member
Can't stop laughing!
