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David Ball (Radcliffe | England)

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Posted December 30, 2024 21:17 · last edited December 30, 2024 21:23

number8
We are questioning Ball missing on the field not because we play fast transition football and we think he is the right fit. We questioning Ball’s return for a lack of believe on the field because many of us think his experience as a senior player could lift the squad overall.

I would agree with the above.  At the time of the interview Chiefy said he treats Ball as he would anyone else, and he needs to compete for his spot.  
If the speed, fitness or conditioning are an issue, Chiefy could say "OK, he does not have 90 min in him anymore" - and that would be fair.  But what he is saying (or not saying, which is even worse) is that Ball does not offer him anything, even  as a potential sub likely to win us games late. 
But I think that what David Ball could still offer right now is a better footballing brain on the field of play. A better understanding of where other players are and where they can be next minute.  He is better at that than at least some of the newer players that we expect to win games for us right now. For my money, he could still do that from 60-70 minute of the game, more than any youngster could. If I am being overly optimistic (since we have not seen him on the field in months) feel free to disagree.
This all makes me think it is a simple question of Ball getting in the way of young player promotion, development and sell-off down the track, if he takes a space on the bench. It has nothing to do with us winning games.

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Unknown editor edited December 30, 2024 21:23
number8
We are questioning Ball missing on the field not because we play fast transition football and we think he is the right fit. We questioning Ball’s return for a lack of believe on the field because many of us think his experience as a senior player could lift the squad overall.

I would agree with the above.  At the time of the interview Chiefy said he treats Ball as he would anyone else, and he needs to compete for his spot.  
If the speed, fitness or conditioning are an issue, Chiefy could say "OK, he does not have 90 min in him anymore" - and that would be fair.  But what he is saying (or not saying, which is even worse) is that Ball does not offer him anything as a potential sub likely to win games late. 
But I think that what David Ball could still offer right now is a better footballing brain on the field of play. A better understanding of where other players are and where they can be next minute.  He is better at that than at least some of the newer players that we expect to win games for us right now. 
This makes me think it is a simple question of Ball getting in the way of young player promotion, development and sell-off down the track, if he takes a space on the bench. It has nothing to do with us winning games.
Unknown editor edited December 30, 2024 21:20
number8
We are questioning Ball missing on the field not because we play fast transition football and we think he is the right fit. We questioning Ball’s return for a lack of believe on the field because many of us think his experience as a senior player could lift the squad overall.

I would agree with the above.  At the time of the interview Chiefy said he treats Ball as he would anyone else, and he needs to compete for his spot.  
If the speed, fitness or conditioning are an issue, Chiefy could say "OK, he does not have 90 min in him anymore" - and that would be fair.  But what he is saying (or not saying, which is even worse) is that Ball does not offer him anything as a potential sub likely to win games late. This makes me think it is a simple question of Ball getting in the way of young player promotion, development and sell-off down the track, if he takes a space on the bench. It has nothing to do with us winning games.
What David Ball could offer right now is a better footballing brain on the field of play. A better understanding of where other players are and where they can be next minute.  He is better at that than at least some of the newer players that we expect to win games for us right now. 
Unknown editor edited December 30, 2024 21:19
number8
We are questioning Ball missing on the field not because we play fast transition football and we think he is the right fit. We questioning Ball’s return for a lack of believe on the field because many of us think his experience as a senior player could lift the squad overall.

I would agree with the above.  At the time of the interview Chiefy said he treats Ball as he would anyone else, and he needs to compete for his spot.  What David Ball could offer right now is a better footballing brain on the field of play than at least some of the newer players that we expect to win games for us right now. 
If the speed, fitness or conditioning are an issue, Chiefy could say "OK, he does not have 90 min in him anymore" - and that would be fair.  But what he is saying (or not saying, which is even worse) is that Ball does not offer him anything as a potential sub likely to win games late. This makes me think it is a simple question of Ball getting in the way of young player promotion, development and sell-off down the track, if he takes a space on the bench. It has nothing to do with us winning games.