News Discussion and Football Blogging

Billy Harris: a thread of mediocrity

421 replies · 62,071 views
about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Dewhurst was funny when it was on screen during the game. 

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
paulm wrote:
what did the banner say i only caught the '48 years' bit
hungus to find out what it said bro, hook me up
 
I only caught the mediocrity bit....so assumed it was Halberg related.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Tegal wrote:
Leggy wrote:
Before the game today Paul Ifill said that the Nix performance this year had been pretty average.
So for all the people that bagged Bill H, maybe you will believe Paul I.
Did he say our entire existance was mediocre (below average)? No? Then yeah...this is awkward...
 
The dictionary definition of mediocre is "ordinary" or "average", yet somehow mediocre seems to be a bit more loaded in terms of its negative connotations.  The tone of the article was predominantly negative - but the headline was poor - and I kept wondering what adjective he'd ever use for the Kingz or the Knights.  Phoenix are light years better than those two dismal appallling horrible pathetic auckland teams ever were.  To be fair also, it's doubtful he came up with the headline. 
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Was this really that bad? He was correct when he says the season was a disappointment. Overall, the Phoenix have been solid but not brilliant.

The thing I did want to point out is people should never read the headline and jump to a conclusion. The headline is by far the worst part of this article but it is incredibly rare for the writer of the article to also write the headline. Headlines are written for provocation and often barely reflect the sentiment's of the actual article.

So nice banner, guys, but Harris never called the Phoenix mediocre in the article. The only person who did was the anonymous person who wrote the headline. William2011-02-15 19:38:42
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Never let the facts.....oh.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
William - are you suggesting that we ignore the headline and concentrate on the content?

Does the headline set the tone for the article or is it just a "Tits and Bums, A weekly look at church architecture" approach?

Either way you wish to argue it is shabby journalism on the part of the writer or the editor.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Junior82 wrote:
William - are you suggesting that we ignore the headline and concentrate on the content?

Does the headline set the tone for the article or is it just a "Tits and Bums, A weekly look at church architecture" approach?

Either way you wish to argue it is shabby journalism on the part of the writer or the editor.


To your first question, yes but I think the headline is terrible. I just don't think it accurately sums up the message of the article or that it is far to criticize Billy Harris for something he probably didn't say.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
William?

Bill?

Billy?

Is it really you?

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The article has received nine pages more discussion than it deserves.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Another 41 and we'll get another article in the Dom Post

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
So. Are you saying William, It Was Really Nothing.....

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I know it probably is the case but no where did it say that Billy Harris did not write the headline. Your average reader is not going to assume that are they. It was credited to him so he can take the criticism. That's the game he's in.
Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The headline is also written after the article,therefore reflects the tone of it.

Allegedly

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Without commenting the article - reporters/columnists hardly ever (if ever at all) write the headlines to their own stories. So having a go at Harris for the headline is stupid. By all means comment on the content you can actually attribute to him.

As you were.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Of course Granny H would NEVER stoop to tabloid headings?

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Junior82 wrote:
Of course Granny H would NEVER stoop to tabloid headings?


Correct.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feels like a Frankie game here somewhere.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Footpaul wrote:
Without commenting the article - reporters/columnists hardly ever (if ever at all) write the headlines to their own stories. So having a go at Harris for the headline is stupid. By all means comment on the content you can actually attribute to him.As you were.
Like I said, not many people know that. To most people the headline is credited to him as his name is on the article, so those people's initial reaction is going to reflect the 'tone' of the article - headline included. Most of the angst here is probably from people unaware of that or were unaware at the time.

I guess that's the nature of the game?

Maybe they should have a fine print:

Headlines are not actually written by the columnists
Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Meh,I'm aware headlines aren't often written by them. But the article was still pretty bad from an ex player.

Way to promote the sport. There were a million positive things he Couldve chosen to write about for our 100 games,but he chose that for some reason.

The headline reflected the tone of the article.

But yeah over it now.

Allegedly

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
It must have been love (it must have been lo-o-ove)
But it's OVER now (but it's over now)
It must have been good,
But  I lost it somehow...
 
Make believing we're together
That I'm sheltered by your heart
But in and outside I turn to water
Like a teardrop in your palm

And it's a hard winter's day
I dream away...
I like tautologies because I like them.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
no article today?
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
2ndBest wrote:
no article today?
 
yes..glanced at it this morning.

A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
This mornings article was just playing a game of 'lets point out the obvious'. Nothing special.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
E + R + O

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
phoenix_luver wrote:
This mornings article was just playing a game of 'lets point out the obvious'. Nothing special.


yep, that's how read it
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
another Billy article

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/4736910/Phoenix-reveal-a-talent-for-exporting-talent

I thought Marco was from the Waikato?
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Where does it say in the article that he's not from the Waikato?
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
That article didn't really say anything at all. Pretty pointless.


Allegedly

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Although


Despite the team lurching along from one poor result to another, crying out for a dose of X-factor, Rojas was given virtually no game time until injuries to others gave coach Ricki Herbert no choice but to field him."

Why do people conveniently forget that he was injured?

Allegedly

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Because:

A, that wouldn't support the particular band-wagon they are pushing.
B, They are only experts since he's been a success and have no idea what occured before then.
C, The art of editorial fact checking is dead in this country.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

it's the usually pointless article stating rthe obvious, and neglecting the even more obvious. ie Marco being injured for half his contract - which would make any coach/manager nervous about signing him long term.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Billy Harris showing once again that he is completely uninformed about anything to do with the Phoenix. I know it's an opinion piece but the average punter reading the paper will take it as news.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:
Where does it say in the article that he's not from the Waikato?
 
read a line about the wellingtonian but it was referring to Kosta not Marco.  oops
 
 
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
ScoobyD wrote:
Billy Harris showing once again that he is completely uninformed about anything to do with the Phoenix. I know it's an opinion piece but the average punter reading the paper will take it as news.

Yeah, terribly uniformed.

Probably shows that he is not reading the forums.
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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

The contrast between this week's Billy Harris column and this excellent effort from Michael Brown in the Herald couldn't be starker:

 
I know I've posted this link elsewhere already but it is a great piece, by far the most comprehensive and level-headed analysis of the Rojas situation so far.
 
In particular he makes some excellent points that provide some balance to the whole "OMG Marco Rojas is a f**king genius, why oh why didn't the Nix sign him to a lifetime contract at childbirth" brigade.
 
Michael Brown wrote:
Stories emerged last week that Rojas wanted out after his first season at the Phoenix because he wasn't getting enough opportunities. He played four games that season, all off the bench, and was underwhelming. Why would the club believe he was worthy of more, especially when so well catered for down the flanks where he shone this year? He was also said to be a poor trainer, often absent sick or injured.

Negotiations for a new contract did not start until December 2010, when it was clear Rojas was something special, but Rodi is understood to have delayed talks to see what else was out there. He is understood to have later told the club Marco would re-sign with the Phoenix or go offshore to play in a different league.

It needs to be remembered Rojas has played only 21 A-League games and started just 10. He was excellent in some of them, particularly in Wellington, and was one of the reasons why the Phoenix made the playoffs. But he failed to flatter away from home and opposition players will be better equipped to deal with him next season.

 

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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I am a huge fan of Michael Brown's work.

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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about 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
"Though the boy looks like he should be working at McDonald's for $15 an hour" $15 an hour!? at least he has faith that Marco could be a manager.
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