Chippy
Well-known member
- Joined
- 9 Jul 2022
- Messages
- 1,551
Interesting point, but on that basis you could argue you’d be reassured if we signed a Sam Long but sceptical about a Greg Leigh?I've heard that argument plenty, but I still haven't seen the evidence to actually back it up. How many of these 'calculated risks' actually pay off?
I don't believe that quality and reliability are on competing sliding scales either. You really can have both.
As you say, it could be those on the way up. Who's to say Goodrham, Rodrigues and Dale are not more naturally gifted than Murphy, Edwards and Browne? It feels like there's always the assumption that because a player has played at a higher level already that they are inherently more gifted and therefore some sort of luxury. There was nothing luxurious about Jamie Hanson, or about Yanic Wildschut.
It could also still be those on the way down too - we have a perfect case in point in James Henry. However, the crucial difference with his signing is that he had been historically reliable and a regular throughout his career. No gamble. A sensible signing of quality.
And I know it was in jest, but a policy of making signings based on appearance records is no bad idea.The evidence is almost always there.
It's why I'll continue to be sceptical whenever we sign a Tyler Burey, and why I'll always be reassured when we sign an Owen Dale.
It is about getting the right fit and balance and only having a minimal number of risks, rather than a minimal number of safe bets which is the way we’ve unfortunately gone for too many years.