Darlo Uncovered

non-contract defender

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers ... lex-storey

Looks a good signing welcome to the club Alex Storey

Given the current crop of injuries, looks like a good fit & a chance for him to get a contract if he does well for us.

Darlopartisan wrote:Looks a good signing welcome to the club Alex Storey

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Looks promising

We picked David Ferguson up from Shildon, I believe, after his release from a league club. That would be a nice precedent.

Does anybody know what position does he normally play? He doesn't look very happy in the picture does he?

Well, you didn't look very happy on Saturday but I know you were!

Darlo_Pete wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:51 pm

Does anybody know what position does he normally play? He doesn't look very happy in the picture does he?

He's a CB.

Which I guess means Laing is out for longer than was hoped?

Our centre backs will get a real test from Billy Heath's 'Bang it high into the box' boys on Saturday. Throw-ins, freekicks and corners will be hurled in there at every opportunity. We may well need some back-up.

JE93 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:04 pm

Darlo_Pete wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:51 pm

Does anybody know what position does he normally play? He doesn't look very happy in the picture does he?

He's a CB.

Which I guess means Laing is out for longer than was hoped?

Possibly, and certainly from Armstrong's interview today Laing's injury sounds a little more longer-term than he hoped.

AA mentioned about having Trotman, Holmes and Atkinson out, with Laing added to that. No suggestion that Laing is really serious, but I doubt he'll be back for Alfreton, and maybe a little beyond that as well, reading between the lines. But I could be reading too much into that.

Storey will give us cover - probably Watson and Galbraith will still be first choice but at least we have back up, who is low risk in terms of finances.

Darlogramps wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 7:20 pm

JE93 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:04 pm

Darlo_Pete wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:51 pm

Does anybody know what position does he normally play? He doesn't look very happy in the picture does he?

He's a CB.

Which I guess means Laing is out for longer than was hoped?

Possibly, and certainly from Armstrong's interview today Laing's injury sounds a little more longer-term than he hoped.

AA mentioned about having Trotman, Holmes and Atkinson out, with Laing added to that. No suggestion that Laing is really serious, but I doubt he'll be back for Alfreton, and maybe a little beyond that as well, reading between the lines. But I could be reading too much into that.

Storey will give us cover - probably Watson and Galbraith will still be first choice but at least we have back up, who is low risk in terms of finances.

Just listened to Alun's interview. Sounds about right to me and as you say low risk. By the sounds of if it's the kind of thing he had planned with Holliday and Bell (to dual register them with another club) to get experience but injuries have meant they were needed as cover on the bench. Bit similar to Jack Vaulks last season being dual registered at Pickering.

The lad certainly has pedigree, been at Sunderland since he was a kid and Boro had a look at him in the summer. Best of luck to him.

It must be a nightmare for Armstrong, trying to get a settled team and I assume worrying when training in case any players get a knock. We cant just go and get players due to finances, but looks like he is working to bring young players in he can develop within our budget constraints. Once everyone is back bet this team delivers. He must be pulling his hair out.

I’d recommend listening to his interview on the website. He sounds immensely frustrated, understandably so. Some have been quick to criticise because of our slow start, but the effect of the injuries must be considered because it’s clearly having a big impact.

He also says he’s 70-80% there with the squad he wants. This season was always going to be a transitional one. Once he can finally get the likes of Burn and Ainge shipped out, and can bring in more cover in defence and a more physical forward, we’ll be just about there. But it’s not going to happen immediately so patience is needed.

Darlogramps wrote:I’d recommend listening to his interview on the website. He sounds immensely frustrated, understandably so. Some have been quick to criticise because of our slow start, but the effect of the injuries must be considered because it’s clearly having a big impact.

He also says he’s 70-80% there with the squad he wants. This season was always going to be a transitional one. Once he can finally get the likes of Burn and Ainge shipped out, and can bring in more cover in defence and a more physical forward, we’ll be just about there. But it’s not going to happen immediately so patience is needed.

Totally agree here Gramps.Wouldn't mind knowing a bit more on Burn,crazy that this guy has not stepped up to the plate with all our problems, AA must have a very valid reason for excluding him from the squad.Wish we could find a club to take him but looks like he cannot give a monkeys about our club.Pathetic.

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QUAKERMAN2 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 26, 2019 2:14 pm

Darlogramps wrote:I’d recommend listening to his interview on the website. He sounds immensely frustrated, understandably so. Some have been quick to criticise because of our slow start, but the effect of the injuries must be considered because it’s clearly having a big impact.

He also says he’s 70-80% there with the squad he wants. This season was always going to be a transitional one. Once he can finally get the likes of Burn and Ainge shipped out, and can bring in more cover in defence and a more physical forward, we’ll be just about there. But it’s not going to happen immediately so patience is needed.

Totally agree here Gramps.Wouldn't mind knowing a bit more on Burn,crazy that this guy has not stepped up to the plate with all our problems, AA must have a very valid reason for excluding him from the squad.Wish we could find a club to take him but looks like he cannot give a monkeys about our club.Pathetic.

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As I've said before, I wish he would come out and say why Burn is excluded. If he has no intention of playing him, whatever our situation, then upsetting him isn't an issue. We'll then know whether or not the sniping ay Burn is justified.

I wouldn't expect that AA will want to go public in spelling out exactly what has gone on. He won't want a public airing of issues at a time when he has stated that a good spirit has been brought back to the squad. Similarly TW didn't go into the reasons why he sidelined Burn last season. If AA started making public statements about what may be sensitive matters it could also be seen to be unfair to a player who may well then want to put his own side of things into the public arena.

Maybe Burn is just sitting on his lucrative wage until he retires (from this level) at the end of the season, that would certainly piss me off

We'll never know.

Looks like Storey will line up against Alfreton as Laing is injured and Watson is missing.

it'll all come out in the wash. suspect Burns is not in the right mental state to play as opposed to physical fitness.

we're also maybe not in a position to pay up his contract yet - or it's financially better for us (cash flow) to let it run down. There may be other clubs willing to take him on - but no where near the wages he's getting from us - so no chance to move him on.

perhaps he is unable to line up a part time (non footballing job) - to then mutually end his contract with us and play part time for another club lower down the leagues?

It can be dangerous to assume anything - but I wouldn't expect a player to just walk away from their contract because they are not being picked.

Interesting article about Micah Richards on the BBC today actually about how he has spent so long trying to get fit, and whilst Villa fans think he was sat there just happy to rake in money and not play that was far from the full picture.

lo36789 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 8:56 am

....

Interesting article about Micah Richards on the BBC today actually about how he has spent so long trying to get fit, and whilst Villa fans think he was sat there just happy to rake in money and not play that was far from the full picture.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49845993 is that article. It is as you say a very interesting read.

The stand out quote for me was this one:

You don't get taught how to deal with the end of your career

Sums up for me one of the reasons why so many ex players end up in trouble with drink, drugs and or financial problems. When you go from the cameraderie of the dressing room to being alone.

Richards also talks about the medical staff telling him he needn't come in for treatment and that further isolating him.

A lot of what he says isn't perhaps 100% relevant to part time players, but its a good read anyway





As for wanting manager to tell you why Burns is not being selected, it may be a sensible move by AA to remain silent. If he were to criticise player, then it may put others off signing for him in future as they fear he will publicly criticise them.

If its a medical / mental health / family issue, then the manager may not be able to disclose it because of data protection issues, unless player consents to the disclosure of his personal information.

As a fan, obviously you want to know everything, but sometimes other considerations outweigh your desire to know

At the moment, by not saying anything, the inference being taken is that Burn is an unfit, uninterested parasite, stealing a wage doing very little. Perhaps the silence speaks a thousand words. As an owner, perhaps it's not unreasonable to know why one of your most expensive assets is sitting idle whilst a kid on dual registration with a Northern League club comes straight into the squad?

HarryCharltonsCat wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:09 pm

At the moment, by not saying anything, the inference being taken is that Burn is an unfit, uninterested parasite, stealing a wage doing very little. Perhaps the silence speaks a thousand words. As an owner, perhaps it's not unreasonable to know why one of your most expensive assets is sitting idle whilst a kid on dual registration with a Northern League club comes straight into the squad?

Absolutely spot-on. AA rightly points out the awful luck we had with injuries to the squad it's only fair to balance that with a comment on why the contracted player appears to be frozen out?

HarryCharltonsCat wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:09 pm

At the moment, by not saying anything, the inference being taken is that Burn is an unfit, uninterested parasite, stealing a wage doing very little. Perhaps the silence speaks a thousand words. As an owner, perhaps it's not unreasonable to know why one of your most expensive assets is sitting idle whilst a kid on dual registration with a Northern League club comes straight into the squad?

Maybe the”kid”has a totally different attitude to Mr Burn and is actually interested in playing for the club.
For two different managers to keep the bloke at arms length says it all to me without a “statement from the board”.

No-one asked for a statement from the board. However, do you know for a fact that it is Burn's unwillingness to play that is behind his omission or is it an attempt to get him to leave early.

Yep. Burn could really want to play but we want him off the wage bill and are forcing him out effectively. That he hasn’t found anywhere else is perhaps unfortunate but I wouldn’t expect him to quit otherwise.

Nobody knows the reason and the reason I reference the Richards article is that it’s not helpful to make accusations otherwise.

If we could find somewhere to take him and we pay the difference in wages that might end up being the compromise - again does anyone expect him to just walk away despite being contracted.

In all my years of knowing contractors at work never have I known one walk away before their term is up, even if they have nothing to do, unless they have another contract to go to.

And I am not sure in those circumstances the shareholders received ongoing news on the contract situation of each employee.

lo36789 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:16 pm

Yep. Burn could really want to play but we want him off the wage bill and are forcing him out effectively. That he hasn’t found anywhere else is perhaps unfortunate but I wouldn’t expect him to quit otherwise.

Nobody knows the reason and the reason I reference the Richards article is that it’s not helpful to make accusations otherwise.

If we could find somewhere to take him and we pay the difference in wages that might end up being the compromise - again does anyone expect him to just walk away despite being contracted.

In all my years of knowing contractors at work never have I known one walk away before their term is up, even if they have nothing to do, unless they have another contract to go to.

And I am not sure in those circumstances the shareholders received ongoing news on the contract situation of each employee.

Hardly comparable is it. I doubt those shareholders turn up and pay to watch you work every weekend. If they did, they might wonder why, when there was a job for your highest paid contractor to do, you chose to hire an apprentice to do it instead.

Reported in the Echo that Burn has rejected Wickham in recent weeks.

For me it seems the lad has given up being a footballer. There have been opportunities for him to leave and play and try and resurrect his career whether that be permanently or on loan with us paying the top up on his wages (similar to Ainge) but he has rejected the opportunity. He'd rather just take a wage which unfortunately we're contracted to pay him to the end of the season. Just my opinion but being a footballer isn't a long career, play as much as you can for as long as you can.

Gives me hope for next season once the likes of Burn, the remainder of Ainge's wage has gone, there will be opportunities to improve the base that we have.