12 Aug 2016 15:00:31
i said in a recent post that MW would end up with egg on his face over Dominic Ball because he was sure he would get him, so he let lots of other possible CB targets go in the misguided assumption that Ball would be a dead cert, I STICK BY MY ORIGINAL POST
I think he hasmade a huge error of judgement here.
12 Aug 2016 16:08:33
wb - must have been a very good reason for MW (and staff) to think so positively, otherwise he would have looked elsewhere.
IMO I think Ball has been swayed by the coin, which is understandable - some players seek glory others seek gold, such is life.
Whatever the reason he has set his bar very low.
TBBaB.
12 Aug 2016 16:11:35
How has he got egg all over his face? Ball showed potential at DM but not much at CB. Ok I'm the semi he done great but I'm sure MW won't be losing any sleep over this.
12 Aug 2016 16:12:32
Did mark tell u this himself? i don't remember reading this.
12 Aug 2016 16:15:28
we hadn't actually contacted the player or the club so eggs not on warbs face but it will be if we don't get a good cb before the window closes.
12 Aug 2016 16:18:50
Who said mw wanted ball back? I'm sure if we wanted him we'd have him he was an average player who had a great game against that lot but so did everyone on that day! Ball for me isn't the cb we need. I wish him all the best but your talking absolute nonsense.
12 Aug 2016 16:42:05
MW clearly didn't want him badly enough mate or he would have got him before Rotherham snatched him.
12 Aug 2016 17:01:51
On the off chance the hat wanted him I'd imagine he wouldn't fancy his chances of being a starter here after last season. If it's to start games he wants then he made the best decision!
12 Aug 2016 17:08:23
Disagree 100% with the OP.
Last season Ball could not get a game at Centre Back for us ahead of Wilson or Kiernan. In the big games we used him as a holding midfielder to shield the defence.
This season we have Barton and Rossiter who can do this and Crooks to come back. For me Barton and Rossiter are streets ahead of Ball in this position, Crooks we have no idea as yet how he will do for us.
Ball has become like Beckenbauer over the Summer. He was an asset last year but was never going to be the answer at CB this season.
12 Aug 2016 17:32:13
Must have missed something, I don't recall MW or anyone else being certain we were getting Ball. I think the lad did a good job last season but was never convinced he was what we needed this season now we have better options for the DMF role. If he could not displace Kieran and Wilson in CD last season not sure he was right other than as a useful squad addiction.
Good luck to the lad.
12 Aug 2016 17:35:23
Ball became a fans favourite because of one good performance in the semi final . Other than that I for one thought he was no better than what we had . He couldn't split the partnership of Kiernan and Wilson in central defence . I think if MW wanted Ball he would've had him by now but we never even approached Spurs regarding the lad . Now one game doesn't make him a star no matter how much I enjoyed his performance that day he's never defender and CDM we have Barton and more importantly as I think the lad Rossiter with his engine covers that position better and let's Barton push forward!
12 Aug 2016 19:01:52
Ball never played at centre back last season. He played in a holding / defensive midfield role. I am not sure that we needed him, certainly we don't need him as a midfield player.
We need a decent quality centre back and a goal scorer. Personally I don't think we will get either because we don't have the money and the level of quality we need won't come cheap. Either we pick up someone on a free and if they are any good we will need to pay £15k a week. Same goes for a striker. Who within pedigree are we going to secure for free and on a low salary.
Let's hope that the case against Ashley and his cronies is proven in our favour because that is the only way we will any funds for the quality of player we want and desperately need!
12 Aug 2016 18:55:40
There is also the point that Ball went for an undisclosed fee. Perhaps MW wasnt able/ willing to offer a fee for ball.
12 Aug 2016 21:11:59
Spot on Westendger, liked Ball a lot and i am sure if he had played against Hibs in final we would not have lost 3, however he was never going to be the cb answer, good player but not some kinda superstar we should be making a major issue over.
12 Aug 2016 19:01:34
roll on September when all this transfer nonsense is finished and we know exactly who we've got for the 2 positions that we badly need addressed, from RVP to Danny Ings to Dom Ball and all the other names we've been linked with from taxi drivers, petrol stations and sightings in the Glasgow curry club and all the other reliable sources as much as it can be fun at times I'm just getting a bit fed up with it now and just want the season to get underway properly without all the speculation. well until January!