Comments on: The Fable of David http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2009/02/16/the-fable-of-david/ Football analysis by Mark Payne Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:56:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jono http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2009/02/16/the-fable-of-david/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Jono Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:33:42 +0000 http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2009/02/16/the-fable-of-david/#comment-581 The Grimace is right. Beckham never played as well again. He had peaked and the Wizard knew it. Posh just being around was a constant reminder that Beck's time was up. "But when SAF sells someone, he is always, always right." Er, what about Jaap Stam, oh Grimace? We saw him do quite well in the San Siro some time after he had left OT. The Italians got a few good years out of him (drugs ban apart!) The Grimace is right. Beckham never played as well again. He had peaked and the Wizard knew it. Posh just being around was a constant reminder that Beck’s time was up.

“But when SAF sells someone, he is always, always right.” Er, what about Jaap Stam, oh Grimace? We saw him do quite well in the San Siro some time after he had left OT. The Italians got a few good years out of him (drugs ban apart!)

]]> By: The Grimace http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2009/02/16/the-fable-of-david/comment-page-1/#comment-577 The Grimace Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:35:51 +0000 http://www.thedevilinme.co.uk/2009/02/16/the-fable-of-david/#comment-577 A highly perceptive and well-reasoned analysis. You are dead right on the psychological chemistry, but I think there is a further element. Somehow, Lord knows how, SAF knows when a player has peaked. I have been amazed once or twice when he has sold someone. Why did he never give Andrew Cole the chance to work with Ruud? Where were the goals to come from when he sold Ruud? In what way had Nicky Butt's and Phil Neville's standards dropped? But when SAF sells someone, he is always, always right. No-one ever produces better football after they have left OT. And another thing. SAF is not so inflexible and short-sighted that anyone who steps out of line is shown the door. Remember his two foreign flights to chat up the wavering Eric and, last summer, Ronaldo. But he knew their bests were going to get even better. A highly perceptive and well-reasoned analysis. You are dead right on the psychological chemistry, but I think there is a further element. Somehow, Lord knows how, SAF knows when a player has peaked. I have been amazed once or twice when he has sold someone. Why did he never give Andrew Cole the chance to work with Ruud? Where were the goals to come from when he sold Ruud? In what way had Nicky Butt’s and Phil Neville’s standards dropped? But when SAF sells someone, he is always, always right. No-one ever produces better football after they have left OT. And another thing. SAF is not so inflexible and short-sighted that anyone who steps out of line is shown the door. Remember his two foreign flights to chat up the wavering Eric and, last summer, Ronaldo. But he knew their bests were going to get even better.

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