by AustrianAndyGull » 04 Oct 2013, 21:03
stefano wrote:
It's difficult to be sure with footballers though Terry. When a young loan player Ashley Barnes had half a dozen games for us and was getting a slating on the various fans forums I posted that I could see something there and thought he would be playing Championship level before very long. I did of course get slated for that, but Barnes has been playing Championship level for 3 seasons now. He wasn't that brilliant with us (but mind you he made his debut the same day as Mo - remember him? :Oops: ), but there was something there. I think that Callum Ball has that 'something'. I believe he will play at Championship level in the future, but before that I would like to see him launch his career forward by starting to put it together for us.
I know that would make Terry / Brucie, Hector, Wivel, and myself very happy .... or would that really be too much to ask!
Great point Stefano and why I backtracked a bit on my opinion of Ball.
From what I have seen he looks league 2 level for a side who play more direct than us, anything above that and I can't see it. That is not to say he won't return to Derby and start banging in Championship goals though. Like Ashley Barnes who you gave as an example, he could be pretty poor here and excel elsewhere at a higher level. I don't dispute that, what I do dispute is his current effectiveness and potency whilst playing for us. It isn't there and although he may do well in the future, we need him to do well now otherwise there is no point in having him. What i'm trying to say is that he may be a really good player and much better than league 2 but if we don't see that side of him then it is pretty pointless him being here.
[quote="stefano"]
It's difficult to be sure with footballers though Terry. When a young loan player Ashley Barnes had half a dozen games for us and was getting a slating on the various fans forums I posted that I could see something there and thought he would be playing Championship level before very long. I did of course get slated for that, but Barnes has been playing Championship level for 3 seasons now. He wasn't that brilliant with us (but mind you he made his debut the same day as Mo - remember him? :Oops: ), but there was something there. I think that Callum Ball has that 'something'. I believe he will play at Championship level in the future, but before that I would like to see him launch his career forward by starting to put it together for us.
I know that would make Terry / Brucie, Hector, Wivel, and myself very happy .... or would that really be too much to ask! ;-)[/quote]
Great point Stefano and why I backtracked a bit on my opinion of Ball.
From what I have seen he looks league 2 level for a side who play more direct than us, anything above that and I can't see it. That is not to say he won't return to Derby and start banging in Championship goals though. Like Ashley Barnes who you gave as an example, he could be pretty poor here and excel elsewhere at a higher level. I don't dispute that, what I do dispute is his current effectiveness and potency whilst playing for us. It isn't there and although he may do well in the future, we need him to do well now otherwise there is no point in having him. What i'm trying to say is that he may be a really good player and much better than league 2 but if we don't see that side of him then it is pretty pointless him being here.
