Gary Speed

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It has already been mentioned once or twice on the bbs today, but what does mr speed have to do to win us over? Praise for him remains grudging at best - yet the man has had a great season and also scored 13 goals which is no mean feat. I think he deserves more praise and support from the supporters. Any thoughts?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

Answers

I'm with you Beardo....

13 goals for a midfielder is a fantastic acheivement, not to mention the fact that him and the general have provided the platform that has allowed YKD to almost have a free role....

I always said he'd be good and remember many an argument with others on the old BBS about him :))

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


Speed has had a very good season, culminating in two good goals yesterday. I was thinking about his role yeaterday, and along with quite a few others, he has been (almost) ever present when available for selection (Barton, Shearer - with one exception!). To be perfectly honest, I wish he hadn't. I'd like to see some more competition for his place than we have at present.

However, that is not to undermine his contribution. 13 goals from midfield is no mean feat. Anybody know how many Carrot-Heed at Newton Heath has scored? Recognition must also be given to Rob Lee. Lee hasn't made as many forward moves as he did in his hey-day. Instead, he has tended to stay back "looking after the shop" allowing GS to get forward more.

A great season Gary - undoubtedly his best in a B&W shirt. I still think he was overpriced at #5.5M but that is water under the bridge (and almost written off by now??). Another dozen or so next season would be very welcome. It's a shame the forwards (one exception!) couln't match his scoring ability.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


Okay, the last juror has just been beaten into submission, so it's humble pie time. Bigotry is hard to sustain when the facts get in the way.

Mr Speed, I humbly apologise, unconditionally and unreservedly, for doubting your ability as a professional footballer. You seem to have completely ignored most of my prejudices, and to have performed consistantly far in excess of my expectations.

I therefore have no alternative but to suppress any lingering doubts and just let you get on with it - even I can ignore no longer what's been staring me in the face most of this season. So have a nice break and come back ready to carry on where you've just left off.

Exit left with tail between legs, emitting suitable whipped cur noises.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


Cue Mr Swift.

Or in his absence...............b*ll*x!

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


Ha ha ha! That was one of the best titles ever on the former bbs:

'Oh sh*t! Oh sh@t! Oh sh$t! Bollocks! Bollocks Bollocks! - Kenny is going to buy Speed!'

That was one straight from the taxi driver :-)

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000



He certainly has a talent for coming up with provoking thread titles doesn't he :))

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

As another 'Speed-baiter' from a couple of seasons back, I think the guy's had a terrific season and that his contribution is significantly under-estimated - even outside of his 13 goals (BTW: compare GS's goals tally with Micheal Owen and Emille Heskey to see how truly significant it is).

As I said in my post-match commentary on the 'Bobby Robson' thread, the only two downers for me yesterday were Given's part in Arsenal's first goal and the crowd's lack of reaction to Speed's second goal. AS and RL were quite correctly lauded, but I felt really sorry that there wasn't even a token chant for GS.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


I count NINE of Speed's 13 goals as headers from Solano corner kicks. Would his tally been even close is Solano was not making those kicks? Will his tally decrease if Nobby is off to Real?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

BTW, I don't want to give the wrong impression, I like Speed and think he is a great player. Regardless of his goals being fed to him by Nobby he does what needs to be done. I only wonder if he can profit equally from Gavilan's dead balls.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

It's been a remarkable partnership - Nobby crosses and Speedo scores. However, I for one still think Nobby could do a lot better with his crosses. OK - maybe I'm hard to please but he all too often hits the front defender, especially from dead balls.

However, if the training fround reports are to be believed, young Sparrowhawk should continue supplying great ammunition for Speed. That's assuming Nobby ain't playing.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000



I would conceed that I was wrong about Speed....in the same way I was about Barton.

On the old Communicata board, I contributed to the "100 things to do with Gary Speed" amnd suggested that we could bury his hands and feet in concrete and use his arse as a bike stand, but now take that back and accept.....he is a good player.....

Now hopefully I don't have to say the same about Perez.....if that happens I'm giving up!

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


No, I think you're on pretty safe ground there Ken.
He was the subject of some debate (ie. the butt of many jokes) in the Strawberry last night.
He was out there on the SJP pitch warming up with Shay, but just didn't look as though he 'belonged' somehow. It was though some great wufter had just put some male jogging gear on, snuck past Security, and wandered out onto the pitch. I obly hope and pray the Arsenal fans thought he was just that, and don't spread the word.
He really is a total embarrassment to the Club, and thank you Lord for sparing Shay an injury of the kind I could very well have inflicted on him after that first goal if only I could have laid hands (& perhaps, feet) on him!
The most accurate/appropriate description of him came from either Jonno or Softie - a Hairdressers Assistant!!!

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

Hee hee! sounds like the same things I was thinking the first time I saw P#@%z at the training ground. Definitely looked like something dragged in off the street. It was only be deduction that I figured out who he was. Oh, and the other players' derisory giggles and rolled eyes in his direction.

Perhaps the 100 things to do with thread could be resurrected since it's looking like we'll have to do something with him until his contract runs out. I understand the bike rack gig has become available? ;-)))

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000


If Speed played for Newton Heath he'd be in the England squad - really.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

I thought Gary Speed was Welsh, mind you Taggart could probably "fix" something?

:-O

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000



Speedy = 13
S*nlun's whole squad - take oot Ratboy & Quinny = 11
Well done son I think you're a canny player.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Clarky,
Agree, in the heat of the moment it looked like Given was totally at fault for the equaliser, but watching it on MOTD, Kanu looked off side, and I think our defense might have eased off chasing, expecting the ref to blow. Given still did the wrong thing rushing out but that might have been 'youthful exuberance'.

I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt at the moment - maybe the beeb will show it again tomorrow before the A**e game.

God, these new pills are good.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000


Giving Given the benefit of the doubt (that oft repeated expression), he was probably right to encourage Kanu to lob him: you wouldn't have wanted the b*gger getting any closer, would you!? Did you see that goal in Europe where he just walked it in? Amazing player! Fully deserved the standing ovation we gave him; even if it was 90% relief to see him going off.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Speed`s an okay player, I`m happy to have him in the team! (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Both Barton and Speed were very unjustly maligned and became the butt of fans' frustration during the Dalglish season. As far as I could see, this was because both players were being asked to play a holding game in the abscence of any decent forwards. This meant that too often they were either caught in possession or forced to hoof the ball forwards under pressure.

I have the greatest respect for the pair as they put up with so much abuse from the terraces. Can you remember some of our so-called fans cheering and clapping when Warren got injured and had to be subbed. This is a man who ALWAYS gives us 110%. The same goes for Speed. I can remember the boo-boys screaming abuse every time he got the ball but he didn't chicken out and disappear into the reserves and NEVER lost his bottle. Neither of these men moaned during the Dalgish era or sulked during the Gullit era, both acted as consumate professionals.

I'm glad that so many are now changing their views but disappointed that so many still harbour a grudge and will not sing Speed's name.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000


I think Speeds been our most consistent performer this season, I've always been a fan of his. Left footed midfielders are hard to come by. He gives (some) balance to the midfield and as Dread says is a true professional, I think next season, when we are playing better and will hopefully have some better players in midfield around him, Speeds qualities will really come through. But 13 goals from a midfielder, I'm sorry but you can't ask any more than that.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

You have to accept the limitations as well. He's brilliant in the air, gets up in support well, takes a nice free kick, tackles hard and skillfully but his passing is often woeful.

No crime, just a weakness. One of the reasons why so many of our attacks come down the right. Interestingly, the fact that he often forces us into looking for goals from set-pieces when his link-play lets us down is precisely the situation from which he is so strong. Not bad to be a symptom and a cure at the same time.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000


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