Mugwump wrote:True. Long is wide open to criticism, but his influence over that period is undeniable. I've lost count of the number of times he's been written off and then returned with a big game at crunch time.
He's also a genuine character. Love him or loathe him, the game would be poorer without him.
Spot on, I'm in the latter category

but the game needs the Long, Newton, Jimmy Lowes characters.