Oh MAN this news sucks! Duggan is the team's talisman and Damian Quinn is the heart and soul of the team. I realise we need to get together a competitive squad, but Quinn has been a solid fullback in the absence of Marshall Chalk and Duggan was injured before he had a chance to make a real impact. I know we need to have a clear out if we are to compete, but these guys BUILT the team and are every bit as responsible for our meteoric rise as John Dixon! Congratulations to any team that gets them. They are true stars and will be hugely missed by all serious Crusaders supporters. I just hope Dix (who is also Welsh coach) still picks the newly eligible pair for Wales.
I really can't express exactly how vexed off I am right now.
Joined: Jul 22 2008 Posts: 16170 Location: Somewhere other than here
Grendel wrote:Duggan is the team's talisman and Damian Quinn is the heart and soul of the team.
The problem is, though, that isn't enough, is it? They have to be good superleague players because for the long term health of your club, only good superleague players will do next season. If you don't start winning next season, especially at home, you will not pull the punters in, either the fans version or the sponsors version, and your club will die. Dixon and your chairman, etc, have some tough decisions to make but surely they must be made on quality of player not on sentimental attachment? Very understandable though that is.
Aye Saint, you're right I suppose but I believe that if Duggan or Quinn were bought by a more settled club with a proven squad, they would be real assets. I hope a season in a let's face it, underperforming squad doesn't damage ANY of our players' reputations because they are ALL good players. We just haven't managed to gel this year.
I accept I am being sentimental, but it seems harsh on two of our original players that the club was built around (and I've heard rumours about a third). I'd love to see them both in Superleague next year, even if they were playing against us and would cheer them on and off the pitch, even if they scored against us.
The club is greater than any individual player, but for me once a Crusader ALWAYS a Crusader and the guys will always have my best wishes and support in whatever they do. Even if they went to Widnes!
Joined: Jul 22 2008 Posts: 16170 Location: Somewhere other than here
Grendel, I do appreciate where you are coming from. It's bad enough from my own club's perspective that we're losing Long and possibly Cunningham (our talisman for the last 13 years) but to lose players who have grown up with the club and put their best into it only to lose them when they've 'got there' must be tough. Although they were clearly good enough for the Championship, I presume they are not quite cutting it at superleague level. I'm sure a few more will go too but hopefully the players who replace them will take Crusaders to a new level next season and you'll be able to get behind them too over time.
Yeah, you're right mate. I'll definitely get behind the new players whoever they may be (unless it's that wife beater Bird - some things you can't overlook). By coming to the club and playing their best I really can't ask any more. And it's not like the guys are being thrown to the lions. They're just moving jobs. Hell I've done that a few times myself. Can't look too bad on the CV either. "Took a team from National League 2 to Superleague in 4 years". I wouldn't say they're not cutting it in Superleague though. Admittedly they are not the absolute top stars like they were in NL2 & NL1, but they are both solidly performing guys in between injuries (mainly Duggan's). anyway thanks for the discussion. It's put things in perspective a bit now.
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