Church > Long

[Royal Rother]

As with the threads about Kebe and Harte, all this really proves beyond a doubt is that Snowball knows a helluva lot more about football than most of the idiots on here.

So do I of course, as Lita continued to prove yesterday. (As did Church, our 25 goal a season striker. Ok, ok, I just picked the wrong one, didn't I?)

[Snowball]

On what basis is he good now? Oh... goals. The ONE thing some people sidestepped and made excuses for by changing the goalposts a million times.

You're just being ridiculous now. Long is tireless, making goals, getting players booked, winning free-kicks which become goals, winning penalties for others to score, getting in crosses for Hunt, chasing lost causes, getting flicked headers and putting other players clear, wearing down defenders, making space for others.

Don't ask me, the Everton Manager David Moyes said that Hunt & Long were exceptional and never gave his defence a moment's rest.

Yesterday Long set up Hunt for a volley brilliantly saved.
Yesterday Long was hacked down on the edge of the box, player got a yellow. We SCORED from the free-kick
Yesterday Long was tripped, appeared to be INSIDE the box, another dangerous free-kick
Yesterday Long played a divine flick through for Kebe who should have scored one-on-one with the keeper

There are four goal-worthy moments ON TOP of his two goals

At Palace Long won a penalty and converted it.
At Palace Long set up Jimmy Kebe's goal

Against Millwall Long made Hunt's goal
Against Millwall Long then scored one himself
Against Millwall Long headed a corner out
Against Millwall Long's brilliance set up Elwood for a shot that required a good save

Those of us who stuck to our guns saying he was awful until he started scoring (even though the worst striker in the history of the club was given the longest fruitless runout in the history of the club) are now smiling with delight. Those of us pretending that was the one thing he *didn't* need to do because he ran a lot/won penalties/worked hard/was kind to animals/took good penalties/tired out the opposition/good play stairway-to-heaven must now be feeling a little dumb.

Absolute rubbish. Nobody was saying he SHOULDN'T BE SCORING GOALS. Some were saying his CAREER stats showed he was a very good goal-scorer, that he was playing in a system that wasted his talents (451) and that he was playing a brilliant all-round game and that the goals would come


Too many of your camp were saying or had said that Long was NOT A GOOD PLAYER, that he would never be a good striker, some said he couldn't play football at all and never would become a footballer.

I said he would become a twenty goal a season player in the championship. I have been saying that since almost since the day I joined this list.


I have repeatedly said, in the face of mass derision that he will score 10 for a Premiership side, 20 for a Championship side or 30 for a league 1 side. I now think that was a serious UNDERestimate as he already has 17+2+2 goals this season with at least 12 games to play and a possible 18 games left.

More importantly, just look at the title of this thread. "Church > Long"


Doesn't that sum up the critical abilities of the OP and those who agreed?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Aha so you were wrong, and he is now going to be better, shows what you know then.

BTW the OP was way back in Oct, I opened it assuming it was tongue in cheek.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Please understand this Brian.

[SCIAG]

4-4-2 > 4-3-3

Blaming Long for a shit formation is moronic.

Odd that we've played 4-2-3-1 most matches since Brian took over and almost exclusively since Rasiak left. Looks like 4-2-3-1 came good in the end.

[readingbedding]

long is rubbish isn't he.

[leon]

long is rubbish isn't he.

he does need a partner up front to bring the best out of him

[Royal Rother]

I'd need to see some stats to be convinced of that.

[leon]

I'd need to see some stats to be convinced of that.

hmmm i wonder...

[yappy]

It's quite easy to say that currently Long > Church, but at the time this thread was created I actually agree that Church should've been given a go instead of Long. Church finished last season off very well, had a terrific pre-season and had plenty of confidence, whereas Long didn't really look like scoring (although I do think the formation played a part in that). I'm not claiming Church is/was a better player, I just think at that time he should've been given his chance, but obviously since then the tides have turned somewhat.

Credit to Long, and McDermott for sticking by him, but it has probably affected Church and I believe Church is alot better player than what we're currrently seeing of him.

[Ian Royal]

It's quite easy to say that currently Long > Church, but at the time this thread was created I actually agree that Church should've been given a go instead of Long. Church finished last season off very well, had a terrific pre-season and had plenty of confidence, whereas Long didn't really look like scoring (although I do think the formation played a part in that). I'm not claiming Church is/was a better player, I just think at that time he should've been given his chance, but obviously since then the tides have turned somewhat.

Credit to Long, and McDermott for sticking by him, but it has probably affected Church and I believe Church is alot better player than what we're currrently seeing of him.

Spot on IMO.

[PEARCEY]

It's quite easy to say that currently Long > Church, but at the time this thread was created I actually agree that Church should've been given a go instead of Long. Church finished last season off very well, had a terrific pre-season and had plenty of confidence, whereas Long didn't really look like scoring (although I do think the formation played a part in that). I'm not claiming Church is/was a better player, I just think at that time he should've been given his chance, but obviously since then the tides have turned somewhat.

Credit to Long, and McDermott for sticking by him, but it has probably affected Church and I believe Church is alot better player than what we're currrently seeing of him.

Spot on IMO.

....and agreed from me as well.

[Snowball]

In truth it's a no-brainer that the Church this season who looks quite horrible
a lot of the time is not the real Church. A horrible player doesn't get 12 goals
for a championship club at about one every 180 minutes, which is what Simon
managed last year