A New Low

[vikingTON]

Yesterday marked an all-too-frequent nadir, another black mark on the history books of this once great club. That black mark came in the form of awarding Marc Fitzpatrick the captain's armband. In reality, a captain offers no greater impact on a football park than the rest of the players - influential players make their presence felt without a token armband. It does however serve as a leadership figurehead between the fans and the players. And what worse leader could there possibly be for such a role than Marc Fitzpatrick?

 

Let's start with the concept of leading by example on the park, which he has patently failed to do since his arrival. In a decade of watching Morton and a clutch of predictably chronic left-backs, I have yet to see one as slow, cumbersome and positionally inept as the above. He makes Sean Dillon or Kevin McKinley look like Phillip Lahm by comparison. Indeed in the game against Dundee just yesterday involved Fitzpatrick confronting his defensive colleague Stuart Findlay - a player who will obviously go far, far farther in the game than that journeyman, and is already clearly superior after just a few games at this level - without valid reason to do so. The day the rest of the Morton side looks to Fitzpatrick for inspiration ought to be the day the club resigns from the senior setup and instead tries to scrape wins against wooden spoon rivals Fort William in the Highland League.

 

Then there is the issue of Fitzpatrick's relationship with the fans. A record that got off on the worst start possible with a confrontation with a fan at Annan in his first senior appearance for the club (not, incidentally, the 'fan' you've automatically assumed was involved), who had in fact been shouting at an Annan player rather than any Morton players for their utterly insipid, embarrassing display. Of course, the Morton fans were no doubt at fault for not grasping that such embarrassments would become standard viewing for the rest of the campaign. Since then, Fitzpatrick has lambasted fans in response to criticism of his utterly rancid performances on Twitter, and has continued to occasionally confront criticism actually directed towards him, most notably in our mini shame game at Dumbarton. Regardless of your position as to whether criticising/abusing players is justifiable at games, and where precisely the line is drawn between the two, there ought to be no doubt that Fitzpatrick's role as a leader of players towards the club, temporary or not, is a divisive issue at best and a plainly wrong choice by Shiels. On a professional level in terms of temperament and basic performance, he offers absolutely nothing to the club, least of all as captain material.

 

I for one will be glad when he slithers out of Cappielow, never to find meaningful senior football again. Until then his laughable position of authority is as great an insult to this once great club as appointing Andy Millen as an honourary director. 

 

 

[Colkitto]

Think we have more to worry about than who the fekin captain is...

[Zutons]

Disapointed yesterday when i found out. I Would rather Gaston get it before anyone else thou what does a captain do these days anyway!!?

[Zutons]

Another point. What was wrong not giving it to Fred? I would rather reward success than failure.

 

One day i tell u

[Hammyton]

Yesterday marked an all-too-frequent nadir, another black mark on the history books of this once great club. That black mark came in the form of awarding Marc Fitzpatrick the captain's armband. In reality, a captain offers no greater impact on a football park than the rest of the players - influential players make their presence felt without a token armband. It does however serve as a leadership figurehead between the fans and the players. And what worse leader could there possibly be for such a role than Marc Fitzpatrick?

 

Let's start with the concept of leading by example on the park, which he has patently failed to do since his arrival. In a decade of watching Morton and a clutch of predictably chronic left-backs, I have yet to see one as slow, cumbersome and positionally inept as the above. He makes Sean Dillon or Kevin McKinley look like Phillip Lahm by comparison. Indeed in the game against Dundee just yesterday involved Fitzpatrick confronting his defensive colleague Stuart Findlay - a player who will obviously go far, far farther in the game than that journeyman, and is already clearly superior after just a few games at this level - without valid reason to do so. The day the rest of the Morton side looks to Fitzpatrick for inspiration ought to be the day the club resigns from the senior setup and instead tries to scrape wins against wooden spoon rivals Fort William in the Highland League.

 

Then there is the issue of Fitzpatrick's relationship with the fans. A record that got off on the worst start possible with a confrontation with a fan at Annan in his first senior appearance for the club (not, incidentally, the 'fan' you've automatically assumed was involved), who had in fact been shouting at an Annan player rather than any Morton players for their utterly insipid, embarrassing display. Of course, the Morton fans were no doubt at fault for not grasping that such embarrassments would become standard viewing for the rest of the campaign. Since then, Fitzpatrick has lambasted fans in response to criticism of his utterly rancid performances on Twitter, and has continued to occasionally confront criticism actually directed towards him, most notably in our mini shame game at Dumbarton. Regardless of your position as to whether criticising/abusing players is justifiable at games, and where precisely the line is drawn between the two, there ought to be no doubt that Fitzpatrick's role as a leader of players towards the club, temporary or not, is a divisive issue at best and a plainly wrong choice by Shiels. On a professional level in terms of temperament and basic performance, he offers absolutely nothing to the club, least of all as captain material.

 

I for one will be glad when he slithers out of Cappielow, never to find meaningful senior football again. Until then his laughable position of authority is as great an insult to this once great club as appointing Andy Millen as an honourary director.

[Hammyton]

Such loathing from such a young man, and more worrying you posted this in the middle of the night! You must have a very sad life. Maybe you should consider counselling as you obviously need help!

[LinwoodTON]

Such loathing from such a young man, and more worrying you posted this in the middle of the night! You must have a very sad life. Maybe you should consider counselling as you obviously need help!

 

No training today Marc?

[BluebirdTon]

Such loathing from such a young man, and more worrying you posted this in the middle of the night! You must have a very sad life. Maybe you should consider counselling as you obviously need help!

 

You also need help - quoting a post properly.

[Hammyton]

You also need help - quoting a post properly.

Is that the best you can do! You still were able to read my post so who cares!

[Hammyton]

No training today Marc?

Not this old chestnut again, sorry if i didnt agree with your mate vikington. Just my opinion of his post!

[BluebirdTon]

Is that the best you can do! You still were able to read my post so who cares!

 

I care! If you aren't going to post properly then get to f*ck.

 

When the club is in this much of a crisis, folk shouldn't be arsing about on the messageboard .

[Hammyton]

I care! If you aren't going to post properly then get to f*ck.

When the club is in this much of a crisis, folk shouldn't be arsing about on the messageboard .

No need for the bad language, you dont know me so how can you know what i care about!!! The only person a....g about appears to be you! You were the only one going off topic!!

[BluebirdTon]

No need for the bad language, you dont know me so how can you know what i care about!!! The only person a....g about appears to be you! You were the only one going off topic!!

 

Bad language is the least of your worries.

 

You've just earned yourself a 6 week ban!

[LinwoodTON]

Not this old chestnut again, sorry if i didnt agree with your mate vikington. Just my opinion of him!

 

Absolutely no idea who vikingTON is, never mind being his mate.

 

However, I do agree with his post. Normally it doesn't bother me who is captain, but should we really be giving it to a guy with history of confrontations with fans?

 

FWIW, I would have given the armband to Fred.

[Hammyton]

Bad language is the least of your worries.

You've just earned yourself a 6 week ban!

more sleepless nights for me! :-)

[Hammyton]

Absolutely no idea who vikingTON is, never mind being his mate.

 

However, I do agree with his post. Normally it doesn't bother me who is captain, but should we really be giving it to a guy with history of confrontations with fans?

 

FWIW, I would have given the armband to Fred.

I agree re Fred, however it was Shiels decision to give him the armband so i suppose he had no choice but to take it .

Fitzpatrick has on 2 occassions had confrotations with fans, hardly a history. He is probably as frustrated as the rest of us about the position we are in, i am not condoning his behavior, however he was taking a lot of abuse when at times it wasn't merited imo. Maybe he cares about the club more than we think, and hus feelings take over.

He isnt the first player to have disagreements with the fans and i dont suppose he'll be the last!

[BluebirdTon]

I agree re Fred, however it was Shiels decision to give him the armband so i suppose he had no choice but to take it .

Fitzpatrick has on 2 occassions had confrotations with fans, hardly a history. He is probably as frustrated as the rest of us about the position we are in, i am not condoning his behavior, however he was taking a lot of abuse when at times it wasn't merited imo. Maybe he cares about the club more than we think, and hus feelings take over.

He isnt the first player to have disagreements with the fans and i dont suppose he'll be the last!

 

Aye, hardly a history, just like Germany doesn't have a history of invading France...

[ThornTON]

Another point. What was wrong not giving it to Fred? I would rather reward success than failure.

 

One day i tell u

Bachirou has captained Morton before, and can you point out recent success involving him?

 

In our run of 6 goals in 14 games, the only players who could even claim a scrape of dignity would be Archie Campbell (a couple of late equalisers from the bench), Derek Gaston (some wonder saves preventing utter humiliation) and the two young centre-backs (both will play at a higher level).

[Guest David Edwards]

Think we have more to worry about than who the fekin captain is...

 

Yes I would think so, a whole lot more.

 

[IainMorton]

Bachirou has captained Morton before, and can you point out recent success involving him?

 

In our run of 6 goals in 14 games, the only players who could even claim a scrape of dignity would be Archie Campbell (a couple of late equalisers from the bench), Derek Gaston (some wonder saves preventing utter humiliation) and the two young centre-backs (both will play at a higher level).

 

Fred captained one game I think, a 3-1 defeat (opposition I can't remember, QOTS?) and he was only captain cos it was meant to be his last game for the club.