The General Nonsense Thread

[SassenachTon]

2 hours ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Sorry, you're already Pike

Fair enough CHC. My name's already on ze list

[Toby]

3 hours ago, DreamOakTree said:

FTAO Toby:

The evidence you requested that several posters apart from myself had similar concerns over Dougie's policy towards our academy graduates:

EanieMeany:  Posted September 4, 2022 

It's a structural issue that isn't going to go away as long as Blues is in the team even if another player can cover sufficient ground to mitigate it, so complaining about another player not following instructions when that exists and impacts on the other player’s decisions is somewhat myopic and at the very least it was surely worth giving Lyon one last shot alongside Gillespie and Crawford to see what he could do with real footballers around him before booting him out. If that didn’t work, so be it, but we’re in no position to write off a player that was very justifiably given an extended contract months before.

Whilst there's not much point dwelling too much on Lyon and there's a risk of getting into the "Griffiths could still be a 20 goal a season striker" Celtic Da territory by spending too much time talking about him - it has to be acknowledged there's a bit of a recurring theme with him, although in doing so there's also other factors there such as previous managers being utterly fuckin shite - I think it just seems pretty jarring to be so completely ostracising the player who was absolutely crucial to the initial run of under Imrie that ultimately proved decisive in the end whilst Blues gets to play every minute of every game no matter how bad he is, and then getting rewarded with a new contract especially when Imrie is always talking about repeated errors. I think that's got to be pretty demoralising for the likes of McGrattan and King, even leaving Lyon aside. 

The overwhelming majority of what Imrie's done and is doing has been and excellent and taking the Lyon situation in isolation, I'd be more than willing to trust his judgement being right even if I think it's a shame it's turned out that that way, but when you put in the context of a far, far worse player playing every minute of every game at the expense of others (again, McGrattan has more than earned a go in his place), getting a new contract and even getting the captaincy for a game, it's not quite so clear that it's being handled correctly. If we see Blues starting again on Saturday ahead of King or McGrattan after the comments about repeated errors, it'll be hard not to see it as a rare example of poor management from Imrie and compounding a far from convincing transfer window, and unlikely to do much for the moral of other options. You can't maintain high standards when you keep allowing one and only one player to get away with failing to meet them.

SassenachTon: Posted September 20, 2022

Apart from the insanity of Blues starting every game, the greatest team selection mystery to me is why Lewis Strapp is being used to keep the bench warm. I thought he was arguably our most solid player last season.

DumfriesTon: Posted September 30, 2022

Assuming Lithgow misses out we're going into tomorrow with 1 fit centre back and 1 fit striker. Lyon and Garrity loaned out. Be about 4 players on the bench  Pretty shambolic recruitment and decision making from Imrie in the market this summer. 

RossMcC1874: Posted January 5, 2023

Surprised at McGregor as he is still young and looked quite decent anytime I saw him but again was barely getting any game time thought a loan would be good idea but obviously Imrie knows what he is looking for. Does leave us quite light in terms of bodies but I would imagine we would have some incomings surely. 

                                                                   EanieMeany  Posted January 5, 2023

As for McGregor, obviously we don't know the full story but on the face of it I feel like he's been a wee bit hard done by this season tbh. It'd be quite hard to argue he's not shown enough any time he's got on the pitch to merit getting off the bench ahead of Kabia more often, at the least. Will be interesting to see where he ends up, if anywhere.

Greacen2000, Posted January 5, 2023

Mcgregor is a bit of a strange one for me - definitely a player who I though had a lot of potential every time I’ve seen him play.  He won’t have been earning a huge amount so isn’t exactly freeing up loads of cash to spend on reinforcements.  On the face of it I would have thought loaning him out to get game time at a lower level might have made more sense.

 

Scott: Posted April 8, 2023

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/23442707.lewis-strapp-set-leave-morton-12-year-stay/
I’m a bit surprised Imrie has told him he won’t be here next season. I’d have hoped to hold on to Strapp, but can’t grudge him a move. Hope he does well wherever he goes. 

Madton: Posted April 8, 2023

Dougie not wanting him, wtf. 

Scott: Posted April 8, 2023

He’s been told he’s not in Imrie’s plans. Expected him to move on but thought we’d at least try to keep him 

dunning1874: Posted April 8, 2023

It's not been hard to figure out from some public comments that Imrie and Strapp don't get on well off the pitch, and he was always near certain to have better offers this summer anyway so I didn't expect him to stay. Regardless of having no confidence of keeping him though, not even making him an offer is a baffling decision. There is almost no chance of us getting a replacement of the same calibre, and in the unlikely event he doesn't have top flight or English offers then we'll look extremely daft if he ends up at Ayr or something while we have an inferior player at left back. Get an offer on the table and if he doesn't take it then so be it.

: Posted April 8, 2023

This. A player of his calibre …… what ‘plans’ does he not fit into, exactly? Jeez-o.

 

HamCam: Posted April 8, 2023

While I always assumed Strapp was off at the end of the season it is head scratching to hear the decision was effectively made for him. It was not that long ago we were being told a crucial element in the financial viability of the club was through rearing young talent to sell on. Lyon now Strapp look are not going to make the club money, leaving us with McGrattan and King as the next 'projects'. Concerning then to see both players getting less game time especially as they were an integral part of the squad that performed so well up to the beginning of the year. 

GiGi: Posted April 9, 2023

Think it's clear they just don't get on.

vikingTON: Posted April 13, 2023

Waters is a downgrade on Strapp IMO and is not the answer if we have serious ambition to compete in the promotion play-offs. 

Alibi: Posted April 13, 2023

Unless it's a matter of cost control, or Strapp himself is desperate to leave (which impression I don't get from the statements made), why would we want to downgrade?  Based on Strapp's performances over the last few seasons, I think we would find it hard to upgrade.  I don't have any problem with Waters as he seems to have done OK for us, but Strapp is a big loss to us and I am astonished at Dougie's attitude.  I think if Lewis can get a gig that pays significantly more, then yes, he would be daft not to take it, but to just tell him he's not wanted at Morton for footballing reasons seems ridiculous.

 

 

Every manager in the world is questioned by fans on matters such as team selection and who is brought in and released.

Your post alluded to many other posters voicing concerns about Imrie’s policy towards the club’s academy, not whether or not they agree with every decision a manager has made that concerns certain players.

You’re really clutching at straws if you think some of these posts are questioning his policy towards the youth academy in general, rather than simply disagreeing with particular decisions.

After waiting the best part of 48 hours for all these posts questioning his policy, this is quite a let down.

[DreamOakTree]

11 minutes ago, Toby said:

Every manager in the world is questioned by fans on matters such as team selection and who is brought in and released.

Your post alluded to many other posters voicing concerns about Imrie’s policy towards the club’s academy, not whether or not they agree with every decision a manager has made that concerns certain players.

You’re really clutching at straws if you think some of these posts are questioning his policy towards the youth academy in general, rather than simply disagreeing with particular decisions.

After waiting the best part of 48 hours for all these posts questioning his policy, this is quite a let down.

I meant to say that’s only the first batch. It’s very time consuming and I’m only halfway through one thread. 

[DreamOakTree]

Hang on though, some of those comments are the type of thing I’m absolutely hounded for, apart from my angry rant. Have you actually read them? 

“It just seems pretty jarring to be so completely ostracising the player who was absolutely crucial to the initial run under Imrie”

“I think that's got to be pretty demoralising for the likes of McGrattan and King, even leaving Lyon aside.”

“If we see Blues starting again on Saturday ahead of King or McGrattanafter the comments about repeated errors, it'll be hard not to see it as a rare example of poor management from Imrie.”

“Pretty shambolic recruitment and decision making from Imrie in the market this summer.”

“Dougie not wanting him, wtf.”

“not even making him an offer is a baffling decision.”

“It was not that long ago we were being told a crucial element in the financial viability of the club was through rearing young talent to sell on.”

“I am astonished at Dougie's attitude.”

 

[Toby]

7 minutes ago, DreamOakTree said:

Hang on though, some of those comments are the type of thing I’m absolutely hounded for, apart from my angry rant. Have you actually read them? 

“It just seems pretty jarring to be so completely ostracising the player who was absolutely crucial to the initial run under Imrie”

“I think that's got to be pretty demoralising for the likes of McGrattan and King, even leaving Lyon aside.”

“If we see Blues starting again on Saturday ahead of King or McGrattanafter the comments about repeated errors, it'll be hard not to see it as a rare example of poor management from Imrie.”

“Pretty shambolic recruitment and decision making from Imrie in the market this summer.”

“Dougie not wanting him, wtf.”

“not even making him an offer is a baffling decision.”

“It was not that long ago we were being told a crucial element in the financial viability of the club was through rearing young talent to sell on.”

“I am astonished at Dougie's attitude.”

 

Tell you what, stick a link to every post and I’ll red dot them accordingly, will that make you feel better?

[DreamOakTree]

22 minutes ago, Toby said:

Tell you what, stick a link to every post and I’ll red dot them accordingly, will that make you feel better?

I’ve responded as you requested. Your point was that I was always the lone voice with concerns over Dougie’s attitude to our academy graduates.
My point was that wasn’t always the case, though it did become the case several months back. If you think those examples of such concerns above are a bit tame, then they later ceased to exist altogether, to the point no decision Dougie made could be even remotely questioned.

 

[Toby]

33 minutes ago, DreamOakTree said:

I’ve responded as you requested. Your point was that I was always the lone voice with concerns over Dougie’s attitude to our academy graduates.
My point was that wasn’t always the case, though it did become the case several months back. If you think those examples of such concerns above are a bit tame, then they later ceased to exist altogether, to the point no decision Dougie made could be even remotely questioned.

 

No, your point was about his policy towards youth academy graduates in general, not about how he got along with individuals or about whether he decided to select/keep on/release said individuals, which the quoted posts relate to.

I haven’t said some of them are tame- some of them are really harsh on Imrie, and I’m sure that in hindsight, some of the posters will have a different stance now. But none of them are relevant to your argument.

You’re just throwing everything you can at this, hoping something will stick.

[capitanus]

2 hours ago, DreamOakTree said:

I meant to say that’s only the first batch. It’s very time consuming and I’m only halfway through one thread. 

I preferred it when you came out with gems like playing trialist for Den Haag.  The rest is just shite.

[capitanus]

1 hour ago, Toby said:

Tell you what, stick a link to every post and I’ll red dot them accordingly, will that make you feel better?

A prize dickhead who fancied himself as a wind-up merchant getting all flustered.  You're fucking loving this, aren't you? 

[Pedrodelawasp]

4 hours ago, SassenachTon said:

Fair enough CHC. My name's already on ze list

Don't tell him!

[DreamOakTree]

10 hours ago, Toby said:

No, your point was about his policy towards youth academy graduates in general, not about how he got along with individuals or about whether he decided to select/keep on/release said individuals, which the quoted posts relate to.

I haven’t said some of them are tame- some of them are really harsh on Imrie, and I’m sure that in hindsight, some of the posters will have a different stance now. But none of them are relevant to your argument.

You’re just throwing everything you can at this, hoping something will stick.

No, my point was that other posters were voicing similar concerns as myself regarding academy players. The posts I've copied specifically show exactly that, as I've missed out the generalistic posts you're talking about for that very reason. If you believe in smoke without fire then:

a) Why did SassenachTon start a new thread entirely devoted to that subject?

b) Why did Dougie recently refer to "THE FEW" who questioned his policy on academy players? Other posters have said he reads this forum (which I first refuted), so what posts would he be referring to if not those above?

Those posts had a similar tone to mine at the time, i.e. an open question on whether academy players were getting a bit of a raw deal, with a caveat that we trusted Dougie to get everything else right. Here's an example below which may be even more tame than the other posters.

DreamOakTree: Posted September 21, 2022

"I thought Strapp was our most influential player by far. I was one of many who was worried we’d lose him and was delighted when he signed on again. Imrie has my backing but this looks a strange decision."

 

I first changed the narrative with the post below, where I directly questioned Dougie's attitude. It was at this point I started getting kickback from other posters. This grew to the point when I lost the plot with my outrageous personal rant towards Dougie.

 

DreamOakTree: Posted April 15, 2023

I find it a bit stomach churning that Dougie would tell our possibly best player that he’s got no future at Morton, while he’s trying to recover from a long term injury. Imrie has a very good ratio in improving players who were unpopular with the fans, plus his new signings. I wonder if he has something against popular home grown players such as Strapp, McGrattan, McGregor, Lyon etc. If so I’m not sure why this would be the case. 

It was relatively recently that Dougie started to rectify his attitude towards our academy players. You were citing evidence from within that recent time frame of a couple of months compared to the references I’ve made starting well over a year ago. I don’t know what it would take to make you admit your recollection of that time frame which shows that Dougie has completely turned around his approach to our Academy Graduates.

 

 

 

[Cet Homme Charmant]

17 hours ago, capitanus said:

I preferred it when you came out with gems like playing trialist for Den Haag.  The rest is just shite.

Very cynical if I may say so. I mean, what's so hard to believe about a near 40 year old being called up for trials to Eredivisie club Den Haag, solely on the basis of what their manager saw at an amateur works match, only to be personally coached by the world famous Rob Rensenbrink, who himself had only just retired from an illustrious footballing career, including appearances in two world cup finals? 

And yet some still suggest he's a fantasist. 

 

[DreamOakTree]

8 minutes ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Very cynical if I may say so. I mean, what's so hard to believe about a near 40 year old being called up for trials to Eredivisie club Den Haag, solely on the basis of what their manager saw at an amateur works match, only to be personally coached by the world famous Rob Rensenbrink, who himself had only just retired from an illustrious footballing career, including appearances in two world cup finals? 

And yet some still suggest he's a fantasist. 

 

I was 37. I've been advised the coach was likely Rob Ouwehand and the manager was definitely Co Adriaanse. Also for your information  works football is a big deal in The Netherlands and Germany. I worked at Keppel Verolme (but didn't play for them) and they reached the final of the European works teams tournament, where they were beaten by a major German works team. Their stadium was also very impressive with a clubhouse, bar and restaurant. 

[capitanus]

1 hour ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Very cynical if I may say so. I mean, what's so hard to believe about a near 40 year old being called up for trials to Eredivisie club Den Haag, solely on the basis of what their manager saw at an amateur works match, only to be personally coached by the world famous Rob Rensenbrink, who himself had only just retired from an illustrious footballing career, including appearances in two world cup finals? 

And yet some still suggest he's a fantasist. 

 

What's unbelievable about any of that?  It happens all the time.  Roy Hodgson saw me and gave me a game for Crystal Palace at the weekend. I was their top scorer in the game too.  Afterwards I said I didn't fancy it and pissed off back to my humdrum life.

The same thing could quite easily have happened to some 70 year old fantasist too.

Edited January 24 by capitanus

[capitanus]

3 hours ago, DreamOakTree said:

I was 37. I've been advised the coach was likely Rob Ouwehand and the manager was definitely Co Adriaanse. Also for your information  works football is a big deal in The Netherlands and Germany. I worked at Keppel Verolme and they reached the final of the European works teams tournament, where they were beaten by a major German works team. Their stadium was also very impressive with a clubhouse, bar and restaurant. 

Now he's playing against Bayer Leverkusen.

Is he one of those guys who got a cap for Scotland under Berti Vogts never to be seen or heard from again?

[SassenachTon]

11 hours ago, DreamOakTree said:

a) Why did SassenachTon start a new thread entirely devoted to that subject?

Show me.

Edit = Oh, wait. I found it. "Dougie Imrie vs. home-grown young talent". Either you didn't read it, or you somehow misunderstood the fact that the entire thread was created to dispel and disprove your pish rantings. Clue = your name's up in lights on the very first line. If you think that I was one of 'the few' who even remotely agreed with you, then you're a fucking mile off. But because I'm a decent bloke, I'll accept a public apology from you on here for completely misrepresenting me.

 

Edited January 24 by SassenachTon

[DreamOakTree]

26 minutes ago, SassenachTon said:

Show me.

Edit = Oh, wait. I found it. "Dougie Imrie vs. home-grown young talent". Either you didn't read it, or you somehow misunderstood the fact that the entire thread was created to dispel and disprove your pish rantings. Clue = your name's up in lights on the very first line. If you think that I was one of 'the few' who even remotely agreed with you, then you're a fucking mile off. But because I'm a decent bloke, I'll accept a public apology from you on here for completely misrepresenting me.

 

You made it onto Dougie’s “THE FEW” shortlist not because you devised the above thread, but due to your following post:

SassenachTon: Posted September 20, 2022

Apart from the insanity of Blues starting every game, the greatest team selection mystery to me is why Lewis Strapp is being used to keep the bench warm. I thought he was arguably our most solid player last season.

if you disagree then take it up with Dougie.

[SassenachTon]

Jesus wept.

I’d rather sit and watch my own toenails grow than tolerate any more of your relentless trolling. I’m out.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

Ach, I'm starting to warm to the auld trooper. Mixing up some relatively unknown jobber with the then world famous Rob Rensenbrink is perhaps a sign he was already losing his marbles at the tender age of 37. Today, that would be like mixing up Ryan McGinty with David Backham.

Cut the old boy some slack, he's obviously confused.

[DreamOakTree]

To complete my response to Toby:

thehustler: Posted September 16, 2023 (edited)

Very poor decision. Release young, talented player and sign a perennially injured player from a lower league club. Some might think Imrie is deliberately ruining our season....see signing of a useless, finished centre back.

SpoonTon: Posted October 2, 2023

I think the point is that there are those who think Imrie has been wrong about players like Strapp, McGregor, Lyon, etc and think he's not gone about things in the right way. He can support McGregor, dislike Imrie, and still like Morton. 

Alibi: Posted October 2, 2023

 

"If Lewis is bitter about Imrie, it doesn't mean he's suddenly going to hate the club that he has played with, developed as a player, and given great service too, for several years.  Still think Imrie was wrong to let him go and it does seem he may have some issue with our youth academy players generally."

Dougie Imrie: Greenock Telegraph December 2, 2023

“I’ve always been a believer if you’re good enough you’re old enough. I’m not scared or frightened to play the kids.” 

thehustler: Posted December 4, 2023

"I figure DreamOakTree has some validity in his opinions"

Alibi: Posted December 4, 2023 (edited)

I think there was a widespread perception that Imrie was preferring more experienced players over some of those who had come through our youth system - Mcgrattan being the most obvious example, but also to an extent King, Lyon, McGarrity etc, and others, even including Strapp.  However recently there does seem to have been a bit of a sea change, and I think that's maybe a tacit admission by Imrie that we have been held back by at least a couple of our regular starters and that he has been perhaps too cautious in his team selections. 

I don't know Dream Oak Tree and have no wish to be drawn into an argument with those who don't seem to have any time for him, but I think he's maybe just been a bit slow to realise that our management team might be taking on board some of the valid criticisms that have been made about the younger members of our squad being ignored or not used to their full potential.