He may have all of that but he can't apply it any more. You can see him spot the gap but he just can't get through it and his speed of passing is so slow the opposition are up in the receiver almost before they catch the ball.Nine posted:
Millard was brought in to replace Wagga who was offered considerably more money and had a starting spot for next season dangled in front of him too. Millard offers experience, a crafty football brain, a great attitude and a different style to Higham.
The fact Withers and Millard were given two year deals is surely a mistake, especially Millard. He doesn't look capable of getting to the end of this season without the aid of a zimmer frame so who knows how he will go next.McIlorum is our future at hooker but he's still very young and seems to have an injury jinx at the moment - we could not rely on him to back up Higham.
Surely no one for a moment, within or without the club, thought those two players were part of our long-term building, except in providing experienced cover while our undoubtedly talented youngsters get more experience, mature and let the coaching staff see who really is the real deal and who isn't.
I am sure the club employed these two players for exactly the reasons you state. But just because they did doesn't mean it is working out particularly well. We are simply weaker in the hooking department having replaced Wagga with Millard.As fans we need to go against our instincts sometimes and look longer-term than the next 80 minutes, the next month or even this season, and see where we are going and what shape we are likely to be in come 2008 and 2009 and onwards.
Graham was nothing like these two. He was not at the end of his career and unless Millard miraculously gains several yards of pace and speed of pass I very much doubt people will hold the same view of him as they do Graham. Millard won't be missed when he leaves.Keep the faith - no one thought Nick Graham was a superstar but he is still held in respect for providing the experience and steadiness we needed when an injury crisis left us short of troops and with too many kids in the starting line-up. I think Withers and Millard will be seen to have performed the same service when we look back in years to come, albeit on a longer and more planned basis.
Dave