Martin Cranie (1 Viewer)

skybluereeve

Well-Known Member
What was the reaction when we signed him? Universal approval or did he get "the treatment"?
I’m honestly not sure . But the reports from Barnsley’s fans was we had a very good player on our hands wasn’t it? He was a class above in the middle from what I saw. Only my opinion though. I hope we have a target think robins said we were weak in that area didn’t he?
 

COV

Well-Known Member

@COV

So you called it then Mr cc84cov, with some serious dissenters.

As with most things I think it was a matter of expectation- he was brought in to play a certain role, not be a free-scoring game changer, if people thought he was going to be notching 15 goals then that was never going to happen. He played his role well, I thought he was classy- but he's not irreplaceable, nobody is. With all the rebuilding & selling we've done, yet climbed up the league regardless, one thing we do know is that we can come back from losing players.
 

skybluereeve

Well-Known Member
So you called it then Mr cc84cov, with some serious dissenters.

As with most things I think it was a matter of expectation- he was brought in to play a certain role, not be a free-scoring game changer, if people thought he was going to be notching 15 goals then that was never going to happen. He played his role well, I thought he was classy- but he's not irreplaceable, nobody is. With all the rebuilding & selling we've done, yet climbed up the league regardless, one thing we do know is that we can come back from losing players.
Great post I’m sure we are looking at that area.
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
James was absolute class in my opinion. His calmness, awareness, ability to keep the ball, his talking, organisation, set pieces. He bought so much to the team and was pivotal in us staying up. It’s a shame we couldn’t get him permanently but that’s football
 

COV

Well-Known Member
James was absolute class in my opinion. His calmness, awareness, ability to keep the ball, his talking, organisation, set pieces. He bought so much to the team and was pivotal in us staying up. It’s a shame we couldn’t get him permanently but that’s football

totally agree- we'll get over it, we always do but I thought he was great- a big presence which you can't really measure but is critical in any team- I don't think we have anyone with that presence now. Kelly maybe is closest.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
He took time to settle and wasn’t great the first few games. By the end of the season he looked out most accomplished player, but still was papering over obvious flaws on our side. Couple of decent defensive signings and we’ll be better than we were with him.
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
He took time to settle and wasn’t great the first few games. By the end of the season he looked out most accomplished player, but still was papering over obvious flaws on our side. Couple of decent defensive signings and we’ll be better than we were with him.
I agree to a certain degree but with Hamer losing form and Kelly injured I don’t think you can overstate James’ influence on the squad. He was a little rusty at first, but you have to remember he went from playing a completely different style of football at Barnsley so this would take any player time to adjust.
 

KersleyDigs

Well-Known Member
I really rated James. We could find a different way of playing and getting results though. I think Barnsley really kicked on after James left for example...
Not saying we won't miss him, but we could play a different stlye/formation
 

baldy

Well-Known Member
It’s not rocket seconds is it? He was a good all round player and we don’t have him now. Hence weaker all day long in that position. Hopefully we get someone but a massive loss in my eyes.

I agree that it’s not rocket seconds….rocket science however…….
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
.....a thread of course started by the usual clueless moron and instantly liked by the junior moron in chief (Boosh).....

....no shock to anyone on here of course.
To be fair I actually like Grendel. I don’t agree with the flatter to deceive stuff or the taxi for Robins stuff but he’s often on the money when it comes to criticism of our owners and knows his stuff about finances
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
.....a thread of course started by the usual clueless moron and instantly liked by the junior moron in chief (Boosh).....

....no shock to anyone on here of course.

You only exist on this forum to worship at the temple of Grendel don’t you Danny?
 

covmark

Well-Known Member
Everyone bites though, he’s often the talk of the forum and when he has an opinion it always causes pages of debate, which a forum is all about. This place would be a lot more dull without him
I agree mate. I tended to agree with Grendel a lot more a few years ago. Now he tends to like to play the panto villain more than he likes to make serious points, unfortunately.

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
I agree mate. I tended to agree with Grendel a lot more a few years ago. Now he tends to like to play the panto villain more than he likes to make serious points, unfortunately.

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk
I can now tell when he’s being serious or simply trying to get a rise out of people. He’s never called me a clueless moron before so I’m thankful. He may not have noticed that I am a clueless moron!
 

hill83

Well-Known Member
To be fair I actually like Grendel. I don’t agree with the flatter to deceive stuff or the taxi for Robins stuff but he’s often on the money when it comes to criticism of our owners and knows his stuff about finances

He’s ok tbf.

But he’s Jonny opposite, professional devils advocate. He was called a sisu lover for years when the general feeling was against them, and now that’s calmed down he’s against them himself.

Obviously opinions change, but he’s a pure wind up merchant. Never answers a question without asking a new one either. Or admit when he’s wrong.
 

Barnsley

Well-Known Member
I really rated James. We could find a different way of playing and getting results though. I think Barnsley really kicked on after James left for example...
Not saying we won't miss him, but we could play a different stlye/formation

We’ve kicked on in the second half of the season for the last three seasons, last season we was in a really good position when the kick came, James played a part in that.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
He’s ok tbf.

But he’s Jonny opposite, professional devils advocate. He was called a sisu lover for years when the general feeling was against them, and now that’s calmed down he’s against them himself.

Obviously opinions change, but he’s a pure wind up merchant. Never answers a question without asking a new one either. Or admit when he’s wrong.

Tactics straight from the Management for Dummies handbook.
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
To be fair I actually like Grendel. I don’t agree with the flatter to deceive stuff or the taxi for Robins stuff but he’s often on the money when it comes to criticism of our owners and knows his stuff about finances

I agree, his stubbornness regarding certain topics lets him down sometimes (!) but he’s one of the better contributors on here. His Christmas quiz is good too
 

JimmyHillsbeard

Well-Known Member
He’s ok tbf.

But he’s Jonny opposite, professional devils advocate. He was called a sisu lover for years when the general feeling was against them, and now that’s calmed down he’s against them himself.

Obviously opinions change, but he’s a pure wind up merchant. Never answers a question without asking a new one either. Or admit when he’s wrong.

Johnny_Opposite would definitely have been a GMK troll account by now.
 

Greggs

Well-Known Member
We’ve kicked on in the second half of the season for the last three seasons, last season we was in a really good position when the kick came, James played a part in that.
James wasn't needed as you booted the ball in the air for 90 minutes hoping your forwards picked up on scraps. Now the manager has moved on to a bigger and better club - I'd imagine you'll try to play proper football again and James would walk back into the side.
 

NorthernWisdom

Well-Known Member
Anyway, if we *must* start the season without a full-strength squad, a game against Forest seems the ideal one to do so. We really should have beaten us both times last season, they absolutely mugged us, and they seem worse off than we are wrt their pre-season.

So yeah, we can wait a bit to make a decision on Cranie really. I also still think the cash on James could have been better spent elsewhere in the squad last season, so not that fussed he isn't with us this season... apart from the fact it seems we haven't spent those wages elsewhere really. I refuse to accept Waghorn is on as much as some think, as he's been with a basket case club struggling at the wrong end of the table in this division, not exactly bowled over with offers, not the James level of pedigree, either.
 

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member
Anyway, if we *must* start the season without a full-strength squad, a game against Forest seems the ideal one to do so. We really should have beaten us both times last season, they absolutely mugged us, and they seem worse off than we are wrt their pre-season.

So yeah, we can wait a bit to make a decision on Cranie really. I also still think the cash on James could have been better spent elsewhere in the squad last season, so not that fussed he isn't with us this season... apart from the fact it seems we haven't spent those wages elsewhere really. I refuse to accept Waghorn is on as much as some think, as he's been with a basket case club struggling at the wrong end of the table in this division, not exactly bowled over with offers, not the James level of pedigree, either.

Interesting point regarding Waghorn, although I have a feeling Derby were paying stupid wages which is why they have been in so much shit.

Saw Rooney injured one of the players in training during a 50/50 as well and put him out for three months. You almost couldn't write that.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
I agree, his stubbornness regarding certain topics lets him down sometimes (!) but he’s one of the better contributors on here. His Christmas quiz is good too

I’m thinking about the quiz already. Personal as well as charity reward for the winner this time to try and boost the entry levels
 

blunted

Well-Known Member
I’m honestly not sure . But the reports from Barnsley’s fans was we had a very good player on our hands wasn’t it? He was a class above in the middle from what I saw. Only my opinion though. I hope we have a target think robins said we were weak in that area didn’t he?
Thought he started slowly whilst getting to know the players and the system. Once bedded in he was absolute class. Will be a big miss unless we can get a decent replacement or we change the system and get a beast in midfield. The beast option and change of system is unlikely IMO. I think Boddy said the way we played with a mixture of possession and longer balls from the back made us a more competitive team near the end of last season.
 

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