Nicholl, Graydon or Merse

Graydon Rules
By Mister Happy
March 15 2005

Both Chris Nicholl and Ray Graydon achieved success through organisation and team spirit. Paul Merson's side are sadly lacking in both departments.

Chris Nicholl stormed into the Bescot changing rooms and demanded promotion. He got it. Promotion was achieved through discipline, organisation and team spirit.

Ray Graydon inherited a squad so depleted he didn’t have enough players to put out a first team squad for pre-season. He scoured the freebie transfer market and brought in other clubs rejects. Again through organisation, discipline, hard work and team spirit his rag bag squad earned promotion at the first attempt despite being favourites for relegation. Graydon achieved promotion not once, but twice.

Paul Merson has inherited a squad containing decent talent. He has brought through some youngsters that show massive potential for the future. Unfortunately, through lack of organisation he has created a mess.

If you think long and hard there used to be players that ran up and down the touchline crossing balls into the box for the forwards to score. These were called wingers. They have been sadly missing from Bescot in recent years due to the need to accommodate Merson. Even if we wanted to play with wingers we are unable to do so as we don’t really have any.

The halcyon days of Houghton, Hodge and Wrack (remember him) have long gone. The days of organisaton, disciplined play and team spirit have also disappeared along with Graydon and Nicholl.

This current team is strangely similar to the disorganised rabble coached by Big Fat Jan. The only difference being we at least had an exciting cup run and great players such as Boli and Peron to admire back then.

Unless Merson can find some battlers, fighters and players that really want to achieve success then he will not succeed.

For a team to achieve success you must have team spirit and desire. It doesn’t matter if your squad is filled with the most talented players available you will achieve nothing if there is no organisation or desire.

Paul Merson has a lot to learn. He needs to learn it fast before it is too late.