The players that the negative Nancies are slagging off left right and centre are still on the whole good players, it is just they are no longer, or never quite were, best suited to Premier League... and there is no shame in that, the EPL is more about physicality, strength and pace on the whole compared to say the La Liga which is more technique and skills focused.
How many times have we seen a player from La Liga/Serie A/Bundesliga etc who is a fucking superstar or 'the next big thing' come over and struggle or fail to set the world on fire in the EPL because the EPL is different to their usual style of play? Still great players, just not great EPL players.
The way people are so dismissive of the Championship, and Championship level players is a bit daft too, these guys are still cream of the fucking crop in terms of skills, they're just not the absolute elite, or they were elite and have just declined slightly/lost a step or two because of age or injuries. Still high level footballers though, without any doubt.
I think the majority of our squad that some people are slagging off as useless donkeys would still be beasts in the championship (or MLS etc) so can we not pretend they were always shit because they just came up a tad short of the new guys we're bringing in.
Don't forget that we are still in the EPL (admittedly hanging on by our fingernails tbh) because these players worked their backsides off against better teams and better players to keep us here somehow, despite Ashley & Brucieball's best efforts...
I think a little more respect and appreciation is needed tbh. (Except Clark after his little performance in Saudi, and even then I wonder just how much so many months of personal abuse and criticism have affected his mindset and game mentally).
We've all been guilty of reacting in the heat of the moment, me included - if you'd asked me 5 months ago about Joey Linton or Shelvey I'd have said just raffle them off for 50p a ticket - but I was wrong, everyone has dry spells where they're off their game.
Anyways this turned into a bit of a rant, so just remember that these players are people who on the whole, did their best for and respected the badge. Yes by all means criticise them fairly when and where it is earned - but lets not be like all the other club's fickle meathead fans. Remember who we are and act accordingly.
HTL