There has to be something with Wes. He has this problem with EVERY manager,

both at club and country.

Always ignored at first, always has the manager trying to replace him or find a way to play without him. There has to be a reason for that.

And I don't mean that he is a bit of an arsehole or lazy in practice or something. It could be anything - maybe he is too nice, or a little introverted - but it has to be something.

Only thing I can think of is that he is 34 years old and plays in such a particular style that you have to play to a system which makes the most of him, and while it would always be the smart thing to do that, at 34 you're probably less likely to adapt your team's style if you don't see anybody who can take over the role in the near future. That would introduce a huge risk.

But he's had the same problems since he was comfortably in his twenties. I really don't understand it. It's not like he is often injured or something, leaving you with a system with nobody to play the main role for most of the season.

Even at Norwich we've tried for years under many managers to "replace" Wes. And I don't mean replace him as such but have his long term or even short term replacement ready. I can't remember them all but I think we've tried that with Howson, Butterfield, Redmond, the attempt to sign Toivonen, Naismith and many more especially this season with Pritchard, Morrison et al.

Perhaps that is it - a victim of his own mastery of a unique position which means that managers are afraid of building the team around such a talent without having a replacement part should he break.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Oct 10, 13:39:23