Town hall meeting (the aftermath)

Every now and then I like handing over this space to you guys, and I think Tuesday night's town hall meeting is one of those opportunities. I could give you my analysis of how it went, but, really, this meeting was not for me or any other media member. It was for you guys, the fans, and by a rough count, about 500 of you showed up at the St. Pete Times Forum and peppered ownership, management, coach Barry Melrose and Vinny Lecavalier with many questions in a 90-minute event.

So, anyone who was there, let us know what you thought. How did the owners handle the question about Dan Boyle. Were you satisfied with the answers about team toughness? What do you think of mullet night or of Vinny Lecavalier perhaps one day having mini Vinnies?

Just have to say one quick word about Lecavalier, who, as always, was gracious and giving with his time, signing autographs for a line of season ticket holders 400 strong.

This is what he said after the town hall meeting: "When I started in the NHL, I considered Montreal my home. Now, 10 years later, I consider Tampa my home also."

Nice. 

Comments

[PD]

No worries Leo as long as THeo isn't a playoff sieve like Carey.

[léo]

No, no, Steve.
Those NUMBERS are an improvement. The goalie isn't. In MY mind.
We'll see, won't we? Now that he's DESIGNATED num1, again, nobody else behind him, all on him; we'll see. Now that he HAS a contract and can RELAX. We'll see.
I think Kolzig has much more "mental fiber" than Theo. That's my point.
Will Theo let in LESS goals this year? Maybe, probably, sure.
But I garantee he'll let in more of the IMPORTANT ones.
Numbers. The 1st 20 games of the season, Gerber OUTCLASSED everybody. Just numbers.
Question is: Who steps up when the heat is on? Kolzig or Theo? Joe Thornton or Claude Lemieux? See THEIR numbers?
P.

[Steve R]

Olie's numbers:
25-21-6 2.91gaa .862 sv %

Theo:
28-21-3 2.44gaa .910 sv %

Doesn't matter how you spin it, Theo is an improvement over Olie.

[PD]

Again you are getting carried away, all I said was that he would be an upgrade to Kolzig.

I think Jaques Lemaire knows goalies more than you Leo. Come to think about it, who doesn't. (See Carey, Smith, Biron)

he was rather a big Theo fan

[léo]

The Minnesota Wild??
Are you dealing in beads, PD?
Gaborik, Demitra and FOUR goons = Cup contender?
Theo's ufa year, PD. His contract year! And he STILL stank the 1st half of the season. ...the minny wild....Oooooooo.
Against the Big Red Boys? Theo out in 4, tail between his legs, not 5, not 6, certainly not 7, in 4! Oh no wait, he was "sick". Yeah, ok. Put in Budaj if he's sick! We put in Halak; We ain't afraid to face reality, ferpetessakes.
Which also means Theo played less than my Boy in the playoffs...btw. Disappeared MORE than Boy, in fact.
THAT'S what he did this year.
How much is he making? 4mil? That's BARELY num1 money and Colorado didn't even match it, which should tell us all a little somethin' about how much they trust him for BARELY num1 money.
Yes, I have been in a cave, PD. Luckily, it was furnished with cable television and the Internet.
And my eyes are wide open.
What do YOU see in this guy that makes you say he's gonna be strong?
P.

[PD]

Been in a cave Leo?
Check what Theo did last year yourself or even better ask Jacques Lemaire about him?

[léo]

Optimist implies I'm looking on the bright side of brutal reality, one that might smack me in the face.
I believe I've expressed the reasons WHY it'll finish 6 - 3. I think it holds up.
Whether it happens or not is another thing, granted.
But is it optimism? Or confidence?
I don't see 6 - 3 because I think We're slightly better than the Cappers and I'm hoping for the best. THAT'S optimism. I think it'll go 6 - 3 because We are Superior to the Cappers and We will Crush you.
Not sayin' I'm right, Steve. You KNOW I love the Cappers (...loved'em more with Huey, mind...). Sayin' I'm confident as heck that Our artillery is too powerful for yours as well as Our psychological advantage in regards to Our old friend, Our wayward son, Our dearly departed, Propecia-usin', Paris-hoppin', finger-givin' "Amigo".
6 - 3!
P.

[Steve R]

leo,

We tried to pay Huet. He asked for 3 years 5m per. Caps agreed and offered just that. Huet then tried to squeeze more $$ out of the Caps. We don't need Huet for 4 years with the prospects coming up.

6-3 for points? You're an optimist leo.

[léo]

Sorry, still worked up,
The Kid is 20!
So then Fleury is ALSO a folder. HIS 1st year, he went out in 5. FIVE!
My Boy went out in 11.
But he's a folder...I see.
Theo won the Hart for half a season. The second half. He stunk the 1st half. 0 - 40 record. (I'm exaggeratin') No pressure. No more. No pressure? Theo plays. Played great, squeezed into the playoffs. Pressure? Theo folds. Promptly and shockingly. He was sick in COL? BULLCRAP on that. He wasn't "sick"; he was Theo. C'mon! How many times do you have to witness this? ...he was sick...What'he have, cholera? Huh? Anthrax poisoning? Cuz dang, had to be sick as heck to play THAT way.
Did he deserve the Hart? Sure. Out of all the teams THAT year, at THAT point, he was definitely the player who was the MOST valuable to his team. We had nothing, remember?
Did he deserve the Vézina? Nope. He played half a season. Good or bad reasons, excuses or scenarios of whether or not this or that was responsible for the other thing, he played half a season.
You're telling me about Theo. I know him MUCH better than you do. Don't tell me about Theo; I'll tell you.
He comes to the Bell. The crowd will get on him. We KNOW he folds, you see. He will resist, maybe even play excellent. Until...he lets in ONE goal. Then the crowd will PRESS. And the floodgates will open.
Don't tell me; I'll tell you.
I feel sick for Washy. They shoulda paid Huet.
P.

[léo]

McCabe is washed up, PD. Maybe not for TB defensive standards but washed up regardless.
Is he better than me? Probably. Is he NHL level? Not no more. Inane or not, there it is. I respect your devotion to the guy but what can you do? And YES, you DID compare him to Markov. That was the whole basis of this line of thought.
Theo...Hart...what?
How was Mars, PD? Where ya been the last...what 3 years? Where ya been? You vouch for Theo before the Priceberg and you gotta get yourself examined cuz somethin's leakin'.
What's wrong, PD? You mad at me? Why you attackin' everything I say all of a sudden with these ridiculous claims? Oddly enough, it's the McCabe "not being washed up" that makes the most sense and that hardy makes any. But McCabe over Markov and now Theo cool as ice in the Bell and the Kid a folder? What's wrong, PD?
What has Theo done LATELY, PD? Squat. Where ya been? Has this escaped you?
Lemme guess: You'd take Jim Carey before the Priceberg too, right? Well, he won the Vézina, didn't he? How about Raycroft? You'd take him too, right? He won the Calder.
Past success does not EQUAL present success.
Ovie can get a hat-trick one night and lose an arm in a fishing accident and guess what? He ain't gettin' hat-tricks no more.
Well Theo lost an arm, PD, you understand?
He ain't ever gonna get a hat-trick again.
My Boy's 20. And he's just gettin'started.
Will you be as humble as you are incisive when the time comes?
P.

[PD]

Leo if anyone breaks at the Bell in technocolor its Carey..I wouldn't push that one. Theo won the Hart trophy as the leagues best player in Montreal.

On McCabe my point was not to compare to disappearing Markov, just to correct you on the innane comment that you made about him being washed up.

[léo]

And Our victories against you were barn-burning scorchers, Steve, clinics of hockey.
Anything can happen of course, but some "little" things can be taken into account:
A) + B) Our TOTAL back-end out-classes yours, top to bottom. Mike Green is better than most, or all Our young D-kids, and that's it. We own every other position. That was the MAJOR turning point last year; no reason to think it'll be any different.
C) Ovie. Had a MAGICAL night against Us last year...and nothing else. Why? Markov. You know how I feel about Markov. Yet Markov, is the ONLY defender in the league that can SHUT OVIE DOWN. Only Markov. Grew up together, played together, know each other, are probably with each other right now. Ovie is the only guy Markov ISN'T afraid of, go figure. Ovie says it himself, right Steve?
D) THIS YEAR, we have an added pièce de résistance: Theo.
You say Theo is an upgrade on Kolzig, I'll accept it, but I would say it's the same grade. The very same grade, neither better nor worse.
But here's the kicker: Theo won't win at the Bell. You know this. We KNOW him. We KNOW he breaks. So We'll break him. And he'll let in 8 goals. That's ZERO pts in 2 games for you, right off the bat.
The CH won't pick up ONE pt in Washy City to top your "split"?
I'll say 6 - 3 for Us, cuz I'm NICE.
Does that reasoning hold up?
P.

[Steve R]

leo,

Last year we took your guys twice. Granted, both were in overtime and the Habs took 6 points to the Caps 4.

But:
1) Kolzig was in net for us, Theo is an improvement. (I'm not sure if Price or Huet was in net for your losses, but yes Price is an improvement over Huet).
2) Caps are a lot deeper this year than last. Nyls was damaged & we picked up Feds after the last time we played the Habs. Top 3 centers of Backs, Nyls and Feds is pretty good. Much improved power play for us as well.

I'm guessing a split.

[léo]

Dang! Again!
Yours truly is losin' it,

As we say in french, Steve: All tastes exist in Nature.
Thought Life of Brian sucked. Thought the Meaning of Life was slightly less horrid. Can't play with'em. Won't vouch for'em.
There is only the Quest, far as I'm concerned, And Now For Something..., and the Flying Circus show, which was bloody brilliant. Inspired our Kids in the Hall, matter of fact. "No one must know my Horrible secret..." For this, the guy needs a dead squirrel.
But back to hockey!
Steve,
Do you think the Cappers can beat Us ONCE, this year?
Just once?
Once!
And you're not allowed to make stuff up, nor to delude yourself. New rule!
Once?
Personally, I think you can.
Once.
P.

[Steve R]

leo,

Well done. You press wild flowers when les Habs aren't in season?

You forgot Life of Brian quotes. Do they sell wolf nipple chips in Canada?

[ajax]

Are those posts above some kind of code?? The world wide web has turned into the twilight zone. Something in the soup???

[Habs Suck]

Well, Steve,
I'm a lumberjack and that's ok.
I sleep at night and I work all day.
I work all day; I wear high heels.
A girdle and a braaaaaaaaa.
I wish I was a Lady.
Just like my dear papaaaaa!
Posted by: léo | July 19, 2008 at 12:37 AM

No need to comment further.

[léo]

Well, Steve,
I'm a lumberjack and that's ok.
I sleep at night and I work all day.
I work all day; I wear high heels.
A girdle and a braaaaaaaaa.
I wish I was a Lady.
Just like my dear papaaaaa!
See, Steve? Easy.
For I am a shrubber. My name? Is Leo. The schrubber. I arrange, sell, and design: Schrubbery.
nnnnn-Nee!
No,no,no!
Say no more! Say no more, sir!...Whassit like?
And let's forego the happy-slappy fish dance, shall we? And the Norwegian Blue parrot. He's not even moving...
Right, off I go.
P.

[Steve R]

PD, it seemed like good timing to throw Bob into the mix. Now if I could tie in Monty Python life would be good.

[léo]

I wasn't suggesting that at all, PD. (Although Russia DID beat Canada, didn't they? How? By scoring more goals, obviously. And Canada lost by letting more in, no? So the defense....No?)
What I WAS suggesting, is that although I think Markov's brilliance isn't worth his series disappearing acts, I would be a FOOL to take McCabe before him.
Now, the way you're going, I can see that you don't see it that way. That's cool. You say McCabe is better than Markov. While I may be spitting up my tea at the thought, you are nevertheless entitled to your opinion.
So let's agree to disagree and leave it at that. Cool?
I can ask around: my bro in Edmonton, my buddy in Manhattan, my buddies in Ottawa, my uncle in Austin, I'll ask'em:
Markov or McCabe?
I know what We think in Mtl: that McCabe doesn't come to Markov's heel.
I may be biased, sure. I don't LIKE Markov but maybe I'm biased anyway.
No WAY I'd switch him for McCabe. That's just...it's just...crazy. Like switching Crosby for Fitzpatrick; I just don't see it. I mean...omg.
I know I said you're entitled to your opinion, PD, but jeez, I'm tellin' you that that opinion is wrong. It's wrong.
Sorry. Maybe at some point in time in the past but jeez, no more, PD. C'mon, snap out of it.
Tell me SOMEONE ELSE is better than Markov and I promise to agree with you, how's that?
P.

[PD]

Steve, MCCabe is 5.4 Cap for two more years.
Real dollars 4 mill a year left because it was front ended ala Vinny
A very digestable contract

Loved your Bob Marley reference the other day.

Leo you suggesting a comparison beween the Team Canada defence and Russia's ?then bring it on mate.

[Steve R]

Don't they both make 5.75m?

Markov is 29, McCabe 33. Throw away this years numbers because McCabe was dinged up and Tor just plain sucked & their numbers over time are not far apart.

McCabe is slowing down though.

[léo]

Markov made Team Russia. Injured!
McCabe wouldn't make Team Russia, how's that, PD?
And he makes more than 5mil, I'm sure of it. No? Whatever he makes, Toranna feels it's way too much, so the lower it is, the better it proves my point.
P.

[PD]

Actually MCacbes Cap hit is 5 mill, even better.

[PD]

Leo you seem to go a little overboard on all things Torrana..
If Markov was a Canadian he wouldnt make Team Canada now either, they can ice 6 guys that would blow you away.
At 33 MCCabe didn't get stupid or slow overnight and his cap hit is 6 mill not 6.2. real dollars only about 4mill a year because it was front ended like Vinny's.
Toronto doesnt need 10 mill in cap space for MCCabe and Kubina. One goes , one stays.

[léo]

We'll see about Miller, contract or not.
You know how I feel about Markov but I wouldn't set him down so far.
For you to have qualified McCabe the way you did PROVES to me that you haven't seen him in awhile.
To take McCabe before Markov shows you still have alot to understand what it is you want to get out of a hockey club.
As crappy as Markov played in the playoffs, he was still better than McCabe could ever be.
So take him, PD. Take him! Say, ha-ha Leo and take him. What do I care?
But don't grandiosely announce that McCabe is better than Markov cuz that's plain silliness.
Ain't talkin' about what he did in the PAST. You TBers always equating past success with present success... Right now? McCabe would NOT make Team Canada. He will NOT finish in top3 D goals. He CANNOT play both ends. Right now? He is mediocre, at best.
But you want him?
I am POSITIVE, that if he waives his no-trade (which he won't do, cuz he's a country-club boy, now, but if he does), Toranna will hand him over, FOR FREE.
He's a 6.6mil$ white elephant. Markov isn't. Toranna would be DELIGHTED to send him over whereas you would have to PAY for Markov. Toranna would sigh with relief at UNLOADING McCabe whereas We would have some thinking to do in losing Markov.
That's "crapola"? You see it differently?
Please explain cuz I really don't get it.
P.

[PD]

McCabe 6'2 225, experienced top 2 guy who can play both ends, solid mean streak, near top of the league in average minutes.
15 or mores goals 4x since 2000.
On the Canadian 06 Olympic Team
Lets see washed up at 33 with two years left at 5 million?

That's crappola Leo. I'd take him over Habs gutless, disappearing under pressure Markov in a second.

So was your info on Miller BTW

Agree re Schneider

[léo]

Just found out Miller's on for the next 5yrs so whaddoo I know?
Schneider? What the heck for? Experience? There is such a thing as too much experience. Like Kolzig, Matthieu is 62-years-old, ferpetessakes. Good for mentorship, ok, but you're basically hiring him to be assistant coach for year after that.
McCabe?? This came up the other day and I still don't understand it. Maybe it's because y'all don't see him as much as We do but fuhgeddabowdit. Great presence, but he's finished! Finished! Like Ajax says, "washed-up". His CLAIM is Presence, leadership, weight and a furious shot.
He's made soooooo many terrible mistakes in the last 2 years that the fans AND THE TEAM have turned on him, you KNOW this. Now Toranna might be stupid but it ain't BLIND. McCabe has since lost his Presence and leadership as a result.
Why the mistakes? Because his WEIGHT has become a serious hindrance. He's slow as molasses is what I'm tryin' to say, can't keep up. At all. Inside, outside, over the top, under the middle, give it a shot, it all works against McCabe. Just don't fall asleep in the corner.
He understands "positioning" but can't keep up! What are you gonna do, make him BETTER with another shirt on?
He's still got the shot, not disputin' that. But by the time he sets himself up to use it, the play's in the other zone.
What do you guys see in McCabe that makes him WORTH what you will forfeit in goals-against?
The guy is cannon-fodder, this team or that, Toranna or nat.
Bottom line?
We don't want McCabe to leave the N-E.
P.

[PD]

Millers not going anywhere and IMHO the Isles grab either MCcabe or Scneider.

[léo]

Yeah, but Higgy and Komo are Long Islanders...Bouillon too, for that matter.
Isles already have a slight edge. Might not mean nuthin' in the final analysis but there it is: Playing at home, with friends and family about you and with the least amount'a'travel in the league. The Atlantic division is a subway division, everyone close-by.
Granted, Higgy and Komo going to NYI isn't as set-in-stone as say,
Ryan Miller going to Detroit.
P.

[Steve R]

leo, I'd get tarred and feathered for even thinking about a trade involving Ov...

Dude, fans from every team whose nickname isn't the Habs would love to land Komo. Caps aren't going to have the cap room to make much of a play for anyone next season(s), plus with the prospects we expect to make the move to the bigs, we'll improve at D and G in the next year or so. And Semin & Backstrom needing new contracts in 2 years, we'll be against the cap, again...

[léo]

No probs Steve.
But lemme ask ya: What, you had your eye on Komo? Ooooo. Gotta watch ya, Steve, don't I now?
'Sides, if the Isles want Higgy, can you imagine how they'll turn land and sea and heaven and earth for big num8?
If Bob is smart, he'll sign him long-term before X-mas.
But tell you what, since I'm such a nice guy,
Give ya Komo, Higgy (AFTER signin'em, of course), McDonaugh, a 1st-rounder AND a Happy Birthday email from ME, every year, for the next ten years in exchange for uuhhhh...oh, I dunno...uhhh
Ovie?
We can call it: "The Section-8 Trade"
Sounds great, doesn't it?
Ok, now, let's do it!
P.

[Steve R]

leo,

My bad, they faked me out with the RFA* markings at nhlscap.com

[léo]

Because he's UFA, not RFA, Steve. Komo too.
I wish it weren't so, trust me.
Yo.

[Steve R]

leo,

Higs is an RFA end of the year, right? Isles throwing down an offer sheet is far from a sure thing. Seriously now, not too many offer sheets were signed on other teams RFA's. There were what? Two this year? And one of those was in retaliation. If the team has soured on him, why not dangle him as trade bait?

[léo]

Right now? (This may change during the course of the year.)
The mentality in Mtl is this:
We will keep Komo at all costs, future captain and all.
We will let Higgy walk. You heard me. He will walk. And We might not stop him if he won't sign reduced. No reason to think the Isles won't offer him the moon as well. So We won't stop him.
Kid's got 27 goals. He should have 45. He is a post-hitting, empty net-missing prodigy. He gets upset at his own play. He calls himself out and when he can't answer his own bell, he despairs. He's too hard on himself. He thinks too much. We worry about him. We don't know anymore.
But Komo's not going anywhere, on that, you have Our word.
P.

[PD]

Power to the people Steve R

[Steve R]

leo,

Bouillon and Komisarek are UFA at the end of the season. How much $$$ are those two going to get? Can the Habs keep the team together or is Bob Marley going to be playing "Exodus"?

[léo]

True dat, PD.
You want Markov?
You got him. Can We have Picard?
P.

[PD]

Ouch, corrected on Souray..who knew?
Markov was still a ghost at the qb spot in the playoffs...

[léo]

Ooooh, PD,
Oh, my dear friend...
I can't believe you said that. Souray?! What's to replace?!
I understand that you're in TB and aren't attuned to The Beautiful Team as you are to your own admirable organization.
So I'll explain things simply without getting excited. At the same time, you have to realize that if you were a Hab and you said that in Mtl, We would've immediately had you committed in an asylum for the Reality-impaired.
A)The SECOND Souray left, We went from a minus team to a plus team. We got NOTHING in return, remember. We became +, au naturel.
B) All Souray's goals came from Markov. So where did Marky dish instead? The Artiste. Production DOUBLED.
C) Streit was a FANTASTIC Bonus, but a bonus nonetheless. We didn't even offer him a contract, PD.
D) Souray = 64 pts. Streit = 62pts. Artiste = 82pts.
E) 2007 = 22.8PP%, for 1st place. 2008 = 24.2PP%, for 1st place. What gives?
Souray was a Top Dog in the dressing-room. Intimidating, a Law-Man. Always gripin' on the Artiste to play better. Always puttin him down. No secret they weren't the best of friends.
You DON'T tell an Artiste what to do! For whatever reasons, right or wrong, prima donna or not, an Artiste is MORE IMPORTANT than a one-trick pony, loudmouthed may he be, a rusted one at that, as the Oilers are discovering to their dismay.
So F!) For the GOOD of the team, Bob half-heartedly offered to Souray what he REALLY wanted to give to Hamrlyk but essentially DUMPED him for the Artiste. Ask ANY Hab, 4years old and up: Hamrlyk or Souray? The Artiste or Souray? Streit or Souray?
No one will say Souray.
We do NOT miss Souray. Hamrlyk is the man. We GLADLY sacrifice PP points for defensive stability.
Souray was ALWAYS getting busted for being out've position or too slow following the play. Truth is, he's a TERRIBLE defenseman!
Heck of a shot, sure, but UNRELIABLE in the defensive zone.
The second he LEFT, We got better.
..."we never replaced Souray"... Thank gosh, PD!
Thank gosh. I don't want D like that.
Hamrlyk replaced him just fine, PD, thank you very much. What was Souray? -27?
And what's Hamrlyk? +what?
I'll forgive you for this one, PD, no worries.
But ouch!
Can't believe you said that!
P.

[Don in St. Pete]

PD, Montreal is lucky though in that they have guys like o'byrne and Gorges that seem ready to step in now, whereas Smaby, Wishart and Mihalik need at least another year at Norfolk in my opinion. Let's hope mamagement doesn't feel obligated to bring in someone like Sydor or Kuba if they can't swing a better deal. We may be better with who we've got now. There's always the trade deadline if we're in the hunt.

[PD]

Markov was a ghost

[léo]

I'm sorry, did I ever say Sydor would look good here? No way. Guy's not a leader, no presence. Great skill, no presence. A coat-tail rider. A wave-rider, not a wave-causer. Still, he produces on PP, what're ya gonna do?
If you had a coffer-ful of Men on the blue, and it was mid-season, and one of'em got hurt and Sydor was dirt-cheap? Sure, you take him.
With the blue you got now? No way.
Give you a comparison,
Streit, right now, is better than Sydor, agreed?
It's the same player. Listen to Leo: it's the same guy; it's Sydor at 100% optimum efficiency. Streit is Sydor at his Prime.
Can Streit CARRY the Isles?
Listen to Leo: Streit is going to be the Isles best player this year. I am ready to bet a dollar that he will finish with most points on the team. He's definitely the general over there.
But will he CARRY the team? No. Streit is a specialist, not an all-around, top-to-bottom, both sides of the ice, with or without the puck playin' player.
These players are extremely useful, vital even, but they are add-ons, not building blocks.
You don't build with Sydor, heck Don, I was just advocatin' him to Ajax, who was rippin' into him good, but taking him now would indeed be goofy. Right now? No way.
But in 3-4 years, when you have (hopefully) some solid blue?
Maybe you can go for Streit! Ouch, when he's 36...
Forget I said that. That'd be like Sydor, right now!
P.

[PD]

Not to take advantage of the obvious Leo, but from what I saw from Markov and Streit,( who both disappeared when it counted), maybe you guys should grab Syds.

You have never replaced Sheldon.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo, I hear you and agree Syd still has some life on the PP, but we also already have a couple of guys like that in Hutchinson and Niskala. It would be a waste to sign Syd IMO as well. I think OK and Len are shooting for bigger fish. Only time will tell, but the wait is driving me nuts for sure.

[léo]

You're right, Don.
We would love it if you had picked up Redden or Sydor so Our O could blow by them 4 times a year, yes.
But I was merely saying that Sydor still had PP upside.
That is TRUE, no matter how much Ajax hates him. Hey, I understand hate. I love hate. Hate is part of hockey; I got no problem with that. Plus, I agreed his Defender days were over. Talkin' PP, the guy still knows what he's doing; what do you want from me?
While Sydor may be on his downhill, he's certainly not "washed up". Not until his PP presence becomes obsolete. And I refuse to believe that Ajax has had his head in the sand this season not to have noticed that in his play. He saw Sydor; his points didn't go in by accident.
Would I want him on my team? No way; he brings Us nothing We don't already have.
But if We had NOBODY and was dirt-cheap? Why the heck not?
I'd make him a specialist and put him on PP. 12min a game. He can do that. And if he can do that, well, he's not "washed-up", is he?
Wouldn't be expecting to go for the Cup, of course...
But unlike Ajax, I don't hate the guy, so my analysis remains objective.
I think.
Whaddoo I know?
P.

[BillSmith]

Barrie may be the greatest guy and glad to hear it. However he does not come across as very friendly at all.

[Twinebulge]

Your captain was sitting onstage last night with the owners and the coach. Can't imagine signing the guy to an 11-yr extension worth $85 million and then giving the C to Gary frickin' Roberts. Come on.

Marty would be a great choice if Vinny weren't there, but he is. And yes it comes as no surprise that it's not up to us. If there is anyone who thought it was up to us, that would be surprising. The coach announced from stage that he already knows who will wear the C and A. But Barrie told Barry to cool that announcement for a later date. Marketing, don'tcha know.

And for the record I would say contrary to popular opinion Barrie is very friendly and willing to associate with us hoi polloi and riff raff. He was cordial and generous with his time even though he hadn't eaten since lunch and it was 8:30, and seemed like a regular guy. Koules was cool but that's cool, they were all leaving to go eat. Melrose seemed relaxed, easygoing, a regular guy totally committed to having his team be just an unending, grueling, dreadful bloody nightmare to play against.

Me like