Little Shrimp wrote:There are a lot of factors that go into performances and I don't think it's as simple as just saying "he's gone here and done well/badly so that proves a point". Stockton/Miller have been fantastic in previous spells, but struggled at other clubs and now Stockton appears to be struggling on his return. Got to appreciate the nuance.
I think the point is more that they were at a club where they were getting regular games, loved by the fans and manager and performing really well.
They've decided to move to other clubs where they are now struggling to get game time (Collins & Mills) or dropped a level and doing terribly (Mandeville, bottom of the National League).
Lets say none of those players turn their situation round, it would be fair to say they've taken short term gain to get a bit of extra money now to the detriment of their long term career prospects.
Collins is the biggest shame out of all of these to be honest, never really had a proper home before, he would have been our star player with the whole team revolving around him with us and with him being as young as he was you could easily have seen him been sold to a bigger club in a year or two for good money.
Instead, he's likely going to get lost in the shuffle of the stupid amount of forwards FGR have, struggle to keep a regular place in the side, probably get sent out on loan at some point to another club and not really progress as a player.
You just wish that a few more of these players who depart us in similar circumstances could be tempted to stay and with these examples and others before them that the grass isn't always greener.