Wimb
URZ is right and the fact was if Long was going to score those goals in the Premier League days then he would have A) been picked when we couldn't score for toffee and B) would no longer be at this club as his ability to score goals in the top flight would have been spotted and he would have been bought up by at least a WBA, Blackpool etc.
You're being disingenuous.
When Long arrived he was 18 and very green, and "one for the future" getting very short sub appearances and learning his trade in the cups when we put our second-teams.
At the start of our first season in the Premiership, Long was 19+ and had played a handful of games.
He had shown promise but Kitson, Doyle, Lita were "seasoned pros" all ahead of him, vastly more experienced
against that, this green kid, now aged 19 and a half, had FIVE starts and 10 sub appearances (4 Goals)
Oh and a single appearance EVER, for Cork, don't forget that.
157 Senior Appearances 40 Goals + 46 RFC Goals - Kitson
137 Senior Appearances 25 Goals + 19 RFC Goals - Doyle
117 Senior Appearances 31 Goals + 15 RFC Goals - Lita
016 Senior Appearances 00 Goals + 04 RFC Goals - Long
The idea that Long is going to actually COMPETE with those three is frankly ludicrous.
The fact that he got starts is testimony to his promise.
After a full season in the Premiership the numbers were:
174 Senior Appearances 40 Goals + 50 RFC Goals - Kitson
171 Senior Appearances 25 Goals + 32 RFC Goals - Doyle
155 Senior Appearances 31 Goals + 29 RFC Goals - Lita
040 Senior Appearances 00 Goals + 08 RFC Goals - Long ---- He actually started 9 times in the Prem that first season, which I find incredible, against Doyle-Lita (Kitson)
Look what happens when you compare seasoned pro Kitson versus the kid Long in that second Prem season
9 (04) Premiership games for 2 Premiership Goals 3 (1) Cup Games for 2 Cup Goals KITSON
9 (12) Premiership games for 2 Premiership Goals 3 (0) Cup Games for 2 Cup Goals LONG