Darcy Blake not fit enough for Palace reserves!

Don't know if this has already been posted, I couldn't find it. It's from Wales on Sunday, Chris Coleman saying why he dropped Darcy Blake.

"Wales boss Chris Coleman has revealed he dropped Darcy Blake because he isn’t fit enough.... for Crystal Palace reserves!
Coleman raised eyebrows this week when he omitted Blake from his squad to take on Austria, despite being hit by a series of crippling injuries at centre-back.

Only 18 months ago Blake barely gave Wayne Rooney a kick at Wembley, yet since then it’s been pretty much a downward spiral for the former Cardiff City defender who shone briefly for Wales under Gary Speed.

Blake was frozen out at Cardiff before making a £350,000 move to Palace last August but he has struggled to make an impact under new Eagles boss Ian Holloway and has not played since December 8.
“Darcy has got to be fitter. He has lost his fitness and there is no easy way around it,” said Coleman, echoing previous concerns of current Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay and his predecessor Dave Jones.
He has a lot to offer, but football doesn’t come easy. Football will bite you on the bottom if you don’t keep up with it.
“You can’t rest on what you have achieved. You always have to keep pushing yourself and working hard.
“Football will pass you by because players are getting fitter.
“He played for Palace reserves against Fulham and he wasn’t fit enough.
“He’s a lovely lad. But he knows he has to be fitter to play in the Championship and, certainly, international football.”
Former Wales defender Coleman played over 150 games for Palace in the 1990s and is obviously aware of the distractions of London life.
“I moved from Swansea to Croydon and it was only half-an-hour from London,” he said. “When you go there you realise there is a lot to do and if you don’t knuckle down then you can get lost. He’s away from home, he’s out of the team and he’s probably a bit depressed about that.
“It happens to all of us. You have to keep a grip of the belt and keep squeezing, you can’t let it go.
“I’ve spoken to Ollie (Hollway) about Darcy and he agrees with me, ability and talent is not enough. You can kid people on and do it for five minutes, but you have to do it year-in, year-out to stay at that level – and he has to see it for himself.”
Coleman decided to act on Blake despite being without both James Collins and Danny Gabbidon through hamstring trouble."


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32733674/

I thought he'd improve as a player being away from his usual buddies. Maybe he's homesick?

I thought he'd improve as a player being away from his usual buddies. Maybe he's homesick?

It worked for him when he went on loan to Plymouth wasn't it? but moving to London was always going to be a bad move

Maybe the bright lights of London with takeaways on every corner offers too much temptation. Expect someone on here will know more.

[Sven]

Maybe the bright lights of London with takeaways on every corner offers too much temptation. Expect someone on here will know more.

Bright lights indeed

Darcy was given umpteen chances at Cardiff by TWO top managers and spat it in their faces (metaphorically)

He's doing the same with 'Ollie' and there's only ONE winner there, I'm afraid

Taxi for Darcy (better make it a wide one!!) "To my mates party house, please"

Last edited by Sven on Sat Feb 09, 2013 1:08 pm, edited 3 times in total.

its because as ive always said, he's welsh league at best! yet some belived he was good that good he can't get into crystal palarse's team

its because as ive always said, he's welsh league at best! yet some belived he was good that good he can't get into crystal palarse's team

Far better than Welsh premier league standard. Darcey had potential, he showed great qualities for wales against England and on various occasions for ourselves. He just doesn't seem to have the focus or commitment to be a top player and maintain high fitness levels. Could be a slippery slope down the football league if he doesn't sort himself out.

its because as ive always said, he's welsh league at best! yet some belived he was good that good he can't get into crystal palarse's team

Far better than Welsh premier league standard. Darcey had potential, he showed great qualities for wales against England and on various occasions for ourselves. He just doesn't seem to have the focus or commitment to be a top player and maintain high fitness levels. Could be a slippery slope down the football league if he doesn't sort himself out.

HAD potential but he appears (according to people who know him) to have sort of given up at the moment

Was never a particular fan but always said he was a good asset on the bench due to his relative versatility

Just a waste of talent if he he carries on as he is

its because as ive always said, he's welsh league at best! yet some belived he was good that good he can't get into crystal palarse's team

Far better than Welsh premier league standard. Darcey had potential, he showed great qualities for wales against England and on various occasions for ourselves. He just doesn't seem to have the focus or commitment to be a top player and maintain high fitness levels. Could be a slippery slope down the football league if he doesn't sort himself out.

HAD potential but he appears (according to people who know him) to have sort of given up at the moment

Was never a particular fan but always said he was a good asset on the bench due to his relative versatility

Just a waste of talent if he he carries on as he is

Attitude was always the key here wasn't it ?

I oftem remember fighing Hudsons corner against Blakes with many of you on here. Oh I revel in this moment.

I oftem remember fighing Hudsons corner against Blakes with many of you on here. Oh I revel in this moment.

To many revels he's been eating!

I oftem remember fighing Hudsons corner against Blakes with many of you on here. Oh I revel in this moment.

To many revels he's been eating!

That's a REVELation!

its because as ive always said, he's welsh league at best! yet some belived he was good that good he can't get into crystal palarse's team

Far better than Welsh premier league standard. Darcey had potential, he showed great qualities for wales against England and on various occasions for ourselves. He just doesn't seem to have the focus or commitment to be a top player and maintain high fitness levels. Could be a slippery slope down the football league if he doesn't sort himself out.

HAD potential but he appears (according to people who know him) to have sort of given up at the moment

Was never a particular fan but always said he was a good asset on the bench due to his relative versatility

Just a waste of talent if he he carries on as he is

Attitude was always the key here wasn't it ?

It was indeed (plus the partying)

Thought there'd be someone on this forum that might be able to shed some light as to what's really happening with Darcy at the moment. Whatever it is I hope he gets back on track soon, hate seeing wasted talent.

I thought he'd improve as a player being away from his usual buddies. Maybe he's homesick?

It worked for him when he went on loan to Plymouth wasn't it? but moving to London was always going to be a bad move

My mate played with him at Plymouth and said he was a nutter and always partying. Said his old man was mental as well

I oftem remember fighing Hudsons corner against Blakes with many of you on here. Oh I revel in this moment.

To many revels he's been eating!

Another dosile, Rhonnda boy, these idiot footballer kids leave school at 16 and dont understand that they need to look after themselves or thheyl get fat injured and unfit,

Shows how poor Ian Holloway is at man management, usually you keep your players in top condition, (like Malky gives everyone involved) bet he doesn't even achknowledge Blake. I can't say what's happened to Blake surprised me to be honest, he's lost his head, don't see him coming back from this, will probably be a league one defender at best

In other words like Conway.. he looked like he done loads of training for this season.

People mock MM "dossiers" but he has built a hell of a squad who are not only good but determined.
The quality we have has helped obviously but the work ethic and determination has got us 11points clear

If MM was wrong then surely Gerrard and Blake should now be doing the business

MM was a CB hiself and he has an impact on players like Hudson and Nugent.. he can actually give them a bit of experienced knowledge on how to improve. I think MM plays a major part in why Hudson has been out of this world this season.

I wondered why palarse had a disabled lift on the team coach... Must be to wheel darcy to training and games

darcy unfortunately still likes the beer & going out....

he was home recently and out in blackwood on a thursday night...

shame, because he does have the talent to be a decent footballer.

There were a lot of people on here who had a go at malky when he sold darcy, malky is with these players every day and knows what the score is with each and every one of them, anyone who knows darcy, or spoken to him will all say the same thing, he is a lovely fella, unfortunately, he has a problem with his diet, he does'nt look after himself in the way a professional footballer should.

drinking all the time, driving about like hes an 18 year old in a A reg fiesta with big wheels and a 12inch exhaust looking for fanny along with mcdonalds & takeaways, thats what hes been doing and why hes put on a near stone and out the team, whos faults that hmmmmm HIS or should we feel sorry for him.

He looks the same size as that fat fucker Hartson... Perhaps he needs a personal trainer or lipo suction.

all the talent to become a great player but his dedication is piss poor, way hes going he will get in such a bad shape that not even the lower league teams would take him and he would end up playing sunday football down new tred with stinking hangovers every weekend when he decides to show up

MM was a CB hiself and he has an impact on players like Hudson and Nugent.. he can actually give them a bit of experienced knowledge on how to improve. I think MM plays a major part in why Hudson has been out of this world this season.

Totally agree, Hudson's last ditch tackle yesterday was out of his world. The Huddersfield player looked through on goal and Hudson somehow managed to swing his leg out to intercept the through ball, I still don't know how he did it!

I always thought the London lifestyle would make Blake's career deteriorate further and unfortunately, this looks to be the case. I hope he knuckles down and gets out of his rut, otherwise Blake will be plummeting down the divisions.