Tiago Cukur

[BillyStubbsTears]

I would think that John Parkin was a couple of stone overweight when he was still playing.

I'd say a couples being generous! Great lump used to see off a Full English on a match day.

Good feet for a big man though.

Parkin was able to perform at that weight. I took Wellens's comment to mean that Cukur wasn't at a weight that we could expect decent performances from him. Certainly to me there were  matches where I wondered if I could out sprint him myself.

[Bentley Bullet]

King Alick was no Mo Farah and he was invariably the best player on the pitch!

[Boycie]

Remember when King Alick made his comeback he had a right belly on him, but by god it didn't stop him scoring.

[Bentley Bullet]

I remember John Doolan when he played in that friendly game at the Keepmoat a couple of years back. He was hanging out of his kit like a burst settee but he was head and shoulder above everyone else on the pitch.

[NickDRFC]

Overweight players can be fantastic players, think that’s pretty obvious. However a player who’s already not good enough/not experienced enough (or both) is hardly going to help matters by being completely out of shape.

[Bentley Bullet]

I think it's pretty obvious that an overweight player who is the best player on the pitch is the best player despite being overweight, not because of it.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Point being in the modern game you have to be quite exceptional to carry excess weight and excel. Or even look competent. Because today's football makes physical demands that previous generations could not imagine.

Cukur have every indication that he would have struggled even if he had had less fat than a Butcher's dog. We signed a player that both wasn't very good AND was out of shape.

[roversdude]

I’ve not kicked a ball in anger for years but I can still trap and control a ball

[BigH]

Point being in the modern game you have to be quite exceptional to carry excess weight and excel. Or even look competent. Because today's football makes physical demands that previous generations could not imagine.

Cukur have every indication that he would have struggled even if he had had less fat than a Butcher's dog. We signed a player that both wasn't very good AND was out of shape.

And couldn't be arsed. He clearly didn't want to be here.

[GazLaz]

I disagree.

When he was a sub he would stand by the tunnel and shake hands try and gee up the lads that were in the starting XI. He looked commuted in that aspect. Just not ready for L1 football.

Point being in the modern game you have to be quite exceptional to carry excess weight and excel. Or even look competent. Because today's football makes physical demands that previous generations could not imagine.

Cukur have every indication that he would have struggled even if he had had less fat than a Butcher's dog. We signed a player that both wasn't very good AND was out of shape.

And couldn't be arsed. He clearly didn't want to be here.

[Silkscarf]

He was absolutely hopeless for us. But I wonder if it was difficult for him settling in to the place he ended up?

He’s a young lad who is Dutch from a Turkish background (I think, is that right?). He’s moved to another country to further his career. Good on him. Very few British players do this at any age. He’s gone to Watford, so he’s basically in London, maybe he lives in NW London. Then he’s ended up in Donny! That’s quite a culture shock if you’re from Amsterdam or Utrecht or wherever.

There must be a good reason why he was so shockingly poor. He made me pine for the days of Carl Alford or Peter Heritage or any number of shite strikers we’ve had.

[Chris Black come back]

He got sent out on loan for the season to F.C.V. Dender E.H. in the Belgium Challenger Pro League (second tier). They are towards the bottom of the table but he is getting a fair amount of game time. Still only 2 goals this season though and hasn't scored since October.

[Colin C No.3]

He just needs one to come off his backside & then he’ll be flying!