It’s fair to criticise DCE and his performances at times, but I really don’t think you can:
1. Blame him for the contracts he signed. At the end of the day, it was the club that chose to offer those deals. If they weren’t comfortable with the terms, they could’ve let him walk. The idea of a player “holding a club to ransom” only makes sense if they’re refusing to play—otherwise, it’s just negotiation.
Yes, the salary cap has been skewed, but who manages the cap? The player?
2. Criticise him for not “winning more” with the club. It’s odd to pin that on one player, as if a single individual can turn a club into a premiership force on their own. If it worked that way, Joey Johns would have more than two titles (and one of those is questionable, thanks to Robbie O and his alleged off-field issues).