German term (edited): Bedenkentr�ger

Zweifler m doubter, sceptic, Am. skeptic

I would call it in this case. A naysayer is more than a sceptic; he comes up with often irrelevant and abstruse arguments why change of the status quo or innovation is invariably bad, in other words, the glass is always half empty and doesn't need a refill.


On a more intellectual plane, we have the 'curmudgeon', who likes to challenge prevailing wisdom.


I think that's the somewhat deprecating allusion here