What's the Prince thinking?

[wizadry]

Its the 20th and why haven we signed The Beard??

Because Kevin Van Veen is struggling to grow one as good as Brayfords'

 

[billyblademan]

Well done in the League Cup
Did ok in the Shit paint cup
FA Cup ?
Main target in the League must be achieved in 2015/16

So Nigel, What do you need to make this happen and who can we get rid of?

No questions such as 'How did the confidence from the end of last season disappear as quickly as Lib Dem MPs will in May - despite you signing a dozen odd players in the summer?'

Quickly followed up with 'Tell me why we should trust you to sign another X players, after last summer's mediocre (being generous) record in the market'

Not against Nigel staying at all, but he'd be on the sharp end of some pointed questions.

 

[Rossb123]

In all seriousness, it would be small tweaks, perhaps a replacement for Doyle if his legs are struggling etc

With Doyle I think he will be offered an extension if we are not promoted, he would struggle in the Championship week in week out.

I don't agree with the recent calls to sack Clough, if anything I'm surprised he isn't threatening to leave us! He has identified targets he feels will bring promotion to the club, brought money to the club with the League Cup run and so far we haven't brought anyone in.

That has to be frustrating, at the end of December he said he would like to get the deals done early because we have a hectic month of games, we are approaching the final week of January and we have less players than we did in December having lost O'grady and McCarthy.

Didn't Pulis walk out of Palace for similar reasons?

 

[Revolution]

In all seriousness, it would be small tweaks, perhaps a replacement for Doyle if his legs are struggling etc

Really? We'll score about 60 goals this season at current rates. We need 75+ to be in with a sniff of automatic. You wouldn't do anything to address that?

 

[Grecian2000]

Christ HG I'm thankful I don't have to spend half an hour in your head. Miserable bastard

Indeed, we had to put up with the contents of his head during his meltdown when we were heading to an FA Cup semi.

 

[HoodedClaw]

If we don't get promoted this season, I'm not convinced that Clough will be with us next. I'm not saying it would be right or wrong but I'm sure the target was promotion this season. If you'd invested £8millionish of your money in a project so far but saw no real improvement in the 2 years you'd been involved and you could see costs increasing for the following year would you be happy?

As a question though if the figure of £8million that HRH has invested so far, is correct, do people think that the Prince should expect promotion and anything else is a failure? I wonder how much will need to be invested next year if we don't get promoted given that the ST's will be down along with associated incomes and according to some we don't have a squad capable of promotion so that will need addressing??

I'm also interested in the overall investment from HRH. When he came on board I'm sure there was an interview with either Jim, one of the McCabes or HRH himself where they thought that £20million was needed to get us to the PL over 3 seasons. Does that mean there is only roughly £12millionish left in the kitty for this little venture of the Princes?

As zablade said they want a return on their investment and the only way this will be achieved is promotion to the PL, I'm pretty sure the Prince doesn't want to be funding a loss making venture like us for very long.

 

[HoodedClaw]

We only need tweaks now to accomplish a playoff place,i'm not happy with that but i'll settle for it now.A couple of first teamers in and not squad players,plus a change in how we approach games and we'll look a different side.

Not convinced by the transfer dealings of the Clough's so far, even less convinced in our ability to approach games differently Wiz.

If only there was some way of getting us to approach league matches in the same manner we do cup ones.

 

[grafikhaus]

If I was the Prince, I'd be thinking 'Who signed Blackwell, Wilson, Robson and Weir as managers and put us in this fucking position?'

 

[billyblademan]

If I was the Prince, I'd be thinking 'Who signed Blackwell, Wilson, Robson and Weir as managers and put us in this fucking position?'

So at the end of the season, the Prince will blame McCabe?

While I'm sure the Prince has scratched his head at some decisions made (we all have!), they're business partners, and them 2 falling out would be worse than us losing Clough.

 

[Woodwardfan]

" If I were him I would be thinking that my manager has succeeded far more than he has failed, that he will learn from his mistakes and at the very least deserves another season even if we don't go up this season. In fact I would not give a thought about sacking him."

Do you reckon he will still be thinking that once he sees the collapse in season ticket sales and income in the summer?

That's where businessmen earn their successes and failures. Let's face it the majority of fans on here who are panicking right now would not make successful businessmen if they hung their manager out to dry at the first blip in his tenure.

This season businessmen in charge at West Ham and Newcastle kept faith with their managers when all around were panicking.

That's not to say Clough should be fire-proof for evermore but surely he deserves at least two seasons after his rescue act last season.

I say that with all sincerity and yet my own personal view is that Clough is probably repeating old mistakes and he and his support team may well not have what it takes to lift us TWO levels in due course. Without working with him and his team, I don't know that though and the bloke deserves time to prove himself at this level and then a crack at the Championship. You may say that if I think that then if I was a real entrepreneur then I'd be decisive and not risk wasting a couple of years or more. There would be merit in that only if I had suddenly unearthed a ready, willing and better-able alternative, there's the difficult bit.

As for the collapse in season ticket sales, it won't happen as our fans are as loyal as any. The success in the cups is actually so notable that it softens our disappointments and lessens the pain.

 

[BerksBlade]

The stated aim was to get promotion - so I would expect the Prince to be asking Nigel some serious questions about how the money has been used so far, and what he intends to do to move the club forward. Last season finished on an upward curve, but a combination of factors have seen that momentum lost.
I'm sure the Price thought (as I did) that a reasonable investment would be enough to get us out of L1 - there are no "big" teams with pots of money to compete with this season. So I guess he's thinking "Is Nigel the cure for the problems, or the cause?"

 

[shorehamview]

What is the prince thinking?

"Those sons of jackals off of s24su.com are a right set of cheeky buggers and no mistake, eh Jim?"
"Not all of them, your Highness. I've met that shorehamview, and while he was indeed three tits to the fanny on the demon alcohol he came across as a lovely chap."

 

[zablade]

"As for the collapse in season ticket sales, it won't happen as our fans are as loyal as any. The success in the cups is actually so notable that it softens our disappointments and lessens the pain"

I think Collapse in sales is an over dramatic term but Harrys Game does have a point on this occasion, we had around 9000 season ticket holders for season 2013-14, for season 2014-15 it had jumped to around 14,000. I think many bought them convinced the club had turned the corner after the end of last season and are going to be pretty disalusioned.

Sales won't collapse but I suspect they will drop back to around or just below the 9000 point next season, unless Jim and co for once anticiapte this and come up with some excellent deal to reward current season ticket holders for this bittely disapointing league camapaign.

 

[Esablade]

"Why is this new version of Football Manager so crap?"

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Presumably he will be asking:

1. Does Clough realise we are more likely to win games if we at least try to score before falling behind?
2. Shall I double my investment to £2?

 

[sheffielder]

[QUOTE="Woodwardfan, post: 701528, member: 8769"The manager will adapt and loosen the shackles.[/QUOTE]

When?

 

[sheffielder]

Cup semi final is already a huge achievement

but not a priority

 

[bornablade]

The Prince will be thinking that if those on S24SU and Bladesmad start giving him the criticsm that is levelled at Kevin McCabe and Nigel Clough then he'll pull the plug and find something else to do with his money.

 

[Woodwardfan]

"As for the collapse in season ticket sales, it won't happen as our fans are as loyal as any. The success in the cups is actually so notable that it softens our disappointments and lessens the pain"

I think Collapse in sales is an over dramatic term but Harrys Game does have a point on this occasion, we had around 9000 season ticket holders for season 2013-14, for season 2014-15 it had jumped to around 14,000. I think many bought them convinced the club had turned the corner after the end of last season and are going to be pretty disalusioned.

Sales won't collapse but I suspect they will drop back to around or just below the 9000 point next season, unless Jim and co for once anticiapte this and come up with some excellent deal to reward current season ticket holders for this bittely disapointing league camapaign.

Doesn't the league cup achievement stand for anything then? Also you sound as though you've given up in the league.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Why not? 2 reasons:

- our form at present is poor. It may pick up, but if the playoffs were to start tomorrow we would not be favourites.
- we have very few goals in the team.

I think the real reason people think we'll do it is the law of averages, which doesn't actually apply here.

Our present form is average - not poor. Cup games are cup games but they are still games.
Yes we have few goals in the team, but then we also concede few goals.

As for law of averages - you have no foundation whatsoever to say it doesn't apply here - you could be as much right as you could be wrong. We will do it if we get better, and by the same token, we could get worse - but as it hasn't happened yet it is all hypothitcal and guess work.

Just another poor attempt to undermine the realistic situation.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

We are 19th out of 24th in the form table.

We don't seem to be doing that well at not conceding goals. When did we last keep a clean sheet in the league?

And the law of averages does not apply. This is not dice. We will not win 1 in every 4 play off tournaments we are in. We will win if we play the best or get lucky breaks, not because we must be due this time. If you don't accept that there's not a lot I can do.

 

[Worksop II]

We don't seem to be doing that well at not conceding goals.

I thought Nigel had identfied through the coaches and videos, that Collins was at fault for all this, which is why he has been canned.

Maybe they should get the Videos out again .............

 

[SwissBlade]

Really? We'll score about 60 goals this season at current rates. We need 75+ to be in with a sniff of automatic. You wouldn't do anything to address that?

Were doing it this week

 

[SwissBlade]

No questions such as 'How did the confidence from the end of last season disappear as quickly as Lib Dem MPs will in May - despite you signing a dozen odd players in the summer?'

Quickly followed up with 'Tell me why we should trust you to sign another X players, after last summer's mediocre (being generous) record in the market'

Not against Nigel staying at all, but he'd be on the sharp end of some pointed questions.

I think that'll all be dealt with quite quickly. The confidence is there and the players that we've signed (16 so far as we keep hearing) took a long time to gel and settle. Longer than planned or expected, plus several players struggled with injuries and form. losing players like Brayford, Coady and Harry from last season were big blows but we've managed to find replacements, but it took time.

Why should he be trusted to sign x players - Well if you look at the side up to and including Jan - Davies, Harris, McEveley, Basham, Magahey, JCR, Alcock and McNulty have all looked comfortable in the set up when they've had their chances, James Wallace similarly when fit. Obviously its encouraging that we've signed some exciting youngsters like Che Adams, K Wallace and McNulty all of whom should be hitting the ground running next season. So two that didn't work 0 Higdon and Butler out of all that lot can be expected when you put together such a huge recruitment drive.

added to this Dimaio, Reed and Tel Kennedy all coming through with other youngsters impressing out on loan, all of which will be assessed for suitability when they return from their loan deals.

 

[Kenilworth]

Our present form is average - not poor. Cup games are cup games but they are still games.
Yes we have few goals in the team, but then we also concede few goals.

As for law of averages - you have no foundation whatsoever to say it doesn't apply here - you could be as much right as you could be wrong. We will do it if we get better, and by the same token, we could get worse - but as it hasn't happened yet it is all hypothitcal and guess work.

Just another poor attempt to undermine the realistic situation.

UTB

Hmmmn - 20th out of 24 in last 6 games and 19 out of 24 in last 10 if we are looking purely at league form - which we are

See here http://www.soccerstats.com/formtable.asp?league=england3
You might have to click the link to the form tables to get it

Just another over optimistic attempt to paper over the realistic situation?

 

[billyblademan]

I think that'll all be dealt with quite quickly. The confidence is there and the players that we've signed (16 so far as we keep hearing) took a long time to gel and settle. Longer than planned or expected, plus several players struggled with injuries and form. losing players like Brayford, Coady and Harry from last season were big blows but we've managed to find replacements, but it took time.

Why should he be trusted to sign x players - Well if you look at the side up to and including Jan - Davies, Harris, McEveley, Basham, Magahey, JCR, Alcock and McNulty have all looked comfortable in the set up when they've had their chances, James Wallace similarly when fit. Obviously its encouraging that we've signed some exciting youngsters like Che Adams, K Wallace and McNulty all of whom should be hitting the ground running next season. So two that didn't work 0 Higdon and Butler out of all that lot can be expected when you put together such a huge recruitment drive.

added to this Dimaio, Reed and Tel Kennedy all coming through with other youngsters impressing out on loan, all of which will be assessed for suitability when they return from their loan deals.

Countered by saying that to date (obviously a few months until May, things may change), Wallace has been a flop, Davies looked OK when in, but has been mostly out, Alcock has looked decidedly average, even by League 1 standards. Magahey hasn't really stepped up, and McCarthy who we spent big wages on looked a little erratic when on loan. In terms of youth development, Dimaio seems to have regressed this season, and Khan has disappeared completely. Adams and Wallace both look out of their depth currently.

In terms of first team players, Harris, Bash, McEv, JCR, McNuts have nailed down a place. That's 5 out of your overhaul, about a third. We don't want 2 out of every 3 players we sign this summer not to be first teamers this time in a few months.


I know I'm playing the horrible interviewer here, but this is a hypothetical conversation which is taking place after we've finished 7th. I think there's good reason to be stern in such circumstances.

 

[SwissBlade]

Countered by saying that to date (obviously a few months until May, things may change), Wallace has been a flop, Davies looked OK when in, but has been mostly out, Alcock has looked decidedly average, even by League 1 standards. Magahey hasn't really stepped up, and McCarthy who we spent big wages on looked a little erratic when on loan. In terms of youth development, Dimaio seems to have regressed this season, and Khan has disappeared completely. Adams and Wallace both look out of their depth currently.

In terms of first team players, Harris, Bash, McEv, JCR, McNuts have nailed down a place. That's 5 out of your overhaul, about a third. We don't want 2 out of every 3 players we sign this summer not to be first teamers this time in a few months.


I know I'm playing the horrible interviewer here, but this is a hypothetical conversation which is taking place after we've finished 7th. I think there's good reason to be stern in such circumstances.

Fair play, well lets look at the comments then:

Wallace, J - Injured for the majority of the season so far
Alcock - Looks good at Centre half, he's filled in at RB*
Davies - Injured for about half the season so far
MaGahey - Development player but stepped in when Butler didn't do the job. Done a good job when called upon*
McCarthy - Emergency loan to relieve the youngsters at Centre half. Necessary as Butler didn't work out and collins was out of form. Paddy was never a long term option.

Youngsters - Adams, Wallace, Khan and Dimaio are all developing players and we shouldn't judge them on their cameo appearances, but they have gained valuable experience and we'll keep watching them over the next few months

*If only the club had gone out and got the main targets - Brayford**, O'Grady and replaced Harry after we lost him at the last minute.
** Freeman fucked us about.

 

[wizadry]

[QUOTE="Woodwardfan, post: 701528, member: 8769"The manager will adapt and loosen the shackles.

When?[/QUOTE]
I will try to answer this for you mate.

This might sound stupid but the only chance we have of letting the shackles off are if we go down to about tenth spot and stay there for a bit,this will hopefully register in Cloughs' head that we can't keep playing like we are doing in the first half of games atleast,this meaning we have to go for it.We shouldn't have to go down that far to realise this,but unfortunately i can see this being the only way we'll change how we approach games.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think that'll all be dealt with quite quickly. The confidence is there and the players that we've signed (16 so far as we keep hearing) took a long time to gel and settle. Longer than planned or expected, plus several players struggled with injuries and form. losing players like Brayford, Coady and Harry from last season were big blows but we've managed to find replacements, but it took time.

Why should he be trusted to sign x players - Well if you look at the side up to and including Jan - Davies, Harris, McEveley, Basham, Magahey, JCR, Alcock and McNulty have all looked comfortable in the set up when they've had their chances, James Wallace similarly when fit. Obviously its encouraging that we've signed some exciting youngsters like Che Adams, K Wallace and McNulty all of whom should be hitting the ground running next season. So two that didn't work 0 Higdon and Butler out of all that lot can be expected when you put together such a huge recruitment drive.

added to this Dimaio, Reed and Tel Kennedy all coming through with other youngsters impressing out on loan, all of which will be assessed for suitability when they return from their loan deals.

Don't give up on Higdon. .........or Diego I hope.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Keeping it tight at the back and playing for one nil's worked very well last season, though I think teams had begun to rumble us towards the end and have now started playing us at our own game, and you only have to look at how many points we have dropped so far this season to teams who have only had one shot on goal to see how much our luck has changed also...
Nigel has gambled on us playing tight at the back again this season while trying to building a stronger team, but so far in the league it's not happening for us, so what's he's going to do now, change the style to a more attacking one and just go all out for it, or just stick with the formation that worked so well last season and hope the luck changes...
What ever he's going to try he's going to need our support so lets not chuck the baby out with the bath water.just yet, eh..

UTB