A Season of Avoidable Underachievement

[The Bohemian]

Finishing twenty points off the automatic promotion places on the back of a season of chronic inconsistency is a huge disappointment, especially after the hope and expectation built last season. Given the backing Cloughie has received, it surely has to be viewed as serious under-achievement.


Whilst he can be forgiven some of the factors that have contributed to a season of frustration, e.g. losing Maguire and missing out on O'Grady, Cloughie has been culpable in other areas. Free-scoring strikers are few and far between; competent centre-halves are not. Finishing the season without a recognised, experienced one, available to the first team, is beyond comprehension. The consequence of having to play two of our strongest players out of position has been a reduced attacking threat down the right and regularly getting outfought in midfield.


Our apparent indifference to the importance of a good stopper pre-dates Clough and I believe directly contributed to our relegation from the Championship in 2011 (failure to find adequate cover for Morgan) and missing out on promotion in 2012 (no adequate cover for Collins and Maguire which cost us critical points (e.g. Walsall away) when both were out mid-season).


Cloughie was well within his right to take a view on Collins, who cost too many early season goals, and looked exposed without Maguire covering his back. I also believe sidelining Butler was a result of non-footballing reasons (note the radio silence from all parties on the issue). But failing to sign at least one recognised centre-half in January simply made no sense and, I believe, cost us any chance of a Top 2 finish.


This isn’t a ‘Clough out’ call, simply recognition that this season has not been good enough, irrespective of the outcome of the Play-offs.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

is there really going to be NO END to these "Clough criticism" posts for the next few weeks as we go into play off week?

Just let the management team get on with the job in hand.

As staggered as I was yesterday.

UTB

 

[The Bohemian]

is there really going to be NO END to these "Clough criticism" posts for the next few weeks as we go into play off week?

Just let the management team get on with the job in hand.

As staggered as I was yesterday.

UTB

Not quite sure I follow your logic here Fulwood: how will my post affect "the management getting on with the job in hand"?

I respect your right to be "staggered" but surely the clue was in the title, and the option therefore to not read, if you take such exception to the content?

 

[bartman]

Not quite sure I follow your logic here Fulwood: how will my post affect "the management getting on with the job in hand"?

I respect your right to be "staggered" but surely the clue was in the title, and the option therefore to not read, if you take such exception to the content?

Because there are numerous threads in the same subject already

 

[South London Blade]

And it will all be forgotten in a couple of weeks if we win the play offs.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

competent centre-halves are not

As posted elsewhere we don't know the reason for not signing a centre half: it might be incompetence, otoh it might be unsuitability, unavailability, or limited resources.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

End of the season is the right time for this discussion - for now can I suggest we support the shirt.

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

Finishing twenty points off the automatic promotion places on the back of a season of chronic inconsistency is a huge disappointment, especially after the hope and expectation built last season. Given the backing Cloughie has received, it surely has to be viewed as serious under-achievement.


Whilst he can be forgiven some of the factors that have contributed to a season of frustration, e.g. losing Maguire and missing out on O'Grady, Cloughie has been culpable in other areas. Free-scoring strikers are few and far between; competent centre-halves are not. Finishing the season without a recognised, experienced one, available to the first team, is beyond comprehension. The consequence of having to play two of our strongest players out of position has been a reduced attacking threat down the right and regularly getting outfought in midfield.


Our apparent indifference to the importance of a good stopper pre-dates Clough and I believe directly contributed to our relegation from the Championship in 2011 (failure to find adequate cover for Morgan) and missing out on promotion in 2012 (no adequate cover for Collins and Maguire which cost us critical points (e.g. Walsall away) when both were out mid-season).


Cloughie was well within his right to take a view on Collins, who cost too many early season goals, and looked exposed without Maguire covering his back. I also believe sidelining Butler was a result of non-footballing reasons (note the radio silence from all parties on the issue). But failing to sign at least one recognised centre-half in January simply made no sense and, I believe, cost us any chance of a Top 2 finish.


This isn’t a ‘Clough out’ call, simply recognition that this season has not been good enough, irrespective of the outcome of the Play-offs.

Bohemian. are you the consumate politician? If so which party? As I've said before, your mother must be very proud of you. Centre-ground, pleaser-speak. know what I mean?

 

[Bladebri]

I will wear my shirt and be proud, yes I have been bemused and upset but at the end of the day I'm a blade and always will be.

 

[The Bohemian]

Bohemian. are you the consumate politician? If so which party? As I've said before, your mother must be very proud of you. Centre-ground, pleaser-speak. know what I mean?

I say it as I see it and try to back up my thoughts with evidence. I see life mostly in shades of grey, rarely as black and white. If that means "pleaser speak" to you, so be it.

Yes my Mum is proud of me, partly because I rarely get personal, especially with easy targets. UTB!

 

[metalblade]

As posted elsewhere we don't know the reason for not signing a centre half: it might be incompetence, otoh it might be unsuitability, unavailability, or limited resources.

I don't think it is limited resouces when we can spunk1.5 - 2 million quid on a full back

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Finishing twenty points off the automatic promotion places on the back of a season of chronic inconsistency is a huge disappointment, especially after the hope and expectation built last season. Given the backing Cloughie has received, it surely has to be viewed as serious under-achievement.


Whilst he can be forgiven some of the factors that have contributed to a season of frustration, e.g. losing Maguire and missing out on O'Grady, Cloughie has been culpable in other areas. Free-scoring strikers are few and far between; competent centre-halves are not. Finishing the season without a recognised, experienced one, available to the first team, is beyond comprehension. The consequence of having to play two of our strongest players out of position has been a reduced attacking threat down the right and regularly getting outfought in midfield.


Our apparent indifference to the importance of a good stopper pre-dates Clough and I believe directly contributed to our relegation from the Championship in 2011 (failure to find adequate cover for Morgan) and missing out on promotion in 2012 (no adequate cover for Collins and Maguire which cost us critical points (e.g. Walsall away) when both were out mid-season).


Cloughie was well within his right to take a view on Collins, who cost too many early season goals, and looked exposed without Maguire covering his back. I also believe sidelining Butler was a result of non-footballing reasons (note the radio silence from all parties on the issue). But failing to sign at least one recognised centre-half in January simply made no sense and, I believe, cost us any chance of a Top 2 finish.


This isn’t a ‘Clough out’ call, simply recognition that this season has not been good enough, irrespective of the outcome of the Play-offs.

Bohemian , i do not view your post as directcriticism , due to what you say is factual. The fans , club advisers and the SUFC board know this , and i am sure Clough will know this in part . The technical and financial evaluation of this season will be carried out after the play offs , but at this moment in time , what we have to do , is support the club collectively . We all make mistakes and i do think Clough is man enough to realise his , and thats the reason he will keep his job . There are two sides to each story and mitigating circumstances , i believe with Clough.

We have the play offs , to give it all from a fans perspective , and IMO we will be positively surprised on theblades performances and results in the play offs.

As Cyprus says , we support the shirt and all others on this thread , Fulwood , Woody , Bladebri , WHF, Bartman , Radio Blade , we move on from whats been and gone. The play offs are now with us .

UTB