COH

[Cheeky Blade]

I think Wilder was far more involved in what goes on at a football club than the owners realised. He was a traditional manager, whereas Selles is filling the role more of a modern continental coach and perhaps needs to have the other roles filled by a DoF. Although the statement on Selles' appointment was that he would be guiding the club on recruitment and becoming a culture setter. The irony.

The lack of communication directly from the owners is frustrating, but more so there is a very distinct lack of clarity on a number of roles. I am guessing that Wilder, being the character that he is was pulling a lot of things together as well.

Taking the example of Head of Recruitment....

Paul Mitchell left early last year and he was very much the Head of Recruitment (perhaps more on the physical scouting basis). I'm not sure whether that has been filled by someone else, but we've also had Jamie Hoyland on scouting, Mike Allen, was also Head of Recruitment and has been much more of a data driven approach, so i am guessing that they have filled the void and taken things up a notch on the data side. Meanwhile, Des Taylor came in as an advisor, working with Wilder on recruitment and later being brought into the Hoyland / Allen group, but its also not clear if he's still with the club. Its quite messy from the outside and we don't get anything officially.

Yes. I knew a bit more about what was going on re: Wilder first time around and he took the club by the scruff of the neck and dragged it up.

Feels like we have a few headless chickens running the club atm…hopefully that settles down when people define their roles and take some responsibility.

It could also be that the new regime are facing the reality of a reduced future income with our best hope being a shot at the play offs.

 

[CrookesBlade]

If they think we’re going to be as passive as the other lot and let them drag us down the leagues they’re in for a shock….

I can’t comprehend why they bought us to not invest, if they have cash we are seriously crying out for a director of football. There’s zero football knowledge across the club, a bit like the spine of the team that’s been crippled by sales and not replacing quality loans….

If you can’t invest SELL UP!

Who are they selling to? It took years just to find this lot?

 

[raimond]

Aside from owt else (not spending, not getting promoted, choice of manager etc) it looks like either going up or staying down their model seems to be the almost "Moneyball" reliance on AI, picking up bargains and flogging them for a fortune a la Brighton and Brentford.

Apart from, they've picked up great prospects from France, Italy and Spain, top division players who either played for a lesser side or were young and on the periphery at major clubs. They weren't random pick ups from the Bulgarian 2nd division who end up signing for Dunfermline within 6 months.

Yes probably all sides use AI and technology nowadays rather than a feller called Pete in an Umbro coat on the sidelines....but we seem to be all in on it, and whilst others have cutting edge tech spotting potential qualities the naked eye can't, we're using a Commodore 64.

 

[SufcBilly]

Aside from owt else (not spending, not getting promoted, choice of manager etc) it looks like either going up or staying down their model seems to be the almost "Moneyball" reliance on AI, picking up bargains and flogging them for a fortune a la Brighton and Brentford.

Apart from, they've picked up great prospects from France, Italy and Spain, top division players who either played for a lesser side or were young and on the periphery at major clubs. They weren't random pick ups from the Bulgarian 2nd division who end up signing for Dunfermline within 6 months.

Yes probably all sides use AI and technology nowadays rather than a feller called Pete in an Umbro coat on the sidelines....but we seem to be all in on it, and whilst others have cutting edge tech spotting potential qualities the naked eye can't, we're using a Commodore 64.

A) Botev Plovdiv are a top division side and regularly qualify for European football
B) Caceres was signed from Peru
C) it’s actually more like 7 months

 

[hull-Blade]

Starting to look like a bunch of inept chancers.

 

[Youngand70]

Why can’t Bettis grow a pair and explain the facts of life or he might as well do one as well ! Just an innocent bystander or what ?

The "man from Del Monte" I feel is one of the main stumbling blocks to the club modernising. He has previously come out against having a Director of Football so what level of advice is he giving to COH. On top of previous owners not having enough cash to take the club forward Del Monte is the main constant at the club, he has been there 10 years, time for a change. A proactive, modern thinking CEO with vision and football experience at a higher level is required along with a Director of Football. Problem is I have no doubt the "puppet master" Prince gave him a glowing reference so unless COH remove the blinkers it's the same old same old.

 

[Blacksea]

Who is filling the owners in on all the football side of things if they don't know anything?
Who advised them on whether to keep Wilder or not,who put Selles on their radar,who's decided who gets a contract or not from last season,who sanctions transfers out,have the owners given us a figure to spend and said get on with it and Selles decides the positions required,do we have only the money raised in outgoings available,who decided that we needed a change of football philosophy and a new manager that fits that description?

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

This a garden path....we are being led up it.

 

[davidblade]

They are asset stripping us they will sell are best players , take the parachute money and then sell for what very they can .
Don’t expect any decent incomings everything is going to be on minimum cost Basically we’re fooked

 

[bakeblade]

What's Div 1? What's soccer?

I said the team we put out was top 6, you move the goalposts to suggest one aspect of the team is Div 1 (the old first division?). Have a think pal. Burrows? Seriki?

The defence is a third of the team and quite important

 

[McGrath]

Lets judge at the end of the window and not get too concerned just yet, although I have to admit, the take over process where the consortium changed half way through, chucked up some red flags for me

 

[Gin&Juice]

Seth Bennett needs to host a live phone in TONIGHT!

This can’t continue.

Weerz Clarity?

 

[AWetFlannel]

The defence is a third of the team and quite important

Right, and our left back was one of the best in the league last season, Seriki was arguably our best right back, both playing in a team that got over 90 points. Not very third division yet.

Bindon was one of the best CBs in League 1 last season and was bought by a PL club before being loaned to us. Robinson has never played below the Championship as far as I'm aware, and has played a major part in promotions and play off campaigns with us. RND was a very good Championship left back/left centre back, doesn't look like he'll get back to that level unfortunately.

I'd argue Burrows, Robinson, Bindon and Seriki is at least a midtable Championship defence, which is then supplemented by a minimum play off midfielders and forwards.

Not expecting a reply, good effort though.

 

[Yogi]

Aside from owt else (not spending, not getting promoted, choice of manager etc) it looks like either going up or staying down their model seems to be the almost "Moneyball" reliance on AI, picking up bargains and flogging them for a fortune a la Brighton and Brentford.

Apart from, they've picked up great prospects from France, Italy and Spain, top division players who either played for a lesser side or were young and on the periphery at major clubs. They weren't random pick ups from the Bulgarian 2nd division who end up signing for Dunfermline within 6 months.

Yes probably all sides use AI and technology nowadays rather than a feller called Pete in an Umbro coat on the sidelines....but we seem to be all in on it, and whilst others have cutting edge tech spotting potential qualities the naked eye can't, we're using a Commodore 64.

Yeah if we want to do the buying promising players to develop and sell for profit thing to increase the spending power of the club long term and hopefully see the clubs standing gradually rise along with players going on to bigger and better things then we need to actually do the buying promising players part

 

[BDTBL-JT]

Why don’t you ?

The fact we’re a couple weeks before the window shuts and we don’t even seem to be close on anybody. Radio silent
The way I see it owners have made 22 million, should they sell Hamer and Cooper they’ll have made back around half of what they paid for us. Will they reinvest that? I don’t see it unless they are Ai signings.

 

[YabbaDabba]

This a garden path....we are being led up it.

View attachment 219219

My OCD tells me the block just right of centre is out of position.

 

[bakeblade]

Right, and our left back was one of the best in the league last season, Seriki was arguably our best right back, both playing in a team that got over 90 points. Not very third division yet.

Bindon was one of the best CBs in League 1 last season and was bought by a PL club before being loaned to us. Robinson has never played below the Championship as far as I'm aware, and has played a major part in promotions and play off campaigns with us. RND was a very good Championship left back/left centre back, doesn't look like he'll get back to that level unfortunately.

I'd argue Burrows, Robinson, Bindon and Seriki is at least a midtable Championship defence, which is then supplemented by a minimum play off midfielders and forwards.

Not expecting a reply, good effort though.

Very condescending but I'll reply one last time.
Seriki lost his place last season to a loan midfielder who could defend better, he's looking more likely a winger or RWB in a 5
Bindon is unproven but early evidence says he's decent on the ball but not great at defending
RND is division 2 level at best
Burrows I like but also looking more suited to a back 5
Your original post was that last Saturdays team would finish top 6
So I'd advise you stop digging a bigger hole

 

[john Mathison]

Unless COH get their cheque book out, we will be this season's Luton .

 

[Large Mendonca]

If COH are getting some money back with sales on top of the final parachute payment (to replace with loans), then why the fuck did they buy us at all? As Royster said, COH started the purchase process well before we got off to that great start last season, so it wasn't like they were betting on a sure thing last season.

If their mission statement has an ounce of truth in it, then we should see some better players coming in, in the next 2-3 weeks, and currently it's just a case of short-term logistical issues. If not, then COH is indeed a "Crock of Horseshit".

 

[brownblade]

Given their seeming lack of finer detail football knowledge, I'd say they were looking to buy a team coming down from the top division, who had recently gone back up and down and in a league where relegated teams are generally successful. Yes I know that no one expected us to be strong last season but I do suspect they bought us with hope if not expectation of an instant return on investment. Failure to do so means we are stuck with skint owners with no plans and seemingly little football knowledge. Great being a Blade isn't it

This sounds like you've made a theory then started treating your theory as fact? It's certainly a theory, not impossible but your theory doesn't mean "we are stuck with skint owners with no plans". You probably didn't mean it like that tbf!

I'd question though, why they'd buy a club just to flip it - when football club sales are relatively rare and usually slow.

 

[SufcBilly]

Yeah if we want to do the buying promising players to develop and sell for profit thing to increase the spending power of the club long term and hopefully see the clubs standing gradually rise along with players going on to bigger and better things then we need to actually do the buying promising players part

Are you not tantalised by Micky Plonkydov?

 

[AWetFlannel]

Very condescending but I'll reply one last time.
Seriki lost his place last season to a loan midfielder who could defend better, he's looking more likely a winger or RWB in a 5
Bindon is unproven but early evidence says he's decent on the ball but not great at defending
RND is division 2 level at best
Burrows I like but also looking more suited to a back 5
Your original post was that last Saturdays team would finish top 6
So I'd advise you stop digging a bigger hole

Bit ironic pointing out my condescending post given how you chose to reply to me, suggesting I know nothing about football, but what can you do.

I do think that team, with Robinson starting instead of RND, would finish top 6 and I've made my case. You found that a shocking take, yet your only rebuttal is to suggest that our defence specifically was bad, and our best defenders might play better in a back five (they didn't last season and still performed, so irrelevant). Most that team finished about 500 points clear of 7th last season, I shouldn't even be the one having to make the case.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

I was a bit suspicious of COH when they flew in from Bumblefuck Missouri on a 50 year old Pan Am jet. What the fuck did they buy our Club with, Disney Dollars? We sure can pick em. Previous owner still wanted by Interpol, one who wanted to buy the club has had more sex changes than that Jenner bloke / woman and the last one we had showed up about as much as Lord Lucan at Kensington Police Station.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

I was a bit suspicious of COH when they flew in from Bumblefuck Missouri on a 50 year old Pan Am jet. What the fuck did they buy our Club with, Disney Dollars? We sure can pick em. Previous owner still wanted by Interpol, one who wanted to buy the club has had more sex changes than that Jenner bloke / woman and the last one we had showed up about as much as Lord Lucan at Kensington Police Station.

 

[SwissBlade]

This sounds like you've made a theory then started treating your theory as fact? It's certainly a theory, not impossible but your theory doesn't mean "we are stuck with skint owners with no plans". You probably didn't mean it like that tbf!

I'd question though, why they'd buy a club just to flip it - when football club sales are relatively rare and usually slow.

I don't think they've bought to flip, but it does feel like they are currently out of their depth and have not prepared at all.

On the face of it, the decision to bring Selles in was certainly bold. It didn't appear knee-jerk based on the time they took to announce it, but to their credit, they decided to make the step to bring a new manager in and go in their own direction, which is all well and good.

But since doing that they haven't supported him at all. The decision not to recruit early whilst selling and letting so many players with experience go is a red flag. Statements of bringing the age of the squad down in the hope that these kids will start tearing up a new league, higher and more physical than any of them have played at / in is also another red flag.

Now they stuck and they are most likely shitting the bed as they realise that to go a different direction its going to cost them more.

Time is ticking for this window and it will become panic stations quickly if we don't sort out the onfield issues...

 

[Westran]

They did say we'd need to be patient..

 

[Black Cloud]

My heart says be patient, however, the new owners sanctioned the total disaster that is Tom Canon based purely on CWs recommendation and Bettis agreeing with It. Who wouldn’t have reservations with spending money going forward. I said at the time Yank businessmen don’t always fit into the football club owner mould; when they get burnt it usually means get some money back in ….and quick…..wouldn’t surprise me if Gus goes next

 

[Andy67]

A) Botev Plovdiv are a top division side and regularly qualify for European football
B) Caceres was signed from Peru
C) it’s actually more like 7 months

But if they aren’t good enough for the championship it means nothing, which they aren’t and won’t be. I’m not blaming the players,I’m blaming the club for its policy which is purely AI driven. We have academy players that are just as good and they aren’t ready but unfortunately they’d rather look abroad to players who are unlikely to get anywhere near first team. The other issue is that the board cannot be questioned on the approach as it is driven by them. Wilder knew they weren’t good enough and so does Selles but they are hardly going to say to the board that with the best will in the world that they can’t coach them to reach the standard. If they were good enough they would be playing.

 

[UTB Blade]

Why don’t you ?

Just switch off your TV set and go out and do something less boring instead?

 

[Tezza1889]

Seen somebody mention a relegation scrap, well were 40-1 with William Hill right now..

And for COH if you're reading, we have relegation in UK soccer, meaning you play in a lower value division the next season...

I know a lot of Americans do not realise that this is what happens to a team that fails..