Players happy to pick up a wage...

[ChrisBlade]

When performances are crap and we get beaten by moderate outfits, you often get these references to how much players earn and how they are just "happy to pick up a fat wage"...

The problem is: I don't even think that our bunch are happy to pick up a wage, anymore. They now hate to be here and even the money hardly compensates. Many of these players knew three years ago at the promotion party that this was the highlight of their footballing careers. They knew it wouldn't and couldn't get any better. The first season in the Prem then just simply defied anybody's expectations. Everybody knew we weren't that good. So did they, secretly.

And then it all turned to crap. Over twelve and now 18 painful months...

What have Egan, Fleck, Norwood or Stevens either left to prove to us or to save for themselves at United? Nothing.

They know they will be part of a happy bubble that a fan base like ours will not experience again in the next decade. And they know that on a personal level these three years are the ones they'll remember when they are eighty through the onset of dementia from heading too many balls or the post career throes of alcoholism when the money and trophy wives have run out...

And they know that every game they still play now, at best, is an unsucessful coda to those glory days that slows or maybe halts the decline and weekly damage to their reputation, but certainly will add nothing to their legacy. If they think back to October 2019 and have any brains, they will know that as a collective they were experiencing the kind of high that is usually reserved to first-time trophy winners or conquerors of the biggest prizes, only. Every cog was oiled, every decision came off, they were - for a few months in the Prem - the English equivalent to footballing Greece under Otto Rehagel at the Euros. A team that suddenly came from nowhere and was on everybody's lips, doing things the fun way and to disbelieving adulation by a support that knew that this may well be once in a life-time sudden glory for many of them.

Now the difference is so stark that each and every one of them would happily sign for someone like Swansea or Coventry tomorrow. A sidestep with a moderate project where they can reboot and just fit into a grey crowd for seven months of mental recovery. And all of this is irrespective of Slav, Hecky or whoever else we bring in as task master. Most will currently be texting subservient "congrats" to you-know-who at Boro, faking genuine excitement for Chris getting back on the train, while thinking that keeping their names in his memory sure won't hurt or might offer the relaxing respite they all so crave.

Their cycle is done. They know it and feel tired and annoyed about is, just as we are. They get pay-checks, sure. But you had two years of living the dream on a level well in excess of established Premier League players. You knew your dressing room, your rapport with the fans, every time you went out to drink on the town was well better than what, say, Man United players or Spurs currently experience. You were a genuine local hero.

And now the best you can hope for is not to be among the ones that have funny names made up about them each week on forums which you or your mates or family read and feed back to you. Or you have to tread water just to restore some sort of credibility by dragging us to an eighth place finish to non-plussed sighs of "oh, he wore alreet" second half of the season.

We should not renew any contracts in June of players who were in the building on the day we drew at Stoke. They are finished because – if nothing else - they are now an unhappy bunch with nothing to believe in or aim for.

Truly a sad end of an era.

 

[Shanks]

When performances are crap and we get beaten by moderate outfits, you often get these references to how much players earn and how they are just "happy to pick up a fat wage"...

The problem is: I don't even think that our bunch are happy to pick up a wage, anymore. They now hate to be here and even the money hardly compensates. Many of these players knew three years ago at the promotion party that this was the highlight of their footballing careers. They knew it wouldn't and couldn't get any better. The first season in the Prem then just simply defied anybody's expectations. Everybody knew we weren't that good. So did they, secretly.

And then it all turned to crap. Over twelve and now 18 painful months...

What have Egan, Fleck, Norwood or Stevens either left to prove to us or to save for themselves at United? Nothing.

They know they will be part of a happy bubble that a fan base like ours will not experience again in the next decade. And they know that on a personal level these three years are the ones they'll remember when they are eighty through the onset of dementia from heading too many balls or the post career throes of alcoholism when the money and trophy wives have run out...

And they know that every game they still play now, at best, is an unsucessful coda to those glory days that slows or maybe halts the decline and weekly damage to their reputation, but certainly will add nothing to their legacy. If they think back to October 2019 and have any brains, they will know that as a collective they were experiencing the kind of high that is usually reserved to first-time trophy winners or conquerors of the biggest prizes, only. Every cog was oiled, every decision came off, they were - for a few months in the Prem - the English equivalent to footballing Greece under Otto Rehagel at the Euros. A team that suddenly came from nowhere and was on everybody's lips, doing things the fun way and to disbelieving adulation by a support that knew that this may well be once in a life-time sudden glory for many of them.

Now the difference is so stark that each and every one of them would happily sign for someone like Swansea or Coventry tomorrow. A sidestep with a moderate project where they can reboot and just fit into a grey crowd for seven months of mental recovery. And all of this is irrespective of Slav, Hecky or whoever else we bring in as task master. Most will currently be texting subservient "congrats" to you-know-who at Boro, faking genuine excitement for Chris getting back on the train, while thinking that keeping their names in his memory sure won't hurt or might offer the relaxing respite they all so crave.

Their cycle is done. They know it and feel tired and annoyed about is, just as we are. They get pay-checks, sure. But you had two years of living the dream on a level well in excess of established Premier League players. You knew your dressing room, your rapport with the fans, every time you went out to drink on the town was well better than what, say, Man United players or Spurs currently experience. You were a genuine local hero.

And now the best you can hope for is not to be among the ones that have funny names made up about them each week on forums which you or your mates or family read and feed back to you. Or you have to tread water just to restore some sort of credibility by dragging us to an eighth place finish to non-plussed sighs of "oh, he wore alreet" second half of the season.

We should not renew any contracts in June of players who were in the building on the day we drew at Stoke. They are finished because – if nothing else - they are now an unhappy bunch with nothing to believe in or aim for.

Truly a sad end of an era.

This,This & This. The hunger has gone.

 

[jono_t2000]

I was going to post something quite similar. We have a lot of players who have now done their sight seeing of the dazzling lights of the premier league. And know they're at the stage of their careers where they're not going to get a move to a massive club.

It's a very valid question, what is the motivation for the likes of Norwood, Stevens, Fleck, Baldock, Didzy and so on at this point of their careers.

 

[Cheesebored]

I was going to post something quite similar. We have a lot of players who have now done their sight seeing of the dazzling lights of the premier league. And know they're at the stage of their careers where they're not going to get a move to a massive club.

It's a very valid question, what is the motivation for the likes of Norwood, Stevens, Fleck, Baldock, Didzy and so on at this point of their careers.

Harsh to chuck Didzy under the bus. Still a 100%er even with his best days behind him. Agree with the rest of the post.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Football teams reach peaks then fall away its happened through the history of football.

That and the fact that whoever the chairman board and management structure at SUFC through history manage to balls up when opportunities to push forward are on a plate means we are in the midst of a downward spiral.

 

[Snowflake]

I was going to post something quite similar. We have a lot of players who have now done their sight seeing of the dazzling lights of the premier league. And know they're at the stage of their careers where they're not going to get a move to a massive club.

It's a very valid question, what is the motivation for the likes of Norwood, Stevens, Fleck, Baldock, Didzy and so on at this point of their careers.

I agree, but highlighting the problem is only part way to solving it.
What realistically can be done this season, other than replacing one or two in the JTW ?
Maybe with a couple of better players in the side some of the old stagers will up their game out of professional pride or perhaps I am a porcine aviator !

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

When performances are crap and we get beaten by moderate outfits, you often get these references to how much players earn and how they are just "happy to pick up a fat wage"...

The problem is: I don't even think that our bunch are happy to pick up a wage, anymore. They now hate to be here and even the money hardly compensates. Many of these players knew three years ago at the promotion party that this was the highlight of their footballing careers. They knew it wouldn't and couldn't get any better. The first season in the Prem then just simply defied anybody's expectations. Everybody knew we weren't that good. So did they, secretly.

And then it all turned to crap. Over twelve and now 18 painful months...

What have Egan, Fleck, Norwood or Stevens either left to prove to us or to save for themselves at United? Nothing.

They know they will be part of a happy bubble that a fan base like ours will not experience again in the next decade. And they know that on a personal level these three years are the ones they'll remember when they are eighty through the onset of dementia from heading too many balls or the post career throes of alcoholism when the money and trophy wives have run out...

And they know that every game they still play now, at best, is an unsucessful coda to those glory days that slows or maybe halts the decline and weekly damage to their reputation, but certainly will add nothing to their legacy. If they think back to October 2019 and have any brains, they will know that as a collective they were experiencing the kind of high that is usually reserved to first-time trophy winners or conquerors of the biggest prizes, only. Every cog was oiled, every decision came off, they were - for a few months in the Prem - the English equivalent to footballing Greece under Otto Rehagel at the Euros. A team that suddenly came from nowhere and was on everybody's lips, doing things the fun way and to disbelieving adulation by a support that knew that this may well be once in a life-time sudden glory for many of them.

Now the difference is so stark that each and every one of them would happily sign for someone like Swansea or Coventry tomorrow. A sidestep with a moderate project where they can reboot and just fit into a grey crowd for seven months of mental recovery. And all of this is irrespective of Slav, Hecky or whoever else we bring in as task master. Most will currently be texting subservient "congrats" to you-know-who at Boro, faking genuine excitement for Chris getting back on the train, while thinking that keeping their names in his memory sure won't hurt or might offer the relaxing respite they all so crave.

Their cycle is done. They know it and feel tired and annoyed about is, just as we are. They get pay-checks, sure. But you had two years of living the dream on a level well in excess of established Premier League players. You knew your dressing room, your rapport with the fans, every time you went out to drink on the town was well better than what, say, Man United players or Spurs currently experience. You were a genuine local hero.

And now the best you can hope for is not to be among the ones that have funny names made up about them each week on forums which you or your mates or family read and feed back to you. Or you have to tread water just to restore some sort of credibility by dragging us to an eighth place finish to non-plussed sighs of "oh, he wore alreet" second half of the season.

We should not renew any contracts in June of players who were in the building on the day we drew at Stoke. They are finished because – if nothing else - they are now an unhappy bunch with nothing to believe in or aim for.

Truly a sad end of an era.

Don't agree.
I agree a lot aren't putting a shift in, and the self confidence has taken a massive hit.
But there is no reason for them to believe the best days are gone.
Do the work. Play with confidence and belief, and those players can be pushing for promotion.
Yes, we need to strengthen, absolutely, but as individuals and a group they can do much better..no reason to believe the best is a memory.

 

[Roygbiv]

They need a move as much as we need them to move. Their careers here are done. It must be difficult to motivate yourself when you know you are never going to get to the heights you were a few years ago. I don't think they aren't trying as such, I just think the hunger has gone.

In the promotion season these players were achieving a dream they never thought they'd get the chance to live. They aren't idiots, they know they are never getting back to that level and It must drain your enthusiasm knowing you've peaked in your career. They aren't talented enough to be successful without that added hunger. We aren't West Brom or Fulham with players who have yo-yo'd between this level and the one above for most of their career. Most of them aren't young either. These are lower league players who went on an almighty ride together but are now showing why they spent their entire careers outside the top flight.

They should be doing better but they don't seem to have the mentality that makes a bad team an average one. They look like they just want their contracts to run down so they can get away.

 

[petcharlie]

Football teams reach peaks then fall away its happened through the history of football.

That and the fact that whoever the chairman board and management structure at SUFC through history manage to balls up when opportunities to push forward are on a plate means we are in the midst of a downward spiral.

They have a history of getting to where they want to be and then STOP investing in the team . The Blades do that every time .we get to the dizzy heights of the top flight then stop bringing in more talent and are happen to drop down to ground zero only to build them selves back up again and repeat it over and over again. By the way has any one seen a prince about?

 

[Danetheblade]

They have a history of getting to where they want to be and then STOP investing in the team . The Blades do that every time .we get to the dizzy heights of the top flight then stop bringing in more talent and are happen to drop down to ground zero only to build them selves back up again and repeat it over and over again. By the way has any one seen a prince about?

Berge, Brewster, MCB. Talent(ish) definitely invested.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

The famous philosopher Marvin Hagler said "It's tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5am when you've been sleeping in silk pyjamas".

Some of our millionaire footballers don't look very motivated.

 

[steve26272]

They have a history of getting to where they want to be and then STOP investing in the team . The Blades do that every time .we get to the dizzy heights of the top flight then stop bringing in more talent and are happen to drop down to ground zero only to build them selves back up again and repeat it over and over again. By the way has any one seen a prince about?

Errrr, last season, following the £20m JTW of Berge, we signed Brewster, Ramsdale, Bogle, Lowe & Burke for around £55m

First season up we spent £32m

So in 3 windows, or 13 months, we spent around £110m

Not quite sure how your calling out the board - “STOP investing in the team”

In the same 13 months -
Fulham spent £47m
WBA spent £51m


We spent more than the 2 clubs relegated with us, yet we finished rock bottom, and are now 18th on half the points they sit on in 2nd & 3rd

The question is how it was spent, not in whether it was spent

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

The famous philosopher Marvin Hagler said "It's tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5am when you've been sleeping in silk pyjamas".

Some of our millionaire footballers don't look very motivated.

Ok, own up, who on here owns a pair of silk pyjamas???

 

[petcharlie]

Errrr, last season, following the £20m JTW of Berge, we signed Brewster, Ramsdale, Bogle, Lowe & Burke for around £55m

First season up we spent £32m

So in 3 windows, or 13 months, we spent around £110m

Not quite sure how your calling out the board - “STOP investing in the team”

In the same 13 months -
Fulham spent £47m
WBA spent £51m


We spent more than the 2 clubs relegated with us, yet we finished rock bottom, and are now 18th on half the points they sit on in 2nd & 3rd

The question is how it was spent, not in whether it was spent

Well yes you do have a point and i agree with most of it but we missed a opportunity in the last window to put right what was obvious and it took us ages to replace our center half who pick up a long term injury when it was clear we were going to struggle with out him. Also it was clear Fleck and Norwood had burnt out and even now we are having to make do with them when it is clear they are not producing . Apart from the fact we have strikers who can't strike a mid field who can not pass a defence who look shaky and a goalie who drops a bollock every other match we did not really want anyone.

 

[petcharlie]

Berge, Brewster, MCB. Talent(ish) definitely invested.

Glad you said talentish which shows up our scouting department for what it is CRAP

 

[steve26272]

Apart from the fact we have strikers who can't strike a mid field who can not pass a defence who look shaky and a goalie who drops a bollock every other match we did not really want anyone.

Ticks every box!!

Scary to think it cost us £100m to be that shit!

 

[petcharlie]

Ticks every box!!

Scary to think it cost us £100m to be that shit!

We made Blackburn look like Liverpool

 

[Danetheblade]

Glad you said talentish which shows up our scouting department for what it is CRAP

I think the signings made sense at the time, MCB for instance was top goalscorer in the division below before we signed him.

 

[Lane Ender]

Ok, own up, who on here owns a pair of silk pyjamas???

Never owned a pair always slept bollocko

 

[robbiez666]

Look at where these players were when we signed them.

They were either talented players who had never achieved their full potential or solid yet unexceptional players with a great worth ethic.

Wilder found a system and signed players to fit into this system. As individuals they can't compete with top footballers but as part of a machine they were far greater than the sum of their parts. They gave 150% for 3 years. Doing the same things every single game. They became world-class at their job but not as footballers.

As soon as there was a problem with one of the 'components' in the machine then the machine itself was significantly weakened. They can play in a different system but they revert to their actual ability.

Last season it was clear that teams had worked out how to counteract our system and make it much less effective. It was also clear that the players were spent. Many are towards the ends of their careers and they'd given so much that their legs seem to have gone. 150% soon became 110% and without that little extra we weren't just winning or drawing games. As confidence faded so did that extra bit of energy.

I'm sure the players are putting in a shift. They're just not able or willing to do more. That's probably both mental and physical.

The determination has simply vanished and we have a group of average/below average Championship players who are bringing the odd better player down.

It needed a revamp in the summer but the club seemed to think we just needed a few loans and we'd go up. The rot has set in. Many of these players have reached the end of their footballing lifespan. We won't do well again until we have a fresh squad.

 

[petcharlie]

I think the signings made sense at the time, MCB for instance was top goalscorer in the division below before we signed him.

Well yes i can see what you mean mate but it was obvious he had not got what it takes to become a top striker who could operate in the prem . It really says a lot about our scouting department. Did not see many prem clubs trying to sign him which must have or should have given us a clue .

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

In my view the only way we won’t get relegated is for the atmosphere to become toxic. Somethings got to give because these wage stealing lazy bastards will get us relegated. I’m sick of them, straight into their Audi’s, Mercs, BNW’s after the game whilst us poor cunts suffer. I’ve never hated a bunch of players as much as I hate these wankers at the moment.

 

[BerksBlade]

Well yes i can see what you mean mate but it was obvious he had not got what it takes to become a top striker who could operate in the prem . It really says a lot about our scouting department. Did not see many prem clubs trying to sign him which must have or should have given us a clue .

That's part of the problem though isn't it? We were looking at Watkins, Cash, Anthonee Robinson & others, but as soon as another PL club came in that was it. We couldn't compete on either fees or wages.

 

[petcharlie]

Look at where these players were when we signed them.

They were either talented players who had never achieved their full potential or solid yet unexceptional players with a great worth ethic.

Wilder found a system and signed players to fit into this system. As individuals they can't compete with top footballers but as part of a machine they were far greater than the sum of their parts. They gave 150% for 3 years. Doing the same things every single game. They became world-class at their job but not as footballers.

As soon as there was a problem with one of the 'components' in the machine then the machine itself was significantly weakened. They can play in a different system but they revert to their actual ability.

Last season it was clear that teams had worked out how to counteract our system and make it much less effective. It was also clear that the players were spent. Many are towards the ends of their careers and they'd given so much that their legs seem to have gone. 150% soon became 110% and without that little extra we weren't just winning or drawing games. As confidence faded so did that extra bit of energy.

I'm sure the players are putting in a shift. They're just not able or willing to do more. That's probably both mental and physical.

The determination has simply vanished and we have a group of average/below average Championship players who are bringing the odd better player down.

It needed a revamp in the summer but the club seemed to think we just needed a few loans and we'd go up. The rot has set in. Many of these players have reached the end of their footballing lifespan. We won't do well again until we have a fresh squad.

I think that sums it up perfectly mate a complete rebuild required i'm afraid. We now need some more young guys who have the hunger and motivation to succeed . Not big names but younger guys who have not yet reached their peak. Easier said than done but a must. We should take a leaf out of Brentfords methods of recruiting but I dont think we have the skill in our scouting department to do what they do.

 

[petcharlie]

That's part of the problem though isn't it? We were looking at Watkins, Cash, Anthonee Robinson & others, but as soon as another PL club came in that was it. We couldn't compete on either fees or wages.

True we were not prepared to pay the wages that other clubs were offering. I do not think fees were such a problem but wages yes were our problem. We had to settle for our 2nd or 3rd choice signings. where there were no other clubs involved, now we know why.

 

[Deadbat]

When performances are crap and we get beaten by moderate outfits, you often get these references to how much players earn and how they are just "happy to pick up a fat wage"...

The problem is: I don't even think that our bunch are happy to pick up a wage, anymore. They now hate to be here and even the money hardly compensates. Many of these players knew three years ago at the promotion party that this was the highlight of their footballing careers. They knew it wouldn't and couldn't get any better. The first season in the Prem then just simply defied anybody's expectations. Everybody knew we weren't that good. So did they, secretly.

And then it all turned to crap. Over twelve and now 18 painful months...

What have Egan, Fleck, Norwood or Stevens either left to prove to us or to save for themselves at United? Nothing.

They know they will be part of a happy bubble that a fan base like ours will not experience again in the next decade. And they know that on a personal level these three years are the ones they'll remember when they are eighty through the onset of dementia from heading too many balls or the post career throes of alcoholism when the money and trophy wives have run out...

And they know that every game they still play now, at best, is an unsucessful coda to those glory days that slows or maybe halts the decline and weekly damage to their reputation, but certainly will add nothing to their legacy. If they think back to October 2019 and have any brains, they will know that as a collective they were experiencing the kind of high that is usually reserved to first-time trophy winners or conquerors of the biggest prizes, only. Every cog was oiled, every decision came off, they were - for a few months in the Prem - the English equivalent to footballing Greece under Otto Rehagel at the Euros. A team that suddenly came from nowhere and was on everybody's lips, doing things the fun way and to disbelieving adulation by a support that knew that this may well be once in a life-time sudden glory for many of them.

Now the difference is so stark that each and every one of them would happily sign for someone like Swansea or Coventry tomorrow. A sidestep with a moderate project where they can reboot and just fit into a grey crowd for seven months of mental recovery. And all of this is irrespective of Slav, Hecky or whoever else we bring in as task master. Most will currently be texting subservient "congrats" to you-know-who at Boro, faking genuine excitement for Chris getting back on the train, while thinking that keeping their names in his memory sure won't hurt or might offer the relaxing respite they all so crave.

Their cycle is done. They know it and feel tired and annoyed about is, just as we are. They get pay-checks, sure. But you had two years of living the dream on a level well in excess of established Premier League players. You knew your dressing room, your rapport with the fans, every time you went out to drink on the town was well better than what, say, Man United players or Spurs currently experience. You were a genuine local hero.

And now the best you can hope for is not to be among the ones that have funny names made up about them each week on forums which you or your mates or family read and feed back to you. Or you have to tread water just to restore some sort of credibility by dragging us to an eighth place finish to non-plussed sighs of "oh, he wore alreet" second half of the season.

We should not renew any contracts in June of players who were in the building on the day we drew at Stoke. They are finished because – if nothing else - they are now an unhappy bunch with nothing to believe in or aim for.

Truly a sad end of an era.

Fantastic post and sums it up

 

[robbiez666]

I think that sums it up perfectly mate a complete rebuild required i'm afraid. We now need some more young guys who have the hunger and motivation to succeed . Not big names but younger guys who have not yet reached their peak. Easier said than done but a must. We should take a leaf out of Brentfords methods of recruiting but I dont think we have the skill in our scouting department to do what they do.

The weird thing is, you'd have thought that the way to keep the 'machine' going would have been to identify reasonably priced younger players in the lower leagues, sign them up and train the up to take over once the current incumbent was fading. Instead we seemed to become obsessed with finding some kind of miraculous instant goalscoring talent. Instead of a striker who would fit within that system.

I don't think we have the money or inclination to do a Brentford. I also think that ship has largely sailed since other clubs are doing it and with every extra club it gets less effective. The recruitment at the club really concerns me. I have no idea who was responsible for identifying and deciding on the loan signings. It's incredibly murky. Mitchell and Co, Rip van Winkle, Slav's backroom staff or someone else. My worry is we're going to see loans followed by loans and then more loans and end up at the bottom of the Championship with 9 not very good senior players on the books.

 

[petcharlie]

The weird thing is, you'd have thought that the way to keep the 'machine' going would have been to identify reasonably priced younger players in the lower leagues, sign them up and train the up to take over once the current incumbent was fading. Instead we seemed to become obsessed with finding some kind of miraculous instant goalscoring talent. Instead of a striker who would fit within that system.

I don't think we have the money or inclination to do a Brentford. I also think that ship has largely sailed since other clubs are doing it and with every extra club it gets less effective. The recruitment at the club really concerns me. I have no idea who was responsible for identifying and deciding on the loan signings. It's incredibly murky. Mitchell and Co, Rip van Winkle, Slav's backroom staff or someone else. My worry is we're going to see loans followed by loans and then more loans and end up at the bottom of the Championship with 9 not very good senior players on the books.

Oh dear it pains me to tell you i have been thinking on those lines myself. One thing i disagree on is that we can not afford putting things right. According to figures released a few weeks ago we were in the top earners in Europe last year. Hard to believe ,I did not believe it either but true ,we were up there with the top euro clubs and thats before we sold Ramsdale. Two years in the prem and parachute payments mean we should not be struggling for cash. Blackburn are piss poor compared with us yet they looked like Man city against us. All down to recruitment which we are not good at

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Agree with everything you say ChrisBlade , nicely summarised diagnosis. Now let's think about the cure...

In hindsight, we were too quick to reward the players with lengthy PL level contracts. We all talk about needing to refresh the squad... but are Norwood, Fleck, Baldock, Egan, Stevens etc. really going to walk away from these salaries? The best of their careers, offered to them during their peaks on an assumption that they could maintain their levels for years to come .. No. We're stuck with them.

Thinking ahead then, we have a squad of players that aren't good enough. We can't get rid of them and we don't have the funds to invest to freshen things up without sales.
Do we have any sellable assets? Again, the answer is no. Berge is a disinterested crock and McBurnie & Brewster aren't good enough to force their way into a poor team. Mousset has the worst conditioning of any professional I've ever seen and Bogle hasn't improved since he got here (in fact, the opposite).

So the only way forward is to hope that a manager can work on a shoestring budget and somehow motivate what we have... This leads to the next question.

Is Jokanovic that man? A man that can operate on a shoestring budget and motivate a side to play beyond their capabilities... if the answer is no, then better to act sooner rather than later.

 

[robbiez666]

Oh dear it pains me to tell you i have been thinking on those lines myself. One thing i disagree on is that we can not afford putting things right. According to figures released a few weeks ago we were in the top earners in Europe last year. Hard to believe ,I did not believe it either but true ,we were up there with the top euro clubs and thats before we sold Ramsdale. Two years in the prem and parachute payments mean we should not be struggling for cash. Blackburn are piss poor compared with us yet they looked like Man city against us. All down to recruitment which we are not good at

I very much doubt we have free cash sitting around. we might have earned a lot over the last couple of years but our outgoings have also been a lot. When you consider the loss of match, sponsorship and football revenue to COVID it doesn't leave much. We must have already spent circa £10 million on the 4 loans we have brought in and the turnover in the Championship will be nowhere near paying our wage bill.