Reality check.

[Brownieblade]

I’m not arsed if we finish 13th and I can see development and potential for the future. If we finish 13th because we haven’t signed anyone decent on permanent deals then I’d worry though.

No parachute money after this season so it’s back to the days of generating our own transfer revenue via sales, without the ‘Lightning in a bottle’ season that Wilder had that doesn’t end well for anyone.

If we don’t sign perms but keep players this and next window I’m not worrying

But would want to see them signing young perms by this time next season

 

[I should coco]

I can understand the worry with Bettis still being here but I’m not sure right now very little action equals we aren’t doing anything

I personally won’t worry as much if little else arrives in next few weeks, that’s mostly because I’m bought in to belief that it’s still way to early with regards to overall plan

For example if we finish 13th this season I won’t buy into notion that the plan has failed, I will just expect them to start showing the year after some positive results consistently

But that’s just how I’m choosing to view it, I personally don’t really get the reactions I’m seeing so far but also I can’t expect everyone to think same as me

I’m not arsed if we finish 13th and I can see development and potential for the future. If we finish 13th because we haven’t signed anyone decent on permanent deals then I’d worry though.

No parachute money after this season so it’s back to the days of generating our own transfer revenue via sales, without the ‘Lightning in a bottle’ season that Wilder had that doesn’t end well for anyone.

There was an argument in early June in the maelstrom of the Wilder sacking, that anything short of promotion would be a failure.

If the disciples of this wonderful new system of play, don't consider finishing 13th as failure, what do you actually think is 'failure'?

Would relegation, be just a step in our new plans?

 

[MojoMuffin]

So all's well with HMS Second Coming and it's just a case of steady as she goes?

Reserve judgment is my approach. People are panicking we're heading for an iceberg when we're not even 10 meters out the dock.

We need some replacement/improvement signings and a bit more time for RS to implement his style of play and coach the team. I see absolutely no reason to throw the new owners under the bus when they've had their hands forced to cash in on 2 players. Combine that with a new manager and style of play, it was unlikely we were going to hit the ground running. Still plenty of time in the window left and I'm quietly confident we'll get some quality through the door before deadline day.

All this talk of asset stripping, journeymen owners and a catastrophic season ahead is nonsense and completely baseless.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Reserve judgment is my approach. People are panicking we're heading for an iceberg when we're not even 10 meters out the dock.

We need some replacement/improvement signings and a bit more time for RS to implement his style of play and coach the team. I see absolutely no reason to throw the new owners under the bus when they've had their hands forced to cash in on 2 players. Combine that with a new manager and style of play, it was unlikely we were going to hit the ground running. Still plenty of time in the window left and I'm quietly confident we'll get some quality through the door before deadline day.

All this talk of asset stripping, journeymen owners and a catastrophic season ahead is nonsense and completely baseless.

I hope you are right. However, I just have a feeling that we won`t sign the defensive players we need. I hope I am wrong.

 

[loyalblade95]

I thought McCallum had a good game last night he could start Saturday for me
Curtis while making mistakes showed he is a season from the first team
Thought Davies did all that was asked of him
And March coped with mens football compared to last seasons friendlies but held onto the ball to much
Swansea here we come
UTB

Felt a bit sorry for McCallum last night, especially in that 1st half.

Even commentators picked up on it that he was defending our left hand side all on his own, as Oné would not come back and help him.

 

[I should coco]

Reserve judgment is my approach. People are panicking we're heading for an iceberg when we're not even 10 meters out the dock.

We need some replacement/improvement signings and a bit more time for RS to implement his style of play and coach the team. I see absolutely no reason to throw the new owners under the bus when they've had their hands forced to cash in on 2 players. Combine that with a new manager and style of play, it was unlikely we were going to hit the ground running. Still plenty of time in the window left and I'm quietly confident we'll get some quality through the door before deadline day.

All this talk of asset stripping, journeymen owners and a catastrophic season ahead is nonsense and completely baseless.

Enter stage right:
Grumpy old bastard shakes head in disbelief and walks off.
Exit stage left

 

[Houston_Blade]

There was an argument in early June in the maelstrom of the Wilder sacking, that anything short of promotion would be a failure.

If the disciples of this wonderful new system of play, don't consider finishing 13th as failure, what do you actually think is 'failure'?

Would relegation, be just a step in our new plans?

I don’t want us to finish 13th, although I think with the current squad that would be a good finish!

My concern is that without good permanent signings and a poor season this season it’s a spiral downwards.

 

[Brownieblade]

There was an argument in early June in the maelstrom of the Wilder sacking, that anything short of promotion would be a failure.

If the disciples of this wonderful new system of play, don't consider finishing 13th as failure, what do you actually think is 'failure'?

Would relegation, be just a step in our new plans?

I don’t know the plan so I can only guess and assume that failure would have to be relegation as that then alters what you can attract

If the idea is to change culture and how you build a squad up then I guess it matters not much in terms of structure aside from how much you have

 

[Houston_Blade]

If we don’t sign perms but keep players this and next window I’m not worrying

But would want to see them signing young perms by this time next season

I’d be massively worried if we do that. Young perms need to be mixed with good, experienced players. It’s the latter we’ve lost and will continue losing as they’ll be the saleable assets.

We won’t get promoted this season but we need to start building a base for whatever this new style and structure is that COH have in mind. At the moment it just looks like more board level procrastination and fuckwittery.

 

[I should coco]

I don’t know the plan so I can only guess and assume that failure would have to be relegation as that then alters what you can attract

If the idea is to change culture and how you build a squad up then I guess it matters not much in terms of structure aside from how much you have

So the plan, which seems to have plenty of followers, was to sack Wilder and just wait and see what happens?

 

[Brownieblade]

So the plan, which seems to have plenty of followers, was to sack Wilder and just wait and see what happens?

From my understanding the plan was to keep wilder and put this new plan into place

Wilder spat dummy out so they then chose to replace him

Why they chose Selles specifically I couldn’t tell you

But I can’t think of any reason why the overall plan in terms of time wise has changed

Other than they may have decided with selles to change how we play

I don’t see any reason why promotion in one year should be an automatic

 

[Youngand70]

I don’t need to name other clubs, the point is all the above is your own view on it and nothing more, nowt wrong with that but in reality is we won’t know until eventually you see the results, all we have right now is thousands of fans just guessing at what’s happening or not

Imo that’s 3-4 windows till we start seeing if a path is in place

And wilder wasn’t just sacked, he was released because he didn’t want to work within the plan

I can assure you there are more than me with the same views and after 63 years down the Lane I like many others have seen the one step forward 2 steps back approach all all to often.

As for Wilder - released, sacked he still ended up with his P45.

As for the plan most of us are still guessing what the plan is.

 

[Brownieblade]

I can assure you there are more than me with the same views and after 63 years down the Lane I like many others have seen the one step forward 2 steps back approach all all to often.

As for Wilder - released, sacked he still ended up with his P45.

As for the plan most of us are still guessing what the plan is.

Well sorry for being pedantic but if you are just guessing then you are criticising something you have no idea about so I do have to wonder

I’m sure you have seen lots of approaches, I’m sure you have seen lots of films as well, doesn’t necessarily mean you can just guess a films ending and criticise it, I mean you may have got it wrong

 

[Houston_Blade]

Well sorry for being pedantic but if you are just guessing then you are criticising something you have no idea about so I do have to wonder

I’m sure you have seen lots of approaches, I’m sure you have seen lots of films as well, doesn’t necessarily mean you can just guess a films ending and criticise it, I mean you may have got it wrong

At the same time, you’re backing someone you have similarly no idea about. Either side may be right or wrong or it might be somewhere in the middle. Early indications aren’t good though.

 

[Brownieblade]

At the same time, you’re backing someone you have similarly no idea about. Either side may be right or wrong or it might be somewhere in the middle. Early indications aren’t good though.

Completely, in reality I’m buying time and basing it on practicalities, like if they are changing it it will take longer than 1 window to do so

 

[Andy67]

I don’t want us to finish 13th, although I think with the current squad that would be a good finish!

My concern is that without good permanent signings and a poor season this season it’s a spiral downwards.

top six anything else a failure.

 

[blade too long]

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business.

the selling of several players is usual , the not getting one experienced player back in ,, is not
we have always traded , we are just selling, i am worried its been a oneway street so far

birmingham , got american owners , got Rooney in got things wrong ended up being relegated
but in fainess have taken how it works on board and theyve inproved immensely
is Selles our Rooney,, hope not

 

[Andy67]

Completely, in reality I’m buying time and basing it on practicalities, like if they are changing it it will take longer than 1 window to do so

It will but expect outgoings. Last season fans complained that players couldn’t do 90 minutes, I said that the players were were working to their physical capabilities. Hamer cannot do you 90 minutes intense as others but when on the pitch capable of brilliance, Selles system works on players running longer and faster than opposition essentially overwhelming them with attacks and fast enough to stop counters with a quick transition to more pressure. I think Hamer is brilliant and should have a place in any team but in Selles ultimate starting line up he’d be on the bench ready to change the game when at a deadlock.

 

[Brownieblade]

It will but expect outgoings. Last season fans complained that players couldn’t do 90 minutes, I said that the players were were working to their physical capabilities. Hamer cannot do you 90 minutes intense as others but when on the pitch capable of brilliance, Selles system works on players running longer and faster than opposition essentially overwhelming them with attacks and fast enough to stop counters with a quick transition to more pressure. I think Hamer is brilliant and should have a place in any team but in Selles ultimate starting line up he’d be on the bench ready to change the game when at a deadlock.

I think Hamer is too good personally but it’s well thought out point, you could be correct

 

[Andy67]

I think Hamer is too good personally but it’s well thought out point, you could be correct

It’s well thought out but devastating as he’s great but only in a team where others have the engine. If he sells him I’ll be gutted but if he replaces him with two players who can attack and deal with transition like it’s their bread and butter then good (AI must have got a few players that are capable) . This is about me being a blade supporter of Selles trying to work the best out rather than my enjoyment of watching a bloody good player that deserves to be in every championship team and a lower half of premier league teams.

 

[Blade58]

It’s well thought out but devastating as he’s great but only in a team where others have the engine. If he sells him I’ll be gutted but if he replaces him with two players who can attack and deal with transition like it’s their bread and butter then good (AI must have got a few players that are capable) . This is about me being a blade supporter of Selles trying to work the best out rather than my enjoyment of watching a bloody good player that deserves to be in every championship team and a lower half of premier league teams.

Need blaster back and of course back to how he was. I believe he would fit Selles style of play

 

[SheepdipBlade]

People need to get getting promoted out of their heads, this is our level we’re a mid table championship side.

And that, I think is the problem. It feels like Selles is a downwards trade from Wilder.
Most people accept Wilder's leaving - and most accept Selles will have a different style.
Most though expected the new order to be different from the old - but didn't expect it to be such an apparent downgrade.
That's the frustration - and given the start we've had, it's understandable and only to be expected.

 

[jt64]

There was an argument in early June in the maelstrom of the Wilder sacking, that anything short of promotion would be a failure.

If the disciples of this wonderful new system of play, don't consider finishing 13th as failure, what do you actually think is 'failure'?

Would relegation, be just a step in our new plans?

Was it ever stated that "anything short of promotion would be a failure" is an actual target for this season? Saying it for last season, when there was a clear three horse race for a comp that paid three places would not be unreasonable, but this season once it didn't work out? Could it not be the case that Selles has been given longer term targets than just this season and the owners have accepted that the level of squad and infrastructure turnover needed to not only promote, but have a shot at sticking, is more than a one year project and this season can be said to be a "develop what we have, don't do anything really stupid" with the idea of 26/27 being where you make the push?

 

[I should coco]

Was it ever stated that "anything short of promotion would be a failure" is an actual target for this season? Saying it for last season, when there was a clear three horse race for a comp that paid three places would not be unreasonable, but this season once it didn't work out? Could it not be the case that Selles has been given longer term targets than just this season and the owners have accepted that the level of squad and infrastructure turnover needed to not only promote, but have a shot at sticking, is more than a one year project and this season can be said to be a "develop what we have, don't do anything really stupid" with the idea of 26/27 being where you make the push?

Of course that could be the plan, but in the febrile atmosphere post Wilder's sacking, plenty were saying that anyone could have got that team up.

I have said several times, I wanted him to stay, but that ship has sailed. I am prepared to back our new manager, but I expected play off contention at least, but what annoys me know, is how all the RS disciples, who assured me he was better than CW, now talk of a long term plan.

FWIW, I think RS will be gone by Christmas and we will have a year of stagnation, rather than progress.

 

[programmechap]

So the plan, which seems to have plenty of followers, was to sack Wilder and just wait and see what happens?

I'm sorry, but this "changing culture" is just bollocks isn't it?

On any objective measure after the 23-24 shitshow earning92 points on the pitch was a great achievement that would have seen us promoted most seasons.

Why is there a necessity to "change culture". Wouldn't we just want a few tweaks to go one better this season?

 

[dingledog]

I'm sorry, but this "changing culture" is just bollocks isn't it?

On any objective measure after the 23-24 shitshow earning92 points on the pitch was a great achievement that would have seen us promoted most seasons.

Why is there a necessity to "change culture". Wouldn't we just want a few tweaks to go one better this season?

Simple, we are now owned by anonymous US Americans who have no grasp of British football culture and consequently want us all to use fake tan, become orange faced liers who given not a hoot about anything other than ourselves and have no regard for rules, regulations or laws. Just a thought

 

[Zeblades34]

I'd have been half tempted to move to a back 3/5. However given our lack of centre halves...

 

[LBA_Blade]

From my understanding the plan was to keep wilder and put this new plan into place

Wilder spat dummy out so they then chose to replace him

Why they chose Selles specifically I couldn’t tell you

But I can’t think of any reason why the overall plan in terms of time wise has changed

Other than they may have decided with selles to change how we play

I don’t see any reason why promotion in one year should be an automatic

The only think I can think of is that either the top 3 choices weren't available in the sense they didn't want the job when approached, which if you went by the bookies odds on was Sean Dyche and then Gary O'Neil with Steve Cooper a close 3rd.

 

[programmechap]

Simple, we are now owned by anonymous US Americans who have no grasp of British football culture and consequently want us all to use fake tan, become orange faced liers who given not a hoot about anything other than ourselves and have no regard for rules, regulations or laws. Just a thought

You jest, but I think.theres a glimmer of truth there..

I reckon thar mega rich people who buy foreign football clubs can be divided into 3 categories:

1. Those who want the prestige. Such people will only buy the very top clubs and will spend lots of money keeping them there.

2. Those who want to make money. Those may buy lower level clubs they see as having potential, pump.money into.them, see them rise up the leagues and then sell at a profit.

3. Those who want toys: you have more money than you know what to.do with. You can spend it on luxury yachts and pneumatic blondes , but buying a football club to try out your pet theories on would be more fun. If the theories don't work and you lose money, you're not that bothered. After all yachts and blondes don't generate any financial returns.

Its looking more and more like we have a 3...

 

[programmechap]

The only think I can think of is that either the top 3 choices weren't available in the sense they didn't want the job when approached, which if you went by the bookies odds on was Sean Dyche and then Gary O'Neil with Steve Cooper a close 3rd.

I think it's probably because this was the best job Selles could conceivably hope to get, given his mediocre record. Hence he will do as he is told.