Thoroughly Depressing

[Pollingtonblade]

Just had a look up there at players contracts and when they are due to expire. Jesus fucking christ, how on Earth did we manage to accumulate so much shit! From defenders who can't defend to midfielders who barely trouble the scoring chart and a pedestrian attack! A Leeds fan at work today said he couldn't believe Collins was still earning money playing football, neither can I to be quite frank!

For the last few years (few months under Wilson apart) I can count on one hand the number of games in the 3rd Division I've gone to and come out thinking yes that was quality, last seasons home games were virtually all carbon copies of each other.

I personally think there is no money available for signings because looking at what Adkins did at Saints and even Scunny he signed far better players. Have we had an update on the Prince's intentions and not just soundbites from Phipps.

Looking at that list above its like we've purposefully built a middle of the road 3rd division side!

 

[Barney]

Clappers incoming in 5, 4, 3....



Just kidding.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Our slide began 10 years ago, and has never really been arrested.

That said, The quality in the lower divisions is better than ever. This has taken us somewhat by surprise and we have found it difficult to get out of Div 3. I personally think that while there is an obvious gap between PL and Div 3, the gap between lower end Prem and Top end Div 3 is as narrow as it's ever been. Teams generally play there way out of L1. L1 is FAR less physical than the Championship.

It seems to me that there are more cup upsets than there has ever been. This may be down to higher teams fielding fringe players, may be not. But it does seem to happen more often.

Getting out of L1 is no doddle. Adkins will do very well to do it this year and we should accept and recognise this.

UTB

 

[blade.i.am]

It's where we are LS26. Maybe you should go and support somebody else. The rest of us will just wait for it to turn around, just like it always does. Eventually.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Our slide began 10 years ago, and has never really been arrested.

That said, The quality in the lower divisions is better than ever. This has taken us somewhat by surprise and we have found it difficult to get out of Div 3. I personally think that while there is an obvious gap between PL and Div 3, the gap between lower end Prem and Top end Div 3 is as narrow as it's ever been. Teams generally play there way out of L1. L1 is FAR less physical than the Championship.

It seems to me that there are more cup upsets than there has ever been. This may be down to higher teams fielding fringe players, may be not. But it does seem to happen more often.

Getting out of L1 is no doddle. Adkins will do very well to do it this year and we should accept and recognise this.

UTB

If getting out of League 1 is no doddle, how come clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Rotherham United, Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers have all achieved it, whilst in the same time frame we haven't even gone anywhere near?

Without being patronising towards to the aforementioned clubs, surely we have got to be a lot bigger and better than those with a lot more resources available?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Our slide began 10 years ago, and has never really been arrested.

That said, The quality in the lower divisions is better than ever. This has taken us somewhat by surprise and we have found it difficult to get out of Div 3. I personally think that while there is an obvious gap between PL and Div 3, the gap between lower end Prem and Top end Div 3 is as narrow as it's ever been. Teams generally play there way out of L1. L1 is FAR less physical than the Championship.

It seems to me that there are more cup upsets than there has ever been. This may be down to higher teams fielding fringe players, may be not. But it does seem to happen more often.

Getting out of L1 is no doddle. Adkins will do very well to do it this year and we should accept and recognise this.

UTB

It can be a doddle if you grasp it by the balls , and acumilate a bloody good squad of players , for the task in hand . You set the league benchmark yourself from day one. All others have to follow.

UTB

 

[Deleted member 875]

It's where we are LS26. Maybe you should go and support somebody else. The rest of us will just wait for it to turn around, just like it always does. Eventually.

Why should LS26BLADE go and support somebody else?

Give us all some reasons

 

[Punk Blade]

L1 is FAR more physical than WWE.

Fixed.

 

[judge]

Last years league one was reyt gud , thats why bristol city are doing so well

 

[Blade82]

It's the result of chopping and changing managers so often. Adams brings his men in, then Danny Wilson adds his own, wier clough and now Adkins. Managers leave but meanwhile players are on 3-4 year deals and the fact we're probably the highest payers means it's hard to move these players on.

 

[judge]

Its the result of footballers being cunts

 

[Dalelane01]

Lets face it the whole team may have to be replaced obviously this takes time but its surprising as new players come in some of our current squad actually benefit from this by an improved attitude or better understanding with new players that come in .its not just a case of signing him or him nigel needs to choose the right players and as been very patient with only one league game played yes we can look at what he did at scunthorpe and southampton but he didnt do it after just one league game

 

[FTPE]

Why should LS26BLADE go and support somebody else?

Give us all some reasons

Bit of Leedscism there I think

 

[wizadry]

It's where we are LS26. Maybe you should go and support somebody else. The rest of us will just wait for it to turn around, just like it always does. Eventually.

You might aswell have put the rest of us will accept mediocrity while fans such as this question a reasonable topic which is part of the reason we are underachieving. Lets give Adkins time by all means but lets not stop people from questioning topics such as this which are relevant to why we find ourselves underachieving as a club.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Its the result of footballers being cunts

Judging by some of the recent interviews they're dumb cnuts too

 

[Bladesman]

It's depressing we can't shift these players on and then some smart ass at the club decides to renew their bloody contracts. When the likes of Collins and Doyle's contracts should not have been renewed the first time round and we wonder why we have such a mediocre squad.

 

[Rodley]

If getting out of League 1 is no doddle, how come clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Rotherham United, Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers have all achieved it, whilst in the same time frame we haven't even gone anywhere near?

Without being patronising towards to the aforementioned clubs, surely we have got to be a lot bigger and better than those with a lot more resources available?

As per my post on another thread. We've made almost 30 permanent signings in the last three seasons. That is incredible backing at L1 level.

 

[Barney]

As per my post on another thread. We've made almost 30 permanent signings in the last three seasons. That is incredible backing at L1 level.

Shame the vast majority aren't good enough.

 

[Rodley]

Shame the vast majority aren't good enough.

Well that's down to scouting isn't it? I just don't understand criticism levelled at the board; look at the numbers.

 

[Barney]

Well that's down to scouting isn't it? I just don't understand criticism levelled at the board; look at the numbers.

Yes they have sanctioned a lot of money to be spent but they could have been a little more involved to stop cases such as last seasons were Clough was allowed to sign lots of players who aren't good enough for league one, namely McGahey, Alcock, JCR, Higdon, McEveley, K.Wallace and Scougall. Of course he's signed a few decent players as well but I suppose that's a given when you sign so many players. If you throw enough shit, some of it is bound to stick.

It's times like that when things were getting out of control when the board could have stepped in and called a halt to it to prevent what we're seeing today where the squad is that large it's going to be a tough ask to remove enough players to allow the recruitment we need to get promoted. All within 3 weeks.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

As per my post on another thread. We've made almost 30 permanent signings in the last three seasons. That is incredible backing at L1 level.

And if trurh be known , we still dont know our best starting 11 , that has fully gelled ( barring injuries ).

UTB

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Yes they have sanctioned a lot of money to be spent but they could have been a little more involved to stop cases such as last seasons were Clough was allowed to sign lots of players who aren't good enough for league one, namely McGahey, Alcock, JCR, Higdon, McEveley, K.Wallace and Scougall. Of course he's signed a few decent players as well but I suppose that's a given when you sign so many players. If you throw enough shit, some of it is bound to stick.

It's times like that when things were getting out of control when the board could have stepped in and called a halt to it to prevent what we're seeing today where the squad is that large it's going to be a tough ask to remove enough players to allow the recruitment we need to get promoted. All within 3 weeks.

McCabe and co pay a manager and his team a lot of money to choose the players that they want. He can't start interfering with who they decide to buy within the budget that they have given him.
Again. You are looking at things from a position of hindsight.
I don't think any of the players that you mention were bad buys for a 3rd division club. All had proved themselves at this or a similar level. That some haven't worked out is either due to the style we play, the culture of the club, injuries or they haven't developed as much as expected.
I bet if Che doesn't develop as expected you will be on here slagging the club off for giving him a 4 year contract, but at the moment he is the next Pele and the club are craps because he isn't on a long-term deal

 

[Revolution]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we have the resources to go up, but our transfer policy has been a shambles.

Putting to one side the board's propensity to sell our best players, the money the managers have been given has been enough to see us promoted if used well. Some of it has been used well (Done and Murphy being the best examples) But a lot of it has been squandered.

It's the squad building that annoys me:

- All of Wilson, Weir and Clough seemed to have gone out of their way to sign midfielders with poor goalscoring records

- very few of our signings from the last few seasons have been big and strong: our scrappy midgets are bullied constantly by bigger sides

- Clough in particular was very fond of signing players with questionable injury records (J Wallace, Davies, Coutts) or who aren't fit (Higdon). Adkins said we have 10 injured players. That's partly bad luck and partly because of the state of the players when we sign them.

- there's an abundance of players for some positions and nobody for others (I don't need to remind anyone about our centre half situation).

Someone said that our signings have been reactive and not proactive. That's a good way of looking at it I think.

In an ideal world we would jettison about 10 players who we don't need and get 3 or 4 who would boost our first XI. Sadly we aren't in an ideal world.

 

[Barney]

McCabe and co pay a manager and his team a lot of money to choose the players that they want. He can't start interfering with who they decide to buy within the budget that they have given him.
Again. You are looking at things from a position of hindsight.
I don't think any of the players that you mention were bad buys for a 3rd division club. All had proved themselves at this or a similar level. That some haven't worked out is either due to the style we play, the culture of the club, injuries or they haven't developed as much as expected.
I bet if Che doesn't develop as expected you will be on here slagging the club off for giving him a 4 year contract, but at the moment he is the next Pele and the club are craps because he isn't on a long-term deal

Some of those players are from 'proven' or 'playing at a similar level' are they. McGahey, proven? A grand total of 4, yes 4, games for Blackpool. K.Wallace, ilkeston, really? That's where we got Che from but you can see from the amount of scouts watching Che that he was an obvious exception. Point remains, Ilkeston, I know we're playing at a shit level but you do realise they play lower than the conference, don't you. I wouldn't quite say that's at a similar level. JCR, just a bang average league one player isn't he? Notts County.. it's ok going for the best in the league but a 30 odd year old journeyman is a definite no if you want promotion. Moving on to another I mentioned, Scougall, Livingston? You must be joking on that one, right? And as for Higdon, fuck knows which league that joker came from so can't speak on the level he played at but he certainly needs to go back.

That's 4, possibly 5 out of the ones i've mentioned so coming back to your statement, 'All had proved themselves at this or a similar level.'

Based on all evidence, I would classify that statement as resoundingly false.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Some of those players are from 'proven' or 'playing at a similar level' are they. McGahey, proven? A grand total of 4, yes 4, games for Blackpool. K.Wallace, ilkeston, really? That's where we got Che from but you can see from the amount of scouts watching Che that he was an obvious exception. Point remains, Ilkeston, I know we're playing at a shit level but you do realise they play lower than the conference, don't you. I wouldn't quite say that's at a similar level. JCR, just a bang average league one player isn't he? Notts County.. it's ok going for the best in the league but a 30 odd year old journeyman is a definite no if you want promotion. Moving on to another I mentioned, Scougall, Livingston? You must be joking on that one, right? And as for Higdon, fuck knows which league that joker came from so can't speak on the level he played at but he certainly needs to go back.

That's 4, possibly 5 out of the ones i've mentioned so coming back to your statement, 'All had proved themselves at this or a similar level.'

Based on all evidence, I would classify that statement as resoundingly false.

Ok, maybe with McGahey and K Wallace, I should have said, had good potential, which was especially so in McGahey's case. K Wallace, might not have the skills of Che but might, when played in his best position, have a better career. He seems to be very highly thought of by Adkins, who has nothing to prove or gain by playing him.
Higdon came to us following a season where he was one of the top scorers in the top Dutch league, hardly a poor league.
JCR, as you say was one of the best players in the league and though he might not be a starter he is definitely a game changer to come off the bench for the last 20 mins.
Bet you weren't laughing at Scoogs in his first season or at the game against Hull at Wembley. Yes he had a poor season last season but a lot of that was due to injuries and then a loss of form. Seemed to get good reviews Tuesday.
So, my post might have been badly written but I don't see any of those players that you mention as being bad buys, when we bought them just that not all of them have worked out

 

[metalblade]

They are poor for where we are at the moment the lads from IIkeston being in the first team says it all they were brought to the club as development players. Looking at the Scottish connection only Murphy is good enough to start regularly they all come from League of poor standards like wise Higdon who was good at Motherwell and at a team relegated from a very poor Dutch top division which other than Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord is about on a par which the SPL. I would say of our squad only two or three would be comfortable a division higher we have a squad of mediocre journeymen and players with dubious injury records the vast majority need shipping out asap.

 

[sheffielder]

If getting out of League 1 is no doddle, how come clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Rotherham United, Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers have all achieved it, whilst in the same time frame we haven't even gone anywhere near?

Without being patronising towards to the aforementioned clubs, surely we have got to be a lot bigger and better than those with a lot more resources available?

Those clubs had no expectation. We haven't brought players in who could handle ours, and that's why it takes a little more money.

 

[Rodley]

Why should LS26BLADE go and support somebody else?

Give us all some reasons

If you've lost all enjoyment of it, why do it? It's not a bigger Blade point, but a general one. If I got to point of not enjoying any of the games, the days out, etc. I'd just pack it in.

 

[LSF]

If you've lost all enjoyment of it, why do it? It's not a bigger Blade point, but a general one. If I got to point of not enjoying any of the games, the days out, etc. I'd just pack it in.

Totally agree Rodley! If its so mind numbingly bad and 'depressing', why fucking well bother?
Surely these folk could find something else to do of a match day if its affecting their life so much that they have to come on here and tell us how shit they feel!

Man up or give up! Lol!

 

[Rodley]

Totally agree Rodley! If its so mind numbingly bad and 'depressing', why fucking well bother?
Surely these folk could find something else to do of a match day if its affecting their life so much that they have to come on here and tell us how shit they feel!

Man up or give up! Lol!

It's not a criticism and don't agree necessarily with the man up point, but if I just stopped enjoying it completely, then I'd just stop going. I'm sure whoever it is has got plenty of Bladey Blade credits and can have a bit of a restorative break with a clear conscience. Then they could come back in time for the 2020/2021 L1 promotion campaign!!