Fingers crossed. And toes. I'll probably tie my cock in a knot closer to the time as well for good measure. I'd most likely expect a change to be made whether its the Allams, or the Turks in charge in the break though. Whoever pulls the trigger is gonna need to line up a replacement beforehand. I'd also expect to see more managers linked in the meantime.
Yes, it was, but he signed him twice. To say that he wasn't involved in the recruitment seems unlikely. It's like saying Grant isn't either, when he's signed Elder twice, Moncur twice, Wilks twice, Samuelsen twice, Kane twice etc. I'm certain Slutsky didn't get his 1st choice targets but that doesn't mean they weren't his targets or that he didn't sign off on them. You can't just say he wasn't involved as we have a DOF as we still have one now and both Adkins and McCann have both been very much involved.
Who's been the constant in the underwhelming, often wasteful recruitment since 2017? If Darnborough isn't ultimately responsible then what exactly is his job?
There's not many decent CBs on frees though that we could use. Or we could teach Bernard to stop charging out from the back and leaving giant holes. It worked for him in the 1st few games, but Champ teams will have seen the footage and they're baiting him out now. P'boro did it really nicely but it's awful positionally, so needless and cost us the game. I actually don't think LD's been that bad, that first year was horrendous, I think Adkins recruitment was poor although the players identified such as McKenna, Kipre & Norwood would have been great but the Allams wouldn't spend. I've thought the recruitment under Grant has been pretty good and that includes this summer, but when you've got a L1 budget in the Champ, you're getting L1 players. I'm sure he'll be gone too with the new owners though.
We do, but we're still soft in the middle and always will be until we get some experience back there. I don't even want to think who the Allams would bring in as his replacement. It'd be proper scraping the barrel stuff.
Well there's at least 1 championship club in administration with a couple of decent centrehalves. I don't think Derby have provided assurancesyet that they can complete the season and I'm pretty sure that means we can talk to any of their players who may be interested, with no fee involved.
We lack experience in key areas though. We're crying out for it. McCann hasn't the nous and tactical awareness at this level, granted, but he hasn't exactly been given the tools to succeed either.
Curtis Davies was free for most the summer and Derby can't pay him more than £4.5k a week so he's not expensive and he even put out a come and get me plea in the HDM. To not sign him was utterly ridiculous. We spent all summer trying to find a replacement for Burke, it should've been done straight away. I suspect we'd be above the bottom 3 if we had signed him. We also need a good defensive midfielder, but I said that all summer and past the end of the window and someone to create as I've been a bit disappointed with Moncur since the Preston game. Obviously, we need someone to stick it in the net too. I'm sure any new owner won't be daft enough to bring in young players
Three at the back would help substantially. We're talking about what the new owners will do, why does it matter who the Allams would bring in?
We deliberately didn't sign an experienced centrehalf and instead spunked on a load of midfielders who don't even make the squad. We finished the window with squad spaces available also - yet on deadline day we're in talks with yet another midfielder. Again, what's Darnboroughs job exactly?
Because nothing is done till it's done with the Allams. And takeovers are volatile at the best of times. Hopefully the Turks won't fail the directors test.
That's more my concern than Allam shenanigans. But since the PL has signed off on the Newcastle deal then you'd assume the bar in the EFL is pretty ****ing low.
Not sure I'd call it deliberate, I don't think we could afford anyone decent. I wanted Slater, felt he helped us and was an improvement on Smallwood. M Smith hasn't really worked out, I wouldn't be surprised to see a fair few returning to their parent clubs in January. Longman too, maybe even Baxter as I can't imagine Chelsea being happy about his lack of gametime. Everyone we signed as on the cheap, I'm looking forward to that changing.
So Davies on 4.5k a week on a free wouldn't have fit the wage structure? It won't change wholesale overnight, but a little help in key areas and a bit more nous in the dugout should be enough to survive, if we're not dead and buried by then at least.
Right.. but we were talking specifically about what the new owners could do before January, and I said they could change the manager.
So come on then Syd. Who do you want that's realistic? .... And don't say Brucie. As much as I'd be happy enough to see it I think there's 8 million reasons for him not to get off his sunlounger in the algarve.
For me you either stick with the DOF/head coach model or you bring in an old fashioned gaffer. Not so much a fan of Hughton, having watched him up close here from my perch in the North East. I definitely don't want Alex Neil. Big Mick would be a shout. But what about Rosenior with McLaren as DOF? Both have ties to the area and they've worked reasonably successfully together at Derby in difficult circumstances. Maybe bring Barmby back in some coaching capacity also? Sentiment aside then Wilder, Cowley perhaps?
