I think that's a healthy attitude. Don't think anyone wants blind loyalty to the guy but he does need an appropriate amount of time to do his job. It's not a short term job with a fast turnaround on goals. KLD had a five year plan, so long as we are a possibility for that, Speakman is fine. This season hasn't been good but if we have a good summer and challenge for promotion then. Again, Speakman is fine. Good coach in, couple of key signings that improve us, and more experience into the young lads. Doesn't sound all that bleak to me. Big, big summer ahead.
You were gauging opinion by offering 2 options with no basis in reality? KLD has done nothing in his time here that could be construed as a spoilt rich boy and to suggest a club who's stadium is built upon a pit where generations of working class fans grafted through the dark, dust and ****e to provide for their families, and going to watch the lads at roker with anything left over. To suggest that club could have too many working class fans is ****e.
For me personally, Speakman is at a bit of a crossroads this summer. His approach looked to be working very well although there were concerns over the striker situation not being addressed in winter 22 window. He got away with not addressing that and was probably happy with his decisions. This season in both the summer and winter windows the same issue hasn’t been addressed and we are lacking severely on the striker front. Add to that the young lads who he would expect to step up to replace the experience that he has let go probably havent got to the levels he would have expected if we were to improve on last season. The crossroads is, has he learned that this model is generally good but needs adapting to bring in sufficient experience or has he learned that the head coach should be more than just a coach and capable of being the main man in all team affairs. If he has learned these things, which in my opinion, are the things that need changing for the model to improve, then he should remain in his post. If he refuses to see what is staring him and much of the support in the face he should be moved on.
Are you ****ting me trying to tell me about working class families. I suggest you read my post and the post I was replying to, I did not suggest he was a spoilt little rich boy but was replying to a poster who did. I am from a family of miners and lived through the miners strike I am as working class as they come my question was weather or not our fans viewed our owners wealth with envy which leads to the spoilt little rich boy comment. By the way that is context to the conversation. I do not care about how much money he has as I have met spoiled boys and girls spoiled men and women, some rich and some not but he was classed as a spoiled little rich boy for no other reason than his age and wealth and with no context given. Hence my question. just for your information My Dad worked at Boldon pit from the age of 14 and when that was closed he worked at Wearmouth (Funnily enough where our ground stands today), he was a miner all his life as was his Brother Charlie. Out of my six Aunties on my Dads side of the family 4 of them married miners (all of whom were on strike for the whole year) so you will forgive me for being abrupt but I never once said we had too many working class fans at all so please do not put words in my mouth I simply asked if the quote was because we had fans who really thought he was a spoiled little rich kid or was it just because he is rich that the comment came about
Or there's not much talent out there willing to work in the Championship to our model...unless there's a complete overhaul... Ha’way KLD
Potential food for thought. Something Bob said a while back hinted at a different angle to view how Speakman is doing. What we and KLD judge him by may be quite different. It’s possible that KLD gives Speakman the following targets: Increase players’ values, bring decent money in from strategic sales & maintain a competitive team with a chance of promotion. In theory, the chances of promotion should increase year by year. By the summer, Speakman might be smashing it on two out of the three targets. We are most concerned about the third target that will be missed by some distance.
The value of the squad has grown enormously, even players who haven't established themselves like Ba, Ekwah, Seelt ... ... you can see the potential and skill, it just needs proper coaching and they'll improve. Even the value of Triantis has increased imo, he's settling in Scotland and has a dozen more games to really make an impression.
A lot of our players like Jobe, Triantis, Ba, Aouchiche, etc, don't know their true position yet imo.
Rigg is worth no more than a couple of million until he signs his pro contract. Once he signs that it skyrockets!
Patterson's value will have probably increased as well, even though he's been in probably worse form than last season. Just by virtue of number of games played at Championship level. And as per my post above - Tommy Watson and Matty Young both signing pro deals is absolutely massive. I reckon they both kick on next season (probably thru loans)
Ideally I’d like to add in a credible extra to give him some challenge and for him to stay. Not sure his ego would accept it so get looking. If we change nowt after the last 18months of recruitment we’re gluttons for punishment.
Begs the question, probably raised many times already. Who is coaching our players? Dodds has gone from u21 to temporary head coach. Venus left with Mogga. I ask this because we've been awful at corners and set-pieces both attacking and defending for years. Who's coaching our young first team players?
Think its Dodds, Proctor, Murty and that new guy they brought in from ex-Charlton. Then with Alessandro B and Prudhoe doing the keepers
