Give Speakman his due, he’s the best DoF we’ve had and lasted the longest. De Fanti, ****ing hell. Congerton - Rodwell and Alvarez(?).
Congerton is at atlanta now and was linked with man utd recently. I'd still love to know how he swapped Defoe for altidore
This is my point - we've no idea that KS is failing his targets. It's more likely that his target last year was top half and he overachieved with the budget he was given. This year, he's probably underachieved and further discussions may be had in the summer - or maybe KLD is happy enough given that the value of key assets will have gone up considerably this year. My point being that we will never fully know how good a job KS is doing because we don't know his remit.
He said last summer his target was to improve on the season before. We can argue it that meant top 2, fifth or reaching the play off final, but he was on recored saying that was the target
I don't believe that was his objective given to him by KLD, but more his own ambition. I think it was a daft thing to say in an interview and it's been used against him ever since. If that was the goal he was set by the owner, then I think he'd be out of a job already.
All the Speakman criticism isn't for me, he's not been with us long enough for a fair review. He's clearly got a mandate to sign young players with potential on the cheap and that's what he's done. People complained there were no forwards, we brought 3 in and the head coaches dicked about putting them in and out of the team like a whack-a-mole game when the obvious thing to do was stick with Rusyn who is the senior striker at the club. It seems odd to me that he's under so much scrutiny. I think people should probably manage their expectations more, building a sustainable side in the championship is going to have its ups and downs. At least we aren't in league one hey.
That’s fair. I suppose Congerton was a big name when we brought him in, if I remember right, and the Defoe move was genius. Speakman has had a few misses but the big hits arguably outweigh them. Clarke and Ballard are the big ones. Amad was very good. Batth, Evans, Pritchard, Roberts, all good if you look at the older players. Congerton wins when it comes to strikers though. Who bought Borini in permanently, though? That was a bad one.
Its an interesting discussion when you sit and look at them, some may take a year or more and future proof us against what may be a collapsing market, yet the counter argument is it doesn't fit the here and now needs. The more I think about it, the more I think this coming season and the one after will be transitional seasons for nearly every club as they adjust to the rules
I wouldn't assume much all and I'd discuss what we do know, what we have seen to be true, not stuff we aren't party too. It's all well and good interpreting events and decisions and form but there is far too much blind assumption stirring us into uninformed frenzies. We know we need a head coach. We know we need a goalscorer. We don't know what the budget is and we don't know the reasons the unknown budget is what it is. We really do not know what the dynamic is within the offices. At all. We don't know who deserves credit for our recent progress and who ought to take the blame for our more recent slump. I'm not trying to be condescending, I'm writing this as an exploration of my own thoughts to myself, as much as I am answering your question. I just think we're turning into a bunch of opinionated experts who don't really have much of an idea.
Agreed and it looks like we are putting ourselves in a very promising position for the transitions on the horizon. Our wage bill is comfortably under control, we’ve got a talented young squad, the academy is doing well and the off the field side looks like it will start to kick on in the summer. The summer transfer business is going to be fascinating and I hope we can nail as many of those problem areas as possible.
Which was palatable enough when the uninformed opinions were about football. Most have watched enough football over the course of their lives to form untrained opinions over players and tactics etc. But now it's about the business behind football and the politics in the offices and the boardroom. I'm just not informed enough to make judgements about all that stuff and I'd be surprised if there were many on here who are. Feels like people are inserting game of thrones level drama into the boring business of what's basically corporate governance.
We have to hope mate. Part of me expects a bit more transition in the summer as clubs start to worry about wages and fees, as I've said before I think we are playing a longer game, bit also think if everything fell right we would jump at the chance. Really looking forward to the off the field improvements, the kit deal and new club shop should be massive for us
The finance side is front and centre of a lot of clubs because of the recent cases. I find it interesting and I've got a bit geeky about it. Next thing for me is the independent regulator, I'm curious how much power they will actually hold. A lot of my frustration come from the punishment not very often fitting the crime
Completely get that. I'm hoping the entire football economy collapses and M'Bappe ends up playing for Accrington Stanley for 15 pounds a week. Won't hold my breath.
Liverpool have just appointed Richard Hughes from Bournemouth, and Arsenal have had Edu doing the role for a few years now but not sure on Brighton
How many football fans, from other clubs, would know who our 'technical director' is ... ... why shouldn't we know ours and hear from him occasionally. It's no big deal.
