I don’t think so. The own goal was scored when we all decided on using directors of football for signing players. It works very well at some clubs if the organisation is right, but the likes of us and Man Utd it’s been horrendous. Can’t we go back to the days the manager is responsible for the signings? Served us very well in the past (and badly I guess). But this system under Tan where we swap about 20 players every summer isn’t working.
Think you’ll struggle to find a club now above championship level that doesn’t use a director of football model
Yeh true. Not to say it’s for the best. Especially with Tan. I assume when the coaches change then the back room transfer guys don’t, but both are changing with us. Middlesbrough for example have some stability sold Rogers for 7 million, and replace him fairly easily with 2 players. The constant changing of players and staff is horrendous for us.
It's massive, can take a bang average squad and over achieve because of the belief and standards you install. As Kalman pointed out, we've got players on social media praising other clubs results. The standards are on the floor. Arrogant little nobodies who think they have a right to blame all but themselves. Go back to the body language on the video of Selles first meeting with them, December 9th the club posted it. Arms folded, slouched in chairs. Cocky look about them. No responsibility for the mess they're in, just a belief that it was all on the big bad German. It stinks. Make an example of them and clear Kamara out first. Release him and take the hit, then tell the rest they go next unless they raise their standards.
We've known that certain positions needed filling since the summer window closed. The fact that there's no players being linked and that we've not already signed anyone (yes I know it's only been a day, but it's not like we needed to wait to talk to people until then) shows how **** those at the top are. Other clubs have strengthened already in this window, why haven't we? Even if we stay up, we're yet again going to have to invest heavily.. it's all gone tits up in such a small period of time.
The recruitment since Darnbourgh left has been shocking. Also the system 'where we swap about 20 players every summer' works for some, mainly the agents involved who are doing the swopping.
We've done some pretty good business like Hughes, Puerta, Millar and Belloumi which were all good uses of the Philogene and Greaves windfall. But signings like Kamara and Bedia seem like massive errors. Kamara we wanted all summer and seemingly missed or ignored his apparent lack of fight. And I think there's still a question to be answered about why we spent all summer being turned down by strikers and then had to settle for Chris Bedia. Walter being an unknown manager with a weirdly combative attitude won't have helped, but maybe there's more to it around Acun's absence and whatever Tan was up to at that time.
If Giles has any professional pride he must be squirming inside constantly dropped or subbed off early for players who really aren’t appropriate to play there! In short he’s a ****
Yeah I agree with the last parts. Normally this model does work. The issue is we ripped up the squad. Replaced it with inexperienced youth and the loans haven’t worked out on top. It’s just been an unmitigated disaster so far. Sellés is a shrewd appointment but I fear he’s another that’s going to be screwed by those above him
Probably what they need Ashbee too Can you imagine one of them knowing Kamara is sending stupid emojis to a player straight after the game you fighting relegation with. I am 38 years old so neither young nor old but this lot currently wearing our jersey are soft as ****. Huge clear out needed
You don't want it to be. But we all know that the manager will be a big consideration for a player looking at which club to join. And we got turned down over and over again.
Here lies the problem, id only say Jones of them 4 is any good, now it rests on them as experienced heads we are ****ing **** it’s hardly a coincidence. Turns out Seri/Tufan/Oscar etc were never the problem after all…
We just need a few with the right character to help gel the whole group and some power and pace, which we've lacked in abundance for a long time and just never seems to get addressed. I hope Jared Dublin intends to address these things and puts importance on it, but I do worry about his age. I'm sure his knowledge of players around the world is great, but 33 is very young for such a responsibility imo. As for Kamara, he sent a message to a mate to show some support. Silly in the circumstances and doubly so because of his mistake at the end of our match but he's a very young lad and they do dumb things, well I did anyway. He will learn and needs support, the Pompey fans believe in him and reckon he needed 15 games with them to get going.
But they were fine last season with better players around them. I really don't think its going to take a whole turn over of a squad to set us right. We have base building blocks which we need to add flair and creativity too - and a bit of cover to rest legs in midfield and full back.
But millar came Belloumi came palmer came etc etc So it’s just forwards who didn’t fancy Walter?? Ridiculous and I’ve no love for Walter I didn’t know the bloke or his style But I was consistent throughout the summer saying we weren’t giving him a chance as we didn’t have a team until September and even then we had to sign pedro and alzate after the deadline as it was so poor. They’re two of our best players now but took months to get fit as did puerta. As Jim keeps saying Walter didn’t adjust enough and went down in flames Now selles is going defensive which is fine but it’s too defensive isn’t it. No shots nothing yesterday. Can he do it without new recruits? If this squad is fine but it was all Walter then it should be a piece of piss?? But all in agreement aren’t we we need A left back a centre mid or two another centre back Two or three wingers/forwards!! So what does that say about recruitment in the summer??
I don't think anyone thinks the squad is fine - but the argument being that Selles has 2 wins already - compared to Walter's 3. Walter's failing was he didn't adapt to his squad. Selles seems to be trying to do that - but just because its getting better results so far doesn't mean that the squad is well put together (especially with the injuries we have). Clearly the recruitment in the summer was poor - but Walter made it worse by not reacting to it quick enough. Selles has kept us in touch - and now the real work begins.
As he sits looking at his online bank account going up by thousands every week. I think it a culture thing, not many have any professional pride, morals or sense of duty any more.
