It is and it isn’t. As we’ve been saying, it’s entirely possible to build a team that still has an identity, despite a relatively high turnover of players. Brighton, Brentford, Bournemouth are good examples. We were also a good example of this before SR came in too. But SR have got it all wrong. They have essentially gutted the first xi and have never had a coherent strategy. We have players signed by different managers, for different systems & ways of playing. The only common factors between our players seem to be that they’re all **** and they all think they’re too good to be here. Scienza being the only one that came over to the fans after that disgrace of a performance says it all. That’s why this weekend is a massive game. The players need to show something.
It’s all relative though isnt it. It’s entirely possible for us to build a side of average Championship players who have identity and we do alright by the players ability levels (eg finish about half way in the Championship) Most of these players would have no interest from clubs a step up from us and therefore would stick around for as long as we would have them. It’s far harder to build a side that has a number of players (or as a collective) that can compete with the top half PL sides, whilst being a relative minnow. As you say the three Bs have done it, and we have previously done it. As have numerous other clubs in the last, what, 20 ish years? Bolton, Stoke, Swansea off the top of my head at times have built sides able to compete relatively consistently in the top half. I think this is what SR (and every club of our size owner) is attempting to do, they just haven’t got it right. The main constant in their “no recruitment plan” has been buying players and appointing managers with “upside” and I think they have concentrated far too much on what could happen if these players/manager all pan out than the here and now and we’ve suffered because of it. The season we have been successful in their time was hugely down to loaning in players. You can’t get much more “here and now” than loaning a player. However they then ****ed that up by signing players like Downes and Fraser permanently who aren’t PL players and spending a decent wedge on them. THB was an obligation which I can forgive seeing as when the deal was made he would’ve then been part of 3 promotion winning Champ sides so logic says he deserved a shot at the PL. Then this year they’ve decided to **** the loans off (which would’ve given us a huge advantage) and go back down the future route, ignoring that if we don’t go up this year we have far more chance of our next league being League One than it being the PL. People can say “oh we need time to repair the damage at the club” but ultimately we have a huge financial advantage for this year and this year only and we have basically wasted it by appointing a gamble at manager. Something SR love to do but are like that pissed pensioner in the bookies who has been waiting for his daily 20p accumulator to come in for the last 70 years
We have actually recruited on an individual basis far better this year as Azaz and Fellows are not really gambles, Scienza, Jansen and Jelert are clearly decent signings and Shea Charles is back and much improved However, the gaps as a whole let us down No Striker, No Leader, Lacking in defensive midfielders, Not enough experience in the first XI and an inexperienced manager And now our injuries leave us trying to plug gaps up front, in defensive MF and at RB
