So, I'm sure we're all aware of Derek Llambias' 'colour' system. But for those who aren't, the basic premise is that we grade our players by shade (sit down Rio Ferdinand, this has nothing to do with race) our Elite players are known as 'Purples' then the covering players (I'm going to assume they're lilac) and development players (lets got ahead and call them pinks).
This is a system which on paper looks fanstastic. The aim is to have 11 top players who can, on their day, beat anyone in the league. We have a further 11 'Lilac' players who can easily provide cover, stepping in to plug gaps if our 'purple' players are unfit and we have 11 'Pink' players who we rotate, giving experience and occasional playing time. It's so simple, its so obvious, why didn't anyone think of it before?
...'cause it clearly doesn't work. We all knew we needed to strengthen in the Summer. Our manager and players spent the majority of last season telling the media that 'we're a small, tightknit squad', whilst our fans simply said we need more players. Instead of strengthening in the summer, we let our 'Lilac' players go, choosing cheaper, inexperienced alternatives, hoping that they wouldn't be called upon.
Our recruitment policy is a good one, I like that we don't over-pay for players, as someone said on another thread, we got Debuchy and Cabaye for the price of Connor Whickham - but surely Llambias can now see that applying a sound business model to a football club (something that has so many massive variables) doesn't equate to success!
The question is, will he do anything about it? Do you see us abandoning (if only momentarily) the colour grading system in order to stay in the league? Do you think they will stick to their guns and hope to ride out the storm? Do you think some of our 'purples' have been downgraded and are now 'pinks' and the 'pinks' now a murky shade of '****' brown?
This is a system which on paper looks fanstastic. The aim is to have 11 top players who can, on their day, beat anyone in the league. We have a further 11 'Lilac' players who can easily provide cover, stepping in to plug gaps if our 'purple' players are unfit and we have 11 'Pink' players who we rotate, giving experience and occasional playing time. It's so simple, its so obvious, why didn't anyone think of it before?
...'cause it clearly doesn't work. We all knew we needed to strengthen in the Summer. Our manager and players spent the majority of last season telling the media that 'we're a small, tightknit squad', whilst our fans simply said we need more players. Instead of strengthening in the summer, we let our 'Lilac' players go, choosing cheaper, inexperienced alternatives, hoping that they wouldn't be called upon.
Our recruitment policy is a good one, I like that we don't over-pay for players, as someone said on another thread, we got Debuchy and Cabaye for the price of Connor Whickham - but surely Llambias can now see that applying a sound business model to a football club (something that has so many massive variables) doesn't equate to success!
The question is, will he do anything about it? Do you see us abandoning (if only momentarily) the colour grading system in order to stay in the league? Do you think they will stick to their guns and hope to ride out the storm? Do you think some of our 'purples' have been downgraded and are now 'pinks' and the 'pinks' now a murky shade of '****' brown?
