I posed the questions to you because you seem to know what to do!!! I was trying to get from you, if you would change it if it wasn't working.....but of course we all know the answer to that don't we, but you would hate to admit doing the same as LJ.... Your argument is always about the money Junior has spent, with the way the game has gone, I'd say it's like throwing a sausage down Park Street, insignificant. I've only missed 4-5 games due to work, trying to save for a bottle of Brazin - Zinfandel Lodi...!!!
The sums of money Lee Johnson has spent are significant. Unless two million pounds for one player to strengthen the U23's is a going rate. Mr Johnson is getting enormous backing from Mr Lansdown. I can see a scenario in one two transfer windiows where BCFC again have a costly bloated squad and the Manager continues to play hokey cokey team selections. Lot of rhetoric about bigger plans, patience while a team, His team cannot defend a cross ... Here is a plan for Mr Johnson. Play a settled team, shut up and work harder with your players on the training ground brcause fans have barely seen a decent performance let alone a good one for months.
Football, and this forum is all about opinions I guess. I've said all along that for me he has until the end of January to prove he is up to the job and turn our fortunes around. After that if we are in serious danger of relegation then I believe he needs to go. For me SC delivered probably the most memorable season (overall) in all of my time following City (including the Alan Dicks era) but a few short months later he was history. LJ saved us from possibly going down last season and we made a reasonable start this year. But that's also now history.
I'd like to think the squad isn't going to be bloated in a few years. Yes, we might have spent a fair bit on transfers, but it sounds like we're being much more prudent with wages. Ignoring the striker we signed, I think we probably got value for money from most signings. If we fail to sign a striker in January, or if we sign one and fail to shake up the current system afterwards, then I'll be in agreement about panicking. But LJ is restricted at the moment and it's mindboggling that people can't see it and understand. Engvall on the other hand, that genuinely is bizarre. I wonder if that was a last minute, desperate signing, knowing that we only had 2 strikers, and it's backfiring massively.
I do not think, the way things have panned out he was responsible for the Barnsley recovery either, their system of coach's had in place a tier of which he was the front man.. AFTER 8 LOSSES he was there for 11 games when they won 8 of them when he left they lost only 3 of 18 games and the cup game at Wembley. Comment went he left from their chairman was "good luck Lee" and to their fans he made the statement we are and will be OK as we are set up that if any one leaves we still run on smoothly ....and they have, on a much much smaller budget and the current manager was there as Lee left! Makes you think that the up turn in results were due not to LEE!!!!!! I DID AT THE TIME...I thought heading for playoff's now and a Wembley appearance why leave ????
It's debatable as to how true this is, but I think the intention is that we have a similar modular structure. I.e. if the manager leaves, the rest of the club (recruitment, youth, etc) is theoretically unaffected.
'Engvall on the other hand, that genuinely is bizarre. I wonder if that was a last minute, desperate signing, knowing that we only had 2 strikers, and it's backfiring massively'. Hope you are wrong but fear you are correct.
Wait until the transfer window opens if you want to see some gut reaction signings that never give value for money, and we certainly won't be the only ones falling in to that trap.
I like to think I'm more patient than those that complain immediately after one or two defeats, and I still largely approve of the recruitment policy being implemented, but I must admit that I am extremely disappointed with how things have gone. We were in an excellent position and in with an outside chance of making the playoffs, but have all but blown that opportunity and am now only meeting the minimum expectations we would have had at the start of the season. In retrospect, Ayling has been missed, though with the Cheltenham incident, it could be that his off-pitch escapades were as big a reason as any for him leaving - and it would probably be exaggerating to suggest that this was the one reason for our troubles. With regards to the shortage of strikers, we couldn't reasonably turn down the massive offer for Kodjia and I'd sooner we didn't sign anyone else if they weren't of the appropriate calibre, or spunk the majority of that money on a poorer replacement. Though we're not at the point where I'm calling for LJ's head, I am concerned that there's a similar vibe to when Sean O'Driscoll was in charge, in that we are capable of playing some nice possession-based. flowing football, but ultimately not getting results, because we don't actually trouble defences enough and concede too many soft goals. Maybe we need to be a bit nastier? I think we're a work in progress, but this recent blip may well have a significant impact on the players that might have been willing to join us in January, who now won't want to.
Why do so many players shoot themselves in the foot and expect sympathy? The mindset of so many players in this social media minefield era in football just amazes me when you are in the spotlight when you go to the toilet and some areshole in the next cubicle has a smart phone under the door. Many years ago in the age of sanity footballers were treated like gods and mentors because they gave the same in return, but today they arrive at the ground with earbuds firmly in place which to me says "up yours". The worst thing to me is that they go virtually unpunished and then show up in another location and do the same thing all over again.
City have far too often ceased playing nice possession-based. flowing football its far too slow and sideways. When Bryan was bombing on saturday and the ball was moving swiftly City looked good v Preston. when it didn't it was rank. the totally different approach in sending on Wilbraham as a battering forward getting the ball forward quickly and direct changed the game.
