This thread has been inspired from a question that was asked on the open all Râs podcast. And an article I read. Saying a lot of our problems, really canât be blame on Hughes and Harry. But tony himself. Now I like Tony and he is the first to admit mistakes have been made. On the whole I think he is doing only good things for the club. The question that was asked was to Gerry Francis. Does he think if Tony Pulis would do a good job managing the club? Now I am not a Harry out sort of guy. In fact I think he will keep us up. Given time I think the squad will get better and better. But what happens if Harry leaves at the end of the seasons. Where does that leave us? What I do find interesting is he is no hurry to sign a new contract. So should we be looking to get another manager in? Any way back to what I would like to see changed. I would like to see a proper plan for the team. We seem to be going from window to window just throwing money at the squad still and there is no plan. Take Ned for example. He is arguable the best centre back we have had in years and he canât get a game. I understand that Rio has been brought in to teach the young players in the squad. But how does him playing really help us in the long time. We now have two young solid centre backs in Ned and Caulker, we should be basing the defence around them for a long time. As for the mid field it is a bit early to say but I get the feeling Harry has no idea what his best set up is. So we went out and brought in a load of new players in the mid field and it just seem a bit chaotic. Then the striker situation yet again we should have bought in two strikers even with Remy staying. Now to stop these mistakes happening we need to get a manager in who will be given say at least three years and a goal. So for the first three years it needs to be stay up and get a squad capable to push on towards European places. Now depending how this goes the manager should continue or he should be replaced. But we need to know say six months in advance so we are not just rushing out to get the last manager who got sacked by another premiership team. I know Tony canât really bring in a director of football but he really could do with getting someone who can give him some solid footballing advice. So these plans can be talked through properly. Another thing I would like to see also came up in the Podcast. The big fat elephant in the room car giant. So since tony has been at the club he has promised training grounds and stadiums. Warren farm was already to go then all of sudden the plug was pulled. Then we are told we are staying at Harlington. But now it is all gone quite. Which leads us me on to the Stadium I am now getting the same vibe promised so much and all the ideas seem great. Then all of a sudden it looks like it wonât be happening. I just get the feeling Tony is just say things to sound good. Now I like Tony but I do often think where we would be if Amit had taken over. I would also like to see him take more of an active role in the club. It might be just me but I think he really was the savour of the club and what he did to get us up to the premiership really pushed the club in the direction. So to conclude what I would like to see from the club is more planning. I think Tony needs to stop just throwing money at the squad and say lets see what happens. Come January I think we a few players a striker and maybe a couple of full backs. Here a chance to put this into effect. Also I would love to see the club come forward with all there off field plans and just be a bit more honest with us. I love this club and I think we are in a great place. Just with a bit of planning we will be in much healthier place.
"Now I like Tony" (appears twice) reminds me of Mark Antony saying "Brutus is an honourable man" in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar!
Be interested to know what about the most recent transfer window you werent happy with? Do you not think the last window shows Tony has learnt his lessons? Personally think with regards to transfers focusing on old windows hat he has since learned from is unfair, pointless and counter productive Dont think now is the time for a thread criticising the chairman who has done so much good for us
Good OP. I posted on the Five Words thread this morning with the point that it would be better to get a coherent strategy/footballing philosophy for the next 10+ years and then, not necessarily appoint the best manager available but the best manager to fit the strategy. Following from that, we'd have to then buy the best players for the continuation of the plan rather than the best that we could possibly buy. That is no sleight on the players we have bought - I've been very happy with that but, as the OP infers, we have some players that may well be part of the future but we're not sure what to do with them (especially to ensure that they stay and we get the most out of them for the duration of their useful careers). It's currently better short-termism than our last PL outing but it still has the overall impression of a bit of near-sightedness to me.
Good summary Matt. There were numerous sensible posts around the last relegation time stating that we'd be 'happy' to stay in the SBC for a number of seasons provided there was a plan for building the club up effectively. I wonder if FFP and the threat of the fine is a greater worry to the board than they are revealing hence the imperative to get back to the PL.
Great OP. It needs to be talked about again and again. Not how we're gonna "get away" with FFP but how we got here in the first place. And where we go now. A training ground at the back of a wardrobe in a remote country house. New stadium? Second star to the right and straight on till morning. Finances? Going on for a quarter of a billion in debt. Last accounts we were £177.1 million in the red. Add the latest forecast and it's £240 million+ . Not so log ago I got castigated on here by a business "expert" for stating this. Apologies welcome. Well now it's real and doesn't include the projected £40 million fine for broaching FFP. Or the potential legal costs. Or any current losses. Third of a billion anyone? This, after 2 out of 3 years in the most lucrative league in world football. 2012 Operating loss: 25.7 million 2013 Operating loss: 65 million (Teflon Tone's first year at the helm) 2014 Operating loss: Not out yet but it ain't gonna be pretty. 2012 Total debt : 56.1 million. 2013 Total debt: 177.1 million (Teflon Tone's first year at the helm) 2014 Total debt: 240 million + 2011/11 Transfer fees: 1.5 million 2011/12 Transfer fees: 22.8 million (Teflon Tone's first year at the helm) 2012/13 Transfer fees: 36.05 million 2010/11 Agent fees: We're nowhere. 2010/11 Agent fees: 2.5 million 2011/12 Agent fees: 6.8 million (only Citeh and Liverpool are shelling out more. And - just a wild guess here - I'd bet it weren't on gates of 18,000. Maybe I'm wrong. Me not being a businessman or accountant an' all.) And wages? OMG We do those too! We've outspent two of the last Champions League finalists. So we must be good right? I wouldn't hold my breath for a bright young manager with fresh ideas. Global branding neccesitates a "name". Someone who's already there. Doesn't fit our philosophy such as it is. If Redknapp goes it'll be Hoddle. I'd go with that tbf, but it's no substitute for a long-term strategy. Training grounds? Well some good news. Teflon Tone, in June 2011, just before we were lucky enough to have him land at our door: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13620939 Teflon Tone 3 Years later: http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/qpr/q..._new_training_ground_at_warren_farm_1_3690155 He really ain't making it up as he goes along. Honest. We're very fortunate to have him.
What did Gerry say in answer to the question about Pulis then? I have a feeling those 2 could do a good job for us.
as for the transfer Window there are a few things we did wrong. I don't understand why bring in another centre back above the age of 33 when we have two already. Then sell our only right back. I just don't think there is a plan to go forward.
