New Head Coach

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Woken up. Still grumpy.

I’ve perhaps softened on my anger at the club. Craig Hope sticks it in whenever he can so for him to say it was agreed and we got gazumped feels believable.

but that said, it should never have got to that point. We seem to take forever to make decisions and finalise deals. It’s a chronic repeating pattern. Even Beale, during the season, took 3 weeks.

The theory we had that Still couldn’t sign a contract until 1st June has kinda been removed by the reports that we sent him a contract last weekend. If we sent it him then, we could send it 2 weeks previous as well.

So even if there was nothing we could have done about Lens, we could have acted much more decisively.

It just fills me with little confidence about the whole transfer window. I don’t trust Speakman to make decisions. I just don’t.
Exactly how I feel. You shouldn’t **** about with crucial things. Mind I think the board have, cos changing the decision making was the most crucial. Bruce in is good but the same hasn’t happened on the football side.
 
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my overwhelming thing with him is that even if all those decisions were correct, we have a trend of people leaving (or not joining) and having a dig at the club (either directly or thru the press).

Now you could argue Speakman is just forthright with his views. But to me the pattern is just becoming too frequent, too consistent. I’m just getting a sense that Speakman is a piece of **** to do business with.

it’s all just my opinion obviously. I just don’t want him at my club.
Again I do not mind if he is a nightmare to do business with. Nobody who has left the club has proved him wrong by going onto better things, besides Stewart I suppose.

I don't get why we aren't talking about stuff like how he the option to replace or back Mowbray last summer, did neither. His approach to the model, which I like in theory, is half arsed. Don't go all out for youth and then spend wages on Dack who was neither a good player nor a good role model and in a position we already had multiple players, including the aforementioned Pritchard. He spent money on youth in positions we already have young players who aren't getting minutes themselves. Spent something like £3million on Hjelde and Mundle in January, why? Writing off half a season under the guise of getting our pick of the coaches in the summer, to then still not have an appointment this long after the season is done and seemingly being rejected by our first choice. Spent the most money EVER on transfers by a club within 2 years of promotion from league one outside of the 2 clubs, Norwich and Southampton, that done double promotions, yet do we have much to show for it? Poor at loaning players out. Ignored the loan market this season despite it working for us and other clubs the year prior.

I'm probably missing loads. The criticisms that i'm seeing being chucked at Speakman at the moment are things that other DoFs would do so wanting him replaced for them things would be pointless.
 
Again I do not mind if he is a nightmare to do business with. Nobody who has left the club has proved him wrong by going onto better things, besides Stewart I suppose.

I don't get why we aren't talking about stuff like how he the option to replace or back Mowbray last summer, did neither. His approach to the model, which I like in theory, is half arsed. Don't go all out for youth and then spend wages on Dack who was neither a good player nor a good role model and in a position we already had multiple players, including the aforementioned Pritchard. He spent money on youth in positions we already have young players who aren't getting minutes themselves. Spent something like £3million on Hjelde and Mundle in January, why? Writing off half a season under the guise of getting our pick of the coaches in the summer, to then still not have an appointment this long after the season is done and seemingly being rejected by our first choice. Spent the most money EVER on transfers by a club within 2 years of promotion from league one outside of the 2 clubs, Norwich and Southampton, that done double promotions, yet do we have much to show for it? Poor at loaning players out. Ignored the loan market this season despite it working for us and other clubs the year prior.

I'm probably missing loads. The criticisms that i'm seeing being chucked at Speakman at the moment are things that other DoFs would do so wanting him replaced for them things would be pointless.

I agree with all that, in addition to what I’ve said.
 
Think you maybe underestimating his opinion of himself.
I don’t doubt this, but surely as owner. KLD has to be a little more wary than he once was, given the Beale fiasco? I have no idea, but wondered if KLD and Speakman are still all in this together as they once were
 
my overwhelming thing with him is that even if all those decisions were correct, we have a trend of people leaving (or not joining) and having a dig at the club (either directly or thru the press).

Now you could argue Speakman is just forthright with his views. But to me the pattern is just becoming too frequent, too consistent. I’m just getting a sense that Speakman is a piece of **** to do business with.

it’s all just my opinion obviously. I just don’t want him at my club.
I don't think there's any doubt that Speakman is an arrogant prick. You can tell that just from looking at him. I'm certain he does antagonise people but a lot of those that have had a dig are not going to be well predisposed to him because they haven't got what they wanted. I'm pleased that someone in the club is playing hardball after years of being a soft touch. My main problem with him is the erratic approach to the squad.
 
Might get a centre forward in ready to contribute to the 1st team?
Speakman thinks that position is overrated anyway so don't hold your breath.

Sarcasm aside, yes. He might sign a centre forward who is ready to contribute to the team.

We will see.

If the team doesn't go forwards again. He's run out of time and chances.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm maybe just a little behind you in the race to call for his head
 
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I don't think there's any doubt that Speakman is an arrogant prick. You can tell that just from looking at him. I'm certain he does antagonise people but a lot of those that have had a dig are not going to be well predisposed to him because they haven't got what they wanted. I'm pleased that someone in the club is playing hardball after years of being a soft touch. My main problem with him is the erratic approach to the squad.

I do agree with you in all this as well tbh. It’s a fine line.

I just wonder how much of his erratic approach to the squad is almost forced upon him because he’s an arrogant prick? He’s trying for balance but can’t get those deals over the line so has to go down the list.
 
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Oh mate I am not. You know how much I have banged this Speakman drum for an age. At least lots are coming on board now.

He won't do Dodds again. Not solo.
Indeed and the unfolding events suggests there is a problem.

Very much hope it's not Dodds, but the longer this goes on,.....
 
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Oh mate I am not. You know how much I have banged this Speakman drum for an age. At least lots are coming on board now.

He won't do Dodds again. Not solo.

I agree, he wont do Dodds again as it risks ruining his (Speakmans) reputation
 
I don’t doubt this, but surely as owner. KLD has to be a little more wary than he once was, given the Beale fiasco? I have no idea, but wondered if KLD and Speakman are still all in this together as they once were
If they weren't, he'd be gone.
 
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That Training Ground Guru seems still adamant that we haven’t spoken to Maric this year.

aye which would suggest that we never did offer him a deal before Still came free.

I know I shouldn’t read too much into what he’s saying, but he has no reason to lie or even get involved at all.
 
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I don't think there's any doubt that Speakman is an arrogant prick. You can tell that just from looking at him. I'm certain he does antagonise people but a lot of those that have had a dig are not going to be well predisposed to him because they haven't got what they wanted. I'm pleased that someone in the club is playing hardball after years of being a soft touch. My main problem with him is the erratic approach to the squad.
I partly agree with this. You need a strong character to make the model stick in the face of self entitled players and greedy lying bastards and let’s be honest people like Mowbray are great people but emotionally driven and things like I’ve said need counterbalances. You also have to get relationships right though and that involves listening, the approach needs to have flexibility, adaptability, pragmatism , opportunism alongside the business plan and you have to have a shared decision making. I’m not sure Speakman is strong on many of them just strong on the plan and the finances., maybe financial opportunism.
 
I’d have off loaded Pritch in summer. 1 in 4 performer, gobshite with a victim mentality and with or relationships at other places and always injured. Not taking his side in this. Speakman’s relationships with head coaches other than his mate are definitely a worry.

I always find it difficult to post when the atmosphere is like this and there's a hint of witch hunt in the air.

I like to watch Pritchard play when he's having a good game, loads of snapping at heels and dinky passes with the odd decent dead ball.

But, seriously, if Speakman signed a short early thirties midfield player, who struggles to last a game, there'd be the same outrage as there is for 'pushing him out of the club'. And, as you say, it's one thing wanting experience, which I agree with, but Pritchard seems to have a problem with young lads trying to make their way in the game.
Perhaps he has a permanent grudge which would explain that, despite all of his clubs, he's never clocked up 100 games for any of them.

At times like this a little logic seems to go out of the window and there's a relentless barrage of the same posts as if we're expected to get off our arses and do something. Even if KLD and Speakman are deranged and knowingly trying to destroy the club there's little we can do apart from hope they adapt and change. That may seem defeatist, and make people feel helpless, but that's reality right there imo.

Yes this managerial situation has taken a blow but we can't just slump away in a corner moping ...

... mega-rich Man Utd have appointed a series of duffers, since Ferguson, and will hope to get the next one right, I share their hopes for us.
 
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