What exactly is the policy down the gate at the moment, what room for manoeuvre has SOD got.? We are aware of financial regulations, a new regime of expenditure control, the five pillars we must build upon, living within our means, youth development from within, value for money players to suit our current lower league demise. The big down sizing our club has had has been quite a shock to all of us, the big standstill on Ashton Vale, a smaller Ashton Gate plan, redundancies of staff, senior squad players contracts ended and better quality players sold, younger and less skilful players signed leading to lower wage bills, coaching and internal management changes, boardroom changes, match day experiences badly handled, IT and commercial aspects reduced. All this has lead to a calamitous start to the season, lower gates and despondency at the gate, leadership from the board is a non event, PR or communication from the gate is a non event, trying to get information from anybody is like trying to take peoples teeth out, the problem is the board members and internal commercial management are very smug about all of this, they really think they are heroic and we should all be full of gratitude. Having listed all of this activity down and I may have missed some, it's obvious to me we should all be aiming our anger, angst, impatience, insults at the board not SOD, not the coaching staff, not the players, they are coaching, employing, playing within and many times beyond the boundaries set by the suits. It's plain to see that after a history of complacency, weak managerial appointments, ridiculous, expensive signings, arrogant public relation exercises, no for sight in planning they saw the disaster and what was about to happen late, got jerked out of their dream like state and got frightened into taking action. SOD accepted this job knowing all the details, cutbacks and downsizing was going to happen and that is why we went down without a whimper, he was shackled by the boards actions. Surely now we all understand the reasons, have suffered and endured the shame there must be some room for SOD to improve our squad, it's no excuse to say he's signed virtually a new squad, the monies all been spent because he got rid of all the expensive heavy weights, more leaving than joined, there must be some wiggle room for our head coach to strengthen, loanees or out of contract players, the squad needs more depth, there must be a plan B. There has got to be TRANSITION but surely not into the 4th tier...
Im still wondering where our money for Davies and Adomah has gone? I thought one of the reasons for selling Davies for our asking price was so we could get somebody else in. Then there is the 1 mil we got for Adomah. I hope the money we got for these 2 aren't being used on the wages of O'Connor, McLaughlin and Shorey
Last season, we were a League 1 squad. Now, we've lost the likes of Adomah, Davies, Stead, Heaton and more. We were never going to compete, and although I didn't expect us to be winless in the league I did expect us to suffer at the start. What people are forgetting is that our cup form is fantastic. We beat a Premier League team, and convincingly. For that reason alone I think the squad isn't beyond repair. I think we'll pick up some wins soon, but only if the fans get behind the club.
Well stated EnderMB it's a new team. We are only a few games into the season and yes it's depressing to think we could (heaven forbid) be playing the Gas next season (something I don't see happening) but let's get behind the team. Lot's of us wanted academy players in the side and younger hungry players brought in. That seems to have happened so onwards and upwards, and that's from a dyed in the wool pessimist. PS I think,considering we were relegated that gates have been pretty healthy so far.
Don't forget there are people on high-ish wages that are not in the side for one reason or another - Kilkenny, Pearson, Kelly, Carey and Taylor spring to mind. Also we have Fonts and Wilson out on loan (don't know if we are paying part of their wages - depends on the agreement). As I see it there are 2 issues - the wages which need to be kept under the limit imposed by the FFP rules, and the transfer money we got in for Adomah and Davies. For me the best thing about this season is seeing Joe and Bobby in the side - both will go on to have great careers.
Do we actually pay Kelly's wages now? I would of thought there are insurance policies in place for the event of injuries. I can remember my wife telling me that they would either have a policy to pay their wages or at the very least a policy to pay the replacement.
before and after our game Palarse had 11 appearances feature on the pitch and 12 occasions players in the match day squad only 3 of their players against city not featuring in any other games, so yes would agree it was a below par first team but hey the players are 2 div's higher! so a reasonable result. so lets start with Fielding moloney Williams flint Cunningham waggstaffe reid bryan Elliot baldock jet..... reserves Shorey o connor Wynter Pack Burns Harewood
