Have to say I wouldn't have Sam here under any circumstances but that is just based on the abortion of a job he did here. Never had a more depressing time watching "football". I'd rather go down than watch that ****e again. Your lot seem happy with him though and I don't know what the football has been like. Perhaps it was just one of those appointments here that was never ever going to work out, bad fit for the club etc. With Tufty we watch terrible football, they are actually trying to play passing football but struggle, and its devoid of all passion also. To be honest I just want a more modern thinking manager to come in. I've always been one to say "3 years" but on this occasion I have to say I can't see it ever being right. I'm not that bothered about staying in the league, but if the option is there to try to then I think you're a fool not to roll the dice. We are going down anyway so gambling is no lose.
You see I think it's hard to judge the football of either given the squads, both managers need a lot of windows to patch up all the leaks(why Tufty didn't see this window for a chance to work on your defence is baffling) Until the leaks are patched both squads remain limited. It's how they get the best out of the **** they've got to work with is what matters to me. Sam had us winning games but that December was just way too tough for our ****ty squad to stand a chance of picking up points. The footy has been poor, as expected. But the new signings bring something despite the lack of adaptability in our game. We're not going to get attractive football this season or next probably, but we'll become effective as Sam lays the foundations. It's showing already. But our rb slot is diabolical, it will cost us any number of points the rest of this season, and PVA form reverts to early season and the left side will be costing us points too. Sam will only ever take us as far as the foundation stage and I hope we move on when it's laid, but that could be many years into the future so seems daft to delve into it given we could be going down. Neither of us invested enough in our defence this season and if either of us go I that will be the main reason behind it imo. When you can't do the basics right you don't stand much of a chance.
The problem is though we have spent circa 80m this season to be in the bottom 3. He has had control over the transfers. As he says himself there is no hiding place. We are among the heaviest spenders in Europe. Obviously there is an argument we needed to be due to the lack of investment for years. Regardless though you give an half decent manager the squad we had and 80m, they would not expect to be in the relegation zone and look so devoid of a plan. The defence situation at this club is a shambles. Never had one for 5 years and Mbemba is the sum total of our efforts to sort it out. I think he will be a fantastic player in years to come but pinning our hopes on a 21 yr old kid is moronic.
Your transfer policy hasn't helped like, you've paid a premium for talented you players but no experience to balance it out and take the pressure off them. That and the obvious areas you've neglected as you've just said. He's made a right hash of transfers so far like. In the sense of benefiting the team for the here and now. You've shopped like a mid table club with a decent squad, talented players with time to develop at their pace, not the relegation candidate with a poor squad which you actually are where the pressure is on for the kids to develop with the clubs demands. Not ideal.
This is where I don't think it's so cut and dried. Liverpool, Leicester and Man City - I can see some stumbling from them as easily as I can see a hammering for us. Bournemouth, Palace, Villa - can see solid victories, but equally can see banana skins! And then there's the strange three you've mentioned!! We could lose 12, win 12. The league's just fcked. Ultimately, however, 2 defeats in the next 2 and we'll be down.
No doubt. Lets face it too, Shelvey and Townsend are good signings for any club in the bottom half. Great, finally some English players with knowledge of the league. Reality is only Shelvey operates in a key role which plays a part in anchoring your team and it is all a bit johnny come lately. We are trying to run before we can walk as usual going for Mitrovic and Mbemba types. I don't mind if we want to buy them as long as we still have the funds to get the key areas sorted. A leader at the back, a left back, and a striker who puts the ball in the net for fun. We have none of those and the reality is all 3 were critical signings at the end of last season - if you asked any fan this is what they were saying. Ashley has provided the money but the people he has chosen to look after the large amount of finance he has provided have proved incompetent.
