Hard as it is to accept we do have to look at the longer term view(LTV). That's not to say that I was delighted when Cardiff scored even though it was as predictable as anything I have seen for some time. The LTV would be much easier to accept and appreciate if Furlong and the left back kid (can't spell his name) were given a chance rather than a 34 y o left back on loan for eg. Likewise, if/when Green goes I am all for getting in a kid from Huddersfield or Southend but we cannot then ruin him if /when he drops one like McGregor did (a seasoned pro) on Sunday. I realise we cannot have a team full of kids but this time next year assuming this year is one for consolidation (as opposed to promotion or relegation) Furlong could/should have a whole season of experience behind him and we can launch a hit at the play offs with a carefully selected blend of youth and experience. We need to look at the bigger picture and if we just avoid relegation this season, let's take it. That's not a knee jerk to Sat just a realistic assessment given our squad and the likelihood of Austin/Fer to be replaced with lesser players. Am I naïve in thinking I 2/3 years time it would all have been worth it? Let me know
I don't think this concept of consolidation in the Championship this season, so that by next season or even the one after, we will be better equiped to challenge for promotion back to the Championship, holds water. If we really let go most of our better, more experienced players from the PL , or even all of them, as someone suggested we should, before the window closes and only replace them with lower league players, plus 1 or 2 Championship level players, which is where we are now, with little time left to bring in better quality replacements, I think we are more liable to be in a relegation struggle than any cosy consolidation in the Championship. Further if we do survive and a few of the new players show good promise, why will they want to stick around in a mediocre Championship Club when PL Clubs come calling for them next summer. We need to show more ambition than this, if we want to get back to the PL. Nothing wrong with what has been done so far, but we do need to bring in some quality in defense, up front, and wide left midfield if we are going to have a serious chance of getting back up this year, which we must be aiming for if we are not going to be a long term lower league Club again.
But, Oslo, we need to get the club back 1st as we seemed to have lost it over the last few years. Not expecting relegation but P L is not the promised land it appears ,once you are there. I am not very patient but have been a supporter for 45 years and distinctly disliked the P L and quite enjoyed our times in the Championship (no doubt because we were winning more than losing). If I were running the club I would have 2 youth team players, and 4/5 25 year olds and a couple of experienced pro's around the 29-30 mark in the 11. We are not that far off that . We just don't need to blow any money we get for Austin or Fer on holiday makers such as Bosingwa ,Ferdinand etc and I don't think we will under the current regime.
Great thread - valid point from Oslo about having ambition but what use is ambition without a purpose and a sense of realism. Yes, we want to avoid relegation, I think we have sufficient quality to do that, but I for one would be happy with mid-table mediocrity for a few seasons with a LTV to bringing through young, hungry and talented players. Like Stan, I too have not enjoyed our recent years in the PL and actually think it is a an elite club for six teams with everyone else really there to make up the numbers; making it worse than Spanish, Italian or German leagues. There have been very few cases of success in the Premier League where ridiculous amounts of money have not been involved and even those "deemed successes" have not really been able to consistently break in to the top six. We have actually seen the decline of many clubs in the Premier League to mid-table oblivion, Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Stoke. I for one, am happy with the club's direction at the moment and how we are not being ridiculous with our ambitions to secure football on a reasonable business model with players who are after all, in the entertainment business. Let's be happy with what we have got and look for the next small steps rather than trying to leap to the pinnacle without really considering the consequences if our own abilities actually turn out to leave us short.
That's the negative way to spin it. From another perspective, if PL clubs are coming in for the good young players that we have invested in, we will make a profit, allowing us to invest in more talent, eventually gaining a reputation as a club that furthers players' careers, not destroying them. This should allow us to build a strong and sustainable future, allowing us to stay in the PL when we actually get back there. Overly positive? Probably. But just wanted to point out that the situation can be spun both ways.
Think I prefer cole kpekawa, but these are not players for a club of our stated ambitions. Squad players to cover and play out safer games yes, in the championship but just remember if you run the club for them they and we won't be ready the next time we archive promotion. If there is a next time.
What are our stated ambitions? I've lost track. From ramsey and Ferdinand the message seems to be 'don't expect too much'.
I think a reality check is sorely needed here. Anyone who has seen our first two matches will know we are light years from being promotion contenders, our defence is pants, we lack creativity or ability to maintain possession and if Charlie goes, as he surely will, we'll be toothless upfront as Polter is far from the answer. We need to strengthen the defence because regardless of what we have elsewhere, we'll lose too many games with what we have at present and we'll be looking over our shoulder nervously. Let's consolidate and move forward from there, but I'll be amazed if we finish top six without four or five quality signings which I can't see happening...
I don't dispute where we are, but I don't think Ramsey will survive past December if we aren't in touching distance of 6th place. And 6th place is the minimum we should be aiming for in May. With our Sterling windfall, £62 million from the premiership and parachute payments to come, we are richer by far than the rest of the championship contenders - even the massive ones - but only for a limited period. The championship is full of ambitious clubs with bigger stadiums and hungry young players, if we don't aim for the play offs this year then I can't see us being any better placed next year.
That money counts for nothing as Ramsay is clearly not being given much of it. You only need to look at what we have outlaid so far and the calibre of players coming in or set to be arriving to see that we will not be anywhere near the top six this year. 14-15th perhaps.........if we're lucky
With you on all that, except the bit about Ramsey. The Board need to sanction use of some of those funds (if they are available even in part) to get in the players we need, to have a serious chance of 6th. Even with the players we have available now, and especially with our fragility at the back, Ramsey will probably have done a very decent job to keep us away from the relegation struggle.
Half of these players are playing in the Championship for the first time... either from abroad, a step up from a lower division. Even those who were blooded a couple of times last season are still quite inexperienced - it will take time for them to find their feet - I think that's just the pill we have to swallow. No-one likes losing/throwing away leads, but it is very early days and so long as we don't panic and sign 'experienced' wasters (Leon Best I'm looking at you!) Glaring weakness is still cover for centre backs & striker LEAVING Green - WHU Traore - anywhere please Phillips - 50/50 goes/stays Fer- 50/50 goes/stays Austin - 100% off IMO WHU/THFC Sandro - Unlikely to return according to WLS Diakité - Can't get in the squad ** means inexperienced/foreign/new to league GKs Lumley - so likely 2 to bring in (Smithies/Bentley) DEF Hall** Onuoha Hill Konchesky Yun Suk-young Perch Furlong** Robinson** Kpekawa** MID Chery** Gladwin** Emmanuel-Thomas Doughty** Gobern Faurlin Henry Luongo** Hoilett Sutherland** Grego-Cox** Comley** ATT Mackie Polter** Blackwood**
Yes, we need to be patient. Yes, we need to get the club back on to an even keel. Yes, the players need time to gel. Yes, we haven't got much money to spend. ETC ETC ETC However, surely to **** Ramsey can at least get the players to TRY to play some football on the ground whilst we're waiting!!?
What's the betting we end up with that waste of space Ikeme again. Things can only get better. Except we all know they'll get worse don't we.
Most of it coming form HTFC fans It does occur that there seems to have been a decision made regarding FFP, and that our fine will be £8m - could it be they the club have been looking at cheaper options thinking that the fine would be bigger? Now that they have more clarity (allegedly) things might develop? One other suggestion was that Smithies has a new baby... perhaps family pressures. All speculation of course...
