An in-depth review and look forward now survival has been guaranteed. http://exiledrobin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/we-are-staying-up-so-what-next.html Welcome comments of any side and please share or 'Tweet' it if you enjoy!
'with many seemingly still bewildered as to why David Jones or Billy Davies didn’t become manager of an in-fighting, bottom of the league side and some still insisting that McInnes is out of his depth. I have little doubt some Reading fans were saying the same about Brian McDermott. Indeed, many of those who regularly attended Old Trafford in the late-eighties were saying much the same about their Scottish import. Generalisations and sweeping statements are totally pointless and unfounded. The background is a factor but would you rather have had Dave Jones or Brian McDermott as the manager three seasons ago? Would you have picked Alex Ferguson over, perhaps, George Graham if you had the chance to go back 25 years? No decision can guarantee success and time must be allowed for anyone to make their mark" Very insightful piece, we at least seem to be watching the same thing. The above section sums up my feelings exactly..
Another well written blog Bill. A lot of fans have been saying about Jones and Davies but forgot what we all wanted in October. Which was survival, that has now been secured with a game to go. But some will say that it's done to Portsmouth's 10 point deduction which at the moment benefit Barnsley and Forest. If they never had the deduction would only put them 2 points above us now playing Forest on the final day of season. So if they beat Forest would guarantee Portsmouth safety plus us. But all relegation faced teams need luck and we got ours at the time. I have said on many occasions that January transfer windows was a difficult time with regards to taking the gamble on buying players on Championship wages, which if we were relegated could of finiancally crippled the club. McInnes choose to loan his way to safety. Bikey as you said was a good loanee who would not of gone unnoticed by other clubs. But he did seem to enjoy his time here and for all we know might think that Del is the best man manager he has worked with. McManus had nothing but praise for Del during one radio interview. I agree whole heartily with the comments made regarding Alex Ferguson, he was one game from relegation, and it was only a FA cup replay that kept him in his position. I guarantee every Man U fan who never wanted him or chanted for him to go, would never own up to it now? I'm not saying we have another Sir Alex but his success was built on the youth set up to come through. So just maybe we have the same sort of breed of man who wants success. Who would of looked at Paul Lambert and the likes and thought I want some of that. The summer will be a test, but if we expect to be in the playoffs or automatic we can only be setting ourselves up for disappointment. Set our targets realistic and we should achieve them. Rome was not built in a day!
Good article and I agree with lots of things you say. I hope people don't get unrealistic expectations for next season. Yes a lot of players are out of contract and can be let go. But obviously that doesn't bring any money into the club. So Del will be largely looking for free transfers unless Lansdown is prepared to throw yet more money at the club. I can't see him wanting to do that although I live in hope. He has done it before with good intentions and seen it wasted and he's too smart not to learn from past mistakes. So Del will have his hands tied to an extent. Our pulling power isn't going to allow him to target the best frees as other clubs will offer them more money and a better chance of promotion. He may be going North of the border to pick up players that our rivals down here don't know as well and therefore won't compete for. A risky business and I don't think our manager will find it as easy as some fans seem to think to just fill the club up with quality new signings. Good luck to him - I am sure he is determined and ambitious and will do his very best to move us forward. If we're mid-table next season and scoring more goals (as this season has been dire on that front) he would have done a great job!
I hope that too....its easy to get carried away with stupid talk for next season just because we are unbeaten in a few games. Realistically I really wonder how many of those players who have helped us survive will be around next season now Del has them sussed ? Wholesale changes are still needed to the squad IMO and Del needs to be ruthless with the likes of James, McAllister, Carey, and Nyatanga for starters.
Thanks all, glad you enjoyed the post. think there are a number of us who think similarly, we just sometimes get drowned out by those with shorter patience! Agree with need to be ruthless - and sure he will - but something needs to be left behind!
