When I think back to the team we had and the team we could have had if we hadnât sold or allowed contracts to run down, and not offer better terms. I also look at the players that Grayson went in for but couldnât land because of the garbage wages we were offering, we would have had a decent side, probably able to do some damage. I look at the clearout Warnock did this summer, with his replacements being hampered by lack of funds, so missed out on some. Asking myself if these replacements are better than what we had and should have had. I think Warnockâs goalkeeper replacement has turned out to be better than Casper and kasper, so well done. But did we ever really replace Gradel, Delph, Howson, Johnsone,Beckford, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Clayton etc. Austin would fit in but we havenât seen Varney, Norris, Pearce, Drury, Green etc do anything, but think in a better side with more flair players they could, and the only other player who is making a mark is EHD. Remember Grayson going after Hooper, Cox and Lambert to replace JB. A fairly decent side weâd have had by now if we had kept what we had and added one of these, instead of trying barn door Billy etc. Thank you Mr Bates for making as much cash for yourself, and leaving us and the manager without a pot to pissin.
Trouble is Doc - before Bates you were pissing without a pot - and it nearly killed you - where would you be if he hadn't saved you?
Hooper, Sharp, James Vaughan, Jack Cork and Gorkks where all wanted by Grayson and Bates decided to buy Pugh instead.
Of course we may have already been back in the prem by now, but Bates preffered filling his bank account instead of the ground. He could have been a decent owner and not milked us, and kept those players and added to them and still showed a profit on the books. But he decided to milk us and sell the best which then showed a profit after player sales. well he's fooked now and needs to sell or get some mug to put some cash in. I still go back to the season before last when we had a chance of back to back promotions (Like Norwich) 2nd in the league at Xmas, and in the top 6 all season only to see us collapse because he wouldn't allow Grayson to do anything in january. I remember us being battered at Swansea, and Grayson saying that we would have new faces before the Swans match or just after. Never happened and we know where we finished up. By going up that season Bates would have been minted and he could have fooked around with the east stand at his leisure, instead of wasting cash the next season still in the champs, and getting no benefit from doing it. cuunt
Bored of the 'what could of been threads'. A lot of blame goes down to lack of funds given by Bates, I think that is only one factor to it
As Adam Drury was mentioned in the OP, and I have not been keeping a close eye on your team sheet from game to game, has he actually featured in any games yet? and if so, what has he been like? I am not expecting glowing reports because as good a player he was for us he was never what you might call "an eye catcher". He was more a solid player, reliable and consistent.
He has featured and I would describe him exactly as you have to be honest. Solid, reliable and consistent, not only that has a good cross on him. Do not understand why he hasn't played every game so far, better than the other options available. How has Snoddy settled in at Norwich so far? Have seen Howson hasn't been playing as well as he did when he first joined as well
Yeah, AD's crossing can be excellent After the euphoria of both of them joining us, and they are still decent players with a good contribution to make, they have gone a little off the boil but I would not strictly put that down to them as individuals, more of the formations and tactics that CH has been trying out. CH is more of a 'hold back and hit em on the break' kind of guy when we are up against the top sides and this is not where these two fit in so well, a bit too attack minded and can't track back quickly enough, exposing the back line. For the first time, against Arsenal, we had both Bennett and Pilkington available to play out wide and the difference was huge but formation played then meant Snodgrass and Howson could not be accommodated, additionally Hoolihan and BJ have been solid in their roles making it very competitive for midfield places - and we still have not used Fox - possibly our most gifted passer of a ball since Ian Crook! I can see both getting more run outs during the season but they are going to have to work damned hard to keep their place but of course a lot will be decided when CH picks his formation and tactics and it remains to be seen what their most effective role for us is going to be.
