kirsikka
UTC Legend
I'm back after six months without posting. Didn't even notice I was gone, did you? Never mind...
You didn't ask for it but this is my take on events:
The manager
Parker seems alright. Time will tell but a decent start. It's rare that a legendary club manager is followed by a good one. It normally takes a couple of appointments to get it right. That doesn't excuse last season's appointments, or the treatment of another club legend JT, but by pinning their flag to the Parker mast 12 months ago and sticking to it those in charge have made a big statement.
The list of managerial appointments since Blake was in charge:
Bradbury (he gets a free pass on this one since there was no money and promoting from within seemed the best option)
Groves (absolute shocker)
Howe (reappointed allegedly after being ordered by Demin to get him back. No credit to Blake there)
Tindall (given the potential options, was lazy and a poor choice)
Woodgate (given the job as a placeholder whilst they hoped Fulham went down. I wonder what the plan was if they'd managed to stay up?)
It isn't a pretty list but if Parker does the job then you can give them some credit. If he fails then surely questions should be asked about their abilities to do their job.
On Parker, I know there have been questions about the subs but I think that's been a pure function of the bench. The first game there was barely a single AFCB FL minute of experience between all the subs. Hard to take off an experienced player and throw one of them into the cauldron of a match when half of the rest of the team is also young. I suspect we'll see far more creative use of subs once we get a few players back.
The squad
The current squad has lost 14 players that were part of the first team squad in the PL. It currently has 4 players that have come in as a replacement. There's no doubt it was due some pruning but to be 10 players short of where we were puts a huge burden on the youngsters. One they may welcome but could bite us if one of them struggles to adapt as the season goes on.
A word on them so far - they've been an absolute credit to the club and themselves since they came in. However, we shouldn't be relying on 5 of them starting week in week out (unless we don't go up this season). It's a baptism of fire and so far they've survived but we need some of the others back so at least we have realistic options on the bench.
I've seen comments from opposition fans about how we're playing 6 PL players and they shouldn't expect to beat at team like that. Reality is we've been playing a 4th choice PL keeper, 3rd and 4th choice PL CBs, a 3rd choice PL striker. Billing, Brooks and Smith are the only ones I'd say they have a good shout on. Outside of that lot its one Championship player and then a group with barely a single AFCB FL minute between them. If I was the supporter of another team, that's a side I'd be disappointed to draw with.
Brooks needs to take a long look at himself. He may still be relatively young in footballer terms but in this squad he's one of the more experienced and a senior pro. With no genuine options on the bench for Parker, he should have taken a step back. Instead he behaved like an idiot. I hope he learns from it.
Transfers
Still a long way to go so patience is the key.
Anthony has done more than enough to stake a claim as one of four wide forwards so if Danjuma goes, we need a replacement. If Danjuma stays I'm happy with our wide forward selection.
CCV was great but if we're playing four at the back, and see Kelly as a CB, then I'm happy with what we have. 4th choice CB is pretty much ideal for Ibsen Rossi at this stage. Minutes here and there through the season to ease him into the first team picture. If S Cook goes, then we need a good replacement, CCV could be that man. I don't understand or see the need for Cahill. If Kelly is seen as a LB who can fill in at CB then maybe we need a signing.
LB is still an issue with only one loan player as a natural LB (depending on Kelly). How they pigeon hole Kelly decides where we need a LB or a CB in my eyes.
Striker is a big problem. The club is so invested in Solanke and we don't have the budget to sign anyone who would expect to immediately dislodge him. I think the best option would be a promising young striker from L1, if there's a good one out there. Someone prepared to initially play second fiddle but know they'd be on the bench coming on in plenty of games and would back themselves to develop and dislodge Solanke over time. Either that, or someone from overseas with a similar mindset. Incidentally, none of that is meant as a slight on Solanke.
For the keeper, the Norwegian chap is presumably in as backup and seems a decent option for that. My guess is if Woodman comes in on loan, Travers will go to a L1 club for a season as first choice with a recall clause, as with Swindon last season. He's done ok but it's a big risk to try and blood a young keeper when margins for promotion will likely be very narrow.
So, I make that:
1 x keeper
1 x CB or LB
1 x striker
1 x wide forward (only if Danjuma leaves - remember the same thing happened with Buendia at Norwich last season pre-deadline and he ended up staying as nobody would pony up and he was key for them)
Finances
It does feel we've make swingeing cuts but I'm still not sure it will be enough. I'm expecting another huge loss last season. I hope Max is still in for the long haul as another failed season and we'll need him to dig really deep.
If we do go up, I'd prefer it if we signed not a sausage. Do the old Charlton method of taking the money to sort out the finances and accepting the relegation. We've seen the PL. It was fun but I'd rather not start on that treadmill again as in the end you will come off it. Keep the cash until we're on a solid footing and the training ground is built (yes... I know...).
The Premier League
Once again, so many teams I'd enjoy seeing relegated it almost feels like I can't lose. Doubt I'll watch any matches though. Instead, I'll enjoy the misery of a few from afar.
You didn't ask for it but this is my take on events:
The manager
Parker seems alright. Time will tell but a decent start. It's rare that a legendary club manager is followed by a good one. It normally takes a couple of appointments to get it right. That doesn't excuse last season's appointments, or the treatment of another club legend JT, but by pinning their flag to the Parker mast 12 months ago and sticking to it those in charge have made a big statement.
The list of managerial appointments since Blake was in charge:
Bradbury (he gets a free pass on this one since there was no money and promoting from within seemed the best option)
Groves (absolute shocker)
Howe (reappointed allegedly after being ordered by Demin to get him back. No credit to Blake there)
Tindall (given the potential options, was lazy and a poor choice)
Woodgate (given the job as a placeholder whilst they hoped Fulham went down. I wonder what the plan was if they'd managed to stay up?)
It isn't a pretty list but if Parker does the job then you can give them some credit. If he fails then surely questions should be asked about their abilities to do their job.
On Parker, I know there have been questions about the subs but I think that's been a pure function of the bench. The first game there was barely a single AFCB FL minute of experience between all the subs. Hard to take off an experienced player and throw one of them into the cauldron of a match when half of the rest of the team is also young. I suspect we'll see far more creative use of subs once we get a few players back.
The squad
The current squad has lost 14 players that were part of the first team squad in the PL. It currently has 4 players that have come in as a replacement. There's no doubt it was due some pruning but to be 10 players short of where we were puts a huge burden on the youngsters. One they may welcome but could bite us if one of them struggles to adapt as the season goes on.
A word on them so far - they've been an absolute credit to the club and themselves since they came in. However, we shouldn't be relying on 5 of them starting week in week out (unless we don't go up this season). It's a baptism of fire and so far they've survived but we need some of the others back so at least we have realistic options on the bench.
I've seen comments from opposition fans about how we're playing 6 PL players and they shouldn't expect to beat at team like that. Reality is we've been playing a 4th choice PL keeper, 3rd and 4th choice PL CBs, a 3rd choice PL striker. Billing, Brooks and Smith are the only ones I'd say they have a good shout on. Outside of that lot its one Championship player and then a group with barely a single AFCB FL minute between them. If I was the supporter of another team, that's a side I'd be disappointed to draw with.
Brooks needs to take a long look at himself. He may still be relatively young in footballer terms but in this squad he's one of the more experienced and a senior pro. With no genuine options on the bench for Parker, he should have taken a step back. Instead he behaved like an idiot. I hope he learns from it.
Transfers
Still a long way to go so patience is the key.
Anthony has done more than enough to stake a claim as one of four wide forwards so if Danjuma goes, we need a replacement. If Danjuma stays I'm happy with our wide forward selection.
CCV was great but if we're playing four at the back, and see Kelly as a CB, then I'm happy with what we have. 4th choice CB is pretty much ideal for Ibsen Rossi at this stage. Minutes here and there through the season to ease him into the first team picture. If S Cook goes, then we need a good replacement, CCV could be that man. I don't understand or see the need for Cahill. If Kelly is seen as a LB who can fill in at CB then maybe we need a signing.
LB is still an issue with only one loan player as a natural LB (depending on Kelly). How they pigeon hole Kelly decides where we need a LB or a CB in my eyes.
Striker is a big problem. The club is so invested in Solanke and we don't have the budget to sign anyone who would expect to immediately dislodge him. I think the best option would be a promising young striker from L1, if there's a good one out there. Someone prepared to initially play second fiddle but know they'd be on the bench coming on in plenty of games and would back themselves to develop and dislodge Solanke over time. Either that, or someone from overseas with a similar mindset. Incidentally, none of that is meant as a slight on Solanke.
For the keeper, the Norwegian chap is presumably in as backup and seems a decent option for that. My guess is if Woodman comes in on loan, Travers will go to a L1 club for a season as first choice with a recall clause, as with Swindon last season. He's done ok but it's a big risk to try and blood a young keeper when margins for promotion will likely be very narrow.
So, I make that:
1 x keeper
1 x CB or LB
1 x striker
1 x wide forward (only if Danjuma leaves - remember the same thing happened with Buendia at Norwich last season pre-deadline and he ended up staying as nobody would pony up and he was key for them)
Finances
It does feel we've make swingeing cuts but I'm still not sure it will be enough. I'm expecting another huge loss last season. I hope Max is still in for the long haul as another failed season and we'll need him to dig really deep.
If we do go up, I'd prefer it if we signed not a sausage. Do the old Charlton method of taking the money to sort out the finances and accepting the relegation. We've seen the PL. It was fun but I'd rather not start on that treadmill again as in the end you will come off it. Keep the cash until we're on a solid footing and the training ground is built (yes... I know...).
The Premier League
Once again, so many teams I'd enjoy seeing relegated it almost feels like I can't lose. Doubt I'll watch any matches though. Instead, I'll enjoy the misery of a few from afar.
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