After having read through some of the tales of woe because we lost a league match (absolutely pathetic stuff from some people) I was having a think about what could be seen to be a not unfamiliar pattern for us, that is a seeming drop off in form in second half of season.
I’m not saying we’re having one now, but what strikes me is that we never do much sound business in Jan, fans then claim that there is no good business to be done in Jan, but then wonder why our form dips whilst other teams, who did better business pull away.
Would help if we had a stronger squad to start with, but there is good Jan business to be done.
Second half of season
posted on 15/1/18
No, we do not.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/fairnesstabelle/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?saison_id=2017
posted on 15/1/18
Jonty, no we don't have a divine right to win games. But we were most likely going to win that game without the red card, they were a poor side. So yes, I think we can say we should have won, especially when we created good chances with 10 men. Result was O'Kane's fault.
You're right we have stability off the pitch. New owner has been great in many ways. But recruitment and on pitch has been poor considering the squad he inherited.
I don't think Radrizanni should get a free pass just because he's better than our previous owners as that is a low standard to have for doing a good job.
posted on 15/1/18
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
No, we do not.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/fairnesstabelle/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?saison_id=2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------
sorry thought you meant across all comps.
posted on 15/1/18
No argument with Radz being a great owner. He has done great things for the club. It's TC I have doubts about.
posted on 15/1/18
Its been a strange season to be honest.
I personally think TC is doing a good job with an average squad. If you look at last season we had Green, Wood, Bartley, Taylor. 4 players who would walk into this team and agueably have us in the top 2 with TC and Saiz about.
TC seems to have a toughness which suits us and amazes me some fans want a coach out whose got us to 7th (Same as Monk...). Maybe they have fallen into the Cellin9 way treating people.
The real "blame" here is Orta whose signed us a load of duds who are on long contracts. Most of the signings aren't bad - But very average.
We ar3 7th despite not having a quality keeper (I would persevere for now), a left back (lets see how the new one does) a midfield general, pacy winger and striker.
Over to Orta to up his game and sign proven class for those 3 outstanding positions.
posted on 15/1/18
Best, completely agree that no owner should be above scrutiny.
Not sure we should have done better in pitch with squad TC inherited, it’s an average squad at best yet we’re in an above average position and gave prem teams run for their money.
It’s my belief that it’s the recruitment model that is the issue.
posted on 15/1/18
I think Radz has done a good job off the pitch. Re on the pitch, he knows little about football, took counsel from those in the game and opted for a Spanish model with Spanish management team.
Nothing wrong in that thinking but orta was the real big concern for me after his time at boro.. partly his record partly his control freak rep. My hunch is TC was pretty much his choice as he felt he would be a puppet and not threaten his control.
Radz took a punt here and he’s bought into this u23 market long term strategy. Time will tell if that lays dividends but his measure as a businessman will be how long he gives the orta regime to pay off on the pitch and what he learns from the experience.
My concern is how weighed down we might become with lengthy contracts for players that might not be in hot demand on the transfer market!
posted on 15/1/18
Long contracts and lack of genuine quality is a real conundrum - shifting players on is going to be a real head scratcher with the exception of the ones we need to keep such as Janssen and Saiz.
posted on 15/1/18
Milky, Rev, great points, far too many long term contracts.
I would hope the squad looks very different in 12 months time as I’m expecting us to be kid promotion push then.
Let’s hope Jansson and Saiz will be part of that.
posted on 15/1/18
I don't think TC should be doing better. The club as a whole I mean.
Rad inherited a squad that finished 7th with the best striker in the league, solid keeper and defence and a handful of good midfielders. He's signed 18 players, sold 6 players. Recruitment was shocking.