by Hound » 22 Mar 2022 12:02
by URZZZZ » 22 Mar 2022 12:11
Hound
Obvs recruitment has to be right
by Dirk Gently » 22 Mar 2022 12:16
URZZZZHound
Obvs recruitment has to be right
The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before
by 6ft Kerplunk » 22 Mar 2022 12:24
by Hound » 22 Mar 2022 12:29
URZZZZHound
Obvs recruitment has to be right
The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before
by SCIAG » 22 Mar 2022 12:30
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Mar 2022 12:33
SCIAG Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.
The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.
We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.
by Hound » 22 Mar 2022 12:34
Dirk GentlyURZZZZHound
Obvs recruitment has to be right
The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before
Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."
Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Mar 2022 12:39
HoundDirk GentlyURZZZZ
The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before
Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."
Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.
Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc
We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom
by Dirk Gently » 22 Mar 2022 12:43
Snowflake RoyalHoundDirk Gently
Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."
Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.
Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc
We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom
We're basically the football equivalent of an armchair PL fan crossed with a magpie.
We just try to sign whatever shiny name we think sounds good for the most part. I don't think we even have a 'must stay up strategy'. That would suggest a degree of self awareness the club is incapable of.
And, you know, the goal of building a cohesive squad. Any side that goes into a season with one senior fullback and a loanee, both who are going to be at the ACON has no concept of squad building.
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Mar 2022 12:52
by URZZZZ » 22 Mar 2022 13:09
HoundDirk GentlyURZZZZ
The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before
Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."
Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.
Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc
We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom
by URZZZZ » 22 Mar 2022 13:09
Snowflake Royal Which was stupid given we finished 14th the season before and 20th the 2 before that, had no right to expect our great start and made little significant change to our squad.
That's not a strategy. That's an unrealistic goal with no strategy.
by Hound » 22 Mar 2022 14:01
by YorkshireRoyal99 » 22 Mar 2022 17:08
SCIAG Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.
The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.
We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Mar 2022 17:14
by Hound » 22 Mar 2022 20:54
by SCIAG » 22 Mar 2022 21:19
YorkshireRoyal99SCIAG Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.
The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.
We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.
Has recruitment been pretty good for years?
I wouldn't even say it's been that good this year to be quite honest. Yes, all low-risk signings due to being freebies and loans so we weren't going to lose anything on them but, from a performance point of view, Nyland looks promising, Hein was ok but unconvincing and strange, Rahman has done ok, Dann has been ok, Drinkwater has been underwhelming/poor at times, TDB seemed ok but don't know what he's given us, Barker made no sense, Ince has done ok, Hoilett has done ok and Halilovic has been injured most of the time. So it hasn't been necessarily bad, but strange to decent at best.
The best recruitment was done last season, when only Josh Laurent, Lewis Gibson and Semedo were brought to the club. Laurent obviously stood out, Semedo I thought did pretty well when actually played in position and was never overly impressed by Gibson but he did a job.
by Notts Royal » 22 Mar 2022 21:32
by YorkshireRoyal99 » 23 Mar 2022 08:58
Notts Royal I’d completely forgotten about Gibson, Semedo & Esteves…and they were here only last season! Shows how many forgettable players we’ve churned through in the past few years
Very good points made above. Essentially there is no strategy. I’d prefer there to be a sense of realisation from the club at to our current position in the footballing pyramid & a strategy of how to improve over time. As already pointed out, Drinkwater & Rahman are examples of signings that look impressive on paper but the reality is they are completely the wrong fit for a club like us, or for a relegation battle
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