05-11-2021, 10:26 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-11-2021, 10:27 AM by Rick Pumpkin.)
(05-11-2021, 09:57 AM)Wightblue Wrote: MWhilst it may be fair and reasonable to ask for Cowley to be given more time there is a presumption in that view that Cowley is indeed capable of hugely improving the squad in terms of quality, fitness and tactics especially as it seems that EWWK will be in operation for the extended period.
But is he ? His performance in the last window was far from impressive and his press conferences certainly don’t give me any confidence and how does this particular leopard change his spots in terms of personnel and tactics ?
Unless we are in very serious danger of relegation I think he will get his 150, I doubt Eisner is prepared to pay Cowley off.
Of course there is the question of Season Ticket sales, the financial bounty provided by the 12-14,000 STs enjoyed thus far by Eisner should not be taken for granted. My understanding is that match day ‘attendances’ are boosted by including non-attending ST holders whether they attend or not…..but will all current ST holders renew if the football remains as dire as at present and match day tickets are freely available as they usually are this season (even if marginally more expensive).
The football we currently play isn’t worth more than 10-12,000 diehards (the Stockport Crowd !), that really does put EWWK in the frame, meaning even less for the playing budget than at present.
Give him the extra time by all means but do consider the implications, it’s quite possible that in trying to do the right thing, Pompey may well end up doing the wrong thing.
I accept what you're saying but have his transfer dealings really been that bad? Personally I think Freeman was a mistake, especially letting Johnson effectively leave on a free as I think his contract is up at the end of the season, and there's no doubt Hirst and Ahadme are woeful, but the others are more than adequate for this division.
It's the players he inherited who worry me. Harrison and Marquis are as much attackers as I'm an award winning pole dancer, Lee Brown this season seems to have forgotten how to defend, Jacobs clearly doesn't want to be at Pompey and I'd put RHF in the Kenny Black mould - runs around a lot and tries but isn't actually very good. Also look at the coaching team he's put together. There's his brother, some other guy who would have relegated Barnet last season if the NL had relegated clubs, and a journeyman goalkeeper who actually didn't play very many games in a ten year career. That's it, four people - Bromley has a bigger coaching team!
While I've no problem with the majority of players Cowley has brought in I think the coaching side needs more depth and more experience. That's the stick I'd beat him with anyway.