21-01-2024, 12:30 PM
(21-01-2024, 11:28 AM)blueandwight Wrote:(21-01-2024, 10:36 AM)Cunninglinguist Wrote: So poor, in fact, we’ve only been top of the league for most of the season.
Fair point although the main core of the side all arrived before the last transfer window...Rafferty, Ogilvy, Pack, Morrell, Bishop, Lane, Raggett...allowing for injuries/suspensions, of course.
Not entirely sure of the precise nature of Hughes' role is other than preparing us for two transfer windows. Obviously a challenging job when working within the framework set out by the owners. You know all the 'eat what we kill', need to be sustainable etc which will always mean that our budget falls short of the competition although, in fairness, most of them now play in the Championship because they were prepared to invest.
That said, overall he has done a half decent job in bringing in players that have positively added to the squad such as Poole, Devlin, Shaughnessy, Yengi, Kamara and Robertson although the last two are only on loan. He's also been responsible for bringing in some rubbish with Whyte at the top of the list.
He's not the messiah but he's done OK and getting Poole, in my view, was an absolute revelation
To say that only two of the current squad could hack it in the Championship is nonsense. I'd say it's more like six or seven although in saying that you have take into account potential and proper managment. I'd also include Lane, Shaughnessy, Kamara, Yengi and possibly Devlin.
I guess this week we'll know how much Eisner wants promotion.
I would say that it is a young squad we have on the whole and there are young players like Saydee and Devlin in particular with a lot of potential so it isn't necessarily s simple as some have made ot seem by labelling 'hits and misses' arbitrarily. Whyte and Scully have been the most glaring misses because they were signed with this season very much in mind and it isn't working.
Obviously the Eisner's want promotion and they want two of them. There is very little financial upside or them in running a perennial league one side especially given the money being spent on our stadium and geing infrastructure. Where the disconnect is comes down to urgency. They are steadily moving things forward off the pitch, and it is very important to remember how far our financial meltdown put us behind some of our previous and current rivals off the pitch.
It is in their interests for the club to get put of league one soon for fan goodwill but they aren't likely to spend enormous sums of money to chase promotion whatever division we are in next season. It is frustrating for fans of course but football finances are under the microscope more than ever. The sustainable approach will pay dividends I'm sure of it. But fans do need something tangible to celebrate shorter term top I think after a lifetime in this God forsaken division.