Our refusal to bring in a couple of experienced players last Summer to help the development of our younger, inexperienced players played the biggest part in our horrendous start to the season, in my opinion. Both Stendel and Struber banged the drum for having greater experience in the squad. One was backed, the other wasn't. It's my opinion that if the last two Head Coaches have said the same thing, the club should've listened to both. Fans can express opinions on the issue (even self appointed coaching 'experts' and financial wizards like myself!) to their heart's content. But only arrogant fools would believe they know better than the professional football experts. I back the knowledge of Stendel & Struber far more than Jurgen Klopp wannabes who abound on social media.
I'm not assuming outcomes but I believe and am suggesting our chances would be improved (both of developing players and doing well in the Championship) if we weren't so rigid in our model. Not in one player but our overall strategy of signings and balance of the squad. That's not just my opinion but the view of many, many ex professionals involved in the game who comment that our overwhelming reliance on youth is hindering us. I'm tempted assume you probably agree with me about loan players as you haven't defended the owners' policy of not approving any.
I can only tell you the reason that the owners give for restricted use of the loan market. They argue that when we loan young players, they are with us to learn from our coaching, and they are with us to gain experience through playing games. At the end of their loan, these young players go back to their clubs and we have no opportunity to cash in on our time an effort. The only time that this is justified is when we want to take an extended look at a player that we have intentions of signing permanently, and I believe that this is the intention with Ludewig. If your point is about experienced players coming on loan, then my analysis is different. We have to pay a loan fee to his current club, and we will be expected to pay the whole of his contracted pay. If he is experienced, and the loan is from a Championship club, then the player is surplus to their current requirements at that club. And yet we believe that he will make an impression at our club, a club playing in the same league. The question I ask is this, is it likely that he cannot hold down a spot at one Championship club, but will do so at another Championship club, and be a big success to boot. It is possible under certain circumstances, but it is not likely.
Come on now. I admire your optimism but with this boards record and attitude I'd say the chances of that are as much as a snowball in hell.
I still think the recruitment would have been balanced during last summer if the defence had been looked at. The midfield took care of itself as Mowatt was always going to partner Mcgeehan or a fit Dougall. Mcgeehan not being good enough and having lost form was circumstantial. The recruitment was done using the 4-3-3 system to guide it. Winger/strikers were signed to partner a central striker. Wilkes, Thomas and Chaplin were brought in to accompany Thiam to fight for the right to partner Woodrow or Moore. As it transpired Moore was sold and the club brought in Schmidt as back-up for Woodrow using Stendels preferred 4-3-3 system. It all fell down with the loss of Lindsay and Pinnock. I think we could have got away with losing one but not both. Red Rain mentioned the loss of Moore but I don't think Moore would have partnered Woodrow that much to make a difference.
We got promotion and sold players we may well get relegated and will sell players. Hard to be optimistic about building a good side when each one is dismantled annually aint it.(still renewed my season ticket though)
