This time four years ago we mullered them at Wembley and had a side that looked destined for bigger things. After dismantling not just that team but another strong promotion winning side, we've had a glimpse today of the sort of solid Championship team with sights set on the play offs we could have been. Of course we haven't got stacks of money but our recruitment is so poor when you compare us with the Millwalls and Prestons of this world who are on similar budgets. Getting in a blend of promising youth and experienced pros who know the league, as has been done to death, doesn't need to break the bank. It showed again today we lack know how but also physical maturity. Our lads get knocked off it so often and don't have the guile to call on to take the initiative to change approach when things aren't working. I really hope the owners realise we need to alter the blueprint because I'm losing interest in watching what amounts to an academy team put together to develop players for other clubs as priority over being successful as a team.
Agreed. Kieffer would've made a huge difference this season. It was idiotic to sell to a relegation rival.
Ritzmaier has a video of Struber painting "white lives matter - long live Adolf" in the Oakwell centre circle. There is no other rational reason for his selection. Otherwise, presuming you're on about our "crap team", then a team that gets 4 points from 2 games is contradicting your description of it. Having said that, whatever he chooses could arguably be described as "crap" before kick off. And (usually) less arguably post kick off.
I couldn't believe it when the commentator today said they paid a million for Mahoney. Did I hear it wrong or is that accurate? I am also sceptical about their money.
The owners own the club. The owners have stacks of money. They can choose what to spend on the business that they own. Obviously within the football league restrictions. Problem is - and it has been for a long time - clubs around us both in size and geographically have invested in their clubs. Barnsley hasn’t.
Have a look at the latest filed accounts for Millwall. The club owes £93million to It’s holding company. They have consistently funded year on year losses although last year they did make a profit.
While ever the priority of the recruitment and retention policy is set as it is now you can forget getting anywhere near the Millwall's and Prestons of this world we'll be lucky to keep up with Rotherham. We sell for too little too soon and have a scatter gun approach to recruitment which seems to take little regard of the on field requirements and seems just to be about getting numbers in. Weve had numerous opportunities to progress since 1996 and let them all slip away.
And they're buying players like Bradshaw for £1 million - Jesus, how much have they wasted and what are they paying in wages - totally unsustainable.
A point was a good result because at times it looked liked men against boys. Where in the play off finals it was the opposite way round
I've no problem with our recruitment team. We've regularly signed some amazing players for a number of years. It's the sales team I have a problem with. Anyone who's any good and we snatch the hand off any suitor that shows an interest, but get hugely inflated offers for terminally flawed players like Cavare and Thiam and we turn the money down. We didn't have to sign experience, we'd got it and we sold it, and I dare say when the current lot show some talent and have some experience they'll be sold too.
Cavare & Thiam demo the gap between Championship & Div 1. Both players were key to our promotion last season & I loved them both, so I just hate to see them criticised in this way. Lindsay also exemplified this as one of my favourite players from last season, but he did find the Championship a struggle & that's why Mads is my unsung hero of this campaign ...I'm seeing him as an upgrade on Lindsay & he's not shown that he's anywhere near his limit on development.