Fuber

I'd say the only mistake of those four was Ayling; especially considering the miniscule fee recieved, that was LJ and MA's single biggest blunder, along with the former not playing Nagy and Benkovic in the lead up to his sacking. As for Eliasson, Webster, and Pack; I'd argue we made the right decisions moving them on. Once again - the issue was not adequately replacing them. For context, for that fee alone we could have bought the likes of Ethan Pinnock, Anthonee Robinson, Ivan Toney, Ezri Konsa, Said Benrahma, and Oliver Norwood off the top of my head who were playing abroad and or at a lower level and were available at that time, with change. Granted hindsight etc. Using FM (I know, I know) simply for wage estimates at their clubs for the following season (20/21), the former list comes to around £55-60kpw. While in reality we bought: Kalas (£8m), Massengo (£3m rising to £8m), Wells (£4m), Palmer (£4m), DaSilva (£2m), Bentley (£2m), Nagy (£2m), Szmodics (£1m) over the course of the following 12 months of that sale. All bar two on very expensive contracts for us at this level (Massengo, Szmodics). That, was the big issue with out receruitment strategy, and why we're now crippled; using the same method (i.e. FM 20/21 wages), that equates to £100-110kpw. Stupid spending that MA and LJ were both culpable for; the former for allowing that inflated a budget and spending, and the latter for signing 'clubs in the bag'. It wasn't the transfer fees that crippled us; we should never have operated at over 125% of base turnover before fees recieved. Ashton didn't sign players to develop, he signed premier league cast offs who were much more expensive than their lower league counterparts with regards to wages. He simply signed extra players to fill the 'development' quota; however they were never used - for which LJ takes the blame, as the latter development could never be done while he focused on countering the opposition instead of developing an identity for oursleves; more experienced players would be easier to deploy as having greater anticipation. It's why its good that we're at least blooding younger lower league signings (what of them we have so far) and academy players - i.e. Tanner, Atkinson, Scott, Benarous, Pearson, Conway, Bell, etc. The issue remains expensive players on deals they simply do not deserve, i.e. DaSilva, Palmer, O'Dowda, Wells, among others.

It's why Scott is so effective. He actually wants the ball. We need one of him and/or Palmer on the pitch with Massengo to give some options.

Only of those I'd consider would be Wilder, Neil, and as a wildcard, Rosler. I'd argue nobody here would want Campbell, Lambert, Monk, Lennon, nor Pulis, they can be wrote off completely. The only ones of any of these that have a style and philosophy are Rosler, Wilder, and outside of these, Lowe.

Wilder is probably the only person available who would be an upgrade on Pearson. Only in that his formation better suites the players we have available, i.e. 3-5-2.

Basically yep. Wouldnt quite call it shoe horning - just fluid. Pressing style as per LJs second full season, such a system doesn't require as strict positioning and can easily be rotated between phases. Lots of legs in the middle for closing and tracking runners, forcing openings.

In my head I'm thinking more fluid, just more akin to him and DaSilva down the left, rotating. Bryan's best games for us came at LM imo. Man Utd as an example.

Just to add with the above, i.e. I'd line up akin to: Bentley Kalas, Webster, Atkinson, DaSilva, Brownhill, Massengo, Williams, Kodjia, Reid, Bryan (rotate with DaSilva down the left). 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1.

Reid, Bryan, Webster, Brownhill, Kodjia

It's huge. Simply with regards to how many areas with regard to staffing need an overhaul. Medical is in Rennie's capable hands. Fitness there are possible question marks, but that could be still due to the work of the previous team under Rolls' guidance. Coaching - Downing and Simpson (you assume) must have been sacked on some reasoning, in progress. Squad - Major overhaul needed, however the most expensive area, added to which we have no funds available. The only area where we appear fine is academy. It's a huge task. Arguably even worse than what O'Driscoll had, as the fitness team then with Carr, etc, was at least capable - never too many injuries. That aside there are many parallels. Lack of identity, expensive flops, cutting costs.

Wouldn't agree with that. Compared to most owners at this level is net spend is very substantial. I also don't doubt SLs commitment to the club. The fundamental issue is that basic decisions have been wrong, name at the top of the heirarchy and with regards to all management appointments.

Yet still achieved better recruitment under him than Ashton. How shite must the latter have been?

They're the ones who in the large aren't performing. If they try taking Nige aside I hope he ****ing outs the boot into them.

Barnsley came fifth last season with near that same squad, less one player. The difference was their manager. The replacement for whom has now been sacked.

I agree 100% with the above in bold. Only point of contention I'd raise is that confidence goes a major way, re Blackpool. When that inertia wears off will be their acid test. Confidence is short term, ability longer.

Think it's the impact of the historical misdiagnosis under Rolls' medical team, where he went missing for half a year. That long out with no treatment may have taken much more of a toll than many, including Rennie, may have realised.

Martin has scored 7 goals in 70 games across 4 years. I just do not think he offers enough. Wells is, for me, part of a wider problem with regards to squad balance.

Williams isn't league one standard. But evidently unfortunately cannot be relied upon. Just my personal ultra critical take.

Not sure I agree 100% with this. I can't compare to the second half of last season, as players simply downed tools altogether. It wouldn't be fair. No manager is getting anything from that squad, ie. the previous fitness disaster earlier last season, let alone the morale impact of the contractual situations being what they were i.e. Pato, Hunt, Diedhiou, Watkins, Walsh, etc. I agree to us having gone backwards, but that's as has been highlighted is something with regards to the coaching. Of whom we have sacked our two most senior in the last 10 days aside from Fleming. Likely no coincidence. My suspicion is that part of the reasoning for NP's watching from the stands is to see how well organised and communicative we are with regards to movement between phases - basic coaching for a match day, I.e. pressing. I assume he hasn't been pleased with his findings, hence Downing and Simpson being shown the door. Will be interesting how soon any appointment to the staff will come. Add in Benarous coming on against Barnsley and Pearson's ethos on training and match day performance deciding his squad for him, it makes you question the dedication behind the scenes when Ayman is beating Palmer and O'Dowda to the first 11, among others. Ive said it before, but if we avoid relegation this season, can only be a positive in my book.

I agree - many of them can indeed do better. But in my opinion, which is open to disagreement, I simply do not think the large majority of this squad are good enough or suited to this league. Which I think is a larger factor. The only members of this squad on paper I'd keep concrete for the first eleven are Bentley, Atkinson, Massengo, Scott, Williams (if fit), and James, possibly Weimann. Add in a couple of younger players as squad options and the academy prospects (I.e. Tanner, Pring, Benarous). The rest of them I simply wouldn't miss. Even Kalas - who while outstanding in his own right, does not get basic communication right whatsoever, which is imperative when you have two inexperienced defenders either side of you. Of course, I could be completely wrong, NP gets sacked down the line, and things improve. But that's a matter of hindsight.

If rumours with regards to his time at Derby are correct, he all but walked out on Morris but was apparently 'sacked'. The latter interfering with his running of the club, again, if believed. Leuven, foreign club, different league, always was going to be a challenge. Many other managers aside from NP have tried and failed who are better than him. Moyes, etc. Watford - bottom when he took over, 17th when they sacked him. Went onto lose their last two with an absolute whimper and got relegated. If anything it's a plus on his CV rather than a negative.

We may have broke even on the initial fee, but we still blew wages on them for a year apiece in Sammie and Eisa's cases. They're a small portion of the profits blown that I could name, I could go on to list Magnússon, Djuric, Taylor Moore, Hegeler, Gary O'Neil, Joel Ekstrand, Giefer, Marinovic, Adelakun, among many others. The list goes on and on with regards to Money wasted on the wage bill.

Worth noting that all said teams are able to write off the majority of their COVID losses with regards to FFP where their wages were moderately more sustainable than the likes of us, Derby, Reading, Cardiff, and 'Boro. We blew all our profit, on wages I.e. up the wall for mediocre options. Blame is square on LJ for that, and MA for allowing/encouraging it.

Was Dawe not Chairman until 2016?

On what evidence? Bentley, Kalas, DaSilva, Atkinson, James, Baker - arguably would agree, Championship Quality. Massengo - likely too good for us. Pring, Tanner - Solid squad options, but only young and lacking experience at this level. Note the common theme, no forward players anywhere have I listed. And barring Massengo and James, no midfielders. The rest? - wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole for the first eleven given a choice. Especially on their supposed wages.

LJ got us into this mess. Along with MA. Pearson's signings are the only ones barring a handful of individuals who seem to care, we're still bogged down by the likes of O'Dowda, Palmer, etc on the books who shouldn't even have a career at this level imo.