Curious Case Of The Dog That Didn't Bark

[Martyn Hocking]

In the depths of our awful losing streak, GJ's constant refrain was 'this isn't my team - judge me after January'. Whilst that seemed to me to be a pretty demoralising message for the troops in the dressing room (you lot are no good, can't wait to bring some new players in), it did at least suggest he was a man with a plan and had his eye on a number of players that were going to come in during the transfer window.

While Hayter may have simply been too dear, I had assumed that GJ would be able to scare up a number of old boys from Yeovil (Jeavons, Johnson junior etc) who would have been only too willing to follow their old boss up the road to AG.

We now see that this is not the case at all, and if anything he has shown less ability to wheel and deal in the bargain bucket zone than his predecessor (who did, at least bring us a decent centre half and a halfway decent midfielder passer back in the summer).

This is odd.

As is the fact that for the last few weeks, a 'settled team' has become the mantra, with the same eleven players starting for us week in, week out.

If a settled team was the corner stone of success, why all the talk of 'not my team'? And if all he meant to do was bring in two players - Noble and Savage (great combination of names, by the way!) why not say something like 'we are only a couple of signings away from what I want' when we were getting stuffed every week?

Perhaps the answer lies in the report GJ presented to the board and their reaction to it. One conclusion would be that the report requested a wholesale change to the playing staff (hence the 'not my team' comments) and the board said 'naff off' (leading to a hasty change of tune by GJ!).

Well_Red

[Guest HambrookRed]

In the depths of our awful losing streak, GJ's constant refrain was 'this isn't my team - judge me after January'. Whilst that seemed to me to be a pretty demoralising message for the troops in the dressing room (you lot are no good, can't wait to bring some new players in), it did at least suggest he was a man with a plan and had his eye on a number of players that were going to come in during the transfer window.

While Hayter may have simply been too dear, I had assumed that GJ would be able to scare up a number of old boys from Yeovil (Jeavons, Johnson junior etc) who would have been only too willing to follow their old boss up the road to AG.

We now see that this is not the case at all, and if anything he has shown less ability to wheel and deal in the bargain bucket zone than his predecessor (who did, at least bring us a decent centre half and a halfway decent midfielder passer back in the summer).

This is odd.

As is the fact that for the last few weeks, a 'settled team' has become the mantra, with the same eleven players starting for us week in, week out.

If a settled team was the corner stone of success, why all the talk of 'not my team'? And if all he meant to do was bring in two players - Noble and Savage (great combination of names, by the way!) why not say something like 'we are only a couple of signings away from what I want' when we were getting stuffed every week?

Perhaps the answer lies in the report GJ presented to the board and their reaction to it. One conclusion would be that the report requested a wholesale change to the playing staff (hence the 'not my team' comments) and the board said 'naff off' (leading to a hasty change of tune by GJ!).

Well_Red

I simply think that at the time of the comments he couldn't see how the squad of players he had would work, with their attitudes and work rates as they were....

however he has found a team that have played very well to produce a good run and doesnt see the need to spend / waste money and risk upsetting that team. If you were in the dressing room when the grenade was dropped and since then you worked really really hard to improve yourself and then GJ replaces you you would be a little peeved off. The players have improved, the team have improved, this is a GJ "TEAM"...

[PhatWill]

You will find many of the answers to your questions here:

http://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51996

[Guest HambrookRed]

You will find many of the answers to your questions here:

http://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51996

[Guest Roybear]

Well said YateRed....... I totally agree with you