Set up with the right 11 and be less forgiving of bad play and you're halfway there. I think Struber is more ruthless.
Good job Struber was VERY forgiving when Sollbauer made his debut! Here's a selection of views on Sollbauer at Portsmouth · League 2 laiker this lad · Stop messing about Struber get Solbauer off before he's sent off, Ooooohhhhhh for f***k sake now it's 2 0 · Once again dumb and fooking dumber not clearing the lines again. You litterly can’t make it up how bad they both are · I never thought I’d say this but he’s worse than Diaby and Anderson. · Can’t stay on his feet making a tackle, can’t win a header and positionally dubious. · I’m actually feeling sick watching this game. · Those upstairs sold a very promising side by reverting to typical Barnsley Arkwrights corner shop mentality when we went up · I hope they do both get sent off. Means they will have to try someone different there for a game. No good just one of them getting a red, will only see Hallme being awful at CB again. · I thought Andersen was our worst defender in years. I think it's nice that Struber has brought in a sacrificial lamb to take the heat off him a bit because this guy is utter garbage. · Has Sollbauer ever played professional football before? · Get him off, get him off NOW · This is the worst defence in many years no dowt about it We really are a fickle bunch aren't we?, but then that's half the fun of being a Red, or any other club for that matter
I tend to be on the supportive side, I can count on one hand the number of players I really didn't rate in any way and tbh expecting anyone to move to a new country into a relegation threatened side and play a blinder was always going to be a big ask!
I get your point to a degree, but the past (i.e. the "GREATEST TRANSFER WINDOW EVER"), has implications for the future. The January window has looked more successful, (if it has taken a little time for the Austrian / German players to settle in, which is totally understandable). These things have given us a mountain to climb now. The last 3 games we have looked like a team that should be top of the table, not second bottom, but past results mean we are where we are.
Not at all, just explaining my position. You never come across as anything but reasonable bmw. And to respond to your other response (!! I’m getting lost here!!) i’d say it was definitely negligent - not in any part due to what was spent, they did spend (maybe not everything but they did spend); not really either due to who was sold; but because they stubbornly, in the face of all football intelligence and logic, refused to sign anyone with any real experience to help the talented kids they were assembling. Despite every fan and the manager asking for it. Just one player would have done. (Which is currently being proven somewhat). That was, to me, negligent, and in my eyes quite arrogant. They threw the kids and the manager under the bus. I’m hoping lessons were learned.
But the board did talk to Championship experienced players but Conway said the money they wanted was off the scale. The decision then is down to how much the club are prepared to pay.We'll not be the top wage payers but players like Mowett and Woodrow found our wages exceptable. I suppose its a fine balance of ambition and the club going into debt.I'm glad I don't have to make the choice because whichever way you go you can't win.
I'd have rather the £1 million we reportedly paid for Schmidt have been used to pay the wages of an experienced pro. I think that players experience would have been returned in improved development of the younger players & hopefully keeping our Championship status, worth approx £6 million. It is not necessarily about spending more, just looking at the needs of the team as a whole. The addition of Sollbauer has illustrated this.
Not that long ago people on here were citing both Luton and Charlton as examples of kept team together, experience etc
I think one defender, even on a one year loan might have cut it Or keep hold of Pinnock till Jan , there were options . Norwich were prepared to wait for their Coventry starlet until next season, and I think Brentford might have been too?
Pinnock,moore and lindsay didnt want to stay but would have happily seen there contracts out so I heard never forced a move we chose to cash in when we could have sold in jan, kieffer still had 2 years remaining, unfortunately the replacements were terrible. Bambo for lindsay Anderson for pinnock Schmidt for moore ..... enough said, people still talk about how we should have not sold hourahine even though he would have gone for free 6 months later and that was 3 years back so obviously if the worst happens people will look at the transfer windows prior. I do agree though 3 great wins 3 clean sheets 3 good performances on to reading full of confidence keep it up and it's very possible we can survive UTR.
I really hope we stay up. If the present run continues then a glimmer of light will appear. But let's not lose sight of the fact that the Board were still wrong to allow the key contracted players to depart before adequate replacements were secured. It was unfair to the supporters and it was unfair to the developing players. By belatedly adopting more flexibility in their dealings - particularly with the way Sollbauer is influencing the team - the Board have tacitly accepted they were wrong. If we do achieve safety then we must only hope that they have learned a lesson. I for one will want to see the evidence. COYR!
Just playing devils advocate here....... If we manage to stay up and the boards goal was to survive this season was they wrong or right in their approach this season? Lots will say wrong because of reasons cited in your post, some will say right because we survived.
Gotta be honest and say without any insider info only believe that about Pinnock. Moore was gone, but his transfer fell through and strong suggestions that he had decided he was moving. Lindsey had refused to even have a conversation despite the club starting from Xmas the year before. Not saying they wouldn’t have stayed but there’s a big difference between going through the motions etc. As I say, purely speculative on my part.