I'm always quite optimistic, but I've found myself logging onto this site less recently because I find it hard to read some of the bile being spewed out on a daily basis. To counter it, I thought I'd try to make a thread about why I'm reasonably optimistic we'll be better next season. 1. Last season Hillcroft signed a useless show pony with a shocking injury record for free who ended up scoring 22 league goals. Proof that you don't have to pay big money for a 20 goal a season striker. 2. We sold him for £500k (awful fee), but I think lessons will be learned by the board about selling players in January. I'm quite certain that any players we sign this season will be with us for the full season. Hillcroft said this before we sold Vaz Te but it looks like the board made the decision. 3. After a full season in the Championship I think some of our "lower league *****" will be much stronger players. I remember Hassell's first year with us - it looked like he'd won a competition to play, but he's gone on to have an excellent career with us. I think Wiseman, Done, Perkins and McNulty will be much stronger for the experience. I particularly think Matty Done will show us exactly why he was signed next season, as he showed in flashes this season. 4. We've offloaded a few of the higher earning pro's at the club, which should hopefully allow us to sign some other with a better fit for our team philosophy. Despite being a fan of Nathan Doyle, he was never as good with the ball as the other players and Hillcroft have always said they expected that as a minimum. People like Andy Gray can have a role to play, but not if they prevent us from signing other players. 5. We've made offers for what I would call "the right sort of player". Gordon Greer has always been known as an uncompromising centre half, and a leader. David Preece has said we've had a Darren Moore shaped hole missing from our squad - he'd be an ideal replacement. The fact that Keith is looking at a player like him suggests he is well aware that we need to improve that area of our defence. 6. Last season Hillcroft took an academy player, who we all knew could be a top player, from a last 15 minute cameo type of player - to a best player on the pitch for 90 minutes type of player. Hillcroft did such a good job at playing to his strengths that we actually became a little over-reliant on him to create us something. Unfortunately he got injured, and he is probably going to move to a Premier League club in the summer - but we'll get some compensation that can be used to replace him. 7. We've signed a number of very exciting players from our academy. Anyone who has seen the likes of Digby, Clark, Rose and Stones play will hopefully have seen enough to realise that these lads could really make a mark in the next year or two. I think we may have a few future Premier League players on our hands. Apparently Man City have offered £50k for Clark (which we have turned down). 8. Keith Hill has said Reuben Noble-Lazurus is easily as good as Thomas Ince, but he just needs to work a bit harder. I remember him saying similar things about Vaz Te and Jacob Butterfield. Let's hope he shows us how good he is next season. If he anywhere near as good as Thomas Ince I'll be more than happy. Onwards and upwards! (Hopefully)
nah ....rubbish post...........doom and gloom reigns..........we are all gunna die etc etc relegation certainties, nothing to look forward to, whats the point etc etc hope this helps counterbalance your ridiculous positive thinking
Good points made although 1. useless? 3. Add Hill and Flitcroft to that. 6. an academy player? 8. He has probably told all the players that they have to work a bit harder, some do and some dont, just like looking at players that have improved you also have to look at the players that have gone backwards under Hill. The youngsters are the ones that give me hope at the moment.
1. Anyone who saw him play in the televised Portsmouth game will know what I'm getting at. He was literally awful. He couldn't get a contract anywhere else, and we were ver hesitant about taking him on. I remember a large amount of people questioning whether he'd be worth it. 3. Fully agree. 6. Butterfield was signed as part of our academy initially, although he was fast-tracked into the first team. Under Robins he became a squad player but under Hillcroft he became our best player. 8. Point taken, hopefully there is a net gain!
Good post - but point 5 needs to be in perpective if Brighton's response is to be believed. We've offered a 5-figure sum for their Captain. Bidding £1 for Messi is a bid technically.
Re: Excellent post Wasn't the Clark bid, actually a while back, a significant 6-figures sum? We showed resolve there when we haven't for others.... Hammill, Howard, Vaz Te (500k each when worth £2m each)
1. He was poor in that game and one or two others like the game when he didn`t know where the touchline was but having said all that there did seem to be something about his game that had me thinking that he could have something and he proved that beyond my wildest dreams. He had started less games than Butterfield at that point, had the manager on his case and was wanting a run in the team. That goal against Burnley was the confidence builder from which he never looked back. Hoping we sign a few more useless one year contract players.
I agree with most of that post JDB. The only point where I think there are question marks is point two in that there have been so many transfer abominations in the last few years that I don’t think they believe they are doing anything wrong and as such there are no lessons to be learned. I hope not but I don’t get the impression that the fans and the board are on the same wave-length where transfers are concerned.
I'll go along with that, mate It's also made quite a pleasant change to read a positive post, thanks JDB. Next season is certainly going to be a tough one, but the pessimism I felt at the end of the previous campaign is steadily dissipating. Just shows I'm not clever enough to understand the club's situation!
I honestly believe that the board should release a statement, similar to what Keith did just after taking over. They should say that we will not accept any bids for players in January unless specifically asked to do so by the manager. If they did that I think the fans would be far more confident about next season and have a bit more faith in them.
Good post, two points I would kind of argue with 1 Don't hold your breath regarding the club learning selling players (at anytime) because we seem to have been a very easy touich in that regard for veeery long time, and yes its pleasing to be making bids for the right type of player however there are bids and bids that don't stand a snowballs chance. Thats not being negative or having a go btw thats just the way I see it.
I admire your optimism and some of what you say is indeed true. I really don't see RNL ever being as good as Tom Ince though. Hope he proves me wrong but last year he looked very ordinary indeed. Next season is make or break for him.
