Was our biggest mistake this window

Selling too early?

We have constantly been told we didn't need to sell so selling players was our choice so why on earth did we sell James Bree BEFORE we had any replacement and no options at full back? Did this cause us to rush our recruitment in order to get anybody in further next game? Had we waited a week and spent that week searching out a replacement would we now have a permanent full back signed instead of a rush job loan signing?

Same comment he's for hourihane. Are we really to believe that Aston villa and the myriad of other interesting clubs would have all withdrawn their interest in statistically the league's best player had we refused to do business that day?

Sam winnall the same?

Has our inability to turn down bids cost us big time by forcing our hand in the loan market seeking rushed replacements?

 

What might cost us big time is the managers big style **** up with his formation and tactics last night. I was really hoping for an apology to the fans in his press conference last night but from what i've read it seems to me a touch of arrogance starting to creep in and that could set him on a slippery slope.

 

Three ways we could have gone in my opinion-

1) Keep all these players and have a shot at promotion via the play-offs. We lose, what was it, over £7 million plus sell-ons, but keep a strong, beloved and entertaining team together and have a gamble at the £80 million or whatever ridiculous amount it is for promotion. However that team, apart from the very first weeks, has not been in the play-off places all season. If we did get in the play-offs, we would be one of four teams going for it, none of which I think (apart from Leeds) we have avoided defeat against this season. And hope that the players perform the same having been forced to risk the deals that will secure their finances for life for the next half a season. Still, the romantic vision.

2) Accepted Marley's transfer request, got rid of every player out of contract or who showed an interest in leaving, or courted other clubs who wanted them. We had, almost certainly, enough points to stay up and rebuild with Hecky, the magical excel sheet and the optimum level of cash in the summer.

I think we have largely taken a third way, although leaning towards option 2. We turned down Marley's request, loaned in in arguably a better player with a better provenance than Sam Morsy, got a young player on a permanent to mould who was player of the year at a Championship club only two years ago in Mowatt to replace Hourihane. After this, it seems the club has compromised more. Hedges, on a permanent, is apparently tall and pacy, but playing for Yeovil with 5 goals so far this season means it's unlikely he's going to replace Winnall- perhaps more of a Payne replacement. So we haven't replaced Winnall, and got relatively little compensation for his goals by inflated transfers prices. Perhaps that was the big mistake, although the fact that Bradshaw and Armstrong were missing lots of game time could argue that we were quite strong in that area (injuries permitting, of course). In my opinion, the club have put finances first, brought players in they felt were good permanent options (only two) in a hectic January window in which our CEO has bailed, and have tried to get the best loans they could to fill the gap (in Matty James- impressive ambition, in the other cases- the jury's out). I don't think this has been the club washing its hands of the play-offs, but putting the next 2-3 years first and giving us a platform to re-structure our spine and dynamics properly in the summer, whilst trying to find hungry players for the long-shot of a possible 4 month play-off campaign. Our owner's really ill and our future's uncertain, especially in this crazy league in which last night's lowly opponents spent £13M on a player, and yet we are admirably trying to balance the short- term excitement and ambition and mid-term security in my opinion.

 

I can't speak....

 

Well we'll see who's on the slippery slope when Hecky walks this summer because of the lack of support from BFC
He's doing the work of 3 people, CEO, Assistant Manager and Manager. Clapham is first team coach.
So you think hes arrogant and needs to apologise? Nice one!