As horrible as it is, you have to look at all costs. The easy stuff is the top end earners of our playing staff, so rightly that receives much of the focus. But our executive costs feel way too much for a small company. We can’t tell where we’re spending money and what’s excessive from the accounts, but we should be looking everywhere to save money. Hence why I’ve made many of the comments I have over the last few months. If you’re struggling, you don’t spend money pointlessly on vanity, however nominal it may be framed. We certainly come across as pound foolish. And not necessarily penny wise either.
The fact he's still in position just highlights that the owners don't really have that much of an idea. His tenure has been just as disastrous as Schopp and Asbaghi in my opinion.
Whilst that clown is in charge of the day to day running of the club, the club will continue to be ran like a literal circus. A ***** one at that. His tenure has been so laughably bad that it makes Linton Brown’s tenure as CEO look like a cherished memory!
We played with wing backs during Neil Redferns time at Oakwell and he managed to score a few from central midfield as did others it's not the system it's the personnel playing in the current system that are the problem.
For me, if you’re playing a back three you have to play 3-4-1-2 if you’re going to be attacking. Wilson did it in 97, Even Struber did it. If you play 3 1 4 2 your wingbacks have to play as wingers just to create anything. Other wise you’re playing 5 1 2 2 which makes it very difficult to score or make chances.
I'm not going to judge any possible players or any new signings until they've played and had time to settle in. We've had unknowns be amazing for us and unknowns who have been shocking. So it's impossible to know just how valuable a signing can be until we've given them time and opportunity to show what they can do. As for whether we can get better.... it's impossible to know. What I don't think we'd be able to do at this point is pick a League 1 or 2 striker who we'd fancy to get 15-20 goals and chuck £500k at it, plus wages and fees. We just don't have money to do that. We'd all love if we could put a team together as good as what got us promoted last time, or even more, the time before that, but I don't think we can get near that until we've cleared costs and we're at break even. Everyone will have different views, but my position is first and foremost, we have to get financially fit to build a platform and give us a chance to then try and get back up. If that means we're low mid table all season, then that's just the way it has to be for now.
So what have these mugs been doing for the last two years of so to get us as you say financially fit and self sustainable. Surely they would have budgeted for two scenarios in staying up or getting relegated.If the latter financial prudence wasn't looked at then it beggars belief.
I agree we need to sort the finances out, I said in my reply to you we can't expect to pay fees etc. The point I was trying to make is that this is hardly a signing that will inspire the fans and is on paper very unlikely to have a serious impact. I hope I am wrong there but it is unlikely, especially when we are desperate for goals. I know we can't fully judge until he has firstly signed and been announced, and then secondly played some games for us but even you have to admit we are a team that is weak up front and need goals in the team and this guy simply doesn't score goals. He hasn't scored regularly in any team he has played in really and barely scored for 2 years. To me that says he has been recruited away from the spreadsheet using Khaled and his link to the City group and we all know those signings haven't worked in the past. How can someone with 2 goals in 2 years as a striker have been flagged on the data approach? Simply doesn't compute to me. We got better earlier in the window with Norwood on a free. He is someone that most of us are excited about (Higgy aside) given the fact he has a good record in England and the EFL. There also must be other loanees around we can afford that offer more. If he signs I hope I am wrong, but this if true will be the first underwhelming signing of the summer IMO. I might be in a minority with that but just my opinion.
I think what clearly became apparent when we came out of the pandemic, is the owners were more fixated growing their portfolio in terms of size, and not adding value to the clubs they already owned. The end of the 20/21 season was the prime opportunity to build something here, even if Mowatt and Ismael wanted to leave. We should have at least tied Dane down to a longer deal, and tried to have a bit of continuity. The start of last season felt like an asset stripping exercise, even if there wasn't an exodus of playing staff. I don't think they foresaw the complete collapse that happened, but I don't think they made any conscious effort to continue what had been growing during the lockdown. That to me was criminal, and rightfully cost them their places on the board. Even in terms of the financial side, they were completely negligent, and not in a Sheffield Wednesday, spaff all the cash and buy the ground kinda way. There appeared to be no speculation in the slightest, on the playing side or the 'match day experience'. I actually think its clear to see already that the board members now do care more about rebuilding the connect with the fan base. But on the field, it's going to be a season of transition.
179 posts about a signing that could or could not be happening , about someone who nobody for sure knows who it is , people getting hot under the collar whilst guessing & speculating , I find peoples responses on this thread quite bizarre & I understand that some fans are desperate for any news but why not just wait until the club make official announcements ,its quite simple really
To summarise (assuming you've not read the whole thread, apologies if you have), the first couple of pages were light hearted, and quite excited guesses at who was in a photo from Oakwell, taken yesterday. Then someone who has just 17 posts to their name, most of which are about 2 other signings which haven't come to fruition, gives the name of a youngish Man City player, and the whole thread turns into a rundown of everything that's wrong with the football club. As usual, it's mainly Khaled's fault (and Paul Conway gets a fair mention). I think we're just missing a Brexit reference, a comparison to womens football, and a Stephen Dawson sexual innuendo for a full house.
It would be nice to have a few signings relatively soon as it’s all dried up and people are getting frazzled (me included) by the apparent lack of urgency. That said o wouldn’t want any old panic acquisition to placate the likes of me - patience is a virtue which has already been said - I’m just not that way out !!!!!