Archerfield is the best person to explain it. The Club are investing. They have invested millions, to keep us going. I get it's not what people want to hear, but it's true and in black and white. Recruitment has been poor, I agree. It took a long time to get Oulare and Iseka off the books. We followed that up with Watters and Cosgrove. I dread to think how much those 4 have cost us in total. Benson and Pines will be picking up good money - two more huge disappointments for me. Hourihane a complete non-event. Craig pointless. Roberts won't have been cheap, and starting to show worrying signs already. Problems wherever you look. But all these players will be on good money. Kone was signed from the 9th tier. You don't need me to tell you what the general reaction would be, if we signed a striker from the 9th tier tomorrow.
For anybody who's interested in this memory, Stendel replaced Luke Thomas with Aapo Halme after 83 minutes when we were 2-0 down. The most desperate substitution I've ever seen, and it was only August.
Isn't that football ownership though in general? I don't think there is a club in the EFL where their owners aren't having to put money in to fund losses etc. And very few of those clubs make as many players sales as us. I really don't get it. Feels fishy to me. The Kone signing they've done is a one in a million and I don't want us to try and replicate that. We've tried enough. But what they have done Wycombe is seen the position they are in and the owners have backed it and spent money this window. We've been in decent positions entering January 3 years on trot and done basically nothing investment wise to kick on and subsequently fell short. Duff wanted strikers we got a cheap loan and a punt from Scottish 2nd tier or wherever he was from. Collins needed CBs. We signed a load of non league options in summer and a cheap loan from Rotherham. Again no investment. Clarke has wanted strikers all season. Done nothing bar a semi decent free from Wigan who's not a proper striker.
Signing Humphrey’s on deadline day last August a player who was available to any club all through last summer but we decided to take him even knowing he hadn’t had a pre season really tells you where we are financially and I’m expecting something similar this deadline day.
Let's be honest, that was yet another dismal performance. That's not an opinion based on defeat, it was my opinion at half-time when the missus asked me how they were getting on. And yet we were leading somehow. A lucky deflection got us ahead, and in fairness, we were looking alright at that point. But from then until around the 85th minute, it was genuinely like watching us try to compete with a Premier League outfit away from home. And I don't mean that as in Wycombe were playing elite football. I mean we were that sh**e. Absolutely no offence to Wycombe, but it was a tough watch tonight, seeing us so obviously second best. If we'd lost by three or four again we could have had no complaints. On the penalty, I think he does get a toe to the ball, but he's barged into the lad simultaneously and you're just giving the officials a decision to make. He's an ungainly lad is Donovan, and it doesn't help him in such circumstances. Appreciate others will see it differently. Just as others will tell me Roberts' red card was harsh. Again, I think he gets some of the ball. But it's a strong challenge from behind and it's about to go out for a throw. It's a daft challenge, and let's remember that at this level, the officials get one look. I said 'red' as soon as he steamed in. Just silly. From your most experienced player. I'm not really fussed if both decisions were unfair anyway. Nor do I care that we missed two glaring chances second half. We were proper garbage and got what we deserved. Nowt. I don't agree with the 'Clarke Out' brigade. But what does it matter? The last bloke was sacked after game 45. And anyone decent leaves Oakwell at the first chance. Next few weeks will be fascinating. In-form Burton at Oakwell in an early kick-off, deadline day, followed by Stockport, Huddersfield and Rotherham. Then early bird season tickets. Buckle up.
At least 2 on here not wearing rose tinted glasses. Both decisions not hard for the ref ,but both inexcusable from the players . Both defenders had a mare all night . If the recruitment team can't see the problem instead of papering over the cracks ,it's a mid table finish as we can't defend.
Alternatively one could argue that because the club has been/is declining and the board are in charge then they are in effect managing decline. I don't think it's deliberate managed decline for as you say its not commonsensical but it could still be argued that we are in managed decline.... Semantics perhaps.
Well I think they're wrong then for as you've again said, correctly, the board are pumping money in to paper the cracks. Millions.
That's the figure that was widely reported to have been the total figure for all the player sales plus additional fees we got for sell on clauses etc. Much will be getting paid in installments I assume but it's still money coming into the club. If others can buy players in installments so can we if that was an option we wanted to explore
Great post, as always. The early-bird thing will be interesting. Even before last night's omnishambles, I think we'd already chalked fu¢k on the ST for next year. Get to more away games and pick & choose the odd home. Wonder how many might follow suit. Oakwell just feels like a chore these days. I know for certain that if I didn't have my ST, I wouldn't even dream of travelling on Saturday.