Home truths

I think this is a very realistic view of the situation. The problem I see is that we can’t afford to spend to go up and we can’t afford to stay down. We have to hope that the youth policy pays of with some of the promising players coming through. If we do stay down though they will have to be sold to make up another shortfall next year.
The only answer is that the board put money in and take a gamble. If that doesn’t pay off we increase our debt to the board.
Our coaching has never been so important as it is now. We have to get every ounce out of what we have.

 

All really good points .
Truthful but painful .
We have been in a worse state of affairs than this.
Get behind the board that is trying their hardest to fix the mess Conman left us with.

 

We're clinging to the hope that Benson or Kane can find form and show their true worth which could go either way for me. I think it's important that we get off to a decent start to get confidence into the players.

 

Interesting read and, after last season, no-one can easily accuse the OP of talking rubbish.

I've been in the minority it seems, in that I've been expecting this season to be one of consolidation, rather than expecting us to challenge for promotion / playoffs. I'm have some pre-season optimism based on the fact that I believe the club ownership is now in the hands of people who have its best interests at heart, but that is tempered by the fact that they're picking up the pieces of it being run in with almost criminal negligence for at least the last 12 months.

Time will tell with how good a CEO Khaled proves to be. The shackles are off him now, so we'll see what he delivers to the cause over this season. I wasn't impressed with him last season, but hindsight suggests his main role was as a human shield for Conway/Lee being MIA.

The big positive is the appointment of Duff and Paterson, which seem to be a step in the right direction. Transfer business has been as I expected, and in line with what was being communicated to us. More needs to be done, but our hands are tied pending the outgoing business being sorted out first.

Ultimately, the fundamental problem facing us has been addressed. I feel that the rest will gradually fall into place over time, but probably not quickly enough to make us truly competitive in League One this season. I can live with that for now, as long as the underlying intentions are genuine, and I've no reason to doubt those as yet.

 

Its a cliche in football isn't it? top of the league - no ones in the treatment room, everyone's knocking on the gaffers door asking to play. Bottom of the League - there's a queue longer then an NHS waiting list outside the physio's office. It's a cliche 'cos its true.

 

Anyone with eyes can see we are up sht creek currently with regard to the Centre Forwards - we've lost our only 2 proven strikers, last season when we had a little bit of an upturn it was in no small part to the Jan loan of Bassi and Quana, long since departed. We are currently relying on Norwood to deliver, he might, but if he gets injured or loses form, and even so is he going to play 50+ games? then what? Cole and some kids from the U23s? If we end up with Aitchison or Marsh as regular starters we're heading for mid-table obscurity at best - nothing against the lads but its a massive ask, and as for Iseka? Not seen anything to suggest he isn't going to continue to dial-in his performances.

 

Great Post, just as I see it.
Absolutely spot on.

 

If we can maintain in this league we should be in a better place the season after when we shift the likes of oulare and iseka off the books.

 

You can still get 7/1 Derby for League One, Mr D. But also (and don't tell anyone else on here) I'd have Wednesday in the mix as well. They have also built a solid, if unexciting League One squad.

Elsewhere, Bet365 still go 8/1 Teemu Pukki for the Championship Golden Boot. 8/1, mark you! Surely Brereton Diaz is off elsewhere? That will leave the Finnish elf to mop up the goals in the second tier!

 

Largely agree with the opinions in the original post. I think we have good depth at centre back (probably too much) but are weak in EVERY other position. Can't see where the goals will come from as it stands, not much bite in midfield, no fit wing backs, no goalscoring midfielders.

We've sold the majority of our assets by the sounds of it way under value as we're desperate; the latest gossip I've heard is that we're OFFERING Helik to clubs for a million quid. If that's true, I despair. Might as well keep him if that's all we'd get.

We must be the worst club in history in regards to selling players. Peterborough have kept all their best players to date, rejecting multiple bids. With them you either pay the asking price or you don't get them. Whereas we're literally hawking people around.

Yes of course the new board are picking up the pieces of the previous mess, so I cut them SOME slack. But ultimately we're 9 days from the start of the season and for a manager/head coach whose key players are wing-backs and the two forwards, we have no fit wing backs and only one striker with anything resembling a scoring pedigree, and he's so unfit at the moment he can't play a few minutes in a friendly. It's a monumental mess. I strongly expect us to be in the bottom 4 after half a dozen games even with some decent signings as by the time they're fit and have learned the tactics etc we'll be a number of games in. The only way we won't be is if we're rock solid at the back with all the centre backs we have and somehow nick the odd goal the other end.

If we didn't have a highly rated manager with experience in this league, I'd currently be strongly fearing another relegation.

 

still finished easily above us. Here’s Peterborough definitely not turning bids down for players.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/peterborough-

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk...nty-of-interest-in-other-posh-players-3728548

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk...remier-league-club-for-ronnie-edwards-3716961

https://the72.co.uk/2022/06/12/pete...ave-turned-down-1m-plus-bid-for-jeando-fuchs/

https://www.dorset.live/sport/football/football-news/bournemouth-two-bids-turned-down-6539108

 

I think it's worth pointing out that Michael Duff said in his first interview that one of his first tasks would be to weed out any players that didn't want to be here, and maybe that just might be what's going on here.

 

I’ve just found out I’ve got the winning bid on an original Paul Gascoigne shirt from his time at Lazio.

Let people opine. Time is the great revealer.

 

It’s an example of someone not taking the first bid. They then got 2.5 million for him with 6 months on his contract.

Point me to your mention of a bid for smodicz

Didn’t here you mention a bid for the midfielder. Or the other bids they have turned down

but no of course no one wants their players.

If they get 5-10 million for Edwards which seems likely and we get 50 quid for Helik I’m sure you’ll blame Conway.

I don’t know if you believe this rubbish or not.

 

The fact of the matter is we have to start from scratch. We have to sell our assets to avoid going into liquidation save for burdening ourselves with some short to medium term debt which would just be kicking things into the long grass.

we will more likely did not end up mid table as a result.

 

You also missed Smodicz so basically out of the 3 players they have definitely had bids on they have rejected all 3. A couple of hours ago you said to paraphrase they had sold their forward and had no one else anyone wanted. That was just not true was it.

 

Turned down 3 bids for Smodics. However the Posh comments is about them over many years now; they play hardball and succeed. Admittedly they've done no better than us and 2 seasons ago worse, but they're a smaller club. Just don't get how they can be so much better at getting good transfer fees than us. Only answer can be board/chairman.