FAB 11th February

What I don't get is what do the fab group expect to come out of this? Club isn't going to go back in time and sign a striker, all they're gonna do is spout a bit of ******** to try to justify their poor performance and appease you.

What can the fab group hope to achieve from tomorrow's meeting that couldn't have been achieved with allowing radio Sheffield to interview Mladen?

I'd much prefer the group to use the valuable time to address issues that CAN be changed than essentially waste a month's worth of meeting to conduct a transfer window interview just because the club have refused to do one with radio Sheffield.

But as always I do appreciate the effort and time given up, just because I don't think this is the best use of the time doesn't mean I'm not thankful of the efforts in general

 

First off, thank you and the other FAB members for the work you put into this for all of us.

Additionally, thank you for getting the opportunity for us to put questions to the Sporting Director.

As others have stated, I believe it is probably too early for specific questions about this transfer window though I feel because the fan base has had little interaction with the Sporting Director but there are wider questions that we would like answers to.

Apologies, if some of these are a little too obvious but I am a long distance supporter with no limited local interaction with the club. My main forms of information about the club are via the club website and through the BBS.

Essential these are a brain dump and a first pass of the types of things I’d like to see answered by the Sporting Director.

Can they give an overview on how they use data to identify players and the subsequent process to select targets?

How has the player identification process developed since they arrived at the club?

How are we using data differently than before they joined?

Have we signed or will we sign any players that have been identified or wanted by the head coach?

How are the owners evaluating you?

In your opinion, how will supporters know you are doing a good job? Do you think you are doing a good job?

You have recently stated (after the recent transfer window) that we are working with a tight budget. Yet we have spent…

• a reported 700K on a League Two player with one year left on their contract,
• brought in a free agent whose previous parent club - a club of a similar size to ours - couldn’t afford even though they have a recent history of spending more
• brought in an experienced Central Defender on a two year contract and
• “Expensively” - according to one of the owners - sacked a head coach who had delivered a play off position.

Do you think this was money well spent?

You stated when you joined that we would play “front foot” football. What does this mean? And do you think - after being in your position a year - that we are playing this way? If not, when do you expect us to achieve this requirement?

Do you think we have made progress since your appointment? If so, in what areas and when will this be apparent on the pitch as our league position has regressed since you arrived?

What was your thinking about bringing Conor Hourihane back to the club in a player coach capacity? Did you expect them play more than they did?

Do you think we are using the loan market effectively? If not, why?

Do you think there is a pathway from the academy to the first team? If not, why and when do you expect it to occur?

Do you think the squad is one paced?

We lost the only defender with any pace in the summer and they were replaced with a 35 year old with limited pace. What was your thinking behind this decision? Do you think it’s another constraint placed on the head coach as it prevents us from effectively playing a high line?

Why do you think we are poor at defending? If so, what recruitment will resolve this issue?

Do you think young players are being given a chance by the head coach?

Do you think the head coach is getting the best out of the young players you have brought to the club? For instance, Gent excelled at his previous loan club under the coaching of Stuart Kettlewell yet he is struggling in our set up.

What did you learn from the first transfer window (in the summer) and how did that inform the most recent and second transfer window?

What was the logic behind buying Jackson Smith? Do you think we have hindered his development by not allowing him game time?

Why do we have an appalling record playing at home since your appointment?

Do you think the head coach has players available to play in various formations? For instance, able to change from a back three to a back four?

Does the squad lack leadership?

Do you think the head coach has the players available to challenge for promotion?

What do you think will be the fall out for not being promoted this season?

Do you think either of two transfer windows have been a success and why (if not, why not)?

When do you think the club will have a balanced squad?

Why have you not interacted with the supporter base since your appointment over a year ago?

Why should the head coach answer questions about recruitment when they are not responsible it?

How are you going to manage the expectations of the supporters moving forward?

We advertised for a Director of Football position though you are often called a Sporting Director. What is the difference and why the change in title?

Do you think in hindsight that it was wise to allow Andy Dallas and/or Aidan Marsh to leave the club since we only recruited one forward player with arguably less experience?

Why have you not been able to sign a player who can lead the line and stretch the play (i.e. a forward)? As this is another constraint you have placed on the head coach, limiting our potential playing style.

Do you feel you have responsibility to explain your role to the fan base especially as the role is new?

Do you feel you have a responsibility to the fan base to state the short, medium and long term aims for recruitment?

Do you feel you have a responsibility to regularly engage with the fan base and keep them informed of the progress you make at the club?

 

Is there any update to this?

 

Like the second half yesterday, the club didn't turn up.

 

It was referenced in Jon Flatman's programme notes yesterday. The meeting took place, as scheduled. As he noted, "minutes from that meeting will be published shortly."

 

Is it radio silence to 99% of fans until he's ready to allow the official minutes in a month or so then? This is why a private session discussing transfers was wrong use of the fab groups time. Doesn't benefit anyone and just means the actual issues that you could actually have an influence on were pushed back a month.

Radio Sheffield asked for an interview which would have given fans answers straight away. Instead the easy option was taken of a meeting with a few fans from which only authorised minutes will be released in due course. It's pathetic on the clubs part

 

It depends on how you define his use of "shortly" - in your case to "a month or so."

You've been very clear on what you think of the FAB's involvement in this. I disagree with you, but there's little to be achieved arguing about it, given that you've already provided all your pre-determined conclusions about both the club's and the FAB's motivations within the thread already.

 

May I ask what pre-determimed conclusions I've given about the FAbBs motivation?

And I was basing my timeframe on the timeframe for minutes usually. Haven't they taken a month or so to appear on the official site previously?

 

These two quotes didn't suggest a great deal of faith in the FAB's role in the process.

Or this, reflecting their likely conclusions.

As a reminder, the club had no direct involvement in choosing who sat on the FAB. They were chosen via a vote of those supporters who turned up to the meetings to establish it, which were open to all to attend. All those on it are there for fixed terms, so there'll be opportunities to replace them when these expire.

BFC aren't unique in this regard. I get the cynicism regarding the FAB, and people are entitled to think whatever they like about it, but all clubs are going through an equivalent process of getting them established, as it's a requirement for them to do so. A quick google search will show you just how widespread they are, and how recent an initiative they are in most cases.

 

I think you misunderstand. All of my comments there relate to what I think the sly ******** at the club are thinking, it's not what I think the fab group members are thinking at all and I haven't criticised the fab group at all.

 

The big question is what is fab about 11 February? Surely it’s just like any other day?

 

Don't think that's owt to do with the club mate. All down to the TV deals, 'whoever pays the piper calls the tune'

 

Hey mate even you will have to take your red glasses off for him.. He touched the ball four times in the first half hour and made a mess of em all. Then hid until he was subbed off where he looked relieved. Not the lads fault but he's out of his depth.. all on Mladen

 

If only these questions were asked .
The club should meet local press and radio monthly to discuss fan's questions. Obviously, very personal agreements/finances wouldn't be discussed but alot could be cleared up. Mladen may have been told no, by the owners, to certain deals that he wanted and the owners may be disappointed by his actions, we have no idea. Its awkward, I understand that, but Bfc want people to turn up.