Isn't it strange...

What's he doing now then, just twiddling his thumbs while Conor does his job for him?

 

No he’s still grafting away doing the vast majority of his job. He’ll deal with negotiations, I just don’t believe he’s having as much of a say in the players we identify.

I’m not even saying anything controversial. Hourihane has confirmed he has more of a say than previous managers.

 

Has he? I'm not being deliberately awkward but I haven't heard him say that.

 

This thread is hilarious. People who don’t have a clue about how our player recruitment works making wild assumptions to fit their agenda. If results are bad it’s all Mladen’s fault for buying rubbish players. If results are good it’s despite Mladen being rubbish cos someone else is buying the players.

I suspect we are bringing better players in because Mladen and his team are doing exactly the same as our recruitment team have always done, in using the data to find potential targets and whittling it down to a shortlist to present to the head coach, but we now have a better head coach who is clear in what he wants and who is doing more research on the players that are presented to him before making his choice. Simple as that. But I started that with ‘I suspect…’ because I don’t know, as I’m not party to the inner workings of the club, and neither is anyone else on here.

 

Every head coach has had final say. This has been said so many times over the years.

 

I just don’t you right mate. Clarke for instance wouldn’t have fetched that pile of shyyte in during January when we fifth in league. Also Clarke didn’t even fetch his own back room staff with him, and usually that’s case with a new manager.

 

This is the problem though you’re only trusting that Conor is calling the shots because you like what we’ve been doing and like Conor.

They wouldn’t have brought the players in if they thought they were a “pile of shyyte” - no matter who is making the final decision. You’re assuming Mladen would but Clarke wouldn’t because you’ve already decided you don’t like Mladen. Despite not knowing what his job actually entails because none of us do.

At the end of the day anybody can make bad decisions and signings can not work out for any reason.

 

Recruitment isn’t based on the opinions or decisions of one person. Just a few examples: Tedic was someone Khaled was aware of, from his time within the City group. Duff really wanted Norwood. Daryl Dike was 100% Dane Murphy. And Donovan Pines was someone Neill Collins was keen on. Let’s not forget Daniel Stendel and Mike Steven Bahre. Or Gerhard Struber and both Marcel Ritzmaier and Michael Sollbauer. And I think we all know McGoldrick was a Conor shout, in terms of the current setup.

Just a few off the top of my head there.

There are some who I know the head coach knew practically naff all about. The aforementioned Dike being one. Christophe Knassmulner being another. I’d wager Clarke had no idea about Clem Rod last season too.

Also, as big a fan as I am of Hourihane, it’s silly to think he’s the first coach to do due diligence on lads. The majority of coaches I knew did similar. Others didn’t. They trusted the CEO, secretary, recruitment team etc.

If we’d lost four games the knives would still be out on Mladen, and the majority who felt Conor wasn’t the right appointment would still be telling us as much.

 

I think you assume more than I do mate tbh. I didn’t want Conor as head coach as I didn’t think he did enough to warrant it during his 10 game spell last season. However I am highly delighted that he his doing a good job so far and proving me wrong. Think you and I will have agree to disagree on the Sormaz subject

 

That’s not quite correct. Conor has specifically said he is integral to the process others have said that they had ‘a say’

 

Could well be it’s usually that simplistic and actually some truth because we dropped points Setdy when I went

 

Poundstretcher

 

Probably the most sensible post and assumption on this thread (including mine)

 

Has to be given some credit for sure.

I'd say so far a good window, just don't want to lose people on the last day and have the wind taken out of the sails.

From the players brought in, I think they have all risen to the challenge and look good signings. If I was to be ultra harsh, I'd say the jury is still out somewhat on Tennai Watson. He's doing ok, but not fully warmed to him yet. Having said that he is the one who has been at the club for the least amount of time.

 

Wow! Quite a thread after 4 games. None of them entirely convincing. Champions League winners it is then.

 

It’s just semantics though isn’t it?

I’d be very surprised if anything’s actually any different. Even if it is, i doubt it’s because of a change in strategy from the club. More likely to just be because that’s how this specific group of people work best and share the workload.

 

Don't be ridiculous.

Europa League first. Conor's European tour 2030.

 

The recruitment system is the same where the coach and recruitment team work together.If theres a player the coach like or wants the procedure starts with back ground checks etc.Apart from McGoldrick I can't see any player we've signed with any link to Conor.Its great the coach and DOF speak to thier targets to encourage them to sign but I imagine that happens at every club.
Last years Rodrigues fiasco was explained by the chairman,it wasn't ideal but they wanted more cover.In my view that shouldn't have happened and I hope it doesn't again.The winger from USA was a reds target well before Mladen was here.

 

After January’s debacle I think he needs to get a lot of things right to redeem himself.

The players he assembled last year were a top four squad, the failings were Daryl’s.

Early days yet, success or failure will out over the coming months.

 

Theres nothing wrong with the fitness of Watson.