Balance or over reaction?

We have a squad that has a weak mentality with no natural leader.

We have a recruitment team who insist their model works yet I can give example after example of it failing.

There is a gradual and visible gap growing between the board and the supporters. (us and them)

We have a manager who has had enough time to develop his team and ideas yet appears to at times to come across as clueless.

We have coaching staff with very impressive playing careers but what are they bringing to the table behind the scenes?

We have a chairman and directors who are putting money on to plug the financial gap yet the gap was created due to their numerous failings to start with.

A lack of any kind of obvious ambition or direction.

 

After reading the job description of the role of sporting director, it did not appear to me to be suitable for a data analyst. The role would make use of data, and an understanding of data analysis would be beneficial, but it was way more than that. The sporting director at BFC would be implementing training regimes and deciding the formation and style of play of the whole club. That is way beyond the scope of someone who analyses data.

 

Thanks, just read up on Malden’s role, I don’t like writing folks off but he’s not impressing me, might be tough times ahead with him at the helm.

 

You are correct on all of this, this was my understanding too, although you are more qualified to understand, I'm on the same page.
I read it somewhere that due to Mladen's work at 777, Leicester and Huddersfield he was deemed to be able to interpritate and understand the data better than we could prior, then combine the use of this data with a game and training model that he would implement, essentially setting us up to play in a way that would maximise what the data was telling us about our squad. The problem with this is as good as it seems, it becomes one dimensional and doesn't factor in opposition, head coaches and flexibility when plan a doesn't work, look at DC's comments yesterday about the players not being adaptable.

 

Maybe none of them fancied the tart.

 

I think you're right to challenge on this @Brian Mahoneys Waist . Like others, I was hoping that the transfer window would see us strengthen our attacking options in particular and was of course disappointed that we have really done that. But I didn't want to make short-term desperation signings that didn't really improve us but exhausted our transfer funds. I don't want another Sam Cosgrove that we then struggle to move on. I accept the money we can / are willing to spend is limited and so if we couldn't land players we most wanted then imo we hold our nerve and get them in the summer. I know not getting them now inevitably impacts the likelihood of us making the playoffs this season but even if we make them, I doubt we'd be good enough to go up and if we did a serious rebuild would then be needed to compete in the Championship. I'm prepared to be patient and build more gradually.

Having said that, I'd be much more concerned if during the summer we don't get the players who improve us considerably as I think it'd suggest that our transfer funds and / or wages we're willing to pay just aren't enough to enable us to compete. We'll see.

On the point you make about social media - I despair at some of the posts on X and on Facebook and actually amongst some fans at the matches. I find the need to find someone to blame and abuse a bit sad. A few around me yesterday gave it to the players, the manager and the owners. They did zero 'supporting'. I also agree with you on the lies on X and FB although not on here so much. The apparent organiser of the arrive 8 minutes late on Saturday protest says it's to mark 8 years under Neerav's control when he's only been the majority shareholder since the summer of 2022.

 

Sensible post, but to have 2 transfer windows and months upon months of prep time is poor, there was approximately 25 strikers joined league 1 clubs in January, I dare not look at the numbers last summer.
We have still ultimately gambled again by going with someone outside of the EFL leaving the head coach on zoom calls on 6th Feb, based our recent scatter gun approach it hardly comes across planned out, just very poorly prepared and executed.

 

There’s a planned protest? Sorry, I don’t do social media.

 

Yes, guy's on FB trying to organise it. The plan seems to be to stay outside for the first 8 minutes before entering. This image has been posted.

 

Who are the organisers of said protest?

 

I agree to an extent but I'd question how many of the 25 strikers we'd actually have wanted and whether fees for those we would've were inflated e.g. Taylor, Smith, Charles. And at least we have got Rodrigues on loan with an option and if he doesn't impress we obviously won't take it up.

 

Martin nettleton

 

Bring back the Thumbs Down icon. Just because YouTube removed it, we need it on here.

 

What happens if DKD loses form or we get injuries ? We've zero competition for places, it's an unhealthy environment having nobody pushing or knocking on Clarke's door IMO.
We've basically chalked on this season, not a problem if we are building, but we've kept pushing the P word.
They'll have a very very difficult pitch this season for the early bird offer

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AAv2VMa3Q/

 

It will be interesting to see if Mladen and the board wait until the end of the season to reflect on it or if they go knee jerk and sack Clarke .

 

I think that’s a strange one. Surely if you’re backing the team (as the poster states), you’re there before kick off helping to ramp up a supportive atmosphere ahead of a big Yorkshire derby, no?

Wouldn’t walking out en-masse at a particular time have more of a visible impact? Not that I’m supporting such action. I just look at the stands these days and they’re that sparse anyway, I’m not sure 50 to 100 folk turning up at 12:38 in the ponty end will be noticeable.

And why is Neerav the target? If it wasn’t for him I dread to think what would have happened under the previous regime.

Each to their own I suppose.

 

I agree with all of that the powers that be seem to see it as a weakness to admit the position we are in. Honesty wouldn't go down well with some the Barnsley shouldn't be near league 1 brigade. The last two seasons we have failed to get out of this league with a much stronger squad for me we need a three year plan to not only to get us out of this league but also a squad capable of been competitive in the championship.

 

Probably not, given it's a 3pm kick-off

 

I agree completely with that.