Doom and Gloom v Complacency!

Who is the worst - those of us labled "Doom and Gloom merchants" who think the squad should have been strengthened further during January or the complacency of Richie and his accolites who dont want to upset the team spirit!
As I said in my earlier post I am more than happy with our league position but still feel one or two additions should have been made to our midfield, not to replace anybody but just to provide adequate cover for situations like this Saturday.

 

That's my precise thinking too.

 

I am sure that Alex Ferguson was pleased with Man Utd's last result too but if he had the chance to sign a Makelele, or Gerrard or Lampard or someone similar, do you think he would turn them down so as not to upset team spirit. Not on your life! No GOOD manager would and more to the point, no GOOD Chairman would either.

 

What Ritchie has said has made me feel a little uneasy.

 

get behind Ritchie and the chairman, we have a chance to go 3rd and you are saying they arent doing a good job. (N)

 

Rubbish. I'm totally behind them. I just think that maybe he's got just a little bit of a 'soft centre' where the players are concerned.</p>

My opinion about whether he should have strengthened doesn't change. I think we should have done.</p>

The loss of key players could cost us.</p>

 

i wasnt saying it to you. Have a look again.

 

we can go 4th realistcly, there are a lot of games before our game in hand, and we can be passed ourselves

 

I will back the team and the manager and the chairman whoever they might be all the way! As I have for the last 40 years! BUT I can still disagree with their actions (or lack of them)sometimes. We all want success for the team we just see different ways of achieving that success and I hope that our promotion chances this season have not been jeopardised by lack of action on the transfer front. I agree with redbrother - no team can afford to stand on their laurels - good managers/chairmen are always looking to improve their squads regardless of their current form.

 

WE HAVE

we have signed Wright and Heckingbottom in this transfer window. Do you expet us to sign a player just becasue someone is injured for a week?

 

True but

You are assuming there was something he could do.
If no one was willing to move, then perhaps he was just doing a cover up job.
I for one am not going to question his judgment - its working and that will do.

 

Sorry

 

I presume your comment was aimed at me. Well let me just clarify it for you and if at the end of the season, all your little dreams have blown up in your face, don't say that you weren't warned.
What I am saying is that both our manager and our chairman are inexperienced and as a result, they have made poor decisions throughout the season, at deadline times, with regard to the strengthening of the squad.
Don't quote Hayes, Devaney etc. at me, because as yet, none of them have performed with a deal of consistency although they have in odd games.
The proof of the pudding will be over the next few months, when the pressure will really be on. So far, despite what I believe to be glaring managerial mistakes, we have managed to maintain a good position in a very poor division, without really performing with any consistent form. That could infact be our greatest weapon, because no one really knows what to expect from us.
I believe that we will suffer for the lack of any in depth cover in both midfield and defence, during the final run in and I believe that this could and should have been addressed during this final deadline period.

 

Can't argue with any of that.

 

you are assuming every thing is in their control

If a player does not want to move -
You cannot make them. And if you could - they would not be happy about the fact.
So what should they do then, sign a crap player just for the cover?

 

The Chairman is operating a tight ship financially. With two additional wages on the books, and no-one out (Vaughan or Conlon!), I would imagine Ritchie is under pressure to make do with what he's got. I believe that the players on the books are good enough to get us out of this alehouse league.

 

I think a more telling factor might be the lack of experience in the squad if the pressure is on during a promotion dog-fight. Hence, trying to sign Windas. Though I suppose Heckingbottom has some experience.

 

Chairman opperating a tight ship?

We were offering £150k for Windass and his inflated wages, or was the Windass thing just a smokescreen like Sparticus thought?

Funny how the Windass thing broke at the same time as the land sale.
Or am I just being a cynical old git?

(NOOO) (pint) (pint) (pint) (puke)

 

RE: you are assuming every thing is in their control

Richie made the first approach for Horlock and according to reports he was available but Richie decided not to take things further. He must rate him or would not have made the enquiry! Decision seems to have been based on his desire not to change a winning team! Or was it just another case of trying to appease the fans by showing his ambition ( bid for Windass) but this time it backfired because the player was available! Just seems strange to me that you make an enquiry but then do a quick about turn when you are told the player is available!

 

RE: you are assuming every thing is in their control

http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10309~776396,00.html

BARNSLEY manager Andy Ritchie has revealed he turned down the opportunity of signing a player on loan yesterday.

Speaking to the Barnsley Star, Andy said: "It didn't seem the right thing to do in terms of the way we played on Friday and the team spirit. I just felt that it was not the right thing to do".

Although Andy has not revealed the identity of the player in question it is understood he was a versatile midfielder.

Maybe he was crap, in which case of course we shouldn't sign him. But from what Ritchie says, that doesn't appear to be the reason why we didn't sign him. If Devaney, Shuker and McPhail are injured for the game on Saturday, which appears to be the case judging from the what we're hearing from the club, then a 'versatile midfielder' is exactly the kind of player we would require.