for all the moaners, doubters and general pessimistic fans

and if you cannot see he was constrained by Shepherd's

wage structure then quite franklyI don't care what you think as you are obviously as blinkered as others on this board.

 

I was going to say that myself but thought it would be a waste of time.

Owen Blackadder is clearly AR's biggest fan and choose what you tell him he won't believe a word.

(doh)

 

You've critcised Ritchie's coaching to me and now his player

selection.Ritchie was Academy Director at Leeds for example, explain how he came to get that job if he couldn't coach? Why did he become head of our academy? Why did Shepherd give him the managers job? Where does the buck stop?</p>

</p>

 

I have never said GS is blameless

I just believe the vast proportion of the blame lies with AR.

June / July was the time to strengthen, as I am sick to the back teeth of saying, and that is not hindsight.

AR stated he wanted to give his lads a chance when everyone with any sense knew clearly they were not good enough or in sufficient numbers to sustain championship status. Maybe GS is at fault for accepting the managers judgement..hang on....

 

AR TRIED to sign players in june/july

the club has never denied that he wanted to sign certain players and that the club failed.

if the manager wants to sign a player and we fail to bring that player in then to me that is down to the board of directors not sanctioning the use of enough funds. not quite sure how that is the managers fault.

 

Who

and when?

The club has not denied trying to sign Beckham has it....

Tried to sign a few perhaps that for personal reasons did not come but I thought that was in August / September?

Tried to sign one that went to Bradford.

 

RE: Who

jay tabb, constantine, chopra (i dont care whether people say we would have no chance to sign him, andy ritchie did want him), plus more.

 

We were turned down by Foster (for Burnley) and Johnson (for Bradford!)

and Darren Ward seemed to run away so fast we never got near to offering him a contract. Didn't even bother to turn up at Bradford PA when he was supposed to be playing did he?

 

Well

Constantine..tried to sign him in september (not june or july) port vale did not want to sell.</p>

Jay Tabb went to a club with clearly more money that we have (suppose that's all GS's fault) and I believe wanted tobe in the midlands in any case.</p>

Chopra..maybe AR did want him but I suppose he may has well have wantedRob Earnshawfor our chances of landing him..we did not even try while AR went swanning off on his jollies in the most important close season this club has had for ages...not that I think we could have afforded his wages or win the obvious bidding war.</p>

OK then if AR really did want these men and GS alledgedly failed due to deep pockets AR must have professionally thrown his teddy out of the cot because little effort was made to either sign other players after these &quot;attempts&quot; to strengthen.</p>

AR is no saint. He has made no public comment about his hands being tied either before nor after his sacking and I dont swallow that this is down to anything other than that there is little substance to the implication many AR believers are proliferating.</p>

 

Rick Holden was interviewed before the Palace game

and said they knew experienced players were needed but they couldn't get them in under Shepherd's wage structure. That's why they were looking at the likes of Cadamateri and Mulryne who would have been cheap but experienced.

 

Cant remember that (if he said it)

can you substantiate that (and can he if he said it?)

Left it more than a bit late if he did.

"last years squad deserve a chance" - AR

believe what you want.

 

Can I substantiate it? It was said on Real radio the week

after they were sacked.

 

Ritchies signings at start of promotion season -

Hayes, Howard, Nardiello, Devaney.All crap in your opinion then?

 

I have not heard it nor seen anyone mention it on here

but if he did say it was it true? and why wait until you are on the verge of getting sacked when to come out earlier would have put immense pressure on the board to change tack?

AR has never said anything of the sort btw

I firmly believe the largest restriction placed on AR in terms of wages was on the existing players he wanted to get better contracts for and those with expired contracts and that is why he threw the teddy out.

I dont know quite why I am wasting my efforts typing though as its all been said before and its obvious you believe what you believe.

It will be interesting to see your comments and those of others if things turn around in the next month or so.

 

hehe

Howard..pick of the crop. the best creative midfielder we have but not much battle in him. Not sure he's waht we need in a relegation battle but his goals help out our inept "strikeforce"

Nardiello...made of glass, wont chase a ball, puts in the odd performance and not richteas signing. Not likely ever to score more than 12 nor make 30 starts.

Hayes...good player but not as a striker without a much better striker than any other we have. Often workshy and finishing has been poor. Does a good cameo wide.

Devaney..occaisionally superb, often below average. Offers little defensively.

oh and

Heckingbottom...worst or 2nd worst left back in the division.

 

Not a patch on Knight, Reid and McCann eh? nt