Ruaidhri Higgins..

Do we mind staying League One and building sustainably? I’d rather be a consistent top 8 league one team than have to boom and bust every other season.

 

Exactly my thoughts, you put it far more eloquently

 

Interesting article on Donny Rovers who are trying to be self sufficient.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.u...t-on-latest-doncaster-rovers-accounts-4205249

 

So Khaled is back to talking s*** then? How can anyone trust a word this guy says?

 

Yeah maybe you are right, seems a strange thing to state..... That's pretty standard at all clubs I'd imagine.

We are dealing with the CEO of a professional club, the communication is amateur at best. Amateur.

 

I didn"t say that , I am asking who were these players, simple enough question because I watched all the matches & cannot think of any , can you ? In the league cup & the papa johns young players were used & everyone I spoke to were delighted that some of our youngsters were gaining valuable experience but I did not see this policy used in the league but I will stand corrected when you give me the list .

 

Surely interviews are to help selection and talks occur after selection.

 

Exactly the reason I wrote it's arguably more sustainable. Providing we're progressing I'd be prepared to have another season or two in League One if it meant we then got to the Championship and stayed there. Where it becomes an issue is if the communication suggests something different. I know many will disagree but I do wonder whether what Duff was hearing / seeing caused him to think that implementation of the project he was sold prior to joining was being extended over a longer period and that's what he was alluding to when he said he was ambitious. And arguably the type of head coach we want to recruit now i.e. a high performer with ambition, might not be very receptive to a "we're going to build slowly but surely even if that means we're not successful for a year or two" message.

Re the fanbase, my view is that comms were quite bullish in the second half of the season and the ire surfacing on here now is a reflection of resultant higher expectations. Also, Khaled's 'exciting news' statement hasn't been helpful as it's heightened expectations even further. I am sure the intention was positive but it's a shame it hasn't yet been followed by the actual news.

 

I’ve raised this question before, if you base it purely on academy players who make it into the first team consistently and either stay there and add value to the team or go to be sold at a reasonable value there are very very few successes, this suggests in cold hard facts it currently does not work.
That then raises 3 questions
1) Is it the initial identification of players failing?
2) Is it our ability to develop them?
3) Is it worth bothering.

Given that there are various examples of players who were with us in either the academy or U23 that go on to have success at various levels after leaving us suggests we can identify but for some reason don’t seem to develop/bring them through.

That then leads to Q3, I suspect our best opportunity of being self sufficient financially and creating a bit of continuity of success to build is to get this part of the club working better.

All of the above makes a case for the board wanting to see players being brought through and spending time in and around the first team*

* Just in this point others seem to think having a KPI means you have to it could be that is in place purely for a measure of progress as opposed to contractual.

 

I can only assume.....I know u shouldn't.......that Disco doesn't want it, otherwise he must be slightly miffed at being overlooked.

 

The actual news has naffed off to coach Swansea City F.C.

 

I think we should have Maura Higgins as our new head coach instead.

 

We've just signed a wing back from NI for just 25k.. so i agree, can't see the compo being out of our reach.

 

Duff didn't change his mind, he had leaving in his thoughts before the playoff final. I think he would have left even if we'd won.

 

Problem with that strategy is its a very fine tightrope. If we consistently just miss out on promotion to the Championship, the likelihood is, our best players and manager will be picked up by Championship clubs and every year we're starting from scratch.
Chances of us doing that and continually hitting the play offs say, are slim, more likely we become a mid table L1 team who occasionally flirts with both ends of the table. That always leaves the possibility of a drop to L2.

 

Open season on the fans from you. Come August every single fan will want us to win.

 

Well no not every fan. Jalo looked what he is, a young lad in a man's game. Not and never have been a fan of going with yoof.

 

I think the general consensus of fans is a very good guide. I saw zero posts, for example, from Cheltenham fans, expressing any negative view at all about Duff. All their fans were full of praise for him, as were all of ours when he had been here a while. It's the same with players. In many cases there are disagreements amongst supporters about the merits or otherwise of certain players, but when there is virtual unanimity, as is the case regarding the quality of Connell, for example, then that is a very reliable guide. It would seem that a fair number of Derry fans are not at all impressed by Higgins, which should at least give the BFC board cause to reflect.