| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup 03:01 - Apr 6 with 1290 views | TownieRob |
Now that it’s all but confirmed we’re heading back to the Champ, I’ve had a bit of time to think it all over, and I’m not devastated. It’s more of an “oh well” kind of feeling. A bit of frustration in places, but I also appreciate the size of the task we were up against.
Looking at the squad now, too many of our signings just haven’t worked out. Some arrived with big reputations, PL experience, and big wages and we really needed them to hit the ground running and not just with performances, but by setting standards and showing others what it takes at this level. But they simply haven’t. Muric, Johnson, Phillips, all with PL experience have been really disappointing. O’Shea’s probably the only one with PL experience who can walk away with any real credit.
Then there’s the lads we brought up from the Champ. Clarke’s shown glimpses. Szmodics had done okay, though injuries have been a problem. Greaves hasn’t looked fully convincing but again, injury hasn’t helped. And Philogene only came in January, so while it’s hard for him to make a huge impact, it’s also tough and unfair to judge. In my opinion, thats simply too many signings who havent added any real significant improvement or contribution to the team.
But if we’re being honest, of all the new arrivals, it’s only really O'Shea, Delap, Omari (kind of new), and Cajuste who’ve had any consistent impact. And even then that’s two U21s and a player managing an injury all season. That’s a huge ask in this brutal and unforgiving league. Which brings me to the recruitment in general.The hit rate just hasn’t been good enough. And as we’ve seen, if you don’t get that right, the task becomes almost impossible.
Would we have been any worse off if we’d just kept the spirit and core of last season and added two or three quality signings rather than trying to overhaul the squad? Maybe not. But then again, if we’d started getting battered every week, everyone would’ve said we didn’t do enough or we didnt "have a proper go". It’s one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations. That said, I do think we lost a bit of what made us tick last year by changing too much too quickly.
I’ve still had a good time this season. New grounds and some great away days, doing it all with the same group of lads I’ve followed this club with for the last 15–20 years and that’s what it’s really about. I’d have loved to stay up, of course, but the PL isn’t perfect. The awkward kick-off times, the soulless atmospheres at some grounds, and the constant VAR nonsense definitely suck some of the fun out of it.
If we learn from this, we’ve got a real chance to come back stronger. We had a go. Came up short. But we’ll have learned loads and now it’s about doing it properly next time..
[Post edited 6 Apr 3:06]
|  | | |  |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 06:09 - Apr 6 with 1124 views | GreenEye |
Good assessment in my opinion.
I'm more disappointed than gutted because we're better than what we've shown. The leaks & mistakes remain from last season while PL coaches had us sussed early on.
The team is definitely better than last season though I do believe KM gutted the core, made too many changes and we lost the telepathy & heart that got us promoted twice.
The team and management will have learnt and have the ability to bounce back then hold onto a respectable position in the PL, but management will need to adapt better by reading the game and controlling the play.
I like the Championship as a league and most teams have a chance. It's fun to get promoted to PL but it remains a league that only a few will ever be able to win.
I miss the old First Division | | | |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 08:04 - Apr 6 with 1023 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
Phillips had something 35 PL starts in 3 years when he joined us. So was always unlikely to hit the ground running. |  |
| |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 08:42 - Apr 6 with 968 views | TownieRob |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 08:04 - Apr 6 by Marshalls_Mullet |
Phillips had something 35 PL starts in 3 years when he joined us. So was always unlikely to hit the ground running. |
Maybe so.
Phillips did have limited starts before joining but we’re still talking about an England Men’s Player of the Year on big wages, brought in to make a difference which given the fact we signed him, we thought he could.
If it was always “unlikely” he’d hit the ground running, then that just points straight back to poor recruitment. The reality is we needed him to step up, especially with no PL quality in midfield. | | | |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:12 - Apr 6 with 875 views | jasondozzell |
Feel similar.
Only trouble is the awkward kick off times this season are suddenly going to look very attractive when people realise what's coming with kick off times next season!! |  | | |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:15 - Apr 6 with 854 views | pointofblue |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:12 - Apr 6 by jasondozzell |
Feel similar.
Only trouble is the awkward kick off times this season are suddenly going to look very attractive when people realise what's coming with kick off times next season!! |
This is the big reason why I'm not looking forward to next season - the number of 12:30 kick offs. | |
| |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:22 - Apr 6 with 833 views | jasondozzell |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:15 - Apr 6 by pointofblue |
This is the big reason why I'm not looking forward to next season - the number of 12:30 kick offs. |
Yeah. Exactly. I don't think a lot of people have twigged yet.
Nothing worse than 12.30 | | | |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 16:14 - Apr 6 with 711 views | GreenEye |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:22 - Apr 6 by jasondozzell |
Yeah. Exactly. I don't think a lot of people have twigged yet.
Nothing worse than 12.30 |
I'm actually a fan of them. Gives me a chance to get home before 6pm.
5.30 kick off's in Blackburn or Hull are quite a drive though [Post edited 6 Apr 17:47]
| | | |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 18:16 - Apr 6 with 547 views | cressi |
| Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup on 12:22 - Apr 6 by jasondozzell |
Yeah. Exactly. I don't think a lot of people have twigged yet.
Nothing worse than 12.30 |
Really 12.30 before 5.30pm any day at least you got the evening free. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
