| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing 09:43 - Aug 6 with 2722 views | skankerman |
I guess we don’t understand many of the challenges behind the scenes in trying to get a transfer of a decent player over the line.
In my job I recruit a fair bit and it is challenging to say the least if you want to get a decent candidate, until they have worked their notice period and actually start in the business many things can happen and the applicants changes their mind.
I am sure Mark Ashton finds it even more challenging with complex contracts and agents involved.
One thing is for sure MA / KM want the best for the club, if it was just to fill a position with a weak player they could sign me!!!
Patience is key and I can remember some of the dross we signed in the ME days.
Keep the faith and let’s have a great season |  | | |  |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:10 - Aug 6 with 2085 views | Bloots |
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| "Great to see you back on here mate, I was considering deactivating my account if you hadn’t returned" - TWTD User (Aug 2025) |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 with 1976 views | darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. | | | |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:30 - Aug 6 with 1945 views | Vic |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:10 - Aug 6 by Bloots |
|
Why do you reckon they signed him, Blootsy? |  |
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| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:35 - Aug 6 with 1871 views | Funge |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:10 - Aug 6 by Bloots |
|
Indeed we do not.
Overall, thus far, yet *another* transfer window where we are faffing around with strikers; moreover, apparently faffing around full-stop.
Ashton is, of course, significantly more capable than our previous owner (which, frankly, is a very low bar to clear); this alone, however, does not preclude him from scrutiny.
Dubtractor made an excellent post about the fatigue that every transfer window brings now - honestly, it's all so dry.
Be it obscure Greek strikers, Philogene's moronic agent swanning around Milsons or Barcelona airport, or Ashton and Tom Wagner having a w@nk-off over Chuba Akpom - it's very, very basic.
Modern football is rubbish. |  | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:37 - Aug 6 with 1818 views | BarcaBlue |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
TLDR
Word salad. |  | | |
| I’d totally forgotten about…. on 10:38 - Aug 6 with 1807 views | Bloots |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:35 - Aug 6 by Funge |
Indeed we do not.
Overall, thus far, yet *another* transfer window where we are faffing around with strikers; moreover, apparently faffing around full-stop.
Ashton is, of course, significantly more capable than our previous owner (which, frankly, is a very low bar to clear); this alone, however, does not preclude him from scrutiny.
Dubtractor made an excellent post about the fatigue that every transfer window brings now - honestly, it's all so dry.
Be it obscure Greek strikers, Philogene's moronic agent swanning around Milsons or Barcelona airport, or Ashton and Tom Wagner having a w@nk-off over Chuba Akpom - it's very, very basic.
Modern football is rubbish. |
….Philogene’s agent!
What a twanger he is/was. | |
| "Great to see you back on here mate, I was considering deactivating my account if you hadn’t returned" - TWTD User (Aug 2025) |
| |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:41 - Aug 6 with 1750 views | bsw72 |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:37 - Aug 6 by BarcaBlue |
TLDR
Word salad. |
It’s chaotic rambling opinion with little substance.
Word salad gives it too much credit. |  | | |
| It’s a strange one really…. on 10:41 - Aug 6 with 1746 views | Bloots |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:30 - Aug 6 by Vic |
Why do you reckon they signed him, Blootsy? |
….he’s gonna take up a squad space that we could have avoided by having one of the youngsters in there.
Although our record with keeping goalies fit recently is strangely poor, so maybe they think we need some experienced back up with Muric probably leaving.
Other than that you can only assume he’s doing some of the coaching as previously reported. | |
| "Great to see you back on here mate, I was considering deactivating my account if you hadn’t returned" - TWTD User (Aug 2025) |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:49 - Aug 6 with 1650 views | Vic |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
I accept it's your opinion - but there are so many parts of that which I think deserve to be challenged.
1. "Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic..," The speed of ascent to the Prem from a very, very, very crumbly starting point meant that we were unavoidably woefully unprepared for the demands of the Prem. We lacked just about everything we needed - from ground facilities to coaching infrastructure to squad ability. Surely the evidence is that in League 1 and the champ our talent spotting had been actually been pretty much spot on.
2. "Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants. Mark can’t do that" You might have a point there, but the jury is out.
3. "That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us. It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced." Where's the evidence for that last statement?
4. "If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required." Is he really? Sure we fell short last year - by a long way in the end - but so did 2 other clubs and 3 the year before. The gulf between the Champ and the Prem is well documented and widely accepted. MA is not the only CEO struggling to navigate this.
You may be right - time will tell. but I think given all the circumstances it's a bit premature to be so decided about the guys abilities. This really is a 'project', a total rebuild of the club after 15 years of neglect. It will take time and currently I personally am happy to give the current bunch a bit longer.
I'd have liked to see more transfer movement before now - especially given the vibes from the club at the start of the window - but it's clear we are aiming high. Which ultimately has to be a good thing. So far it hasn't done us any harm so I'm happy to keep with the strategy for the time being. | |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:49 - Aug 6 with 1643 views | ReusersTown |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
This is just a very weird, elephantintheroom tribute act isn't it? Wonder if they're back and trying to cover their tracks with poor grammar and spelling. | | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:55 - Aug 6 with 1555 views | tonybied |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:49 - Aug 6 by ReusersTown |
This is just a very weird, elephantintheroom tribute act isn't it? Wonder if they're back and trying to cover their tracks with poor grammar and spelling. |
I was going to say the same. At least elephants posts used to be readable. if at least complete bollox. |  | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:00 - Aug 6 with 1509 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:41 - Aug 6 by bsw72 |
It’s chaotic rambling opinion with little substance.
Word salad gives it too much credit. |
Add to that, repeated inaccuracies which despite corrections (with references) they still roll out. Total lack of credible opinion. | | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:06 - Aug 6 with 1443 views | Nutkins_Return |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:37 - Aug 6 by BarcaBlue |
TLDR
Word salad. |
It really was! Absolutely no evidence backing any of it up and a lot of it you could point to evidence to the contrary. Ashton has absolutely hired very qualified people consistently from higher levels to take on roles to move the club forward and take him out of operations himself.
The fact that he stepped up when first onboard to plug gaps himself does not make him a control freak or anything. That's leading from the front and he has increasingly taken more of a back seat albeit remained the main voice for the organisation.
It's almost hilarious that we have a few complicated transfers which leads to that whole mess of an analysis. | |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:09 - Aug 6 with 1409 views | dirtyboy |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
Total utter guff.
I get what you're saying about him getting people in to do what he's not good at, but there's an awful lot of change that has needed 'managing' and he's done exceptionally well in a short space of time.
For clarity, I cannot stand the spiel he comes out with at times, but I get the circles he operates in that tend to like it.
In his tenure t/o has gone from what? £17 to £22m in L1, then to £37m in the Championship, god knows what for the PL year.
* We've had concerts and boxing
* New pitch
* Training ground pitches and adjustments
* Planning for a new Training complex
* Cat 1 achieved
* Mental amount of works carried out at stadium prior to PL season starting,
* Football staff from 102 to 160
* Other staff from 65 to 135
( I think we can safely say people are being in to do jobs - will take time to improve those - knowing their capabilities, just like the players)
* 2 promotions
You might look for fault, but I look for achievement.
The positives of what's been achieved at this club, and things still look positive, are far in excess of the perceived failings of transfer windows.
Rome wasn't built in a day and transfers of players are probably the most complex of all deals any club makes.
Delap was a decent profit in a year.
We might make £20m on Omari and not be significantly weaker across the front 3 that started the last Championship season.
If we sell Broadhead for the reported £7m, then that again is pretty impressive should it happen.
I think he's clearly demonstrated that he can make strides, he'll also be learning every day, like all of us. His year in the PL will also have helped, like the players too. |  | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:22 - Aug 6 with 1326 views | Guthrum |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
That boils down to you not thinking his player identification and recruitment strategy is much good (a lot of which, particularly the former, is not down to him anyway), that you don't think he's good at delegation (difficult to judge without day-to-day knowlege of ITFC's inner workings, but the owners have backed him consistently) and that you blame him for us not surviving in the Prem (a lot more than Ashton's actions involved in that). |  |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:28 - Aug 6 with 1275 views | catch74 |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:37 - Aug 6 by BarcaBlue |
TLDR
Word salad. |
Typing with too many fingers? |  |
| |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:34 - Aug 6 with 1217 views | Bluemike31 |
No issue with MA at all, for me he's been the best thing to happen to this club in years. | | | |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 11:34 - Aug 6 with 1214 views | Guthrum |
| We don’t need another old goalkeeper Mark. (n/t) on 10:35 - Aug 6 by Funge |
Indeed we do not.
Overall, thus far, yet *another* transfer window where we are faffing around with strikers; moreover, apparently faffing around full-stop.
Ashton is, of course, significantly more capable than our previous owner (which, frankly, is a very low bar to clear); this alone, however, does not preclude him from scrutiny.
Dubtractor made an excellent post about the fatigue that every transfer window brings now - honestly, it's all so dry.
Be it obscure Greek strikers, Philogene's moronic agent swanning around Milsons or Barcelona airport, or Ashton and Tom Wagner having a w@nk-off over Chuba Akpom - it's very, very basic.
Modern football is rubbish. |
Thing is, it's not generally the club which has been doing the faffing. It is inferred from the barrage of tweets, media articles and speculative pieces which surround every transfer involving clubs in the public eye (see the ongoing Eze saga). Makes everything seem far more involved and dramatic than it actually is (Brum made an offer for Akpom, Ajax accepted, we made an offer, also accepted, player prefers us despite a Brum last-minute counter offer, that's all there was to it).
Ashton might prefer everything to be kept under wraps, but he can't do anything about the internet and its denizens whose income depends upon their ITK status and being first with any info (reliable or otherwise). Not to mention agents putting stuff out there to sway negotiations and provoke bidding wars. | |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:36 - Aug 6 with 1192 views | baxterbasics |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:28 - Aug 6 by darkhorse28 |
I think there are plenty of people who have operated above that level.
I’m not sure wanting to do your job professionally, which he clearly does, is instructive of being elite.
It’s the basic expected in any profession, and certainly in well paid executives. All 92 do that, so that’s such a low bar, and sub optimal mind enter.
If we want a very proficient, EFL exec team, Nark is very good, experienced, has decent contacts and generally has I think (from the outside) improved for his 35 years, certainly it’s probably the best version.
If we want more than EFL he’s really poor, mikes off what’s required, and clearly now there’s 35 years evidence, and none of it points to the level required for the next step.
Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic.., and at times we’ve got lucky - Delap wasn’t a top target, we spent that summer offering far more money for the Greek striker, hence the £30 million release fee, we simply rated him at that level, well down our list.
But he appointed a very talented coach, has over seen two promotions, and usually does the transfer business behind the scenes.
I’d say he’s very ego fuelled, he things he’s not elite, and that’s why he takes on too many roles.
Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
Mark can’t do that.
That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us.
It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced.
It does look like he massively over sold his own ability to get McKenna a champions league contract, and spend £150 million.
Gamechanger seem to have acted accordingly (to protect their interest).
If EFL is what you want (and I suspect you’d rather that than make any tough decision) then I make you right.
We can challenge with Mark, for sure, we can be competitive at this level.
If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required.
That’s the complexity of ownership.
He’s like Daryl Murphy.
Love that guy, made the EFL look easy at times, not so much premier league though, levels.
World class is the required level now.
Marks one or two levels below that.., and no shame in that, but this is peak Mark, he isn’t getting to that level, because he doesn’t accept where he’s failing, judged by this summers window, where he had all the time in the world, as opposed to last summer, he’d made all the same mistakes.
And whatever the outcome, if the process and execution are poor, long term failure is guaranteed.
If rather the new owners bring in a team of people who are elite and support McKenna where he is weak, also talent if recruitment and networks.
We can compete with Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Leeds, Palace etc
It shocks me people are happy not to, just Bumbke along, with a good version of ourselves, never the best version.
Just my opinion. |
TLDR
But saw the mass downvote and added mine anyway. Wisdom of crowds and all. |  |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 12:03 - Aug 6 with 1099 views | Sharkey |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 11:22 - Aug 6 by Guthrum |
That boils down to you not thinking his player identification and recruitment strategy is much good (a lot of which, particularly the former, is not down to him anyway), that you don't think he's good at delegation (difficult to judge without day-to-day knowlege of ITFC's inner workings, but the owners have backed him consistently) and that you blame him for us not surviving in the Prem (a lot more than Ashton's actions involved in that). |
Not really to do with this thread in particular, figure. but I'm curious about that 'football staff 160' figure. Do you know what's included in that (e.g. groundsmen? masseurs?), and what's in the 'other staff' category? Where do these figures come from? (No criticism intended, I'm just a bit blown away by the scale of the operation these days.) |  | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 12:05 - Aug 6 with 1080 views | nrb1985 |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:37 - Aug 6 by BarcaBlue |
TLDR
Word salad. |
This is very disingenuous mate.
I for one have long since thought that "sub optimal mind enter" is a big problem for us. | | | |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 12:41 - Aug 6 with 915 views | dirtyboy |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 12:03 - Aug 6 by Sharkey |
Not really to do with this thread in particular, figure. but I'm curious about that 'football staff 160' figure. Do you know what's included in that (e.g. groundsmen? masseurs?), and what's in the 'other staff' category? Where do these figures come from? (No criticism intended, I'm just a bit blown away by the scale of the operation these days.) |
Assume you're responding to my comment....?
* Football staff from 102 to 160
* Other staff from 65 to 135
I don't know the breakdown of that as it's not been made publically available, but would assume masseurs would be football, as they're directly related to performance of players. Scouts and analysts also here as they're responsible for id of players.
Grounds staff, probably admin, stuff that needs to be looked after regardless of what players are doing. Obviously i'm guessing though.
ETA I suspect that rose again for the PL season, but will likely have dropped on relegation sadly. [Post edited 6 Aug 12:42]
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 12:44 - Aug 6 with 878 views | Bobbychase |
Small, technical point if I may.
A friend of mine once worked for a company that sets up stages/seating for big concerts in the UK and Europe. Told him I was an Ipswich fan once and he made a face, said Portman Road was a nightmare for the larger tours because the only way to get the bigger pieces of kit in was to crane them over the stands or take them completely apart and reconstruct inside the stadium. Factoring in the raised scoreboard between Sir Alf and Cobbold stands has taken that issue out as lorries can now fit under it and will pave the way to more concerts in the future, and added revenue for us.
Another thing we can credit the owners and Ashton for. |  |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 13:24 - Aug 6 with 761 views | PioneerBlue |
MA is well appreciated here. It’s been a team effort but this is his biggest summer window in my view. Irrespective of what we wanted and what we end up, it’s the strongest position relative to club finances and league status but we will only be able to fully assess this summer when we look back in May. | |
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| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 14:03 - Aug 6 with 643 views | darkhorse28 |
| Mark Ashton appreciate the job he is doing on 10:49 - Aug 6 by Vic |
I accept it's your opinion - but there are so many parts of that which I think deserve to be challenged.
1. "Our inability on strategy and talent ID is really poor, the whole process looks chaotic..," The speed of ascent to the Prem from a very, very, very crumbly starting point meant that we were unavoidably woefully unprepared for the demands of the Prem. We lacked just about everything we needed - from ground facilities to coaching infrastructure to squad ability. Surely the evidence is that in League 1 and the champ our talent spotting had been actually been pretty much spot on.
2. "Elite people bring people in who are better than them, they stand on the shoulders of giants. Mark can’t do that" You might have a point there, but the jury is out.
3. "That’s why he won’t ever be Premier League level.., and that’s why presents a huge strategic challenge for us. It’s clear Gamechanger aren’t convinced." Where's the evidence for that last statement?
4. "If you want more (and we just had a decades long generational opportunity) which we delivered our worst ever season, relatively. Then he’s light years off what’s required." Is he really? Sure we fell short last year - by a long way in the end - but so did 2 other clubs and 3 the year before. The gulf between the Champ and the Prem is well documented and widely accepted. MA is not the only CEO struggling to navigate this.
You may be right - time will tell. but I think given all the circumstances it's a bit premature to be so decided about the guys abilities. This really is a 'project', a total rebuild of the club after 15 years of neglect. It will take time and currently I personally am happy to give the current bunch a bit longer.
I'd have liked to see more transfer movement before now - especially given the vibes from the club at the start of the window - but it's clear we are aiming high. Which ultimately has to be a good thing. So far it hasn't done us any harm so I'm happy to keep with the strategy for the time being. |
Fair points, all of them.
The issue this summer is less understandable than last, our ascent was quick, unexpected, so agree, scaling any business is a challenge so quickly.
In that context, I wonder if even Mark wishes he hadn’t go so big with exclusively EFL.., not spending so much but sticking to EFL would be understandable, going so big, on talent that costs more, and potentially is lower quality is a bit of an odd strategy.
In terms of the project; Mark is 35 years in the game, at this point he’s not KM, he doesn’t have the mitigation that he’s early in his career, he’s at or past his peak.
He’s never operated at an elite level, with any success, and the jury isn’t out, we know.
Gamechanger. They want to sell their stake. Along with the owners, a majority of the share capital and a controlling interest.
52% is for sale. This bit isn’t conjecture, Brett is the person who knows, and he’s made it 100% clear.
It does look like they were made lots of promises that weren’t kept.
Relegation wouldn’t be the base case, to spend so much, and get such contracts, that clearly didn’t happen.
The base case was obviously staying up.
Now they want out…, the reasons are conjecture on my part, I really don’t know.
I do know if I invested those amounts, was made promises by the senior team that not only were not kept, but would cost me 100’s of millions in lost revenue and additional long term liabilities, with little balance sheet appreciation (we had to sell the young talented players) then I’d either sack the senior team (if I was committed long term) or I’d exit if it was commercially the right time, they clearly view that this is as good as Ashton gets.., that clearly is now their base case; hence the exit.
McKenna gets time. He’s young, he can learn, he has a very high potential ceiling, which may or may not happen, but there’s potential.
I don’t think Gamechanger are looking at Mark after the last 18 months and seeing someone that can deliver the scaling requirements.
If they believed that, they’d probably stay.
35 years in an industry is long enough to judge.
Some here suffer from recency bias (both ways, the disaster of last year and the success the years before)
But mark had a 30 odd year career before us.., which was very mixed.
I do think he’s the best he’s ever been, and in this league, a good operator.
I just don’t think he will ever establish a club in the league above.., unless a manager drags him to success.
Long term you can’t be as poor at value talent id and building strategically and be successful, it’s not possible.
Brighton et al - that can swap managers and it makes no difference
If we swapped and fit it wrong there isn’t a Mark premium.
Brighton etc aren’t successful because of the manager and coaches exclusively.
They have a framework.
Mark isn’t working towards that.., he genuinely doesn’t know what it looos like.
He DID know the league and budget this summer, and has massive leverage financially (relative)
But it still hasn’t been well executed - so where is the the process and strategy?
Not to say the players we get won’t work, some of them are VERY good players.
But it is chaotic, we are well down our target lists etc | | | |
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