Recruitment screwed up (8 Viewers)

[Captain Dart]

After reading this article I conclude that Mowbray & Venus made serious errors in their recruitment strategy. They tried to get premium players on a small budget and ended up settling for 3rd choice. Now they are looking at an unreliable market in out of contract players to fill big holes in the squad.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/coventry-city-boss-tony-mowbray-11851372

The squad lacks depth and club occupies a relegation position which I think will be the case till the next transfer window and maybe beyond.

 

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[Nick]

Yep, they gambled on getting players above our level.

 

[Covstu]

I agree its a risky strategy but no one complained when the likes of Murphy and Armstrong were here though???

 

[Evo1883]

Which part of the article suggests they tried to get players above our "level"
The way I read it was that 1.david wheater stayed at Bolton 2.wilson was offered more money at Rotherham 3.even good players at lower league levels cost a lot of money 4.agents etc got in the way 5.just lost out to other sides (probably wages)

Are you moaning at him for trying to get players in to get us up ?
Or would you have settled for bang average

Either way I don't think Mowbray can win here

 

[covcity4life]

you cant say everyone we got was 3rd choice

also its better to aim high than just go for crap

the squad isnt what he wanted ideally but he has still given the go ahead to these players, he knows he can do well with them.

now lets see if he manages it

 

[Covstu]

I think it goes back to the unknowns i.e. how much wages we can contribute to the player and what the premier league club is willing to contribute etc etc If we are going in at we are contributing 20% of the wage then there would be no surprise that we cannot get anyone decent. He picked out some gems last season so I personally trust his strategy providing he is working with a decent budget

 

[stevefloyd]

Seems like we had a plan a but no plan b again

 

[Nick]

Which part of the article suggests they tried to get players above our "level"
The way I read it was that 1.david wheater stayed at Bolton 2.wilson was offered more money at Rotherham 3.even good players at lower league levels cost a lot of money 4.agents etc got in the way 5.just lost out to other sides (probably wages)

Are you moaning at him for trying to get players in to get us up ?
Or would you have settled for bang average

Either way I don't think Mowbray can win here

No issue with it if we had a plan b in case

 

[rupert_bear]

The article states trying to sign 6 centre halves with experience but for one reason or other failed this questions letting Arron Martin go and you have to say Reda Johnson despite his injury record before replacing them

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

An XI of strong League 1 players would have been good enough to mount a title charge, and I'm sure was realistic with the budget.

3 or 4 'championship' players and a team full of kids or not so good quality would have still been a massive risk.

Now we've ended up with no championship quality players and actually probably lower league 1 standard of players plus the academy.

They got it categorically wrong, and despite many people refusing to accept anything was wrong throughout a worrying transfer window, there were warning signs all over the place. Also, the two year plan went down the toilet as soon as they cleaned out (with no insurance policy) without building on what we had.

I hate changing managers, and I'm not saying sack him, but he's really not impressing at the moment.

 

[Esoterica]

Finally a decent football related article from the CT and should quiten down the budget chat too. The summer recruitment rests on Mowbray's shoulders alone.

Some fans have blamed the club’s owners for not giving Mowbray enough financial backing but it appears the manager is working with very similar figures – thought to be around £2million – to the ones he was this time last year when the club were flying.


“You’d have to ask Mark (Venus) but if it has changed it hasn’t changed significantly,” he said.

“I don’t bring in players willy-nilly. I am more selective on the footballers I like and I won’t waste the money on just anybody.

“We can’t go breaking budgets but because I know what salary levels we’re at that’s the pond I go fishing in.”

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

The article states trying to sign 6 centre halves with experience but for one reason or other failed this questions letting Arron Martin go and you have to say Reda Johnson despite his injury record before replacing them

Yep I think that is bang on

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Finally a decent football related article from the CT and should quiten down the budget chat too. The summer recruitment rests on Mowbray's shoulders alone.

Some fans have blamed the club’s owners for not giving Mowbray enough financial backing but it appears the manager is working with very similar figures – thought to be around £2million – to the ones he was this time last year when the club were flying.


“You’d have to ask Mark (Venus) but if it has changed it hasn’t changed significantly,” he said.

“I don’t bring in players willy-nilly. I am more selective on the footballers I like and I won’t waste the money on just anybody.

“We can’t go breaking budgets but because I know what salary levels we’re at that’s the pond I go fishing in.”

Doesn't look good if we don't start winning soon

 

[Evo1883]

You could argue that Martin wanted a certain answer in regards to his future , and I'm sure Mowbray and everybody else fans included thought we would have defenders in place .
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and right now we miss Arron Martin
Not sure I agree about Reda , he is almost certain to not play half a season at this level before injury kicks in

 

[Evo1883]

In hindsight you would have kept Martin and Phillips , because I'd rather Phillips than Kelly Evans

 

[Grendel]

So basically Mowbray screwed up and we still have a top 6 budget.

Mowbrays lack of league one experience is exposed. It's criminal we are where we are and still have budget to spend.

 

[PVA]

Wow I've seen it all now. Criticising the manager for trying to sign good players!!!

It's not like we were targeting Messi and Neymar, it was Kelvin Wilson and Leon Clarke etc, not exactly unattainable.

 

[Evo1883]

I just wish the club would hurry up and sack him , gives the "he has to go" threads a 12 month break before they re emerge

Again , he's the only manager to finish in the top 10 under sisu , why on earth do people think we can do better I do not know

 

[italiahorse]

An XI of strong League 1 players would have been good enough to mount a title charge, and I'm sure was realistic with the budget.

3 or 4 'championship' players and a team full of kids or not so good quality would have still been a massive risk.

Now we've ended up with no championship quality players and actually probably lower league 1 standard of players plus the academy.

They got it categorically wrong, and despite many people refusing to accept anything was wrong throughout a worrying transfer window, there were warning signs all over the place. Also, the two year plan went down the toilet as soon as they cleaned out (with no insurance policy) without building on what we had.

I hate changing managers, and I'm not saying sack him, but he's really not impressing at the moment.

Who knows what Sisu are allowing.
We have no idea what the budget is compared to others.
I suspect it is not top 6 so we are budgeting for mid table.

 

[Kingokings204]

Finally a good article from CT. It clearly explains what has gone wrong and why we are bottom of the league.

We all suspected it as the summer went on. Mowbray has aimed to high and now as to settle for 3rd choice. Andre wright from wba on deadline day was smacks of desperation and will be a waste of money and a loan. Nothing against him btw.

We needed to go start the summer get in a load of league 1 decent players and sign the odd loan at the end of the window when PL clubs let their talent go out and play.

I like mowbray but he has been caught out here and for me the season it about survival now. Give me 20th this year and start again.

 

[ccfchoi87]

Wow I've seen it all now. Criticising the manager for trying to sign good players!!!

It's not like we were targeting Messi and Neymar, it was Kelvin Wilson and Leon Clarke etc, not exactly unattainable.

Yeah, Wilson was only on 25k at forest and there would be no competition for Leon Clarkes signature. I have no problem with him going after top players but the lack of plan b is astounding. The same can be said for his tactics.

 

[italiahorse]

Wow I've seen it all now. Criticising the manager for trying to sign good players!!!

It's not like we were targeting Messi and Neymar, it was Kelvin Wilson and Leon Clarke etc, not exactly unattainable.

I suspect he is comprimised by the budget,
He was happy with the situation when he took the job so I guess he needs to live with it and take the flak for Sisu not investing in promotion.

 

[Kingokings204]

Wow I've seen it all now. Criticising the manager for trying to sign good players!!!

It's not like we were targeting Messi and Neymar, it was Kelvin Wilson and Leon Clarke etc, not exactly unattainable.

Don't agree. Wilson and Clarke went to bigger clubs than us for different reasons. Clarke went for the money that's a known fact for him. Wilson was all set to sign and got offered a higher league with a touch more money. So they were unattainable because they didn't end up signing.

What's wrong with signing good honest decent seasoned footballers and coaching them. Instead we have a bunch of kids who have no confidence and loans like Andre wright who signed with a few hours to spare because there wasn't anyone else left.

 

[Grendel]

Wow I've seen it all now. Criticising the manager for trying to sign good players!!!

It's not like we were targeting Messi and Neymar, it was Kelvin Wilson and Leon Clarke etc, not exactly unattainable.

Wilson was earning half our annual budget last year.

 

[Captain Dart]

An XI of strong League 1 players would have been good enough to mount a title charge, and I'm sure was realistic with the budget.

3 or 4 'championship' players and a team full of kids or not so good quality would have still been a massive risk.

Now we've ended up with no championship quality players and actually probably lower league 1 standard of players plus the academy.

They got it categorically wrong, and despite many people refusing to accept anything was wrong throughout a worrying transfer window, there were warning signs all over the place. Also, the two year plan went down the toilet as soon as they cleaned out (with no insurance policy) without building on what we had.

I hate changing managers, and I'm not saying sack him, but he's really not impressing at the moment.

That about sums it up. Took too many risks and didn't have an adequate safety net.

 

[italiahorse]

Finally a decent football related article from the CT and should quiten down the budget chat too. The summer recruitment rests on Mowbray's shoulders alone.

Some fans have blamed the club’s owners for not giving Mowbray enough financial backing but it appears the manager is working with very similar figures – thought to be around £2million – to the ones he was this time last year when the club were flying.


“You’d have to ask Mark (Venus) but if it has changed it hasn’t changed significantly,” he said.

“I don’t bring in players willy-nilly. I am more selective on the footballers I like and I won’t waste the money on just anybody.

“We can’t go breaking budgets but because I know what salary levels we’re at that’s the pond I go fishing in.”

Strange. Even Mark Venus has no idea how it compares according to SCG minutes

• JM asked how our budget compares with last season’s, which was apparently in the top six. MV said he had no idea how to distinguish this and didn’t see last year’s graph. We have a business model where we invest what we can in the team. We do have a competitive budget but the market is expensive in all leagues. Whatever we generate we will re-invest.

Read more at http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/scg-minutes-mark-venus-3228960.aspx#JiFosVVGUQ5sgOhA.99

 

[Kingokings204]

I like mowbray but he has made his bed on this one and he knows he is in trouble. He put so much emphasis on promotion and great that he has ended up blowing the budget and got 3rd choice instead of second choice players

 

[italiahorse]

I like mowbray but he has made his bed on this one and he knows he is in trouble. He put so much emphasis on promotion and great that he has ended up blowing the budget and got 3rd choice instead of second choice players

Waiting for the first out of contract players to sign and not be match fit for several weeks..
Shambles

 

[no_loyalty]

Seems like we had a plan a but no plan b again

Plan B is to sign unattached unknown foreign players

 

[Samo]

Seems like we had a plan a but no plan b again

On the contrary... our signings are Plan F

 

[Esoterica]

Strange. Even Mark Venus has no idea how it compares according to SCG minutes

• JM asked how our budget compares with last season’s, which was apparently in the top six. MV said he had no idea how to distinguish this and didn’t see last year’s graph. We have a business model where we invest what we can in the team. We do have a competitive budget but the market is expensive in all leagues. Whatever we generate we will re-invest.

Read more at http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/scg-minutes-mark-venus-3228960.aspx#JiFosVVGUQ5sgOhA.99

Stop trying to desperately turn all this back onto SISU and redivert the attention to how the budget compares to any other team. This thread is about our failed recruitment attempts and the manager's budget has not changed significantly from year to year, to the point that it's clear from Mowbray's statement he hasn't even bothered to check exactly what it is.

 

[Captain Dart]

You’d have to ask Mark (Venus) but if it has changed it hasn’t changed significantly,” he said.

Politicians answer for a 10% cut.

 

[SonofErnie]

I can only summise that the budget doesn't include transfer fees received and that these are being taken out of the club to pay down previous SISU losses. Based on a conservative estimate the club took £2.5m in gate receipts (11k x £10 x 23), so anything received from the Maddison sale doesn't appear to have fed into the budget, though my simplistic maths may be wrong! Obviously there are other operating costs to consider which will have an impact on the player budget, so it may be the element I'm overlooking.

Regardless of that, the approach taken by Mowbray and Venus has been woeful, though I'm still hoping that the squad will come good eventually.

 

[Grendel]

I can only summise that the budget doesn't include transfer fees received and that these are being taken out of the club to pay down previous SISU losses. Based on a conservative estimate the club took £2.5m in gate receipts (11k x £10 x 23), so anything received from the Maddison sale doesn't appear to have fed into the budget, though my simplistic maths may be wrong! Obviously there are other operating costs to consider which will have an impact on the player budget, so it may be the element I'm overlooking.

Regardless of that, the approach taken by Mowbray and Venus has been woeful, though I'm still hoping that the squad will come good eventually.

We can only spend 60% of revenue on players.

 

[italiahorse]

Stop trying to desperately turn all this back onto SISU and redivert the attention to how the budget compares to any other team. This thread is about our failed recruitment attempts and the manager's budget has not changed significantly from year to year, to the point that it's clear from Mowbray's statement he hasn't even bothered to check exactly what it is.

Sisu are just ticking us over in this league. The budget is no way top six this season unless they still have a pot to spend.
Mowbray knew the budget he had, but is finding this season it is totally inadequate to get players that will get us in the top six.
Sisu are clueless in investing a bit more to gain a lot more.
I'm hanging in here again this season settling for mid table but lots are voting with their feet and it's a downward spiral.