Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Spending £45m quid on a squad and being so reliant on someone you spent £750k on 4 years ago is just awful squad management.
Robins (16 Viewers)
- Thread starter Monty
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Spending £45m quid on a squad and being so reliant on someone you spent £750k on 4 years ago is just awful squad management.
Hullinho87
Well-Known Member
You have missed the context of what the reply was to.
It was quoted as an opinionated requirement that we would need in the region of 18pts from the first 10.
That would be helpful, obviously, but isn’t strictly true if we got to 70pts after our start in 22/23 and made the playoffs and 73pts would have made it last year. It’s not a massive swing despite 22/23 being the lower end of the tally.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Anyway I'm over it now.
We've got the international break to sack the manager, all the staff and the board.
We've got the international break to sack the manager, all the staff and the board.
Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
This is in no way a thing btw but just wanted to throw a tinfoil hat conspiracy into the ring
Dougs giving Robins all the rope he needs to hang himself as he wants a younger more progressive manager in place to complete his club overhaul
With all the backroom staff, coaches etc, do we know if Robins actually wants it? Yes he's said openly it brings the club up to scratch off field, but all his success here has been built on backs to the wall and small, close knit staff and players
Again, not saying it is just throwing a chemtrailer into the mix
Dougs giving Robins all the rope he needs to hang himself as he wants a younger more progressive manager in place to complete his club overhaul
With all the backroom staff, coaches etc, do we know if Robins actually wants it? Yes he's said openly it brings the club up to scratch off field, but all his success here has been built on backs to the wall and small, close knit staff and players
Again, not saying it is just throwing a chemtrailer into the mix
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
Haven't Chelsea and United been doing similar for years ?
We don't want to go down that road at any time for me .
I think Robins has accrued a lot of money in the bank for now
Or the target is a hoax, unlikely but who knows if robin's is happy to play along,all the action is in the Championship, maybe Doug wants to stay there with big crowds etc?
But robin's has definitely said this is the best way to get the stadium and club re united!
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
I work with two Leicester season ticket holders who loved last season going to new grounds and the improved atmospheres
It’s a good point, depending on how this season goes you could see his reasoning if he did replace robins, we nearly went up with hardly spending anything, look how much we’ve spent compared to that, and you couldn’t really argue with him, with all the “ we’re going up” to sell season tickets,for the first time he’s put a hell of a lot of pressure on robins,
Cov4life
Well-Known Member
Long time lurker
this season feels more important than any other in recent years, mainly due to the amount of cash we've spent.
there seems to be some serious mismanagement when it comes to recruitment. Whether it's down to the recruitment team or Robins himself, Robins must have a significant say in the players we bring in. I'm not fully convinced by the signings we made last season or the ones we’ve brought in recently. It feels like Robins isn't confident with the squad he has right now. Players who were brought in last season should be hitting their stride, with the new additions simply filling in as the final pieces of the puzzle. Instead, we seem to be struggling to make things click. This shouldn’t be happening.
Not bringing in another midfielder could very well be the mistake that ends our season. I know it might sound extreme, but anyone who's played football at a decent level knows that we simply can’t continue with this midfield setup. It affects so many areas of the pitch—our forwards aren’t getting the ball, and our defenders don't have confidence in midfield options to distribute to. We saw this last Saturday when we tried to play through the middle to torp, only to be too slow and lose possession easily.
Why didn’t we bring in at least one more player to ease the burden in midfield? Our approach to the loan market is questionable, though I don't blame DK for that after hearing his stance on the loan signings. Someone at the club should be advising him that we desperately need reinforcements, even if it’s just a loan deal.
What worries me most is our recruitment strategy. Personally, I lack confidence in our recruitment team or Manager to bring in the right players. Looking back, I think many of us would agree there are quite a few players we signed who, in hindsight, we’d think twice on. My concern is whether there’s someone out there who could do a better job with the budget we have. We can’t keep making the same mistakes in the transfer market. I also wonder if DK is losing confidence in our recruitment. It’s clear he’s providing the funds and backing the club, but he's relying on the recruitment team and manager to make the right decisions. DK might not be a football man, but he’s fully behind the club.
The football we're playing right now is so poor, and I think it's really affecting the atmosphere at games. During our playoff season, we had two star players who got the fans off their seats. We don’t have that now. Speaking of Gyökeres, I'm happy we brought in someone like Bassette , who fits the profile of Gyökeres. But what bugs me is why didn’t we stick with that profile of striker originally? We had the script and style of play that got us to the playoffs, so why didn’t we go for a like-for-like replacement instead of transforming our style of play into what we have now? I know it’s difficult to replace players with the same quality, and some would say it’s almost impossible to find a like-for-like replacement for the stars we had. But trying to reinvent the wheel now is where I start scratching my head.
The Manager has been with us for quite a while now. I can’t help but think about what happened with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Are we heading down a similar path where a great manager might be staying on a bit too long? I hope not!
this season feels more important than any other in recent years, mainly due to the amount of cash we've spent.
there seems to be some serious mismanagement when it comes to recruitment. Whether it's down to the recruitment team or Robins himself, Robins must have a significant say in the players we bring in. I'm not fully convinced by the signings we made last season or the ones we’ve brought in recently. It feels like Robins isn't confident with the squad he has right now. Players who were brought in last season should be hitting their stride, with the new additions simply filling in as the final pieces of the puzzle. Instead, we seem to be struggling to make things click. This shouldn’t be happening.
Not bringing in another midfielder could very well be the mistake that ends our season. I know it might sound extreme, but anyone who's played football at a decent level knows that we simply can’t continue with this midfield setup. It affects so many areas of the pitch—our forwards aren’t getting the ball, and our defenders don't have confidence in midfield options to distribute to. We saw this last Saturday when we tried to play through the middle to torp, only to be too slow and lose possession easily.
Why didn’t we bring in at least one more player to ease the burden in midfield? Our approach to the loan market is questionable, though I don't blame DK for that after hearing his stance on the loan signings. Someone at the club should be advising him that we desperately need reinforcements, even if it’s just a loan deal.
What worries me most is our recruitment strategy. Personally, I lack confidence in our recruitment team or Manager to bring in the right players. Looking back, I think many of us would agree there are quite a few players we signed who, in hindsight, we’d think twice on. My concern is whether there’s someone out there who could do a better job with the budget we have. We can’t keep making the same mistakes in the transfer market. I also wonder if DK is losing confidence in our recruitment. It’s clear he’s providing the funds and backing the club, but he's relying on the recruitment team and manager to make the right decisions. DK might not be a football man, but he’s fully behind the club.
The football we're playing right now is so poor, and I think it's really affecting the atmosphere at games. During our playoff season, we had two star players who got the fans off their seats. We don’t have that now. Speaking of Gyökeres, I'm happy we brought in someone like Bassette , who fits the profile of Gyökeres. But what bugs me is why didn’t we stick with that profile of striker originally? We had the script and style of play that got us to the playoffs, so why didn’t we go for a like-for-like replacement instead of transforming our style of play into what we have now? I know it’s difficult to replace players with the same quality, and some would say it’s almost impossible to find a like-for-like replacement for the stars we had. But trying to reinvent the wheel now is where I start scratching my head.
The Manager has been with us for quite a while now. I can’t help but think about what happened with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Are we heading down a similar path where a great manager might be staying on a bit too long? I hope not!
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
Great first post and hard to argue against many of your points
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
To be honest I don’t know on this.
Difficult to know without insider information on a couple matters. But I’d argue Doug has been nothing but supportive to robins in regards to funds within reason and improving the training which was robins requirements.
Plus I’d argue the lack of a director of football shows faith in robins to be fair. But who knows, obviously a young manager is appealing to a lot of owners but don’t think there’s on out there atm. Maybe Ian Evatt but that’s just cause he’s from cov and I’ve enjoyed his style when its worked.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I feel you on the point of tactic as a huge lover of our counter 5-2-2-1 but without Gyok coming up with goals all on his own like at Wigan think it would of been ineffective.
Issue with that is of course there’s no other Gyok out there so we switched to the attempt at possession which got us out of league one.
Pretty much spot on, surely if we were being that serious about going up, we wouldn’t be banking on Allen eccles and rudoni to get us there, any good side builds a team round the spine, a good keeper, centre half, CM and forward, haven’t seen we’ve got any of them this season, not sure who’s to blame but between robins and Doug somebody’s not done their job ?
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
I don't think Dovin has done a lot wrong so far . Again on Saturday he was saving the shot before Lati got in the way and against Bristol he was very unlucky
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Dolvin’s done a good job so far. Kept us in the Bristol league match.
He’s got stuff to work on but I’m super impressed with him considering he’s come from another country at 22. Wish he’d catch more and commanded his box more but assume that’s age or nerves and it will come.
His clean sheet will come when the defenders stop leaving him for dead and making silly mistakes every match.
That’s what I mean haven’t seen enough of him yet, we said the same when Collins first came in, give him the benefit of the doubt then
but honestly as much as we want to believe all our summer signings are what we need to get us up, I don’t see it ?
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
I feel like there’s been pressure to spend on young players with resale value and that’s very admirable, but no recognition within that that we’ve lost a lot of experience and character in the last two years.
I was just looking at the playoff lineup and every position was either a leader or a character in the squad pretty much.
I was just looking at the playoff lineup and every position was either a leader or a character in the squad pretty much.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Maybe the answer is a director of football who knows what’s needed instead of Doug having the last say? Although wonder how Robins would feel about it
Offhegoes
Well-Known Member
Disappointing start, and the players (with the exception of MVE) look well below par. You know it will click, as it did last season, and the season before and then we'll go. 1st half against Oxford was the level I expect every game. It's frustrating, but the best teams in this division tend to hit their groove in Sept and don't stop.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Just let the guy who has ultimate responsibility for what’s on the pitch do it. I really don’t see why you wouldn’t.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Hasent robins said he gets final say. Only major reason to do it, is so you know exactly what the budget is so you can protatise positions and use the budget accordingly.
Without it you end up with no midfielders and several strikers when we only play one up top.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
He’s also said he’s not really involved. Who knows.
I’d have thought a budget decision can be arrived at between the manager and chairman as easily as the director of football and chairman.
My issue is who do you sack when you need to change things? Adding layers of bureaucracy in just muddies the chains of command and responsibility for little benefit IMO
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
Chain of command still gelling?
Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
This is the biggest loss for me
Any successful team Robins had had a spine and leaders
L2 play off side - Willis, Doyle, Kelly, Mcnulty. Doyle and Kelly both huge leaders
L1 title winning Side - Fadz, Kelly, Godden. Leaders
Play off final Side - Fadz, Kelly, Sheaf, Hamer, Vik
Outside of Sheaf I really don't see who we have as a leader. We certainly don't have anyone experienced enough. Could argue Bidwell but he's showing signs of regression now
The fact that Doug / Robins are obsessed with the buy young and low sell high model will be the downfall of the 5 year plan for me. People bang on about the Brighton, or Brentford Model. They both had experience and leaders to drag the side through difficult moments
In their promotions seasons,
Brentford, Winston Reid, Pontus Jansson, solid experienced CB pairing like a brick wall
Brighton, Stockdale, Bruno, Sidwell, Glenn Murray, solid experienced pros with leadership qualities
Doug/ Robins complete disregard on this front really irks me and I honestly feel that it will cost us
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
We were looking at Browne and Worrall though ?
So not a total disregard in that respect but I get your point as a whole
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
biggymania
Well-Known Member
As with all conspiracy theories you've taken 2+2 and made eleventy billion.
Doug is modernising the club top to bottom, right? He's made an investment and he wants to see a return. With or without Robins at the helm in the first place he'd be doing that, the idea that this is some grand plan to get rid of Robins is ridiculous. He will for sure be trying to make sure that there isn't a dependency on a single person who might leave or drop dead tomorrow though... which is just smart business.*
I don't know that you could expect an owner to do anything else though. Robins is pragmatic and adaptable and has been so during his tenure here - there's very little reason to suggest he won't find a way in this situation either.
Not all significant changes or transitions are easy or comfortable, in fact quite the opposite.
* We can ask a big question here about why that succession planning / contingency doesn't apply to Sheaf though! I think it's fair to say somewhere between Recruitment & Doug they have fucked up on that front, I can't imagine Robins wanted the midfield saga to pan out this way. My assumption is Doug is quite fundamentalist about "the model" and he is going to need to learn to compromise on those ideals because it's more risky not to do that. He's obviously new to football, and I think he / recruitment have dropped a bit of a clanger here. It happens.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Good point but on Browne didn’t we throw out the idea when we thought we could get a 22 year old in. Which seemingly means we didn’t value his experience/leadership as much as the younger lads potential/ability.
Think this is a great point that maybe we’ve gone all in on developing young players due to robins good work with vik and Gus that we’ve forgotten the impact other players had on their development alongside the manager.
I don’t look at it quite like that. He’s probably worth 10m now, more without injury problems and he’s our captain. That’s the player we’re missing, not the lad we signed 4 years ago. Take a 10m player out if most championship teams and apart from the ex Prems they’re likely to notice
I still think we should be coping better but said before I reckon that’s as much due to how we’ve set up in games/players roles. If it had been Sheaf and Eccles or Sheaf and Torp I think we’d have had similar issues second half Saturday
ps different teams obviously but when Norwich beat us 3-0 and 2-4 season before last we had both sheaf and hamer in midfield and literally got battered/overrun then as well
Grendel
Well-Known Member
With spelling like that I doubt it
Cally Fedora
Well-Known Member
Interested to hear where people think our recruitment has been poor. A midfielder would have been nice but the only one with a question mark for me is Torp. That’s not a bad hit rate when over the last three windows we’ve added Dovin, Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Lats, Dasilva, Rudoni, Wright, Simms, Emc, Saka, BTA, Rodrigues. Not many duds there and some huge value for money.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
All good players, think the questions on here more relate to how good a team they are put together without any more experienced players on the pitch to guide them.
I mean look at faz on the weekend barking out orders from the touch line at the defence. We maybe should of been a bit more selfish with Kyle or given him a couple mid week games.
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
Fadz was on his last legs in our playoff season to be brutally fair . We constructed a side that protected him and gave Vik and Gus the freedom to do what they want .
Could've maybe looked at retaining him with a view to a coaching role but I guess he still wanted to play
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I don’t know 100% anymore I thought that then I saw how well he did against us for Blackburn. I think he’s done now though. Regardless we don’t have any players passing on any experience anymore like faz did on the weekend