What Happened Last Season? (3 Viewers)

[Offhegoes]

I remember 12 months ago, and the feeling of optimism around the club & the fans. We beat Leicester at the CBS, and thrashed Oxford in the cup.

O’Hare was back and firing. Sakamoto, Wright & Simms were blooming, and we had a solid CB partnership in Thomas & Kitching.

Then…….

Dennis Lawrence leaves, with rumours that we wouldn’t pay what he wanted.

O’Hare is dropped in February and barely gets much game time until the end of the season. A fallout with Robins or Adi? His contract negotiations were going on months before this, and he was playing.

The dramatic total loss of form after the magical Wolves win. That kind of win and performance should galvanise a team. Leeds & Man U aside, our results, and performances were awful. 6 defeats in the last 9 league games. Was this the time that Adi & MR had their fallout?

 

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[shmmeee]

Yeah the Telegraph article that apparently kicked it all off was in April I think.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Yeah the Telegraph article that apparently kicked it all off was in April I think.

Hard to see anything in that article that would make Robins upset

 

[shmmeee]

Hard to see anything in that article that would make Robins upset

Wasn’t it the idea that Ady does the hard work and Robins “paints the pictures” or something? Not read it for a while.

 

[clint van damme]

Hard to see anything in that article that would make Robins upset

If you read Kings interview apparently it was Adi who got the hump over a Robins interview.
That was his response, Robins didn't like it and it escalated.

I agree there seemed to be nothing in it, and the same goes for the original Robins interview but there's obviously egos involved.

Then there's the matter, and I think I've got this right, of King claiming the Viveash interview wasn't sanctioned by the club and Turner claiming the club press officer was present!

 

[hamil99]

I remember 12 months ago, and the feeling of optimism around the club & the fans. We beat Leicester at the CBS, and thrashed Oxford in the cup.

O’Hare was back and firing. Sakamoto, Wright & Simms were blooming, and we had a solid CB partnership in Thomas & Kitching.

Then…….

Dennis Lawrence leaves, with rumours that we wouldn’t pay what he wanted.

O’Hare is dropped in February and barely gets much game time until the end of the season. A fallout with Robins or Adi? His contract negotiations were going on months before this, and he was playing.

The dramatic total loss of form after the magical Wolves win. That kind of win and performance should galvanise a team. Leeds & Man U aside, our results, and performances were awful. 6 defeats in the last 9 league games. Was this the time that Adi & MR had their fallout?

Dennis Lawrence left to be closer to his family in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago, if I remember correctly), nothing to do with us not paying him enough. Not replacing him adequately was a massive mistake, and I feel definitely contributed to our downfall in form.

 

[djr8369]

Dennis Lawrence left to be closer to his family in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago, if I remember correctly), nothing to do with us not paying him enough. Not replacing him adequately was a massive mistake, and I feel definitely contributed to our downfall in form.

As I’ve said before it’s a mixture of things, circumstance, bad luck, and some decisions.

It doesn’t seem like anything would keep DL here and it’s nobodies fault MR and Adi fell out (aside from theirs).

Everyone seems to want to blame King, or Austin, or the performance director.

Reality is messy.

 

[alexccfc99]

Dennis was always going to go, he was offered the chance of a new lifestyle in America (Which considering he is from Trinidad and Tobago) is actually closer to home

I always think Mark and Adi were completely different as people, I went to the pre-season tour of Spain in 2022 and happened to stop in the same hotel as the players, after training MR would return to his room and Adi would be sat at the bar with Chris Marsh and the rest of the backroom team, MR seemed introverted and Adi extroverted, but opposites attract and as a footballing force they seemed to work well - But as people they certainly seemed polar opposites

It’s clear that something happened somewhere between MR and Adi for their relationship to completely break down and the fact that Adi’s departure was announced so suddenly and without any major fanfare from the club, the fact he issues his farewell statement through legal reps and the fact MR now has a new job and there was no mention or indication of Adi joining him goes to show whatever has happened is pretty terminal

It’s one of those things that we will probably never ever know the full story, but whatever it was ruined a very good thing we had going on and has made us have to start afresh in a new direction

 

[SkyBlueSteve81]

There is a guy who sits near me at the CBS and likes spouting that he's in the know about X,Y and Z. To be fair to him the majority of what he says turns out to be true, Palmer not being offered a new contract and O'hare going being just 2 of the nuggets that he's shared on a match day. The very start of this season he said that whatever had happened to end up with Ady leaving would stay behind closed doors because if it got out it would either cause or affect (I can't remember his exact words) a legal issue. Now that is still quite generic and could be 101 different things, but I suspect he isn't far wrong because I would have expected there to be more known about it by now.

On the Robins front it is clear he had the right team behind him up until DL left and ever since things just haven't been the same.

 

[skybluecam]

I think the failure to recruit any depth out wide and Sakamoto's injury goes under the radar a bit.

You can almost pinpoint our loss of form in the league to the moment of his injury.

 

[SAJ]

I remember 12 months ago, and the feeling of optimism around the club & the fans. We beat Leicester at the CBS, and thrashed Oxford in the cup.

O’Hare was back and firing. Sakamoto, Wright & Simms were blooming, and we had a solid CB partnership in Thomas & Kitching.

Then…….

Dennis Lawrence leaves, with rumours that we wouldn’t pay what he wanted.

O’Hare is dropped in February and barely gets much game time until the end of the season. A fallout with Robins or Adi? His contract negotiations were going on months before this, and he was playing.

The dramatic total loss of form after the magical Wolves win. That kind of win and performance should galvanise a team. Leeds & Man U aside, our results, and performances were awful. 6 defeats in the last 9 league games. Was this the time that Adi & MR had their fallout?

Lawrence left as he was offered the assistant manager position at Minnesota got nothing to do with not being offered enough money.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I think the failure to recruit any depth out wide and Sakamoto's injury goes under the radar a bit.

You can almost pinpoint our loss of form in the league to the moment of his injury.

There’s a lack of depth across the board.

After Sakamoto got injured the issue was more that we didn’t have the right players to play in the system. If you look at midfield, you’ve got Sheaf and Eccles playing more or less every single minute in games because Torp struggled for fitness and likewise, Allen and Sheaf too at various stages last season.

The profile too was lacking, we couldn’t really breakdown the midfield against the better teams in the division.

 

[Cov kid 55]

And the other thing which the OP rightly points out, is the freezing out of O’Hare. It wasn’t that much of a surprise that he didn’t sign for us, I can’t think that he felt wanted.

 

[Nick]

There is a guy who sits near me at the CBS and likes spouting that he's in the know about X,Y and Z. To be fair to him the majority of what he says turns out to be true, Palmer not being offered a new contract and O'hare going being just 2 of the nuggets that he's shared on a match day. The very start of this season he said that whatever had happened to end up with Ady leaving would stay behind closed doors because if it got out it would either cause or affect (I can't remember his exact words) a legal issue. Now that is still quite generic and could be 101 different things, but I suspect he isn't far wrong because I would have expected there to be more known about it by now.

Wasn't that obvious when his statement was through a solicitor?

 

[long way home]

I think DL role played within the MR and Adi relationship may be very understated. I have a feeling once he announced he was going the wheels fell off and the relationship collapsed between Adi and MR. I also think by then they was a problem between certain players and Adi regarding his methods and treatment of them, which again sort of suggests DL was the man that kept all calm.

From that point we didn't perform and only really showed any sort of performance in the SF which as a player you don't need inspiration for that game. So i think MR believed he was better without Adi than with, so called Doug to have words which probably ended in Adi falling out with them both. From then its clear MR had lost the plot, with signings, squad balance and recruiting of coaches.

This is now a rebuild and it has to involve the fans sticking with FL and King to change the downward spiral we have gone on. This season now is about FL and his staff doing due diligence on each and every player and coach that he inherited and working out who stays and who goes. He has to get the best out of what he has and try to add to help the club move forward. But the decline which provoked Dougs decision was unavoidable once the MR and Adi were left alone.

 

[hill83]

If you read Kings interview apparently it was Adi who got the hump over a Robins interview.
That was his response, Robins didn't like it and it escalated.

I agree there seemed to be nothing in it, and the same goes for the original Robins interview but there's obviously egos involved.

Then there's the matter, and I think I've got this right, of King claiming the Viveash interview wasn't sanctioned by the club and Turner claiming the club press officer was present!

All a bunch of slags if any of what happened was real tbf

 

[Otis]

There is a guy who sits near me at the CBS and likes spouting that he's in the know about X,Y and Z. To be fair to him the majority of what he says turns out to be true, Palmer not being offered a new contract and O'hare going being just 2 of the nuggets that he's shared on a match day. The very start of this season he said that whatever had happened to end up with Ady leaving would stay behind closed doors because if it got out it would either cause or affect (I can't remember his exact words) a legal issue. Now that is still quite generic and could be 101 different things, but I suspect he isn't far wrong because I would have expected there to be more known about it by now.

On the Robins front it is clear he had the right team behind him up until DL left and ever since things just haven't been the same.

Okay, so what does Saddlebrains actually look like then?

 

[wingy]

Okay, so what does Saddlebrains actually look like then?

Aren't X,Y,andZ towards the back, thought everyone new that.
Ooh sorry that would be the middle, nearly got ahead of myself there!

 

[Saddlebrains]

If you read Kings interview apparently it was Adi who got the hump over a Robins interview.
That was his response, Robins didn't like it and it escalated.

I agree there seemed to be nothing in it, and the same goes for the original Robins interview but there's obviously egos involved.

Then there's the matter, and I think I've got this right, of King claiming the Viveash interview wasn't sanctioned by the club and Turner claiming the club press officer was present!

Turner was telling the truth, club were fully aware both were doing interviews

 

[Saddlebrains]

And the other thing which the OP rightly points out, is the freezing out of O’Hare. It wasn’t that much of a surprise that he didn’t sign for us, I can’t think that he felt wanted.

That was because he decided to throw a wobbler for being took off at Albion away. A set to took place between him and the coaching staff. Doug got wind and withdrew his contract offer

This was only reinstated on Robins say so 6 or so weeks later but the damage was done. We then made another last ditch attempt in the summer

 

[JimmyHillsbeard]

Turner was telling the truth, club were fully aware both were doing interviews

I believe part of the surprise/misunderstanding is that the Viveash interview was so rich that The CT was able to spread it over 2/3 days in the run up to the FA Cup semi final. The first (iirc) talked about the working relationship btw Robins and Viveash, player development etc, the second was a deeper dive into AV’s background and character - and it was here he talked about his love life and how he and MR found it difficult to get along at times.

I suspect the second instalment which contained far more colour than we ever knew about before was the one that raised eyebrows simply because no one outside the club had ever been told *any* of that before - and I can see why DK and others assumed it was a second interview.

 

[clint van damme]

Turner was telling the truth, club were fully aware both were doing interviews

Mad that the club would lie about that.
Especially when it was all pretty innocuous and sounds like it only escalated because Robins and viveash decided to act like a pair of divas.

 

[Cov kid 55]

That was because he decided to throw a wobbler for being took off at Albion away. A set to took place between him and the coaching staff. Doug got wind and withdrew his contract offer

This was only reinstated on Robins say so 6 or so weeks later but the damage was done. We then made another last ditch attempt in the summer

Shame it went wrong like that, and that it couldn’t be resolved.

 

[Cally Fedora]

Our dip in fortunes has also coincided with our change in ownership

 

[Saddlebrains]

Mad that the club would lie about that.
Especially when it was all pretty innocuous and sounds like it only escalated because Robins and viveash decided to act like a pair of divas.

There's quite a few things I think they've been economical with the truth on. But then again, that's opposed to what ive been told, so I suppose it's just a case of believing whichever you want too. That's what makes places like this great, all manner of opinion and views

 

[JSL]

So summarising so far, we can choose between:-

a) MR and AV fell out over a newspaper interview
b) AV had an affair with someone in or related to the club
c) Dennis Lawrence left and wasnt replaced adequately
d) Poor signings
e) O'Hare and Palmer left for various reasons in less than savoury manners
f) AV left for disciplinary reasons based upon bullying young players.
g) Doctor Claire has caused havoc with her methods
h) No leadership on the pitch
i) Injuries and burnout to key players

Anything I have missed, as I am confused?

 

[PVA]

If it's true it all came to an end because of a few interviews that's a real shame and a sad end to a fantastic era for the club.

 

[JimmyHillsbeard]

So summarising so far, we can choose between:-

a) MR and AV fell out over a newspaper interview
b) AV had an affair with someone in or related to the club
c) Dennis Lawrence left and wasnt replaced adequately
d) Poor signings
e) O'Hare and Palmer left for various reasons in less than savoury manners
f) AV left for disciplinary reasons based upon bullying young players.
g) Doctor Claire has caused havoc with her methods
h) No leadership on the pitch
i) Injuries and burnout to key players

Anything I have missed, as I am confused?

A-E, H and I can all be simultaneously true.

 

[Viktor17]

There's quite a few things I think they've been economical with the truth on. But then again, that's opposed to what ive been told, so I suppose it's just a case of believing whichever you want too. That's what makes places like this great, all manner of opinion and views

Whatever has happened, it’s sad, really sad that it all seemingly set off chain reaction that has dismantled 7 years of amazing work. That’s the really shit part.

there is clearly more to MR/AV also, they haven’t fallen out irreversibly over that article….clearly there is some wild theories, but there’s more to it.

then there’s king, some good, some bad. My biggest annoyance, like him to be little more visible now, when things are not good, that’s what good leaders do, own it, be brave, don’t hide.

 

[Mcbean]

Was a personal issue between MR and AV End of !

 

[SBT]

That was because he decided to throw a wobbler for being took off at Albion away. A set to took place between him and the coaching staff. Doug got wind and withdrew his contract offer

This is such an unbelievably stupid way to run a business that unfortunately I have a hard time believing it’s true.

 

[Saddlebrains]

Agree

Whatever has happened, it’s sad, really sad that it all seemingly set off chain reaction that has dismantled 7 years of amazing work. That’s the really shit part.

there is clearly more to MR/AV also, they haven’t fallen out irreversibly over that article….clearly there is some wild theories, but there’s more to it.

then there’s king, some good, some bad. My biggest annoyance, like him to be little more visible now, when things are not good, that’s what good leaders do, own it, be brave, don’t hide.

Agree with all of that mate. It was a chain reaction of events from all parties that has destroyed all the hard work of the last 7 years

 

[Saddlebrains]

This is such an unbelievably stupid way to run a business that unfortunately I have a hard time believing it’s true.

That's fair enough, as I say we all have different views and opinions. But I would say ask yourself this, knowing how much we have regressed on the field, knowing Doug is 'the board' and has cart blanche over all goings on at the club, which is pretty well known and even admitted by himself in interviews, is it really that hard to believe?

 

[SBT]

That's fair enough, as I say we all have different views and opinions. But I would say ask yourself this, knowing how much we have regressed on the field, knowing Doug is 'the board' and has cart blanche over all goings on at the club, which is pretty well known and even admitted by himself in interviews, is it really that hard to believe?

Is it hard to believe that Doug King deliberately torpedoed contract talks with one of our most valuable players over a game-day conversation that neither involved him nor was he even present for? Actually, yes.

 

[JSL]

The WBA game in question was televised. Was anyone shown on the TV regarding the COH wobbler? Personally I can believe it as he came across as the type that would