Concerns over the club's direction...... (1 Viewer)

Paxman II · Sep 7, 2024

King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

Balli001 · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

Robins did suggest he was part of the decision to axe viveash.

Paxman II · Sep 7, 2024

He would say that wouldn't he if asked at the time.

chiefdave · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

After the Norwich game robins spoke about how things were better at the club than they had been in years and singled out how much things had improved since last year. Didn't sound in the slightest like someone who wasn't happy with any aspect of how the club is being run.

Hobo · Sep 7, 2024

I think Robins was more involved in the departure of Viveash than you realise.

Robins has stated he is in favour of the way the club is being restructured. He has said he can no tonger do everything like he used too and has been involved in the process. He recognises the club is playing catch up with other clubs. The best coaches/managers have a big support team behind them these days, coaches at different levels, strength and conditioning, analysts, physiotherapists, scouts, dietitian's, recruitment, sports psychologists and probably many more...... Across all top sports it is a complete industry now.

JohnWH · Sep 7, 2024

I'll comment that the broad perspective is largely positive. In consideration of the lack of direction and shenanigans plaguing the club circa 10 years ago resulting in 4th tier, not even playing home games in Coventry , etc.

At this point it's been very encouraging seeing what looks like internal improvements, a continuously competitive team in this league having realistic ambitions back to the top flight. Where we can all once again enjoy season after season of relegation escape acts like the good ol' days.
I'm enjoying the ride and not overly focusing on every new detail or conspiracy seeming to pop up.

Paxman II · Sep 7, 2024

I'm not disagreeing with any of you but it's noticable that the expectation has grown enormously among the players, the fans etc as we have in Robin's own words brought in a lot of good players. The set up has been markedly improved etc but on the pitch it has been poor so far. If everything they are saying and doing is for the improvement and a fair raise in expectation, then that must start soon, like the next game. Anymore poor disjointed performances and question will be asked.

SAJ · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
I'm not disagreeing with any of you but it's noticable that the expectation has grown enormously among the players, the fans etc as we have in Robin's own words brought in a lot of good players. The set up has been markedly improved etc but on the pitch it has been poor so far. If everything they are saying and doing is for the improvement and a fair raise in expectation, then that must start soon, like the next game. Anymore poor disjointed performances and question will be asked.

More bed wetting, we have played 6 matches this season won 3 drew 1, lost 2. The manager tells us he couldn’t cope with the old system as it puts too much on him and he needs a team to do that. That has been supplied just give him chance for it to bed in.

Sky Blue Harry H · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
I'm not disagreeing with any of you but it's noticable that the expectation has grown enormously among the players, the fans etc as we have in Robin's own words brought in a lot of good players. The set up has been markedly improved etc but on the pitch it has been poor so far. If everything they are saying and doing is for the improvement and a fair raise in expectation, then that must start soon, like the next game. Anymore poor disjointed performances and question will be asked.

A bit like the stock market, it's the long term trajectory, rather than short term blips that are important. Our squad has much more depth to it than recently, with the added bonus of the players belonging to us, rather than bulked up with loans. All good for the club imo.

Sick Boy · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
I'm not disagreeing with any of you but it's noticable that the expectation has grown enormously among the players, the fans etc as we have in Robin's own words brought in a lot of good players. The set up has been markedly improved etc but on the pitch it has been poor so far. If everything they are saying and doing is for the improvement and a fair raise in expectation, then that must start soon, like the next game. Anymore poor disjointed performances and question will be asked.

The departure of AV has nothing to do with it. It’s hardly like the end of season form last year was great.

fatso · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

Teething problems.
As you pointed out there's been lots of changes, the new coaching staff need time to settle, and the new players time to adjust.

Sheaf is missed from midfield, but hopefully back soon, and maybe an out of contract signing too, that should see us through till January.

We've still won 3 and drawn 1 out of 6 games in all competitions, so it's hardly the end of the world.

Hobo · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
I'm not disagreeing with any of you but it's noticable that the expectation has grown enormously among the players, the fans etc as we have in Robin's own words brought in a lot of good players. The set up has been markedly improved etc but on the pitch it has been poor so far. If everything they are saying and doing is for the improvement and a fair raise in expectation, then that must start soon, like the next game. Anymore poor disjointed performances and question will be asked.

The season has barely begun.

ccfc1234 · Sep 7, 2024

Where were Burnley after 5 games the season they won the league recently. Where are Luton now, are they totally out of it?

We have a huge hole in midfield but if Sheaf can stay fit until Jan, we will do just fine.

PUSB-We_are_going_up · Sep 7, 2024

Let the bedwetting commence

Alkhen · Sep 7, 2024

There is literally zero chance Robins would let Adi get the boot from under him without kicking off.

He would have had a massive say in the decision. Mad to suggest otherwise.

Time will tell if it was a good decision but it's been 6 games which is far to early to say.

Fun fact though pretty sure we have done better in the first 6 games under this new staff than we did in the first 6 when when Adi first joined

lord_garrincha · Sep 7, 2024

Considering that we would end up with 138 points from the OPs pre match predictions... we are in dodgy territory if this is the case.

BlueSkiesForever · Sep 7, 2024

I know what you mean but the club is bigger than Robins, since King’s took over we’ve felt like a better run club, we have proper facilities and extra coaching staff in place now. I’m not “Robins out” at all yet but if things don’t go well this season then I’ll be blaming him rather than blaming King and the club.

Deity · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

King bought a totally broken club !!!!!

Jesus wept are we now pretending we didn’t need to change anything when King bought us ?!?!,

Winny the Bish · Sep 7, 2024

Robins: I had to do everything before. No manager wants to do that. I hated it. We’re putting in a top class system now and the improvements are everywhere.

Cov fans: I think Robins is unhappy.

Alkhen · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
If it aint broke don't fix it.

Up there with the maddest thing ever said on here!

The club was fucked, everything was totally neglected or ran at the bare minimum. King has overhauled so much in a short amount of time, mistakes will be made but the positive effect he's had can't be understated.

alexccfc99 · Sep 7, 2024

Our fans ability to constantly be one defeat away from a crisis never fails to amaze me

fernandopartridge · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

If you listened to Robins he wanted all of the backroom changes including having a recruitment team

steve101 · Sep 7, 2024

I share your concern Paxman, but I think it is just too early to judge. New processes may take some time to embed and see the benefits. I do wonder though if this season may be a disappointment in terms of performances and results. Maybe in the longer term though the changes were required.

skybluericoh · Sep 7, 2024

What DK got was a broken club, almost no infrastructure. He would be the first to admit he has not got everything right first time, and there is still away to go. But just look at what has been achieved.
Better squad- more in-depth quality than we have seen for years. Yes still needs some more but definitely in the right direction.
Ryton training ground. From broken doors to two training pitches that match the CBS, work still ongoing to get it to a higher standard, but again best it’s been in years.
Back room staff, from the outside looks more professional than it has ever looked. I don’t know if it’s the answer, but feels the right way to be moving.
I still think we should be in a playoff chase come the end of the season, but even if not we are closer than we were last season and better equipped for the PL if it does happen.

Sky_Blue_Dreamer · Sep 7, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

Overall the changes are far more professional than in the past.

Yes, the changes have been big and will largely take some time to have an effect but long term they should be better.

If I was to list my main concerns:

How soon towards the new season before we decided to change the coaching team and bring in the new coaches. It's left us getting used to a new set-up while we're playing competitive games. If it was being done it should have been in place at the end of last season.

Are the new coaches going to be good enough? We promoted one of the development coaches and their record the past few seasons, both in terms of results and developing talent, has been dreadful.

Who out of the four first team coaches has seniority? So far, certainly from games, it seems like they're all throwing their twopenn'orth in and it's possibly creating confusion for the players.

Nuskyblue · Sep 7, 2024

In response to the title...

Paxman II · Sep 7, 2024

Let me be clear. I'm not saying the changes King has made are wrong. Far from it in terms of reorganising the club and its operational structure. The problem is , was it much too soon to change the whole phylosophy in one hit close to the season begining including important staff members such as Vivash, who under Robins achieved huge success, missing out on promotion to the premier league by a penalty? I just feel at the moment all these changes could have been made bar the new coaching set up with Vivash still remaining. His departure was sudden and still not fully explained. He was the big daddy for players like O'Hare and instrumental in getting Simms and Wright to tick. I can't help feeling that Robin's and Vivash were the Clough & Taylor of the set up. That has now be deconstructed & I'm not convinced Robin's whole heartedly approved it.
Having said all that, as with players we can hope the coaching improves and the players click. If it does, and I expect it too, then I still back us to push for an auto spot. That momentum should start happening now, no ifs or buts about it. We need to perform at Watford.

Alkhen · Sep 8, 2024

Paxman II said:
I'm not convinced Robin's whole heartedly approved it.

In what world doesn't Robin's walk if Adi was given the boot without his full permission? Zero chance

Facts are none of us know what went on but Mark Robins doesn't stay unless he was fully behind the decision

Hobo · Sep 8, 2024

Paxman II said:
Let me be clear. I'm not saying the changes King has made are wrong. Far from it in terms of reorganising the club and its operational structure. The problem is , was it much too soon to change the whole phylosophy in one hit close to the season begining including important staff members such as Vivash, who under Robins achieved huge success, missing out on promotion to the premier league by a penalty? I just feel at the moment all these changes could have been made bar the new coaching set up with Vivash still remaining. His departure was sudden and still not fully explained. He was the big daddy for players like O'Hare and instrumental in getting Simms and Wright to tick. I can't help feeling that Robin's and Vivash were the Clough & Taylor of the set up. That has now be deconstructed & I'm not convinced Robin's whole heartedly approved it.
Having said all that, as with players we can hope the coaching improves and the players click. If it does, and I expect it too, then I still back us to push for an auto spot. That momentum should start happening now, no ifs or buts about it. We need to perform at Watford.

For all we know Viveash might have put himself in an untenable situation?

covcity4life · Sep 8, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

Are you seriously saying that having the overall club held together by the football manger is a "don't fix it" situation??

ProfessorbyGrace · Sep 8, 2024

Paxman II said:
King has made many changes and I'm left wondering how that has affected Robin's? He lost his sidekick for the 7 years (Vivash) and nothing has been said about it. Sudden and slightly alarming call for me, and replaced him with a new coaching team yet to prove they are up to the task. Robin's also talks about transfers like it has been somewhat removed from his authority?
King might want to build a more 'premiership' club but at what cost? If it aint broke don't fix it.

All in all, the whole new direction that the club is taking is outwardly positive, and is establishing a strong foundation from which to launch a serious promotion campaign.
Conversely, yes, the money and effort could come to naught, if the pieces of the puzzle don’t click together from the training ground to the pitch. This, in turn, could lead to losing players, losing MR, and a slide into Watford-esque mediocrity.

I’m forever a realist, and risk assess everything (it’s a curse sometimes) so forgive the sometimes coldly clinical analyses that I come out with.

For me, this will be a particularly important season for our club and the direction it’s heading.

Ashdown · Sep 8, 2024

Watford will be a difficult place to suddenly look like world beaters again. I worry about this plethora of coaches and if any of them have the ability or permission to lay into non performers or slackers. Everyone needs a hug now and again but some also respond to a bollocking !!

Brylowes · Sep 8, 2024

Hobo said:
For all we know Viveash might have put himself in an untenable situation?

The fact that he left the club with hardly a murmur from anyone (inc himself) suggests that this was probably the case.

chiefdave · Sep 8, 2024

Hobo said:
For all we know Viveash might have put himself in an untenable situation?

its not that hard to read between the lines and there's clearly a reason the ITKs won't outright say what has happened when everything else about the club leaks out in seconds

Cally Fedora · Sep 8, 2024

I think it’s the polar opposite. We’re moving in the right direction. Off the field is unrecognisable. On it we have our strongest squad in years. Season ticket sales are at record levels. The fans and team are together in a rare way. It’s all going in the right direction

Concerns over the club's direction...... (1 Viewer)

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