@Fusilier if this isn’t AI generated then fair play because that’s literally perfectly written and I agree with everything you’ve said. Genuinely one of the most accurate yet concise posts I’ve seen on the nature of our recruitment and what needs to happen
I have only made 3 posts and they are my opinions and observations, not AI.
I have been a viewer of the forum for many years but I have not wanted to comment until now and this is because I have become very frustrated and am starting to feel like I am now wasting my time and money on watching the team.
The majority of the games since April have been disappointing and the issues, problems and deficiencies seem obvious to most of us fans:
- The squad needs 2 players for every position. It is currently unbalanced and resources have not been used optimally by the Head of Recruitment;
- Recruitment should be based on attributes for positions that fit a specific formation and style of play.
- A few senior pros with leadership skills are essential for any successful team;
- Some loan signings could improve the quality of the team and ensure that there is strength in depth;
- There have been too many changes in defence;
- Replacing Dovin was unnecessary and would likely have damaged his confidence and be detrimental to his development;
- Rudoni and Sakamoto are the only creative players in the team;
- Highly qualified and experienced coaches could help to develop the players and improve the team;
In the majority of the games this season, there have been no clear tactics or style of play.
Are we a counter attacking team or are we a possession based team?
Are we a team that presses high or a team that defends in a low block?
Against Blackburn the team played very well as there was an intensity and aggression that has been missing all season but in most of the games the passing and pressing seems to be random and disjointed with no clear tactical plan.
The team seems incapable of putting more than 4 passes together and everything goes down the wings and ends up with hopeful crosses being put in the box, and as the team gives the ball away too often and too easily, the defence is exposed and panic sets in.
On the subject of squad planning and recruitment, I assume that most of us on this forum are familiar with Moneyball and in this case, a successful team was built using data analysis to identify specific attributes in players and the recruitment of undervalued players (of all ages) that fitted the system.
As other people have mentioned, we are the only team in the division without a loan player and if we had signed players on loan during the summer, the squad would have had better balance and more strength in depth, especially at right back, right wing, midfield and number 10.
Considering the money that has been spent by the club on new signings, the significant improvements at the training ground, the infrastructure improvements and the coaching restructure, expectations have been raised and the majority of fans were expecting much more from the team so far this season.
All of us on this forum agree that performances and results have not been good enough and that changes should be made as it is clear that squad planning, recruitment and coaching needs to be better.
I hope that Robins will be given the time and resources to improve things and hopefully some people from within the club will read the comments on Sky Blue Talk and provide feedback to the decision makers such as Doug King, Dr Roberts and Dean Austin.