Firstly this isn't a knee jerk reaction, last night was the 4th poor game in a row. Secondly i know the window is still open but as we all know we are miles off where we want (and expected) to be. The season ended in the first week of May, here we are some 14+ weeks later with a woefully thin squad. How can we still have no left back, no creative midfielder and no backup striker? How does a side supposedly intending to challenge for promotion bring on Ben Watson as it's final sub when 2-1 down with 15 minutes to go.
So from the 4 guys who we know are said to need to agree on transfers, who do we think is to blame for what has so far been a bit of shit show?
Sandgaard - has actually spent 1.5m on players this year, more than a lot of clubs have. Has been called tight, but i think that's unfair given the other losses he will take on each year. Schwartz seems to have been his decision and that hasn't worked so far. Can he be blamed for not spending more? For not pushing his team who are more experienced than he is, to make more signings? Or given that he would appear to be a really supportive owner, does the blame lie elsewhere?
Adkins - we know he's a decent manager, did well at Scunthorpe, Southampton and Hull, and with us at the end of last season. But i'm honestly not really seeing any pattern of play this season that is working, or even what we're trying to do in games. Apart from 15 minutes last night we've looked devoid of ideas in all 4 games and the only game plan is 'lump it to Stockley'. Is that on Adkins, or is he simply doing the best he can with a sub par side?
Gallen - worked wonders under Roland on a shoestring budget, so what's happened now? Is he struggling to find players in a more competitive market now that championship sides can't sign as many players from abroad because of Brexit? Is he suggesting names to TS and NA that just aren't being followed up on? I can't work out how with a supportive owner, we are struggling to bring in new signings.
Roddy - i literally have no idea what he does, would love for someone to enlighten me.
Thoughts?
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It feels a bit too early for a "Who's to blame" thread. I'm not even sure what's going wrong at the moment so hard to know who to blame for it.
I’d be interested to see NA’s signing patterns at Scunthorpe and Saints. However, managers don’t usually take such a careful approach to recruitment- it’s not their money but it is their job.
My gut feeling is saying Roddy has been told to invest in players who have sell on value. If so, we might not see anyone coming in over about 26/27 years of age before the window closes. And maybe no loans until later.
All we can do is speculate. If however, I’m right, I’m still going to back TS if the club is financially stable. The worst thing he’s done is built up expectations (I think ours and Nigel’s) too high with stupid claims about ‘blowing through ‘ the league. I don’t like the bloke and think he’s an utter embarrassment of Simon Jordan/Ron Noades proportions. But I remain grateful and supportive until he starts taking more out than he puts in.
What makes no senses to me is that we have no CEO to run the club off the pitch. But we do have a technical director which for a division 3 club who's only remit at this time should be is getting out if this division, do we really need someone looking over the Academy and the formation of a full time womans team? Also Ged Roddy is also involved with the first team for recruitment, has he ever had a role involving a first team at a level like this and been successful?
I certainty bought into this positive vibe, however its one thing promising another delivering.
could be either Adkins or Roddy rejecting players as they don’t want them. Could be Gallen for not getting deals over the line. Could be Sandgaard whose looking to squeeze on the financial commitments.
Either way, the vast majority of us for weeks have either been moaning about our squad building or expressing surprise at our strategy, and the result has been a poor pre season rolling into 4 games without a win.
Be interesting to see the set up of the other 23 teams in Division 3
The four person recruitment system seems over-elaborate and I suspect there is a bit of confusion/friction about exactly who does what and where lines are drawn.
As others have said, appointing a proper CEO to do the actual running of the club and provide a proper direction has to be a priority. Sandgaard's aspirations are admirable but football is not like other businesses.
If its an execution problem either Gallen and or Roddy. I don't think NA has a say in it.
If its a funding issue I wouldn't say anyone is to blame but I would a like to be told, even in a round about way, and b it wouldn't explain paying for a player like Clare when there are so many frees available.
If Thomas thinks he can build a club by adding 2 or 3 quality players per window, which to be fair he has, he is in for a massive shock.
Yes, so far we know the recruitment has definitely not been good but that could be due to lack of funds. I don't know. We may have had no chance of keeping Aneke or again it may be we lost him due to lack of funds. I don't know who to blame.
Management by committee has its time and place but at some point you need a decision maker, especially if there is an impasse. If a casting vote is needed has that been delegated to Roddy or is it TS himself?
There’s a lot to be said for “too many cooks spoil the broth” and trusting those with the expertise based on track record which has to be Gallen doesn’t it 🤷♂️.
Sandgaard saved us - end of and it’s early days. LB left to further his career (and good luck to him). The suggestions I read on another thread warmly reminiscing about Roland as an owner are just unbelievable.
Sandgaard and Adkins tigger - like enthusiasm may be out of kilter with the current mood but I don’t think they deserve the anger some are dishing out and actually, once you get used the the Booms and cheesy songs I actually like the positivity.
Instead of trying to blame someone we should be focusing upon what might be done to improve the current situation, which some better posts on the forum have done, without the need for character assassination or fondly remembering the good times under Uncle Roland.