What are the problems at this club?

[PsyCanary]

When you look at patterns, performances etc, we have been on a downward curve for a while now. One play-off season (built of a great 6 month run) and one great 6 month run to avoid relegation last season, but other than that, it has been the same, lower to mid table form since the Farke era.
Surely this points more towards bigger issues than just the person in the dugout?
Is it recruitment? Is it lack of academy prospects coming through? Is it inexperienced ownership?

 

[morty]

I honestly don't know. When we had our bad spell last season I was puzzled, because I continued to maintain that we had bought decent players. I think, in the last few years, and further back than that we have consistently suffered from not having enough money, and have generally had a decent first 11, but it all gets a bit thin after that. Also maybe, as fans, we have settled a bit too much for the mediocrity, knowing Delia didn't have the funds to make us competitive. Re Farke, I think with him and also Lambert we got two very good managers at the right time before they moved out of our price / ambition range. Perhaps when we had our good finish under Lambert then Delia should have stepped aside for someone with more cash to spend, but she'll tell you that there were no serious offers for the club.

I think the academy ticks along okay, we produce a lot of players good for League 1 / Champs level and as long as it financially sustains itself then you hope for the next Aarons / Murphy / Eadie.

I think we have a top 8 squad now, but yet again, injuries seem to be haunting us. I think the new owners have spent a reasonable amount of money, so I apportion no blame to them.

Said it before, I can't really put my finger on it, if anything we are trying to be a bit too attacking so far this season. And as much as I have always supported him, I really think we need a Kenny upgrade. Looking at the wider football picture though, the Premier league clubs just keep spending more and more, and the bar is constantly raised, and this reflects on the quality of the teams relegated. I think we have gone from not having enough money / quality to be established in the Prem to not having enough money / quality to even yo-yo any more.

I was honestly expecting more this season. There is still time but we need to sort our shit out, and quickly.

 

[GJP]

I think when you're on to a good thing you've got to back it (if you can).

We had it with Lambert.
We had it with Farke.
We had* it with Clement...

We appeared to be on to a very good thing with Clement and then followed it up with a fairly uninspiring summer transfer window.

*I like to think this is still just about "have".

 

[Fenway Frank]

We've only been on a downward curve in the last nine games. The players we have should be good enough. Personally I don't like all the rotation going on based on blood counts or whatever it is, just play the best side every week.
After tonight we have three very winnable games, let's see where we are then before we have a pinkun style meltdown

 

[PsyCanary]

Defo not a pink’un style meltdown, still believe we very much have a squad capable of a top 6 finish, and the right manager at the helm.
But…..
this downward spirals are a common pattern over the last 5/6 years, take out the two Farke promotions and we have been mid table championship at best, other than one period of good form under Wagner and last seasons end of good form from Clement.
There has to be something more to that than just bad form surely?
Or do we as fans need to accept we may not be that yo-yo style top 24 team in the country anymore?

Are expectations as a club and fan base too high? Or are the club higher up the playing staff failing to meet those expectations?

 

[morty]

I try to take a step back from all this sometimes (and rarely really manage) and try and take a neutral view. Have we massively overachieved on a few occasions? Do other clubs look at us and wish they were where we are?

It is very hard to take the emotion out of it to truly analyse the situation objectively. I would take the possible position that we have overachieved on occasion, but given financial investment over the years, we are about where we deserve to be.

Also, throwing money at things isn't always the answer.

 

[PsyCanary]

I’m not saying throwing money at it is the answer, but we have to be a little smarter with our money
I know we were desperate for a RW but to spend 80% of our summer budget on one player was a mistake
The other 20% going on Field was also a mistake.

I think we are in a position that with such inexperienced owners (in terms of football) that we need to build a board of experienced football people, and that starts with an experienced DoF, Knapper just is not the one, it was a risk that has not worked out, he has had some very good moments, and is great at getting higher fees that warranted for players, but too many misses on purchases and HC hirers and fires

 

[morty]

I’m not saying throwing money at it is the answer, but we have to be a little smarter with our money
I know we were desperate for a RW but to spend 80% of our summer budget on one player was a mistake
The other 20% going on Field was also a mistake.

I think we are in a position that with such inexperienced owners (in terms of football) that we need to build a board of experienced football people, and that starts with an experienced DoF, Knapper just is not the one, it was a risk that has not worked out, he has had some very good moments, and is great at getting higher fees that warranted for players, but too many misses on purchases and HC hirers and fires

I think that other than maybe a midfielder, we actually have a decent squad, I don't think we needed to buy much more than we did.

I think Knapper takes a bit too much grief here, whilst our new owners are clearly rich, it is obvious that they aren't willing to throw unlimited money at this, any player is a risk, but when you are looking to spend on a budget that risk is increased. Also Knapper just presents the options to the manager, I'd like to think that big Phil has some say on who comes here.