Close season thread

Well gents Sir James has signed for another season 😁😁😁

Thats fantasic news hopefully he can get 4 goals from open play this season

If rotherum can do it so can we

It is worth remembering that the 3 promoted teams were the ones relegated last year. I wondered if there might be significant parachute payments involved, but I don't think so and it is some time since Wigan and Blackburn were in the PL, so the parachute payments will have run out.

It could suggest that there is an ability gap between championship and League 1, but I am inclined to think that good management is more likely to be the reason. Wigan and Blackburn will still be seen by potential recruits as "Big Clubs" and are handily placed for loans from the Lancashire PL clubs; they also have a healthy fan base for this level.

We probably had better-than-average results against most of the top 6 in 2017/18 and might easily have taken 4 points against Rotherham if we had had a bit more faith in our ability. Team confidence and better organisation and (what managers tend to call "concentration" to shift the blame to the players) as well as a bit more talent is what is lacking.

Being realistic though Rotherham were still 23 points better than us, Shrewsbury 31 and Blackburn and WIgan were 40 odd ahead, so it's a long way upwards to travel

Donaldo,

Some great comments. It had not dawned on me that the three promoted were the three relegated. Maybe there is a bigger difference between the Championship and League One than we all realise - I remember an article in, I think, The Guardian, when we beat Brentford to go back to the Championship. It stated the difference in money because of TV fees, etc. However, look at Brentford now!
My other comment about "Football just being a business" is, unfortunately, true and such comments now go down to the lower divisions. The EPL is outrageous with the likes of the 'Spurs saying they cannot compete money-wise with the Manchester teams. Now we have DF saying he cannot believe the money you have to pay for a mediocre player in League One.
I think we have a good group of players, but to aim for the Championship we need some additions, and I'm not sure we have the financial support to achieve it. I know teams with little finance have made it all the way to the EPL - such as Barnsley for one season - but that was some years ago. I've not looked into Rotherham's finances too closely, but their attendances are not very high (only 26000+ at the playoff final - the second lowest - against 75000+ when we beat Leeds!)
Anyway, I expect us to be at least in the play-offs next season.
Cheers to all of you from the Left Coast,
RTID

Good to hear your views Micky.

DF must be one of the most experienced League 1 managers and taking another look at those at the helm of the successful lower league teams this season their leaders are very experienced too at this level. We have Mark Robins and Paul Tidsdale at Wembley for the League 2 play-off final (which I thought was as, if not more entertaining than any of the others) and those in the top 3 in the shape of Ainsworth, Coleman and one relative newcomer Nathan Jones (2 and a half years at Luton). League 1 has seen Paul Cook, Mowbray and now the gifted slightly unconventional newcomer, Warne at Rotherham.

Clearly new talent does emerge, but the surviving old-timers and the veteran lower league experts show their value in the final reckoning.

Mowbray is perhaps the exception, but probably with a bigger budget.

There is a balance between what it is reasonable to invest for benefit to justify cost and the attraction of non league talent which means investment in development rather than wages and risk-taking is surely a justifiable option. Some will pay off handsomely and others will not. The experienced old hand may come good and not be costly, but could be a burden on the purse when he does not - witness some of Dickov's signings. An expensive higher league player who may not find the rough and tumble to his liking is an obvious serious risk both on the pitch and to the bank balance

I suppose I should have introduced the final para by saying ...reasonable to invest in players for benefit to justify cost.

Leeds have sacked Heckingbottom; it is surprising that so many football managers who have every appearance to be of sound mind seem prepared to take employment there.

I think that his contract allies him a million pounds severence if he is sacked.
You can see why persons of a sound mind go there really don.
Is that nine managers in four years for the weeds now.

I would never or will never say that word in a
football context.WAHLS.
Thats why James Hayter is my number.
1.