A year from now I wonder how our team will look compared with yesterdays line-up.
My own feeling is that relegation is probable even with Delboys best efforts. There is just too much for him to change. The team and the back-room staff need a complete overhaul and the whole mentality of the way the club is run needs to be changed. I believe that ultimately he will if allowed transform this club and much as I don't want to see it happen that relegation may hasten the changes.
There are a lot of players out of contract at the end of the season and I am sure most will go especially if we have to prepare for league 1. No doubt Maynard will go whether in January or at the end of the season and Albert will probably not want to drop a level if we go down.
James will retire, Gerkin move on rather than play 2nd fiddle to somebody else. Stewart will be gone, and at least 1 of Tangs or Fonts. McGivern (how is he with a top Premier club) and Spence will be elsewhere.
Hopefully Pitman will stay as goalscorers are hard to find and would do well in either division. Bolasie and Taylor may well come into the equation and Marvin could do a job if we go down but should a miracle happen will not I think be in the plans for us in the Championship.
Overall much will depend on what league we are in but I would be surprised if more than 2 or 3 from yesterdays squad will even be at the club in 12 months time.
Relegation is a horrible thought but plenty of teams in recent years have come back stronger and the thought that we could actually win a home game before November would be some compensation.
This time next year ?
posted on 24/10/11
There are a lot of tough decisions for the new manager and moving the dead wood on is vital.
There is no sentiment in football, it is a business and perhaps too much sentiment has been shown by previous managers.
Why didn't we take the 6 million for Maynard and rebuild the team?
Clarkson, Woolford, Campbell-Rice, Skuse, Kilkenny and his brother from another mother, Lee Johnson all need to go. Some are on contracts past next summer!
Old guard players, McAllister, Carey, Gerken and James are not Championship standard anymore.
Players that were signed and have never been Championship class, Nyatanga, Stewart and Hunt need to be shown the door too!
Once the clearout has been achieved, we are six players short of an average Championship side, the positions are GK, LB, RB, CB, LM and the elusive creative midfielder.
Please don't tell me Kilkenny or LJ can do the job as they clearly lack many of the skills required.
posted on 24/10/11
Judging by his comments, I get the idea that he is impressed with Fonts and Albert. They were both mentioned by name.
However, he does have a couple of St J old boys who he could call on, and I would not be too surprised to see them heading south.
posted on 24/10/11
Please not Jody Morris!
At 33, he would only be marginally quicker than NK and LJ but would beat Carey to the burger bar!