Wow, absolutely fantastic result. Lovely goals as well. Hard to say if this is just a honeymoon period or JDT really is the chosen one, but haven't felt this good about our game for a very very long time...

Fantastic, cracker of a goal from Travis, could rewatch that over and over again.

The game itself otherwise was as low-key as possible, had 0-0 written all over it. So we are quite fortunate to leave with these 3 points.

But.

It is surreal to me the season has started and we are just going along with it. 3 starting 11 players gone, including our captain...only transfer in from a relegated club, even if he proves decent....what is going on? Hand to heart I would find this transfer situation unacceptable if we had been relegated, let alone starting a season with a promising new manager. It feels farcical. 

Waggot and Broughton need to explain what is going on. If these are the "realities" of what we can achieve on the market, we best prepare for relegation then. 

I know people are desperate for good news but...lad is a Barnsley player relegated to league one. And its not like he is 19 or 20 where you can expect potential for great improvement.

Far far cry from the door of international gems that we were hoping would be opened with the managerial appointments...

10 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

Heard whispers from a couple of places now that Venky’s have decided that enough is enough in terms of subsidising monthly losses, and the cheques won’t be coming.

The lack of transfer activity, sub par contract offers and shite ticket pricing do nothing to dispel my fears this may be true. A desperate, doomed to fail attempt to balance the books?

If this is true, they might as well just fuck off now.

But did they decide this BEFORE they got in a new manager and director...or after? Either way we are doomed, but...

With the expectation that we will lose BB as well, this is turning out to be the worst transfer window I can ever recall. 

But it makes no sense. Why were JDT and DB brought in, signifying clear ambition and intent...if Venkys knew our finances/situation was facing a complete and total collapse? Would make a lot more sense just to throw Mowbray another year as we sink down rather than bothering with a new managerial system and staff.

The question is, is it Venkys who are refusing to back us financially....or is it UEFA and their fair play rules preventing us from offering deals. I am honestly close to throwing up thinking about the latter. 

We essentially do not have anything close to resembling a defence right now, Lenihan and Nyambe (when he played) were the backbone of what was already a shaky at times backline. We're a month from the season starting and not only do we need 2-3 high quality defenders brought in but also soon enough so they can begin gelling - anything less than that and we will be losing game after game, there is absolutely no way around that. 

The huge worry is that if we don't even have the funds to be offering acceptable wages to Championship-quality defenders then who realistically are we going to get? Inexpensive hopefuls, but again we need solid first team starters, not just some wait and see youngsters.

GB will need to have a bag of super contacts to sort us out or I really think we will be in serious trouble.

Speaking of players who may regret leaving...I wonder if Ama expects more game time this season....or is he going to get loaned out to another Championship club. 

Possibly the best appointment Venkys have made - or whoever new is thankfully advising them. This could be a game-changer for the club. Famous last words I know but...

3 minutes ago, Mellor Rover said:

He’s out of work.

What I'm reading is that he left on his own decision with the team at the top. So assuming he is looking for bigger prospects...the question still stands why the Venkys circus would be his choice. 

Tomasson sounds a bit too good to be true. Why leave a side winning titles and playing in the Champions League, for the Championship? Especially with the circus surrounding us? I doubt Venkys can offer him more money than Malmo...

He seems knowledgeable in interviews on YouTube. 

I have no earthly clue how people who dismiss our own former players as managers think it would be somehow much more acceptable or adequate if we get Duncan Ferguson, who has a grand total of 0 managerial experience. The idea that being an assistant to quality managers for a few years somehow means you will have managerial talent yourself may make some sense on paper, but that is absolutely not how it works in real life. It would be a complete blind flip of the coin if he will turn out to be a decent manager or not. 

Sturridge available on a free. If somehow someway we could get him injury-free....

3 hours ago, Claytons Left Boot said:

Wouldn’t want any of those three. Dunny, in particular, would have us relegated to non league level in record time.

I'm just confused as to who then people expect will be managing us, when all the reports have signalled that even half-decent managers have distanced themselves from us.. You'd rather we get relegated with Dunny, or get relegated with some random League 1 bottom of the barrel journeyman or whoever else is left that we are interviewing?

If we are actually going to be getting a high quality manager despite all these reports, happy days. If not...

If we are out of decent options, and it sure sounds like we are, I would give it to a former player, no matter how bad they've done. Dunn or Tugay. Friedel? I understand the risks. But I just desperately miss having someone in leadership that cares about the club. 

I would love to know what goes in manager interviews. What questions managers are asked and what answers the panel provides. What guarantees are given that owners follow through on promises...really hope a retired manager spills the beans one day. 

2 hours ago, JHRover said:

The club has had plenty of national credit for its steps in 'integration' with things such as the Eid on the pitch the other day. 

Waggott found time in his busy schedule to turn up for that, meet everyone and give interviews and his thoughts on how great it was and how we are the first Club to do such a thing.

Well done, pats on the back.

Yet he's stayed absolutely silent for months on the far greater issue of the Club's future direction and management situation, even leaving Mowbray to deal with those questions himself between the Preston and Bournemouth games.

It is completely unacceptable. He is the CEO of the Football Club. It is his job to provide answers to important questions, clarity as to what is happening and show leadership.

He has certainly failed on those fronts. Good work has been done but this pales into insignificance when unwilling or unable to do the most important things. Time to resign. 

 

Sure, but 100% the situation is also that he is either being kept in the complete dark by Venkys, or he has been directly ordered not to say a word. Not possible I think that he has important information he is free to share with the public but is just keeping silent for the heck of it.

Which is part of the problem. New CEO, new manager, whoever comes in behind the scenes will have to be signing a deal with the devil, just accept that they pick up a salary but ask no questions and have no requests of the owners. Aka nothing but bad news for the club.

At least someone is celebrating on the pitch.

Another terrible but obvious issue is who in their right mind would want to work for Venkys? Total silence from your employer, complete refusal to communicate, with your top players sold and money not re-invested - absolutely no one with any self respect will want this job. Even when Mowbray took over at least there was some lingering mystery "what are their long term plans" of the sort, but even that mystery is gone. Even a complete newcomer, why would they choose to work for these owners instead of someone further down but where at least there is a basic level of communication?

Venkys have absolutely no clue or care about the club, it is disgraceful they get to pick the next manager. Which they obviously will as owners, pending on whatever foolishness is whispered in their ears.

How do we get out of this nightmare.

A bit infuriating that he gets to leave more or less on his own terms and is not forced out by the fans or by owners who care. 

Fitting end to this clown. The disgraceful thing is that he is leaving simply for contractual reasons and not because he was forced out. 

So.......the bad players TM says he was too loyal to and should have dropped....are Dolan and Nyambe?

Is this man an actual clown?