Wakeywakey

That could mean that he isn’t actually that good….

Hopefully he hasn’t had his head turned by talk of higher wages and the like and becomes trouble in the camp.

We keep going on and on about forwards, goals, Moore, Lowe, Windass and Geldhart but the truth be known in the last 15 games in 10 of them we conceded 2 or more goals which means we have to score 2 to 3 goals in 10 out of our last 15 games to get anything hence the onus and pressure then lies with our attacking line up.

Yes granted Naismith is doing a job but stats don’t lie. Bryne and Naismith both played a big part in both goals against Bristol.
For me first and foremost we need to sort it out at the back. We’ve 2 so called holding midfielders who should be doing their bit at the back but clearly their not even though they spend the majority of games within touching distance of our centre halfs.

I’m sorry but theres too many failed signings for me, the signing of players with horrendous previous injury records, the signing of players who are then sent immediatly on loan never to play again, and the signing of players (money well spent) who have hit the ground crawling.
I remember Barnsley fans saying whether it was just a dummy spitting comment I’m not sure but:

“£3 million for a sub we should rip their hands off” made me think, why are we paying £3 million and he can’t get in a Barnsley side ??.

In the next few years we should be shoe horning in these young lads. I watched a certain Ryan Sessegnon playing for Spurs last night, he’s 19 and he only got there playing regular for Fulham. He doesn’t play for Fulham he doesn’t play for Tottenham.

For me it’s not just one thing it’s an accumulation of lots that have all crept up and eventually bit us hard.

Theres also a few players so called regulars who need to lose that tag. Only a new manager can do this putting a line through everyone’s previous. The one rumour has it that, if you cross Cooks path that’s your career over with at that club which seems to be the case and friends get looked after.
New manager and a new start along with a new approach is the only way we stand a chance.

Quote:
“its better to sh1t your pants than to die of constipation”

The failed signings are a by product of the club we are. It was the same in the Prem.

We can’t afford to buy Championship quality players such as Assombalonga, Bamford, Watkins. We can’t afford PL players stepping down like Austin. We have to sign risks, either established players at the end of their careers that we may get something out of or players in leagues one and two we hope to step up.

In the Prem we signed players from Scotland. Some worked, McArthur, McCarthy, Maloney and some didn’t…Sammon. We signed lower league players like Cotterill and Folan who weren’t good enough and we signed foreign players like Boselli and Agahowa.

We also have to work the loan market usually signing promising youngsters from PL clubs. Again at a risk. Some work like James and Zaki but when they do work there is no chance we can keep them nor can we realistically replace them unless we find another gem. Others don’t like Olsson and the guy from Wolves.

We have lost Powell and James who were arguably our best players. We haven’t and we can’t replace them. We have taken a risk on Jamal Lowe….he isn’t good enough…and we have signed players like Fox, Mulgrew and Pilkington who will do a job for us if we keep them fit but that’s the risk. If they weren’t injury prone they would be at better clubs than Wigan Athletic.

It isn’t a case of having no ambition, it’s simply being realistic. We cannot financially compete at this level especially with FFP rules.

I once went to a meeting with Jonathan Jackson who explained our accounts and how we struggle to operate at this level. Derby County’s wage bill is higher than the TV revenue so already they operate at a loss. Luckily for them they have a fanbase to fall back on. We don’t and so we can’t afford to operate at too great a loss which means our wage structures and transfer budgets are far lower than most clubs at this level. We are League One millionaires and Championship paupers.

Some great points egg lad, one thing sticks out though to me. You said and correctly “we have to sign risks” well why not use the same risks blooding our own players who are successful in the development squad? Why are the risks any different. These risks cost a lot of money to bring in so we may as well go with our own if we cannot be sure they will work.

Those two should be in the first team squad every week and given some decent game time not 10 mins here and there. I would also include a couple more, Joseph being one of them. Roberts has been great for us saying how old he is, top pro with plenty of respect from everyone. However, I don’t feel that he can change a game both offensively or defensively. Some of these youngsters could microwave their development being part of the first team set up. Leyton Baines wouldn’t have got his chance if sick note Macmillan had not “twisted his sock” has PJ once said.
Gelhardt hit that rasper over the bar within minutes of coming on against Bristol. I didn’t see any other raspers from the starting 11 all 90 mins. That would be enough for me if I was Cook. When the ironic cheer went up when Joe got ready to come on satdy, it was met with “you’ll have to do well now” from Cook. Being profoundly deaf I could lip read him, what a great confidence booster that must have been for the lad.
Cook needs to put age to one side and stop being obstinate. If the rumours are right regarding Henderson from Rochdale and Rooney from Salford being of interest then we might as well scrap that academy.

Et voila

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51152166