League one forever

Still haven’t moved on. . .

Never in doubt. I said - the football operation alone. Stats bomb. One youth player sold- without really playing for the first team- despite his performances being good enough. No other youth player in the first team- despite big proclamations. B team with Unsworth No B team with Mellon. 6 centre half’s 12 midfielders 8 strikers No right back. One left back. None of that is made up. It’s either what DR has said, or what has happened. If you don’t think two years is enough time to asses someone’s suitably to the role- then fine, but I disagree. It won’t happen because he so intwined into the club, but Id like him to keep doing what he’s doing on everything bar the football decisions.

You asked for examples- I gave you some. You can pull everything apart if that suits your narrative. (Not a dig) You come across online as someone who always, always wants to defend the club, by finding any multitude of reason for failure and/or mistakes. Which is fine when there is grey area. Places there isn’t grey area. The family are on record saying they won’t get involved with football decisions. I believe them- so if they aren’t doing it, who is?? Both Unsy and Mellon have said in interviews they are constantly on the phone to DR, so while I wasn’t in the room listening everything suggest from the family and managers that he is heavily involved in the football side. DR is on record as staying stats Bomb is highly effective tool for recruitment and we were one of only a few clubs to have it. If it’s been used - it’s been woeful. If it’s not been used, why have it in the first place. DR is on record as saying a B team is important (because Unsworth said it was) then it disappeared when Mellon arrived. Where is the oversight from the man making the footballing decisions or does he just go with what the manager says. . . DR is on record as saying the youth is vital to the health the club. Our only player to come through got sold cheaply, when it’s obvious that had he played more we would have potentially got a higher fee. If we did or not is irrelevant- are we giving them a pathway or not?? One player in two years, who hardly played is not what he said is vital to the club, and at interview I would fully expect him to tell the manager how important that is to the club. Instead, he folds and we just sign more strikers and more midfielders on long contacts. We haven’t had an established right back for two seasons- that is at best a mystery and at worse negligent. He can’t tell the manager who to sign but for someone who is in charge of footballing decisions- the facts tells us- he lets the managers sign who they want. What does in charge of football decisions mean? It means leaving the manager to do his job under the remit of which you agreed at the time of appointment. On both occasions it looks like DR and the board have said do what you like and we’ll back you. The facts not guesswork tell you that. Two years later and we extremely lopsided squad and our return for a fantastic budget is 12th and 9th. DR - (on the football side alone) has done a poor job. I know you’ll pull my post apart, so I’ll leave it there.

Good to know. Maybe we could your best mate Curle in as sporting director? I know how much you love him- and he’s available. .

Aye. We were told 18 months ago there was a proper recruitment plan/strategy. . . It’s culminated in 56 strikers, 36 midfielders, and one left back

Are you pleased with the footballing decisions?

I have some sympathy with that one, there are certain players that need enticing, and they just won’t come for a one year deal. The issue we have is that everybody seems to get two years or more. We need to be much, much more selective in who gets the longer deals.

Oh. Agreeing to a B team in division 5. Canning a B team. Saying the youth structure is vital to the club, and then overseeing the only player to come through underplayed and sold for peanuts.

Recruiting ST. Bringing stats bomb. Both of which have contributed to some awful decision making regarding recruitment. How many successful signings have we had since they joined? Norwood? (And I don’t think even he has hit the heights we were expecting) Im sure DR does a lot of great things for the club, however his footballing decision and/or oversight has been very poor.

Ever the optimist Paddy. For balance- I don’t think we’ll win more than one of the four remaining games. Finish 10th on 64 points.

I completely agree Bosh, but I’ll be astonished if Mellon brings any youth players through. He wants old heads.

He a strange one- he has a way of receiving and passing the ball like it’s a photoshoot. A bit like a keeper making a camera save. It’s like he showing off his technique, when the actual pass is usually quite simple.

They’re no obvious solutions because we don’t have a settled side. We did before the signings (Not perfect but settled) and results were much better. The pressure isn’t peak but it’s building. . If we carry on as we are and finish poorly- he may end up on roughly 2/3 Wins in 14. Start next season poorly and we both know what the calls will be.

Yeah, I can see him going to be fair.

Of course- but that works both ways- sometimes we can look too deeply into reasons when the only tangible we have is results. . When he were doing well with results but the football wasn’t great, I defended him to the hilt because overall he was doing a good job. Results are now poor- and he’s under pressure- as he should be- that’s ultimately his Job.

So bench against Southend, start at Bromley, bench against Aldershot?

Personally think the Southend cameo and the bench at Aldershot was a show of ‘you can’t walk back in’ rather than him giving the other two a proper run. You said yourself he doesn’t rate Mikey (despite the fact he scores goals) We both have a narrative. You see things through the lense of - giving it time and letting things build. I see things as they are, (probably too black and white) which is - managers live and die by their results, when results are poor questions should be rightly be asked. I could you give countless examples of mistakes I think he’s made, and I’m sure you could counter me. Just the nature of how we see things at the minute.

I’m not saying Norwood is the reason we aren’t winning by the way , just as an example of poor management where his favourites play and it’s not good for morale if you play well and don’t keep the shirt.

Managers live and die by their decisions.

I don’t think he ‘has to’ change or rotate- it’s a choice. A great example is Garner and Fondop - they come into the side because of injury and score goals together. As soon as Norwood is fit he’s straight back in. . they hadn’t done anything wrong to warrant dropping. It might also of given Nors a kick up the arsed to see he’s not a guaranteed starter.

Never said it was true. . hence it’s a rumour. . one that looks like it has merit. Equally it’s not bollocks - because he hasn’t lost form he has become a completely different player. . And to go back to the original point, the pre Christmas Kitch is a top player who I would have no hesitation in keeping. The post Christmas Kitch (whatever has happened) can leave.

I don’t know mate, I don’t think he helps himself. I said on the other thread- in first few months you could pick the same 9/10 starters and results overall were good. He did much better with a smaller squad. . . Since Christmas (and the new signings) it’s been like a raffle. How can players get any rhythm if a lot of them are in and out, playing multiple positions, or playing unnatural positions?? In many ways, I wish we had saved the money in Jan and went with what we had, then had a big clear out.

Comms said he was Injured.

I wasn’t trying to wing you up at all, you do that all by yourself. You said the rumour was bollocks, several people have explained why it blatantly has merit. You’ve then made up stuff up in your head and resorted to calling people you don’t know a C**t. Stay classy.