The Route of our mess....

[matty_84]

The thing that has put us in this mess has been our transfers.. Why made basic errors when we were promoted, selling Gorkss, not signing Routledge, and replacing good players with bigger names that were no better than what we already had. and this trend has continued since.

The spirit and good feel we had around the club went by this Christmas last year.

When these players were brought in was:
SWP better than Routledge?
Fendinand better than Gorkss?
Zamora better than Helguson?
AJ better than DJ?
Gabbidon better than Fitz Hall or Clint Hill?

We made basic errors in the transfer market, and still did this summer.

Did we really need 11 players? 4 New midfielders? When all we really needed was to strengthen at CB and a Top striker?

And yes this does have a lot to do with the managers, First Warnock and now Hughes, but it Tony Fernandes has to take some of the blame too.

Dont get me wrong I love the bloke, but he is not a football man, and to me it doesnt seem like he knows what he is doing, making basic errors in the transfer market. He keeps saying "we have brought in alot of players and they take time to gel" well if he knows that, why sanction so many transfer, knowing its going to take time.

You can't win the championship and expect to chuck millions at it and finish in the top half, it doesnt work that way.

Like i have said we lost all good feeling from the championship winning season by January, and has been down hill ever since.

I know you wont all agree, but thats my opinion!!!

[Del]

I think the cause of our problems this season was the marketing focused pre season.

We played incredibly weak opponents and won 5-0 easily even with kids in the side.... what does that say... with our first choice team we'd have won 8-0 maybe more..... How the hell are games like that helping to prepare a team for the coming season in arguably the toughest league in the world...??!

Answer, they didn't. We became complacent as we were "unbeaten in pre season" and on the opening day got brought back to earth with an almighty bang..... That game and result for me was totally as a result of the poor pre season, and we simply have never recovered from it.

Late last season we rolled Swansea comfortably 3-0 at home and we SHOULD have beaten them on the opening day this campaign too.... imagine how different our fortunes would be now had we started with a win..... I think the squad would've grown as a collective and we'd probably won about 4 games by now.

Pre seasoin should be about getting the team fit and ready for battle, not solely promoting the brand. If we wanted to go to Asia to promote, then fine, but we should've played tough sides. The big clubs tour these regions, but is it any surprise they play other prem or top European sides in arranged sponsored tournaments more often than not.... no.

[Bigdave]

The thing that has put us in this mess has been our transfers.. Why made basic errors when we were promoted, selling Gorkss, not signing Routledge, and replacing good players with bigger names that were no better than what we already had. and this trend has continued since.

The spirit and good feel we had around the club went by this Christmas last year.

When these players were brought in was:
SWP better than Routledge?
Fendinand better than Gorkss?
Zamora better than Helguson?
AJ better than DJ?
Gabbidon better than Fitz Hall or Clint Hill?

We made basic errors in the transfer market, and still did this summer.

Did we really need 11 players? 4 New midfielders? When all we really needed was to strengthen at CB and a Top striker?

And yes this does have a lot to do with the managers, First Warnock and now Hughes, but it Tony Fernandes has to take some of the blame too.

Dont get me wrong I love the bloke, but he is not a football man, and to me it doesnt seem like he knows what he is doing, making basic errors in the transfer market. He keeps saying "we have brought in alot of players and they take time to gel" well if he knows that, why sanction so many transfer, knowing its going to take time.

You can't win the championship and expect to chuck millions at it and finish in the top half, it doesnt work that way.

Like i have said we lost all good feeling from the championship winning season by January, and has been down hill ever since.

I know you wont all agree, but thats my opinion!!!

I agree with everything you said mate.

In the words of Madonna 'We're in an awful mess, and i dont mean maybe'

[Pey]

The other clubs promoted with us , chose the most sensitive part , keep a big part of your successful team and try to lure some of the best of the lower league players.

We sold our soul with adding a bunch of mercenaries and the Devil knows were we are at the moment.

[cross it Dave]

Matty, got to agree with what you say, I will never understand why we sold Gorks and HH.

[acricketer]

MH only shops at Fortnum & Mason

[matty_84]

I also agree with you there, again has to be put at the door of Tony Fernandes not being a football person.. He is a business man, and very good one, but not a football person, so will always be a step behind in what is best for the footballing side of the club, which being a football club, is the most important part!

[Fordy]

Agree 100%. Our transfer policy is dire and I for one hope we don't do the same in Jan. I'd bring in Charlie Austin, Parr from Palace and a CB I can't think of any.

[James1979]

we stumbled over the line in my view. Started like a house on fire but last couple of months we struggled. We lost 4-0 to bolton with pretty much the team that got us up. Gorkks was a stupid sale but DJ? He's done little for us. Andy johnson is much better player.

[stainrodisalegend]

Funny how everyone is now slating the signings. Before we bought all these big players - ie in the previous summer transfer window - most fans were virtually slitting their wrists saying "isn't it obvious these bunch of no hopers will get murdered in the Prem? we need Prem standard players." The same was said with bells on in the run up to last Christmas as we all speculated about what big names would be brought in and how they would make a massive difference as players like dj missed sitters against man utd and shaun derry huffed and puffed and we started at everton with agyman. So easy to be wise after the event. For all anyone knows the old squad wouldn't have stayed up last season.

[SteveQPR1975]

One hand in the pocket Hughes

[Jimmy Floyd Rabbit]

Short memories on here.

[Cookie Monster]

Did we really need 11 players? 4 New midfielders? When all we really needed was to strengthen at CB and a Top striker?

And yes this does have a lot to do with the managers, First Warnock and now Hughes, but it Tony Fernandes has to take some of the blame too.
...
You can't win the championship and expect to chuck millions at it and finish in the top half, it doesnt work that way.

This. This. 100x This.

The problem is. Everyone on here was screaming for more signings throughout the summer.

It hasnt worked. And now people talking about who to sign in january with a new manager... As if signing a whole new squad again will finally make us sucessful.
Everyone bought into the hype that money would equal sucess. And its made us nearly as bad as chelsea.

I liked Hughes because he talked about building us as a club right from the bottom up. But he's been just as bad as everyone else. Seemingly buying players for the hell of it. And there are countless examples of clubs who just through money at there teams and failed. Looks like were gonna be the next one.

[Del]

I think it's a bit harsh saying we brought in loads of players for the sake of it, and to say we only needed a CB and a striker is quite frankly laughable. If after surviving by the skin of our teeth they only got in 2 players there would've been loads of fans saying we have no chance this season. We needed more, hence we got more.... blimey, many now saw the defence wasnt addressed...even though an entire back 4 was acquired!

Also, i think they are looking to the future, hence the youth focus, and also hence we have signed about 8 free transfers, so outlay minimised and they are intended for the immediate term, not long term. Long term they want to develope youth.

[Jimmy Floyd Rabbit]

Our squad was crap! Course we needed an influx of better quality players. Easy to slate now we are struggling.

Agree though CB & striker should have been priority.