Dean Coneys boots 1,400 Posted July 27, 2020 This season, as stated, has been a total embarrassment. We even have other managers mocking us now publicly for a total lack of ambition, pointing out “they didn’t even try” This is a sentiment shared by my mates who support other teams who think our miserly ambition was a total joke and that we didn’t even try to stay up. It doesn’t reflect well on us as a club. Have us fans be taken for fools? We were told there was a genius plan in place, but following a record breaking season of dismal failure (see the stats) it is hard to believe in. Do we really think we are about to bounce back first time? On what footballing evidence? Add to this the fact that our new mantra “the team needs a shake up” seems to involve off-loading our budding wonder kids and replacing them with more obscure cheapies from abroad. I think the board need to explain themselves better regarding wasting the opportunity promotion gave us. AGAIN! I think they also need to tell us how the “plan” works if we don’t come flying out of the traps and start winning in a few weeks time. As things could turn ugly, quickly. Then what? Was there really a plan or just an excuse for trying to do it on the cheap and trouser the promotion money? 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcorkcanary 4,334 Posted July 27, 2020 Its ok, winter is coming, the ice will thicken again. Dont Panic. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lharman7 39 Posted July 27, 2020 Some people get it, you obviously don't DCB. Webber said way before the season started we wouldn't put the club under financial insecurity. We are now financially way better off for it. The plan is working! 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canary Wundaboy 1,359 Posted July 27, 2020 2 minutes ago, lharman7 said: Some people get it, you obviously don't DCB. Webber said way before the season started we wouldn't put the club under financial insecurity. We are now financially way better off for it. The plan is working! Or we could have stayed in the Premier League and been financially much better off. The fact that we didn’t even attempt to do so, or make any suggestions that we even wanted to, is what grates. i have to say I can’t remember such a bombardment of negative media and punditry for any of our other relegations, we seem to have offended a large section of the footballing circus by accepting relegation as an almost-certainly and not spending any money. For all the club crowing about being a self-funded operation, we can now see (despite all the previously glowing press) how much that is valued ahead of performance, competitiveness and fight. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samwam27 527 Posted July 27, 2020 I'm pleased we've hit the ground running with two quick transfers in, but what I don't get is why we feel we can spend, and as Webber says, look for a bit of quality this season, when last seasons transfer was a complete joke. All cheap has beens, and despite Byram being the only exception, he came with an injury record. I thought Sheff U spent sensibly, but to not even spend beyond £1m for a single player in the promised land was a disaster and an embarrassment and we went in with a threadbare squad I agree. Managers come and go and are made the scapegoat, but this Board has made mistake after mistake and get away with it. Yet another promotion handled poorly but our untouchable Board. And we still get the "we love this club and do things in its best interest" but this season season has been one of the clubs biggest disasters in it's history. C'mon Delia, let's be avin yer. Webber comes out with some honest explanations. Its about time Delia and co did the same Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samwam27 527 Posted July 27, 2020 Yes the club have been prudent and financially look sound, but this isn't "just" a business. First and foremost its a football club! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birchfest 397 Posted July 27, 2020 I'm always curious to see if this cynicism existed when we were winning the league last season, or even at the start of the season after, for example, playing Newcastle off the pitch and go toe for toe with Chelsea. Now don't get me wrong, there have been some real problems this season, some self-inflicted (poor recruitment, wrong tactical decisions etc) but then there has also been factors that we cant control; being in the first year of VAR, having a pandemic make the key home games not home games and ultimately still financially paying for mistakes made by those trying to buy survival for Alex Neil. As for the, explain themselves.. I mean, come on, you can disagree with the approach, you can be frustrated by it, you can wish for other owners, but surely your not telling me you haven't understood what has been repeated time and time again since the summer? Or for that matter, to an extent, last season too. I think if your wanting a change of board/owners there are two things I would want to point out: firstly who is chomping at the bit to buy us? This fictitious person waiting to come in doest exist. The second; We start sacking board members and we could end up with a Jez Moxey again.. be very careful what you wish for. We weren't good enough, we all know why, we will go again. Welcome to how football works. 10 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings of a Sparrow 1,414 Posted July 27, 2020 Have you personally written to the board or just moaned about it on an Internet forum? 4 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,657 Posted July 27, 2020 The board are on thin ice? With who? It's certainly not the fans. That's been proven with the ridiculously awful attempt at trying to drum up a Delia Out social media movement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crafty Canary 495 Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Dean Coneys boots said: This season, as stated, has been a total embarrassment. We even have other managers mocking us now publicly for a total lack of ambition, pointing out “they didn’t even try” This is a sentiment shared by my mates who support other teams who think our miserly ambition was a total joke and that we didn’t even try to stay up. It doesn’t reflect well on us as a club. Have us fans be taken for fools? We were told there was a genius plan in place, but following a record breaking season of dismal failure (see the stats) it is hard to believe in. Do we really think we are about to bounce back first time? On what footballing evidence? Add to this the fact that our new mantra “the team needs a shake up” seems to involve off-loading our budding wonder kids and replacing them with more obscure cheapies from abroad. I think the board need to explain themselves better regarding wasting the opportunity promotion gave us. AGAIN! I think they also need to tell us how the “plan” works if we don’t come flying out of the traps and start winning in a few weeks time. As things could turn ugly, quickly. Then what? Was there really a plan or just an excuse for trying to do it on the cheap and trouser the promotion money? The dumplings won’t want to hear this 🙂 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dean Coneys boots 1,400 Posted July 27, 2020 3 minutes ago, Crafty Canary said: The dumplings won’t want to hear this 🙂 Quite. Hogesar's already spitting feathers. You must not bash the board no matter how uncompetitive they prove to be in the transfer market. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,459 Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Dean Coneys boots said: We even have other managers mocking us now publicly for a total lack of ambition, pointing out “they didn’t even try” Which managers have said we didn’t try ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dean Coneys boots 1,400 Posted July 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, FenwayFrank said: Which managers have said we didn’t try ? Steve Bilic regarding his side's promotion. Assured the baggies fans the club would not do a Norwich and not even try 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kentonizking 1 Posted July 27, 2020 Gone are the days where the local businessman owns the local club, and can gradually fund them or ala Jack Walker at Blackburn, pump money in to dramatically improve the position of the club (note what happened to Blackburn post Jack). I do not like football being a business, but I cannot turn my back on my beloved team either. The business side has us as perfect customers, so loyal, always returning to the product, etc etc. The major way to make money nowadays is through the Premier League TV money, which we have claimed for this one year (plus the P Payments), would I have preferred to stay in the league and claim that money again next year? Of course, would that make sense from a business sense, to invest some and hopefully recoup more? Seemingly. And on the surface of that argument all the above posters frustrations ring true and to an extent I share them. But then I look at Bolton, Wigan, Pompey, Sunderland, Bradford, Blackpool, Birmingham, Charlton and of course Blackburn. All clubs who have overreached and suffered financially as a result and in three of those cases ended up in administration. It is a difficult balance. On a Saturday, when I see my team surrendering, I am more frustrated with the players than anyone. But lets see what September brings. If we are midtable in Jan, then its time to regret and maybe make our voices heard. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Greenthumb 749 Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Dean Coneys boots said: This season, as stated, has been a total embarrassment. We even have other managers mocking us now publicly for a total lack of ambition, pointing out “they didn’t even try” This is a sentiment shared by my mates who support other teams who think our miserly ambition was a total joke and that we didn’t even try to stay up. It doesn’t reflect well on us as a club. Have us fans be taken for fools? We were told there was a genius plan in place, but following a record breaking season of dismal failure (see the stats) it is hard to believe in. Do we really think we are about to bounce back first time? On what footballing evidence? Add to this the fact that our new mantra “the team needs a shake up” seems to involve off-loading our budding wonder kids and replacing them with more obscure cheapies from abroad. I think the board need to explain themselves better regarding wasting the opportunity promotion gave us. AGAIN! I think they also need to tell us how the “plan” works if we don’t come flying out of the traps and start winning in a few weeks time. As things could turn ugly, quickly. Then what? Was there really a plan or just an excuse for trying to do it on the cheap and trouser the promotion money? They aren’t on thin ice, but they are doing a poor imitation of having any aspirations. All the are trying to do is keep the club afloat, just so they can stay on board. Quite sad really, but you see the love they get from people on this forum, so kudos to them! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
City 101 83 Posted July 27, 2020 For one I hope we don’t get promoted again until we have new owners , in all honesty what’s the point it would just be same old all over again . We have gone from plucky little club giving it a go to the club the whole nation is laughing at . Now get ready for some big money sales and more cheap Unknown’s brought in ,which supposedly will make us stronger if we go up again . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,459 Posted July 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, Dean Coneys boots said: Steve Bilic Slavans brother ? 😉 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,603 Posted July 27, 2020 The closest the board came to being on 'thin ice' was a few 'Delia out' chants during Farke's first season as far as I remember. I do think if we struggle this season then we could see some turn but I've got no idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vlad666 203 Posted July 27, 2020 I’m sure people think upon promotion you get 100 million plonked in your bank. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that. What most clubs, with rich owners, do is spend out of their personal wealth until that money comes in and then take it back. Basically an interest free loan. We obviously don’t have rich owners so can’t do that. You could go to the banks and borrow money and spend trying to survive. You’ll be paying big interest on the loans either way. This coming season will be the time to judge the boards ambition with regards to transfers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings of a Sparrow 1,414 Posted July 27, 2020 The whole nation isn’t laughing at us, the only people who think we are an embarrassment are some of our fickle fans. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Fred 526 Posted July 27, 2020 Delia is doing a lovely job, club financially secure for years to come, many home grown youngsters coming through and the rotating score board, unique in world football why are they on thin ice God Bless Nephew Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mello Yello 2,289 Posted July 27, 2020 "Our Loyal Supporters must understand we have to live within our means"......"You won't miss what you've never had"....."If you can't afford it you're not meant to have it"......"It's sometimes going to be very difficult but we must stick with the 'Project'..... 😉 .....'Oh yeah'..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jerrykerry 223 Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) It's obvious we didn't react quickly enough to our central defence injuries. We could have thrown 5 million at another defender and who knows, it might have allowed us to play holding midfielders in the right position. But. Our injury list in the first part of the season and beyond has been ludicrous. Incredible and unprecedented. At full strength and spending just a little bit, who knows, but when we started and continued with one arm tied behind our back, we stood no chance from the start. We will see the truth by Christmas. If Farke is a genius and webber is a turd polisher, then we will be well inside in the top 6 and playing well, hope restored. Edited July 27, 2020 by Jerrykerry 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
......and Smith must score. 1,341 Posted July 27, 2020 31 minutes ago, king canary said: The closest the board came to being on 'thin ice' was a few 'Delia out' chants during Farke's first season as far as I remember. I do think if we struggle this season then we could see some turn but I've got no idea. Well they won’t have to worry about the crowd turning as there’s unlikely to be much of one all season 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Branston Pickle 3,654 Posted July 27, 2020 2 hours ago, Dean Coneys boots said: This season, as stated, has been a total embarrassment. We even have other managers mocking us now publicly for a total lack of ambition, pointing out “they didn’t even try” This is a sentiment shared by my mates who support other teams who think our miserly ambition was a total joke and that we didn’t even try to stay up. It doesn’t reflect well on us as a club. Have us fans be taken for fools? We were told there was a genius plan in place, but following a record breaking season of dismal failure (see the stats) it is hard to believe in. Do we really think we are about to bounce back first time? On what footballing evidence? Add to this the fact that our new mantra “the team needs a shake up” seems to involve off-loading our budding wonder kids and replacing them with more obscure cheapies from abroad. I think the board need to explain themselves better regarding wasting the opportunity promotion gave us. AGAIN! I think they also need to tell us how the “plan” works if we don’t come flying out of the traps and start winning in a few weeks time. As things could turn ugly, quickly. Then what? Was there really a plan or just an excuse for trying to do it on the cheap and trouser the promotion money? The Board, Webber and Farke explained things pretty clearly last summer so a lot of this stuff is somewhat null and void as has been answered a number of times - including at the outset. We were clearly told we had the lowest budget in the PL and that we planned to be a ‘top 26’ club (whatever that is in practice - presumably a yo-yo club), and needed things to go our way - they didn’t fall our way. I didn’t fully buy into it as felt we should have tried to invest as much as we could in the playing side (rather than refunding the bond, for example), but the overwhelming majority did at the time. However, the proof of the pudding seems to be in the eating and we appear to be getting a lot of revisionism as a result. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feedthewolf 4,846 Posted July 27, 2020 In 12 months' time, a lot of clubs will be looking enviously at the way we run our club. If we do get straight back up, all the better, but even if not we'll be debt-free as many other clubs are desperately fighting to stave off administration or even insolvency. Even the rich benefactors will have seen their own incomes and assets severely devalued; how long before their 'playthings' become too great a burden? Looks like our 'train set' will still be running self-sufficiently while a lot of other EPL clubs are gambling their very existence on getting back to the PL. Yes, of course it would have been better to have stayed up. Yes, this season was a disaster from a footballing perspective. But I think a lot of those pundits mocking us now might be looking at us again in a year's time and realise why we did what we did. 13 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Load of Squit 5,161 Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Dean Coneys boots said: Steve Bilic regarding his side's promotion. Assured the baggies fans the club would not do a Norwich and not even try Slavan doesn't want to do a Norwich. Norwich didn't want to do a Fulham. I expect every club that gets promoted wants to do a Sheff. Utd. (until if/when they go down). Next season someone will not want to do a insert name of team here. There's no prescribed method of staying up, it constantly changes, ask Burnley, WBA, Newcastle, Stoke, Wigan, Bolton etc. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Felixfan 53 Posted July 27, 2020 Delia and Michael probably don’t make the decisions as these are delegated to Weber. The board sets out the strategy and the budget and the “professionals “ deliver it. We must realise that we do not have the finance or infrastructure to be a permanent PL. team so destined to yo yo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
canarydan23 4,060 Posted July 27, 2020 43 minutes ago, Wings of a Sparrow said: The whole nation isn’t laughing at us, the only people who think we are an embarrassment are some of our fickle fans. And ironically, are the only significant thing embarrassing about our club. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,531 Posted July 27, 2020 "lack of understanding". Sums it up for me. It's been explained a thousand times on here, probably more, yet STILL people don't - or won't - understand. You can forgive people outside the club a little bit for not knowing or understanding, but if you follow the club it is not difficult to understand - the club is going through a process, it started three years ago, it is a long term process that will see the club develop it's resources and sustainability, improve it's chances on the pitch and next time, if we are able to get back to the PL, we will be at a better stage of development to be able to give it a better go. Is that plain enough? I know, spend more money (that we haven't got) or sell up and get someone is who has got money......but until that happens maybe one day, how about just supporting the club, trying to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it - and you never know one day a fairy godmother (or father) will come along and give you that nice rich benefactor you crave for and then you can gleefully watch someone spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of pounds to squeak us into 17th place at the bottom of the PL....or get relegated again like Fulham and the like. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites