> 1) We have spent more money than anyone else in the
> division.
> On the face of it yes we have paid what would be
> considered reasonable money in this division for 5
> or 6 players. But these days the transfer fees are
> only half (or less than half) of the equation. None
> of us really know how much we were/are still paying
> the ex players, how much money Lennon was on and how
> much we have paid the signings and loan players. We
> don't know how much jiggery pokery Bates had to do
> to keep the club afloat. I expect at least part of
> the huge debt we had is still being paid for in some
> way, and will be for some time.
Kev, we have spent more money on players that other
teams in the league. That is beyond despute. No other
team in that league could afford 2 million pound +
strikers. it doesn't really matter how much Lennon was
on and how much wheeling and dealing went on to keep
us afloat, the fact is that the money was there for
Blackwell to spend and he went out and bought a load
of shite including 2 left backs and a midfielder that
was too fat to play midfield so he moved him to centre
back.
>
> 2) We had the best players in the division.
> Rubbish. Only Gary Kelly made the divisional team.
> We have/had a few decent players at this level.
> Sullivan, Kilgallon, Bakke, Derry, Miller, Lewis,
> Hulse, Healy, Creswell, Blake but none who really
> stood out as being a class above anything else we
> faced.
Maybe you're right here. I think we had the best
strike force on paper but as you look at some of our
players you realise that some lack the basics
including favourites like Shaun Derry. However, I feel
that the system has made some of our players look a
lot worse than what they are - Healy , Blake, Hulse,
Richardson, King (!) have all suffered under
Blackwell's inept tactics. Also, if the team is not
the best then surely Blackwell must be blamed for
bringing in a pile of shite.
>
> However I would criticise Blackwell on a number of
> fronts.
> 1) He had 6 or 7 strikers in his squad yet only
> played with one man up front when push came to
> shove.
> 2) he said he wanted to play 4-4-2, then pinned his
> faith in a 34+ year old as his only right sided
> player. Once injured it took him 6 months to find
> another player for that position. He persevered
> with the signing despite all sorts of problems with
> the deal, then decided the bloke wasn't even good
> enough to get near the match-day team.
> 3) He had competent play makers in Bakke/Miller for
> most of the season, but felt compelled to stick a
> workhorse of limited ability in the side either
> instead of a playmaker, or alongside the playmaker
> instead of a 2nd striker.
> 4) The whole squad is short of real pace, meaning we
> don't carry a threat in behind the opposition
> defence, and are pedestrian on the break. Only
> Kilgallon is what I would call quick compared to the
> average for the position he plays.
>
Agree with all this especially on the pace aspect.
I've said it all season - experience is fine but you
have to be able to run and accelerate. Our team
doesn'thave this and is one of the reasons why we
struggle. I am faster than Gregan, Butler and Crainey.
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Hello Andy, most observant of you!
