It does seem we never learn as it's not just these owners and our current manager that has fallen into this trap but plenty of previous ones too. We haven't bought or been able to attract the absolute creme de la creme of players since the 80's, yes we've had the odd ones who became that but never enough to get us and keep us at the top. Our transfer policy, general scouting and overall recruitment has been abysmal for over 25 years. It needs to change but I don't see that happening for at least a couple of seasons and these are my reasons.
Our owners have been here for just over 4 years, they set a clear recruitment policy from the start, spend big on potential but with low wages, allow them time to develop whilst improving their contracts as their contribution to the team increases. They also went about getting rid of the high earners who weren't contributing (injuries or lack of form), were approaching the end of their careers or who wanted out. They told us it was a medium to long term plan of 5 years plus.
There are however a few things that have put us back with this plan. Firstly they intended for Roy to complete that season before bringing in their own man who would implement this plan but as we all know he had to go earlier than expected (for them, not for us). Secondly they brought Kenny in to see us through to the summer then decided to give him a permenant contract only to ditch that idea a season later. They then got their man in Brendan but we were already 2 seasons into that 5 year plan. Do they see it that way or do they see it, like I do, that the 5 year plan only started when Brendan arrived?
The success of Brendans first January transfer window lulled them into a false sense of security, 2 excellent young talents, for very little money who made an immediate impact on the team and the results started to follow. We had limited success with last summers signings, Sakho and Toure played a bit part in our amazing season with only Migs playing every game. The youngsters brought in had no impact whatsoever but our own Academy players had a big part to play. Both Raheem and Flanno secured regular starting berths whilst both Danny and Cou continuing their form of the previous 6mths.
Fast forward to this summer, whether they intended or expected Luis to be sold we/they were in a position, with increased revenues, to be able to significantly add to the squad. Most of us were reasonably happy with our summer transfers with the exception of Balo who most could see didn't fit our normal playing style and it seemed a big blow that we didn't get Remy who would have fit. None of us expected Danny to be out for so long and none of us expected our form to be so bad. Those players who had been magnificent last season have failed to maintain it, never mind improve on it. This happens with young players, inconsistency is normal, their pits and troughs can be extreme and last longer than more experienced players.
As a result we are slipping further and further away from where we want and need to be, with no signs of it changing and everyone pinning their hopes on Danny coming back fit and firing to get us out of the mire. We also have the worry, that many have expressed, that these fine young players will want to F**k off if we fail to keep up a challenge for honours and compete in the biggest competitions and so the cycle begins again.
Question now is will our owners continue down this path if the above cycle happens? If Danny or Raheem or Cou or Stevie have another season like the last one but fail to have anything to show for it again and decide to get out whilst they can. Maybe they hadn't thought this might happen before we got the best out of them? I don't know if this happens in baseball or if players stay put unless the team offload them?
They say they want to build and maintain a winning squad but you can't build anything if every year one or more of the foundation blocks are removed and it's replaced with a lego brick. Will they have a rethink if this seasons a failure? Will they decide that the failure is down to the Manager and remove him too, setting us back even further? Or will they realise it's their own policy and that it needs changing?
I hate to say it but after believing they wanted to bring stability back to the Club, they are in danger of destabilising it even further.
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