sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 4,339
I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying. I think the problem with this whole thread, and many of the conversations on this very subject recently is that people assume a person can’t have multiple viewpoints and consider all factors.Correct - you can't judge if you are not privy to TB's expectations are, but the point is, like very successful business people, he won't knee jerk after a short run (currently) and I suspect he is happy with our current process.
The problem is our results haven't been linear - if we had beaten the teams we are expected to beat and lost to the teams we were expecting to lose to, then if we are in exactly the same position as at now, then it's not a problem. Let's not forget this is our 2nd best points total at this stage of the season. Not many things in life are linear, but I'm assuming the knee jerkers sense/feel that our drop off in form (all teams will have this, blimey Fulham couldn't beat Southampton today) will also be linear downwards - it's highly unlikely it will be.
Regarding the £200m investment, in the big scheme of things, this isn't a huge investment and was made at a time which was advantageous for TB and the Club, in the midst of PSR having a negative impact on most Premier League Clubs, many who had to sell to remain compliant. So that window was not normal when comparing to other windows, if PSR wasn't constraining other teams, our investment would probably appeared "middle of the road".
A £200m investment does not equal immediate results in football - just look how much Chelsea have invested in previous seasons (£200m for two PL ready CB's!) and they were a basket case for quite a while - things are now beginning to click for them and it's taken a lot more than 18 games. And of course, they can attract and pay the wages of players like Cole Palmer - like it or loathe it, we as a Club won't change our wage structure or strategy regardless of what fans might think.
The £200m investment on rough diamonds may indeed work in the future, but equally it may not - it's our model!
I’m aware of everything you’ve said, but I’m also aware of the opposing argument, which is that £200m was the highest summer spend in the world and our highest spend ever, and it followed a season where we’d told our most successful manager ever that he wouldn’t get the money to improve the squad as he saw fit to push us again to European level. Instead we entrusted this spend to a 31 year old with limited experience, and gave him players that seemingly barely improved our first 11.
There are often two sides to a coin, or multiple arguments, and people shouldn’t be vilified for expecting more from us given what I’ve said above, irrespective of the “remember where we’ve come from” brigade who think we should rejoice in everything the club does without reflection or analysis, taking everything they say at face value.
For me personally, as I’ve said multiple times, I believe we’re moving in the right direction, but I’m yet to have the same faith in the current manager that I’ve had in the previous two. I think he’s lacking tactically based on the games I’ve been to, and he doesn’t seem to inspire confidence in the team. So it’s not so much about entitlement, it’s that I’m yet to be convinced that the current manager is the guy that should be in charge of the players we’ve bought with this £200m spend, nor am I sure he’s the guy to develop the talents we’ve invested so heavily in.
And I don’t think that’s an especially controversial take considering how many of our home games have gone this season, but many would claim that makes me entitled because I believe a better manager would’ve achieved more with the squad we now have, even though it’s imbalanced.