The Project (6 replies)
Some of the names of managers I have seen floated in recent weeks and players in the last couple of transfer windows have been absolutely laughable.
Half the teams in the Championship are targeting the play offs or promotion every season. So our aim of getting promoted is not a unique selling point.
Three of them have been in the prem as recently as last season. Others have been in the prem more recently than we have.
Our owners have built an absolutely solid base off the pitch. Great training ground, academy cat 1 status, great academy facilities, a rejuvenated fanbase and the plan for the Sports Quarter. Like i’ve said before, KH have been unbelievable for the club and have frankly done wonders off the pitch.
But from a footballing perspective? No premier league football since 2011. KH got us relegated to League One first season. Our owners are outspoken and add pressure by floating things in the media. Have already hired and fired 5 managers when Davies goes. Obsessed with possession based football being some sort of golden blueprint. There seems to be a wild disconnect between transfers and manager selection. Talk of buying young players to grow with the club but in practice signing mostly players in their late 20’s or early 30’s.
If you’re a manager out of work or a player considering a move to the Championship - we are not top of the pile. We certainly aren’t on the level of any prem team, even the favourites to go down each season.
We love the project because it’s the best thing that’s happened to us in decades, but in wider football? It’s just a project trying to get to a level that most teams above us are already at.
Sadly, whether we like it or not, the three relegated teams and a handful of others are already more attractive than us in the league every single season.
We aren’t going to convince a Champions League level or solid Premier League manager to come to us. We aren’t going to convince key players of teams that have previously been promoted to come to us.
We can’t pay the wages and we can’t pay the fees. We’re only 3 years into the project. Some of this stuff will come after 10 years, not now and not any time in the immediate future.
We need a bit of patience. The Project is a long term thing. The only way to build reputation in football is by measured and evidenced progress and success. I fear even our owners have lost sight of what they outlined.
I’m Davies out, but this next hire is a genuine crossroads moment for the project. Another couple of short tenure managers or wholesale change transfer windows and most players and managers won’t touch us with a barge pole.