*~*~* Rotherham v Sunderland match thread *~*~*

[Chewit]

You’re missing the point though.

SAFC’s sales pitch to potential signings isn’t that we are going to become a major force and hang on to them, it’s that we will develop them, give them first team football and an opportunity to progress their careers (if they take that opportunity) elsewhere. 2 seasons with us, tops.

Jack Clarke will be the first shining example of this when he moves on. The players understand this 100%. It’s why they sign.

The key to the success of this is selling at the right time (for the player and the club) and making sure that we find another Clarke every couple of years.

Yes we all know that and I take you back to your last sentence which is is exactly what I said.
There is no evidence we have bought anyone as good as Clarke since we were promoted. Hence there is no ready made replacement.
The only position we are seemingly covered with talent is full back. We don’t even have a championship striker or DCM to play let alone a replacement of any potential.
We are living off past strategy in this division on the cheap. Credit for getting us to a point, but for me we are starting to go backwards and unless they unearth some talent that immediately improves this team, as soon as we start selling it will accelerate.
In summary the current recruitment is failing and has on the whole since we were promoted. Of course their are exceptions (Ekwah and Jobe both British football graduates).
Why is it failing have the recruitment team suddenly lost their capability? The answer has to be we want to do it on the cheap.
We are competing in this league not just on the pitch but off it, and I don’t think we are prepared to compete to the level we need to to keep improving.
They think Beale can wave a magic wand. I fear for him.
Let’s hope they prove me wrong and pull some rabbits out of the bag this window but Iam not holding my breath.

 

[threepenny bits]

Oh right so you think it’s as easy as just deciding to play a whole new line, formation, block, whole new play patterns and everything and they should just deal with it on the pitch with approximately 10 minutes training time beforehand? Get real - Beale hasn’t had a chance to graft his ideas into the lads, so he’s clearly limited to minor adjustments to mowbrays play patterns at this stage. To suggest otherwise shows your naivety did for

We did for the Leeds game.

And where did I suggest wholesale changes?

 

[Mackem Attack]

We did for the Leeds game.

And where did I suggest wholesale changes?

The Leeds game won’t have come out of nowhere will it? It will have been pre-prepared for weeks by the coaching team. They don’t just dream up these things overnight.

 

[threepenny bits]

The Leeds game won’t have come out of nowhere will it? It will have been pre-prepared for weeks by the coaching team. They don’t just dream up these things overnight.

So we can play a different system then?

 

[jesus juice]

Missed all of it thankfully. How did pembele get on? No idea how many minutes the lad got like

 

[threepenny bits]

Missed all of it thankfully. How did pembele get on? No idea how many minutes the lad got like

I liked the look of him.

 

[Mackem Attack]

So we can play a different system then?

Sure, after the coaches have time to prepare another system for us to use. When has Beale had time on the training ground with them to prepare this system you’re speculating about?

 

[threepenny bits]

Sure, after the coaches have time to prepare another system for us to use. When has Beale had time on the training ground with them to prepare this system you’re speculating about?

Why are you suggesting a wholesale change and massive amounts of time needed to change things.

Burstow was poor last night, but he created space for others, Hull game we looked better when Jobe was pushed up.

These changes were made during the game too, so why can’t we make the changes from the start of a game?

 

[jesus juice]

I liked the look of him.

And how was his football?

 

[threepenny bits]

And how was his football?

Nee idea, sorry

 

[Turnip from the Tip]

Yes we all know that and I take you back to your last sentence which is is exactly what I said.
There is no evidence we have bought anyone as good as Clarke since we were promoted. Hence there is no ready made replacement.
The only position we are seemingly covered with talent is full back. We don’t even have a championship striker or DCM to play let alone a replacement of any potential.
We are living off past strategy in this division on the cheap. Credit for getting us to a point, but for me we are starting to go backwards and unless they unearth some talent that immediately improves this team, as soon as we start selling it will accelerate.
In summary the current recruitment is failing and has on the whole since we were promoted. Of course their are exceptions (Ekwah and Jobe both British football graduates).
Why is it failing have the recruitment team suddenly lost their capability? The answer has to be we want to do it on the cheap.
We are competing in this league not just on the pitch but off it, and I don’t think we are prepared to compete to the level we need to to keep improving.
They think Beale can wave a magic wand. I fear for him.
Let’s hope they prove me wrong and pull some rabbits out of the bag this window but Iam not holding my breath.

I think Bellingham has, without question, the potential to be our next £20m + sale in a season or two’s time.

Cirkin, if he can sort his fitness out will see a very big profit as will Ekwah.

I’d say die every 10 signings, if one becomes a world beater (Clarke, Jobe etc) and two or three more turn a handsome profit you are doing very well - and the signs are we are on the right lines.

And just because the young strikers have started slowly to say the least, there’s still time for one of them to find their feet and do well here, albeit probably not this season.

I think sometimes people need to take a step back, realise where we’ve come from and see the bigger picture. We have some cracking players here who play really good football and owners that (whether you agree with it or not) have a clear long term plan they are not going to deviate from. A plan that is working.

 

[gards2]

I'm just watching back The Full 90 as I was sleeping at the time the game was being played. Our play really isn't that bad in every way other than final 3rd. We have a big hole where a CF should be, no end-game during open play.

Clever balls don't come off for us much anymore. Amad really, papered over a massive issue.

We had Wyke up top who scored 30 goals, Stewart replace hhim and luckily he was also fantastic.

Now it's been two years, really hope we can bring in not one but two of them haha or similar.

 

[PaulG]

We are outside the playoffs at Christmas. For a club our size that's a disaster

If they focused on improving the team and fixing the obvious problems we've had for years then the value of the squad would increase. Gain promotion and it goes through the roof.

Last Christmas we were 13th, this year we were 9th. Now we're 7th. As always, there is a large number of teams packed closely together meaning that actual position can fluctuate widely week-to-week. It's where we are at in May that matters.

 

[gards2]

Last Christmas we were 13th, this year we were 9th. Now we're 7th. As always, there is a large number of teams packed closely together meaning that actual position can fluctuate widely week-to-week. It's where we are at in May that matters.

That's correct, but we do need to put measures in place so that we are there on merit and not by chance

 

[0verlord44]

Harsh on Kobe , he made one short pass to Luke that nearly cost us, but he ran himself into the ground . Occupied at least two opposing players most of the game. Have a go at Ekwah’s laziness yes , but not Jobe , he is one of the bright lights so far.

He is a bright light but he loses the ball a fair amount in dangerous postions, and was quiet after he nearly got sent off yesterday. . But I wasn't having a go at him, I was saying even he should be used to replace Ekwah ''try anything, Jobe even'' I think to paraphrase

 

[Mackem Attack]

Why are you suggesting a wholesale change and massive amounts of time needed to change things.

Burstow was poor last night, but he created space for others, Hull game we looked better when Jobe was pushed up.

These changes were made during the game too, so why can’t we make the changes from the start of a game?

Burstow was absolute shite and did nothing. Not sure why you would want him anywhere near the team

 

[Rokeroar]

Yes we all know that and I take you back to your last sentence which is is exactly what I said.
There is no evidence we have bought anyone as good as Clarke since we were promoted. Hence there is no ready made replacement.
The only position we are seemingly covered with talent is full back. We don’t even have a championship striker or DCM to play let alone a replacement of any potential.
We are living off past strategy in this division on the cheap. Credit for getting us to a point, but for me we are starting to go backwards and unless they unearth some talent that immediately improves this team, as soon as we start selling it will accelerate.
In summary the current recruitment is failing and has on the whole since we were promoted. Of course their are exceptions (Ekwah and Jobe both British football graduates).
Why is it failing have the recruitment team suddenly lost their capability? The answer has to be we want to do it on the cheap.
We are competing in this league not just on the pitch but off it, and I don’t think we are prepared to compete to the level we need to to keep improving.
They think Beale can wave a magic wand. I fear for him.
Let’s hope they prove me wrong and pull some rabbits out of the bag this window but Iam not holding my breath.

Good post, couldn’t agree more.

Last Christmas we were 13th, this year we were 9th. Now we're 7th. As always, there is a large number of teams packed closely together meaning that actual position can fluctuate widely week-to-week. It's where we are at in May that matters.

We are 7th yes but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The top four places are as good as taken, and we’re in danger of falling away from West Brom in 5th, so effectively we may have one play off spot to aim for, amongst a clutch of similarly inconsistent teams.

 

[PaulG]

We are 7th yes but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The top four places are as good as taken, and we’re in danger of falling away from West Brom in 5th, so effectively we may have one play off spot to aim for, amongst a clutch of similarly inconsistent teams.

We are just over halfway through the season so saying that the top four places "are as good as taken" when we are only 8pts back of fourth is defeatist. We're only in danger of "falling away" from others if they continue to perform at their current level (or improve) and we perform worse. They won't and we won't. That's one of the most frustrating things about this place - other teams are only going to improve but we are always going to struggle.

 

[CraigyLee]

Harsh on Kobe , he made one short pass to Luke that nearly cost us, but he ran himself into the ground . Occupied at least two opposing players most of the game. Have a go at Ekwah’s laziness yes , but not Jobe , he is one of the bright lights so far.

He was poor last night first half he was shocking and was lucky not to concede through his sloppy play and his attempt to tackle for the goal

 

[Rokeroar]

We are just over halfway through the season so saying that the top four places "are as good as taken" when we are only 8pts back of fourth is defeatist. We're only in danger of "falling away" from others if they continue to perform at their current level (or improve) and we perform worse. They won't and we won't. That's one of the most frustrating things about this place - other teams are only going to improve but we are always going to struggle.

It may sound defeatist, but I don’t think we have a chance of getting near the top 4 if we don’t get the players we are crying out for, and sadly I don’t think we will.
The model we adopted started really well as we all know, but if we aren’t allowed the flexibility (and money) to get the players we desperately need to progress, it’s in danger of falling off the rails.