FulwellViaLeeds
Central Defender
A below average lower league manger who has almost exclusively worked at this level? (A couple of exceptions below and above).
You're talking as if these are guaranteed talents and certs to develop. They're mostly bits of kids, many of whom haven't really been exposed to first team football. His role is to give them first team exposure and some will develop and some won't- ultimately that's what he's doing. We arent now plucking good under 21s from PL sides and as such they need more time to adjust. We also arent buying young lads who are tearing up their respective leagues and to make matters worse we've done it en masse without maybe the experience and support of the right seasoned players around them.
Whilst there are certainly areas you can question Mowbray and his management, only foolish people will look at this squad, the experience of it, where players have come from and what they've cost and realistically think this is anything but a work in progress squad that will probably be lucky to finish top ten, with or without Mowbray.
As you say the worst thing that has happened is the play offs. Because just like last January when it was wide open for us, whilst expectations have grown with fans, the people at the club have trimmed the squad and added more and more possibles rather than probables to it and many fans have lapped it up thinking we've actually strengthened and we really haven't.
We've been in the top 10 all season, and that's been while dealing with anywhere from 5-10 first teamers injuries throughout that time span. Do you really think there are 10 better squads than us in the division?
This squad is good enough to compete for a playoff place. I don't really see any reason why we shouldn't be in the mix come the end of the season barring an injury crisis/Jan sales.