I like to have high expectations in life.
when we love something very much there are times when we seek even more structure, order and particularly rationale. For example , "we can't expect much, we haven't got the money." Tosh
of course the money is a key component, but alongside other incentives, relationships, the weather, training, personalities, fate and fortune, tactics, business planning, facilities, coaching, injuries, referees, timing the market, loanees, I could go on, so many things play a part in success and failure
its not all about the money. Shrewsbury, not a big budget, second in the league. Second best defence, only 14 meagre goals conceded, against our 34 . They have had some injuries too. They rely on 6 defenders , excluding goalie on Loan from Man Utd, average age 27. They even have 3 defenders in their early twenties out on loan to sides like Chesterfield in league 2. How many do we loan out for experience to league 2
2 of Shrewsburys stars at the back come from the National league. Wow two signings 100% success, (not the 100-1 unlikely to happen scenario Rationale there then? ) Guess what NONE of the others come from the premiership or Championship, they come from Bury, Mansfield, Rotherham and Hartlepool. Nil cost for 3 of them. So what does that say about their strategy, philosophy? Scouting and our costly and risky approach age wise, squad size wise , wages wise?
One last comparator , they strangely have 4 young, degree ridden back room boys named Physio, sports therapist, sports science intern and an Analyst. All geared to training, fitness
and recruitment
But no we can't do any of this because, the players aren't out there of course and nobody makes it from the lower leagues, and our favourite, we can do begged all as weve got no money comparedto others, so let's accept we must finish 14 th surely!
That’s a very reasonable summary,but add an important 4th reason:the manager has repeatedly been making inexplicable selections e.g. Timlin instead of Hendrie at LB.Agree preseason there was a lot of hype and talk about a promotion push and expectations were huge,but the talk wasnt just from us supporters but also from RM and PB,it was their expectations also,along with the players they bought in and how ell we did last year those expectations were justified.That it hasnt and now im sure will not eventuate can be put down to several factors ,1. Injuries have played a big part. 2 players not performing to the best of their ability,due to either age,or dressing room bust up or no confidence in manager i dont know.3 Players just going through motions off their last payday before retirement.Reading the match threads seems only a few can put their hands upto having had a good season,Oxley,Lenny Elvis when given a run and Kryptonite before he was injured.
You also missed the other week 10 of the 14 Shrewsbury players who played had played non league football in the past.Didn't want to mention all their other league 1 and 2 players and 5 loanees, one doing very well in midfield, the other second highest goalscorer, so I won't mention this other difference in approach , recruitment and style, wouldn't want to be ticked off as a whinger
You also missed the other week 10 of the 14 Shrewsbury players who played had played non league football in the past.
Ken that did make me laughThat's nothing Martin. Most of ours will be playing non-league in the future.
Obviously not the OAPs still playing.
That's nothing Martin. Most of ours will be playing non-league in the future.
Obviously not the OAPs still playing.
there's always walking football ....... oh, wait a minute
I suppose a bit more frustration as that mega rich power house of a Northern Club, that is Scunthorpe ,our next opponents, are doing so well and relying on the use of 7 defenders with an average age of 23 ! They have all been brought in over the past 2 years. Charlie Goode came from the Ryman league ( Hendon- what? another non leager I hear you say ) but they must be a rich lot with a huge budget as they paid undisclosed fees for Clarke (Coventry ) , Wallace ( Hull ) and Burgess. Mc Cardle was a free from Bradford City and Townsend a free from Hull, but it has paid off given their terrific record this year and very good defence. They obviously chose not to pay high wages for the elderly citizens from higher echelons and invest in youth in the main
I suppose a bit more frustration as that mega rich power house of a Northern Club, that is Scunthorpe ,our next opponents, are doing so well and relying on the use of 7 defenders with an average age of 23 ! They have all been brought in over the past 2 years. Charlie Goode came from the Ryman league ( Hendon- what? another non leager I hear you say ) but they must be a rich lot with a huge budget as they paid undisclosed fees for Clarke (Coventry ) , Wallace ( Hull ) and Burgess. Mc Cardle was a free from Bradford City and Townsend a free from Hull, but it has paid off given their terrific record this year and very good defence. They obviously chose not to pay high wages for the elderly citizens from higher echelons and invest in youth in the main
Probably because Scunthorpe pay higher wages than us, in fact they pay higher wages than Bradford. You boys really should do some research before you post.
Any way you backed Bury (buy loads buy early) and Gillingham (buy a bargain from the Essex senior league) this season so you can't change to Shrewsbury and Scunthorpe in December.
Are these 'Facts' readily available to us mere mortals?
I know a little bit about the McArdle transfer 'DWB', as mentioned in the OP of the Bradford City Pre-Match thread, but here's more on this from "The Width of a Post" :-
"Rory McArdle’s cult hero status aside – and there surely can be no doubt now that he joins the likes of Stuart McCall, Bobby Campbell, Wayne Jacobs, Peter Beagrie and co. on the pantheon of all-time Bradford City greats – more pressing is what this means for Bradford City’s transfer activity, in the immediate and longer term.
Scunthorpe offered better wages, but, crucially, a three year deal that, obviously, City weren’t prepared to match. If not always communicated, the club’s transfer strategy – although surprising in light of last season’s fifth-placed finish and McCall’s vocal and now clearly unfulfilled wishes to keep his squad together – is obvious, and best summarised in nine words plucked from this (translated) German interview with Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp: “creating a young team that stay together for years”.