Well, even I thought we would sign a striker. Anyone really, just to tick the box. Indeed, when Macauley Bonne's name appeared, it looked just like us. The chance of another cheap loan deal that might rekindle the form he hasn't shown since we flogged him to QPR two years ago, but in the end we couldn't even manage that. No defensive cover either that Sandgaard alluded to.
The pathetic sight of Steve Gallen being wheeled out to explain that it wasn't our fault looked desperate. We are blaming QPR for trying to turn it into a last minute sale rather than a loan. That in itself tells it's own story. So desperate to move him on that they tried to leverage us at the last moment. That, though is our fault once again. Our fault for leaving everything to the last minute on the last day.
Sandgaard acknowledged the mistake of last season was not strengthening our striking options sufficiently either in the Summer or the Winter and told us he had learned from it. We only managed 54 goals and that killed it. Since then we have sold Washington and moved Davison out. Chuks Aneke is crocked once again and we are relying on the aerial threat of Stockley to finish off a high pressing ball game that we are still trying to master.
The young players have done very well this season so far. We have had to rely on them increasingly because of gaps in our first team squad and have used them effectively in the little cup competitions so far. It is a huge and unrealistic expectation that they will carry the season and lead a promotion campaign we are not equipped for.
No, what is now even clearer is that Sandgaard's ambitions have changed. He has now had his 'Duchatelet moment' when he has realised that football isn't easy. He has lost another £8m and is facing similar losses again this season. That is why he has stopped spending on transfer fees. That is why he has cut the squad size. That is why we have brought in a League Two manager and more League Two players. That is why he is cost-cutting around the club. That is why experienced people have been fired and replaced with volunteers or new recruits. That is why our season tickets are pricey and why matchday tickets are extortionate. 'Fill the Valley' my arse.
Sandgaard's new plan to break even in two years is a pipe dream. You cannot cost-cut your way to profitability when your losses are such a large percentage of your turnover. You certainly cannot cost-cut your way to promotion. So what does he do next?
The logical next step is that he will look to sell players to shorten his losses. The easiest way he can do that is to find the next Mason Burstow and why, I believe, we are seeing the youngsters being relied upon. This is a lose-lose scenario though, because any success on the pitch, will be sold as quickly as possible.
Ben Garner has made a decent start - only one defeat so far and we should have been in front in that one (no cutting edge). He is making a good fist of his aim for playing the same style of football throughout the club, even if the youngsters seem to have found it easier than the first team so far. Like us, Garner will be feeling short-changed this morning. He has been alluding to his squad shortages and his inability to spend any money, so yesterday will have been a smack in the face for him too.
It's a long season, as we know. We are already carrying injuries and there will be more. Last year we lost Stockley and Washington at the same time and the few goals we were scoring dried up. It did for Johnnie Jackson. Chuks Aneke can't play more than half a dozen games without injury and can't do 90 minutes.
We are woefully short out wide. Charlie Kirk flatters to deceive. DJ has gone so far off the boil that we have been looking at offloading him and CBT, who has all the pace in the world, struggles to cross the ball or make the most of the positions he gets into.
Our hopes this season really do rely on youth coming through in a big way quickly but as I said, I don't trust Sandgaard not to sell them on at the first opportunity. You have to then ask yourself why is he continuing? I can't think of anything other than he is trying to buff the numbers so he can sell the club and get out. How depressing is that?
TS has made a complete hash of owning a football club.
ReplyDeleteHis only football assets are the players.....no ground, no training ground to call on so his only option to break even is selling players.
There's no way this team will get promoted from L1 and the Premier is as ridiculous now as when he made the claim. In an early Talksport interview he told Simon Jordan " see you in the Premier eague" How stupid does he feel now!
The sooner Sandgaard sells up and moves on the better. His original hurrah at European Football looks even more laughable now. Perhaps we may get an owner not only with realistic ambition (and some money) but one that may also try to get back ownership of the Valley and training ground. Surely it’s about time we get an owner that is not simply a “man of straw” and looks to run the Club properly. I still wince at Sandgaard playing his guitar on the opening game of last season…. What an ego!!!
ReplyDeleteDave, spot on and brilliantly put. As I've expressed previously, he's obviously looking to get out as fast as he can, worryingly though, who...especially in the current uncertain economic climate...is going to purchase a club that doesn't own its ground or training facilities, other than the next lowlife shark !
ReplyDeleteLarge slice of humble pie here, I've really warmed to Garner, I like his post match comments and the way he tries to get the team to play, if he gets us anywhere near the play offs, he'd have done remarkably well given the circumstances, although, he may the attract interest from elsewhere.
Eff me, never easy is it.
PH