RVclaret wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 9:59 am
Look, they did a solid job, there’s no deriding. Though Dyche was a bigger reason for our success IMO, probably 90% Dyche 10% owners.
Anyway, The question was ambition, and I don’t think they had that much. From securing a miraculous 7th place finish and place to compete in Europe, there was a distinct lack of it. That window was poor and then a 10th place finish and sign Dale Stephens. That’s not ambition.
I largely agree with this but find it fascinating as you were wanting Dyche gone back in March for Knutsen and I could be wrong but I seem to recall you arguing that actually Dyche wasn't the main reason for our success. If that wasn't you I apologise but a lot of the Dyche Out crowd were insisting he wasn't responsible for our success, held us back, had no ideas, was too reserved, didn't have ambition in transfer policy, etc.
It seems odd to me to credit Dyche with 90% of the success for our most successful period, but then back the new board despite them very publicly signing players not fitting Dyche's strategy- and I'm not talking analytics-based signings as it was publicised back in 2014-15 that Dyche liked analytics, nor do I mean overseas signings as it was also publicised back in 2016-18 that Dyche wanted to make more overseas signings while the board wanted to stick to the Championship. If you think a manager is 90% responsible for success, you'd want a board to back him as much as possible, rather than sign players for him and tell him to deal with it- which some on here have claimed Garlick did too, I''ll add.
I fully agree that the old board never capitalised on our 2017-18 season's momentum- though Chester's breakdown of the financials is interesting reading which suggests we actually lost money getting into Europe so couldn't do much to capitalise. I also fully agree they never capitalised on growing the Burnley brand either overseas, or domestically- and didn't seem to know what to do with our image. I don't believe that the Dycheball/'expected of Burnley' era had no room for footballing or marketing growth, and I also don't believe the old board completely lacked ambition so much as wanted to lay long term groundwork and foundations- like with Barnfield and the academy.
FWIW I'm probably a younger fan than most, and I'm all for slow, sustainable growth and development and rebuilding our youth academy into one of the best in England. I'm certainly not after instant success, never have been. Which is what worries me now- the talk of growth to Europe in 5 years, youth development is all great talk, but it's just talk, when the reality is that we now do need an immediate rebound- this year or at the latest next, or the situation is terrifying. It was the same with summer 2021- there was less transfer money than summer 2019, but a rapid overhaul in style. If people want slow progression I'm not sure we've had it so far.
And yes, I'm hopeful about Kompany as manager and glad he's been appointed. Yes I'm glad the Academy downgrade looks to have been resolved. Yes I'm glad the loan debt isn't an immediate headsman's axe. But that doesn't equal 'well done ALK' yet, as all 3 cases are them fixing, or postponing, problems of their own making. They sacked Dyche then took 8 weeks to confirm a replacement, they axed Academy Staff including an experienced manager preceding the audit failure, they incurred the loan debts they have postponed with MSD, and there is no evidence the final total of the loan has been reduced. And the burden of proof is on the person claiming it has been- the material facts we know relate to a £65m loan, possibly relieved/part paid by £15m. If someone claims that final total has been reduced it's up to them to prove it, not on the people saying it hasn't to show it hasn't- they're not the one making a claim of change.
This is a bit longwinded so apologies and well done if you stuck with it, but ultimately, fixing problems you created isn't the same as moving forward, and talk of moving forward isn't the same as moving forward. I'm not saying boo ALK, I'm not saying well done ALK, I'm saying- okay, they've bought themselves a season, let's judge them on that before praising or criticising, and not judge on softball media interviews- I've not been too bothered by the radio silence anyway.
