Really Poor Today

[NL Claret]

Nothing, but I've got £100 @ 8/1 winning the league so that's money I'll never see again

If could reinvest your £100, who would it go on to win the league?

[quoonbeatz]

I think after 9 games the league table may be more important than you think

Yeah, sounds like you do think it may be more important than I think it is and I’m fine with that.

Where teams are after less than a quarter of games is useful for telling you who’s had a good start and who hasn’t but when a win can potentially lift you an average of 5 or 6 places, I wouldn’t put too much significance on whether a team we’ve beaten is top half or bottom half because part of the reason they’re where they are is because we’ve beaten them.

Of course, if you do want to say the league table is important after 9 games, then being 3rd is pretty good.

[AGENT_CLARET]

If could reinvest your £100, who would it go on to win the league?

Sheff Utd

[quoonbeatz]

They ran away with it last time.

[Mattster]

You have little to no objectivity here and want to be proven right because you were dead against SP from the off and have been looking to criticise after every single game.

The fee for our young players here is determined by their perceived potential.

There has been plenty of times beforehand when we have been playing in the PL where Dyche has had pelters playing against teams where one of their players cost more than our entire squad.

It's also really just the 6th game with this 'new' team.

SP isn't a moron, he knows that we will have to create better chances going forward, but you don't win a league by making drastic changes every week for one-off games. It's about finding a formula, perhaps having slight variations and then keeping the players on task.

Ten Hag struggles in the league because of this. Whereas he is great at one-off cup games, Dyche is the opposite.

We do have creative players yet to come back - we do not have a natural attacking midfielder that is fit and available for selection right now. I knew we'd struggle in the final third this year because of that, no matter who the manager would be.

The most important point though, is that we are third, have just one loss all season (where SP was forced to play a drastically weakened team) and have many players to come back. Now is not the time to be all negative - let's see how we're looking after gameweek 15.

So because things are panning out exactly as I said they would when we appointed Parker my view can't be objective?

Look what I said after Oxford and the improvement over the Portsmouth performance when most people were slating the team and Parker. If we play well, if we improve, no one will be happier than me, and I will be the first on here to say I was wrong*. But week on week there is no improvement or any minor step forward is followed by two steps back. The myriad, ever changing excuses are wearing thin.

If you want to look at objectivity, you're here saying you knew it was going to be like this too. If you're saying I can't be objective, then neither can you.

And please stop giving it the "only the 6th game with this team". Again, for those in the back; 7 of yesterdays starting 11 started against Luton. 8 of them were with us throughout preseason.

Also, Parker's opposite number has only been in charge of the vastly inferior Preston squad for 7 games. The entire squad, not just a handful of players. It's an excuse that doesn't wash.

*as RVClaret loves to point out I was very wrong about Tella, but Tella proved me wrong and I did not try and hide from that, seethe and wait for a chance to jump on any minor mistake etc. I put my hands up without prompt.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, sounds like you do think it may be more important than I think it is and I’m fine with that.

Of course, if you do want to say the league table is important after 9 games, then being 3rd is pretty good.

It looks good but as it’s mainly courtesy of beating the bottom teams I feel it would be unwise to put too much conviction into it.

An interesting question for the academics I guess.

The table at the end of the season is what will count of course and I think we will be up there but due to much improved performances than we are seeing at the moment.
I think we will be beating more of the top teams by then.

[CoolClaret]

So because things are panning out exactly as I said they would when we appointed Parker my view can't be objective?

Look what I said after Oxford and the improvement over the Portsmouth performance when most people were slating the team and Parker. If we play well, if we improve, no one will be happier than me, and I will be the first on here to say I was wrong*. But week on week there is no improvement or any minor step forward is followed by two steps back. The myriad, ever changing excuses are wearing thin.

If you want to look at objectivity, you're here saying you knew it was going to be like this too. If you're saying I can't be objective, then neither can you.

And please stop giving it the "only the 6th game with this team". Again, for those in the back; 7 of yesterdays starting 11 started against Luton. 8 of them were with us throughout preseason.

Also, Parker's opposite number has only been in charge of the vastly inferior Preston squad for 7 games. The entire squad, not just a handful of players. It's an excuse that doesn't wash.

*as RVClaret loves to point out I was very wrong about Tella, but Tella proved me wrong and I did not try and hide from that, seethe and wait for a chance to jump on any minor mistake etc. I put my hands up without prompt.

Preston are 19th mate... Leagues aren't won/loss based on the result of one off games.

No, it's not playing out exactly as you said it would, seen as after the first two games we won combined 9-1 - not to mention he only had 4 weeks before the season to gel a side! Can you genuinely think of another manager that has had similar circumstances when taking over a football team? It's been wild!

I'm willing to give SP time - especially as we're sniffing around the promotion spots. 15 games is basically a third of the way through the season and I think that'll be a good time to start judging, for me it was the same last time we were here with VK.

I hand on heart think that it will start to click in the final third when Flemming and Foster form a partnership, and I'm banking on Trésor to show his worth - I just hope that the fans give him some support rather than being petulant because of some daft social media nonsense.

[quoonbeatz]

It looks good but as it’s mainly courtesy of beating the bottom teams I feel it would be unwise to put too much conviction into it.

Good to know we agree it’s not important at this stage.

[Elizabeth]

Good to know we agree it’s not important at this stage.

You missed ‘as important’ Good to know you accept my interpretation of the league table now.

[quoonbeatz]

You missed ‘as important’ Good to know you accept my interpretation of the league table now.

Incorrect. You didn’t use ‘as’ or indeed ‘important’ in the post I quoted.

[Elizabeth]

Incorrect. You didn’t use ‘as’ or indeed ‘important’ in the post I quoted.

I think you are tying yourself in knots now. As I said arguments about the importance of league tables at this stage of the season are maybe best left to academics. I think neither of us fall into that category

[quoonbeatz]

I think you are tying yourself in knots now. As I said arguments about the importance of league tables at this stage of the season are maybe best left to academics. I think neither of us fall into that category

The only one of us in knots is you, given you seem to be swinging from the league table being important to not important. I’ve been very clear throughout and given you sound reasoning. If that ties you in knots then I agree you’re no academic.

[jedi_master]

We were very poor against Preston, middling against Oxford and Portsmouth, decent against Plymouth for one half. Reality is the team is clearly still working through its tactical set up and (more importantly) is and has been contending with significant injuries.

The hard facts are that we are still well positioned for a promotion push despite the problems we’ve faced with our squad upheaval. Performances clearly need to improve to be a sustained automatic contender, but we’re looking pretty decent at the back which is a good starting point. We need far more from our main striker and our two wingers and key to that, in my opinion, is getting our full backs higher up the pitch. Anthony and Koleosho are typically being asked to beat two men to get to the byline or into the box, Pires/Humphreys/Roberts need to start offering an overlap as we are currently far too obvious when we get into those positions.

I’m still optimistic of being right in the automatic mix at the end of the season, remain calm.

[Mattster]

Preston are 19th mate... Leagues aren't won/loss based on the result of one off games.

No, it's not playing out exactly as you said it would, seen as after the first two games we won combined 9-1 - not to mention he only had 4 weeks before the season to gel a side! Can you genuinely think of another manager that has had similar circumstances when taking over a football team? It's been wild!

I'm willing to give SP time - especially as we're sniffing around the promotion spots. 15 games is basically a third of the way through the season and I think that'll be a good time to start judging, for me it was the same last time we were here with VK.

I hand on heart think that it will start to click in the final third when Flemming and Foster form a partnership, and I'm banking on Trésor to show his worth - I just hope that the fans give him some support rather than being petulant because of some daft social media nonsense.

Yeah they're 19th, had a perfectly good goal disallowed, hit the bar and just generally looked more threatening than we did. At our ground. All with a manager who has had less time with his players than Parker has.

Those two wins were against the teams currently in 21st and 24th. Luton had 3 teenagers (2 of them centre backs) making their first ever league starts. Against Cardiff we were lucky not to be losing at half time. Since then we've scored 5 goals in 7 games. He's got worse with more time.

In terms or turning out exactly as I said - here's what I said on 3rd July.

It's pretty simple for me.

If you've thoroughly enjoyed watching England at the Euros and think Southgate is doing a good job then you're in for a treat because that's what we're getting with Parker.

The football will be turgid, pedestrian stuff, we'll feel the talent we have is being wasted, we'll ask why we're sitting back on a 1 goal lead and inviting weaker teams at us for 60+ minutes. But we'll be in the promotion frame (probably around 3rd - 5th) on the strength of the playing squad and some will point to that as him doing what he's been employed to do.

viewtopic.php?p=2366011#p2365983

Sounds pretty accurate, apart from we can barely even take the 1 goal lead.

I love how 15 games is now the marker. Everyone was saying 10 games was the marker when I was raising concerns after 5 games. After 15 games it'll suddenly change to 20

[Elizabeth]

The only one of us in knots is you, given you seem to be swinging from the league table being important to not important. I’ve been very clear throughout and given you sound reasoning. If that ties you in knots then I agree you’re no academic.

You keep the fact that you are an academic well hidden

[RVclaret]

I love how 15 games is now the marker. Everyone was saying 10 games was the marker when I was raising concerns after 5 games. After 15 games it'll suddenly change to 20

10 games after the start of the second pre season, so 13-15 seems about right

[Raconteur]

Can you genuinely think of another manager that has had similar circumstances when taking over a football team? It's been wild!

Are you trying to say that Parker has been dealt the worst hand ever known in the football managerial world?

The reality is, even after the outgoings of the summer, bar Leeds United, Parker was left with one of the most talented and most valuable squads in the League.

[Rileybobs]

It’s quite sad how desperate some people are to be proven right.

[beddie]

You keep the fact that you are an academic well hidden

Will you and quoon give it a rest otherwise I’ll have to ban you.

[CoolClaret]

Are you trying to say that Parker has been dealt the worst hand ever known in the football managerial world?

The reality is, even after the outgoings of the summer, bar Leeds United, Parker was left with one of the most talented and most valuable squads in the League.

Did I say that? Really can't be bothered with the bad-faith args.

The context is that:

- SP was hired just 4 weeks prior to the season (incredibly late for a new manager).
- Galvanised a pretty fractured dressing room and thrased two teams in consecutive weeks
- Had to sell basically our best players and find replacements in less than a week
- Bed those in and start a fresh during the international break

Despite that, we find ourselves third, having lost only one game in nine, and many key players have yet to return.

The constant negativity and deliberately overlooking context is so boring and very childish.

We can clearly still move up a gear - just give it a little bit of time!

[CoolClaret]

Yeah they're 19th, had a perfectly good goal disallowed, hit the bar and just generally looked more threatening than we did. At our ground. All with a manager who has had less time with his players than Parker has.

Those two wins were against the teams currently in 21st and 24th. Luton had 3 teenagers (2 of them centre backs) making their first ever league starts. Against Cardiff we were lucky not to be losing at half time. Since then we've scored 5 goals in 7 games. He's got worse with more time.

In terms or turning out exactly as I said - here's what I said on 3rd July.



viewtopic.php?p=2366011#p2365983

Sounds pretty accurate, apart from we can barely even take the 1 goal lead.

I love how 15 games is now the marker. Everyone was saying 10 games was the marker when I was raising concerns after 5 games. After 15 games it'll suddenly change to 20

I've always said 10-15 games is the marker, but given the context, I'm looking more at the 15-game mark.

[daveisaclaret]

The context is that:

- SP was hired just 4 weeks prior to the season (incredibly late for a new manager).

It was 5 and a half weeks. Don't think it makes much of a difference but it's probably important to be accurate if you're using it to explain why we're playing like this.

[CoolClaret]

It was 5 and a half weeks. Don't think it makes much of a difference but it's probably important to be accurate if you're using it to explain why we're playing like this.

38 days then, whatever.

[Mattster]

It’s quite sad how desperate some people are to be proven right.

CoolClaret liking this post when he

A) was the one who brought up my opinion on the appointment of Parker
B) in the same post he talked about how he predicted it would be like this and so he was right

Is a great little self own. I love it.

[CoolClaret]

CoolClaret liking this post when he

A) was the one who brought up my opinion on the appointment of Parker
B) in the same post he talked about how he predicted it would be like this and so he was right

Is a great little self own. I love it.

Incredibly childish.

I'm just giving SP and the team a proper chance. Perhaps you should as well?

[Mattster]

Incredibly childish.

I'm just giving SP and the team a proper chance. Perhaps you should as well?

As was your motivation in liking that post. I'll own being childish if that's what it is to enjoy that.

So far you've exaggerated (/straight up lied) about how "little" time Parker had with the players in preseason and said I can't be objective because I wasn't in favour of the appointment but don't hold yourself to that standard.

I have given him chances, I acknowledged improvement vs Oxford as soon as I saw it even though it was against the grain in that instance. And I'll do the same if there's improvement after the international break.

But ultimately I won't silently ignore how dire we've been at creating chances, especially as it's been getting worse rather than better.

[NewClaret]

38 days then, whatever.

I think Parker has done a great job but it is going to become increasingly hard to use his time with the team as an excuse if things don’t improve.

I think he’s had long enough with them now to get them playing decent attacking football. The problem is the system and style of play, I think.

It’s allowing us to be solid at the back but not create much going forward. It only looks like it needs a few tweaks to me but they don’t seem to happen, which is a frustration because it either means he doesn’t see them (highly unlikely) or he thinks it’s something more complex that needs to be addressed (which would take more time to fix).

[CoolClaret]

As was your motivation in liking that post. I'll own being childish if that's what it is to enjoy that.

So far you've exaggerated (/straight up lied) about how "little" time Parker had with the players in preseason and said I can't be objective because I wasn't in favour of the appointment but don't hold yourself to that standard.

I have given him chances, I acknowledged improvement vs Oxford as soon as I saw it even though it was against the grain in that instance. And I'll do the same if there's improvement after the international break.

But ultimately I won't silently ignore how dire we've been at creating chances, especially as it's been getting worse rather than better.

I think Parker has done a great job but it is going to become increasingly hard to use his time with the team as an excuse if things don’t improve.

I think he’s had long enough with them now to get them playing decent attacking football. The problem is the system and style of play, I think.

It’s allowing us to be solid at the back but not create much going forward. It only looks like it needs a few tweaks to me but they don’t seem to happen, which is a frustration because it either means he doesn’t see them (highly unlikely) or he thinks it’s something more complex that needs to be addressed (which would take more time to fix).

Then at least appreciate that as of right now we do not have a fit attacking midfielder/'10' (Flemming coming back into fitness) and maybe Parker thought that the best way to get results without our creative players and a young back line is to pull it back a bit?

We're 3rd FFS. People are making it out like it's midtable fodder. Relax!

[NewClaret]

Then at least appreciate that as of right now we do not have a fit attacking midfielder/'10' (Flemming coming back into fitness) and maybe Parker thought that the best way to get results without our creative players and a young back line is to pull it back a bit?

We're 3rd FFS. People are making it out like it's midtable fodder. Relax!

Don’t know about Matt, but I’m completely relaxed.

I don’t see why so much fuss is being made of people calling out the obvious deficiencies in our performances? We’ve had a season last year of the most toxic comments about Kompany, Trafford, etc and all of a sudden it’s like everyone has to be happy with every single aspect of our performances which is just completely unrealistic.

I’m not convinced on your point re: the 10. Flemming might be the longer term plan for that role but Browny is a perfectly able 10 at this level and our current top scorer. Parker has the players at his disposal to be beating teams that we’ve come across in the last three games quite easily but he’s not managing it. Yet.

Theres no point getting het up about people calling that out. There’s things he’s done well and things he’s not, which he needs to address and when he does I’m sure people will praise that too.

[lakedistrictclaret]

Then at least appreciate that as of right now we do not have a fit attacking midfielder/'10' (Flemming coming back into fitness) and maybe Parker thought that the best way to get results without our creative players and a young back line is to pull it back a bit?

We're 3rd FFS. People are making it out like it's midtable fodder. Relax!

Sensible post alert!

[Robbie_painter]

Couldn’t give a shiny **** about where we are in the league,it’s a dreadful watch and has been since the yanks sold us down the river before the window closed.Utter rank.

[Clovius Boofus]

Couldn’t give a shiny **** about where we are in the league,it’s a dreadful watch and has been since the yanks sold us down the river before the window closed.Utter rank.

You mean sold on players who didn't want to kick a ball for us in this division. You can criticise the owners as much as you like for all I care, but at least get your facts straight.

[Mattster]

Then at least appreciate that as of right now we do not have a fit attacking midfielder/'10' (Flemming coming back into fitness) and maybe Parker thought that the best way to get results without our creative players and a young back line is to pull it back a bit?

We're 3rd FFS. People are making it out like it's midtable fodder. Relax!

One player doesn't fix the obvious deficiencies in our play. And as NewClaret points out Brownhill has proven himself a very good '10' at this level.

The last 4 teams we just faced are all amongst the 8 worst defences in the league (3 are in the worst 4). They're all in the bottom half for creating attacking chances. We scored 2 goals from open play in those 4 games, and they were shots from outside the area. They were not teams for us to be so fearful of that we would need to shut up shop and hope to nick a winner. And I don't think that was the plan, Parker just hasn't been able to implement a system that creates chances. I'm honestly not sure which is the more concerning explanation.

So yes, we may he 3rd now. But we're not creating chances, let alone scoring goals, against some of the statistically worst teams in the league. It's not sustainable.

[Guller Bull]

Then at least appreciate that as of right now we do not have a fit attacking midfielder/'10' (Flemming coming back into fitness) and maybe Parker thought that the best way to get results without our creative players and a young back line is to pull it back a bit?

We're 3rd FFS. People are making it out like it's midtable fodder. Relax!

Dull though isn't it?

[NewClaret]

Dull though isn't it?

I think Parker has been unfortunate to follow Dyche and Kompany. Both had very different styles but created chances, so there’s a minimum expectation.

FWIW I think we played better in the last two games. I think we moved the ball faster and I’d say we played with more urgency from the off in both games, so I was pleased to see that improvement. The problem is, it was nearly all behind the opponents.

Could call it karma after all the years of us doing the same but in answer to your question, yes, it’s dull.

[RVclaret]

Given Parker has showed his teams can create more than Kompany’s Burnley you’d imagine there’s quite a bit of room for improvement on that front. The good news is we are conceding the 2nd or 3rd least amount of chances per game. If that stays the same and the chances created improves then we’re onto a sustainable winner.

[dsr]

Given Parker has showed his teams can create more than Kompany’s Burnley you’d imagine there’s quite a bit of room for improvement on that front. The good news is we are conceding the 2nd or 3rd least amount of chances per game. If that stays the same and the chances created improves then we’re onto a sustainable winner.

Well, sometimes a winner and sometimes a 0-0 drawer.

[RVclaret]

Well, sometimes a winner and sometimes a 0-0 drawer.

By my estimation, Parker had 7.4% of games in this league that finished 0-0 (before yesterday). So we can expect roughly another 2 out of 36 games remaining.

[Guller Bull]

I think Parker has been unfortunate to follow Dyche and Kompany. Both had very different styles but created chances, so there’s a minimum expectation.

FWIW I think we played better in the last two games. I think we moved the ball faster and I’d say we played with more urgency from the off in both games, so I was pleased to see that improvement. The problem is, it was nearly all behind the opponents.

Could call it karma after all the years of us doing the same but in answer to your question, yes, it’s dull.

Do you remember those first two games against Luton andCardiff when we played balls through and over the defence and use peace and skill? Seems like a lifetime ago now doesn’t it.

[boatshed bill]

Do you remember those first two games against Luton andCardiff when we played balls through and over the defence and use peace and skill? Seems like a lifetime ago now doesn’t it.

Early goals, and bad mistakes, gave us the upper hand in the games vs Luton, Cardiff and Leeds.

[NewClaret]

Do you remember those first two games against Luton andCardiff when we played balls through and over the defence and use peace and skill? Seems like a lifetime ago now doesn’t it.

I think losing Odobert, Amdouni, Vitinho, O’Shea and JBG (all goal scorers in those two games) is a big factor in the drop in form to be honest.

I’d love to know what Alan Pace thinks about that now? I wonder whether those two early wins brought about a missplaced confidence?

I’m not sure we really had to sell that many players, particularly JBG whose creativity we’ve hugely missed these last few games.

[mkmel]

JBG wanted to go

[NewClaret]

Given Parker has showed his teams can create more than Kompany’s Burnley you’d imagine there’s quite a bit of room for improvement on that front. The good news is we are conceding the 2nd or 3rd least amount of chances per game. If that stays the same and the chances created improves then we’re onto a sustainable winner.

I’m surprised at that, especially as I remember Kompany making 20-odd chances a game in the premier league when we were getting battered, but it’s quite heartening to hear.

We definitely look strong at the back and if you gave me a choice at the start of the season, I’d have taken a strong defence to provide the basis.

That said, I think Parker needs to understand there’s some real urgency around improving our attacking play and make it a priority now. We can’t carry on as we are and it maybe needs him to take more risks.

[NewClaret]

JBG wanted to go

Why did he re-sign then?

And given he had only signed a contract a few weeks earlier, maybe we should’ve said “sorry but you can’t”?

[boatshed bill]

Why did he re-sign then?

And given he had only signed a contract a few weeks earlier, maybe we should’ve said “sorry but you can’t”?

I doubt either party knew of the offer to come from Saudi. An offer he couldn't really be expected to turn down.

[claretspice]

I'm going to use Anthony's first half shot which was beaten away to reflect both what we are trying to do (because it worked well on that occasion) but also why it's not yet proving effective.

- the move gets going when Cullen plays a 30 yard square pass to Pires, who is in a left half position 20 yards in field, 10 yards inside the attacking half, but I think we'd had good possession in deep areas before that and it allows us to get the ball to Pires in space (similar to our goal against Blackburn where the move again gathered pace with Pires after patient build up).

- when Pires gets the ball we're in a really good set up. Anthony is wide left ready to run inside behind the wing back. Koleosho is unmarked, holding wide right. Hannibal is our furthest man forwards, just goalside of the right centre half and Brownhill is breaking forwards into a central area; Foster meanwhile has dropped off and is unmarked in a pocket of space in a "10" position. Pires has various passes on as a result - a short pass into Foster who can turn and drive or pass; long to Koleosho, or an attempt to thread in one of the runners. He ultimately plays the right pass to Anthony and it is a peach: it leaves him goalside just inside the box.

All of that is excellent. Pires' ability to play that sort of ball is a huge asset and we have made the pitch big, and have plenty of free men. If this is the plan, it's a good one and "Parkerball" has lots going for it. I think it's a very similar set up to what Kompany would aim for (although perhaps we'd squeeze up a bit).

But - from here I think its a good study in why we aren't capitalising. As Anthony gets the ball, he has the chance to drive towards goal on his left foot, to either shoot (from a good angle perhaps from 10 yards out), win a penalty by getting his body across the defender, or square it. Hannibal should be exploiting the fact he was goalside in the right channel to get into a position for a tap in should Anthony square ball. But firstly, Hannibal makes a weird decision to stop running and if anything backs away from the box. Secondly Anthony shies away from going outside and cuts inside towards traffic - he has an option to play in Brownhill who is unmarked, but ends up taking the safest option- getting a fairly routine shot away that is comfortably saved. Koleosho meanwhile is a bit slow to get into the box on the far side.

We should end up with at least 2 inside the box other than Anthony, and should end up with a much clearer chance - just as Portsmouth did to score from a fairly similar situation. But poor decision making, a lack of confidence (I'm sure that's why Anthony cut inside) and a lack of bravery or instinct to get into the box means we end up only with a half chance. Even then had Hannibal got into the box the rebound might very well have fallen to him.

Parker has a job to do on confidence and bravery and he's got to push players to get into the box. He also has to question personnel - is Anthony our best option off the left, and if he wants his centre forward in the sort of position Foster was in (he's the one player who can't get into the box because he's dropped off too deep) then will that get the best out of Foster? The next fortnight gives him time to work on those patterns around the box but also to ponder. You can't butcher opportunities as good as that.

[NewClaret]

I doubt either party knew of the offer to come from Saudi. An offer he couldn't really be expected to turn down.

Maybe not but at that point I think we have to also put our interests first, especially having unexpectedly (we’re led to believe) having to sell Odobert, Amdouni, O’Shea and in doing so seeing lots of quality/experience out of the door.

JBG was happy to sign when there was no offer on the table, having done that I don’t think he could be unhappy if we’d have said we needed to keep him.

[Swizzlestick]

Why did he re-sign then?

And given he had only signed a contract a few weeks earlier, maybe we should’ve said “sorry but you can’t”?

I think this is somewhat unrealistic. This was an out of the blue opportunity, he was no doubt offered double/triple his salary, he’s entering the twilight of his career - would have been pretty remiss to have put a block on a deal that could set him and his family up for years after such great service for the club. The resigning of the contract was unusual in itself in that it’s now quite clear he only left due to a fall out with VK.

[Row Z]

I think Parker has been unfortunate to follow Dyche and Kompany. Both had very different styles but created chances, so there’s a minimum expectation.

I think you are forgetting some of Dyche’s early days and at various points throughout his tenure where we created nothing. Many of his victories came from being clinical by taking one of our few chances too. All is forgotten when that happens.

[NewClaret]

I think this is somewhat unrealistic. This was an out of the blue opportunity, he was no doubt offered double/triple his salary, he’s entering the twilight of his career - would have been pretty remiss to have put a block on a deal that could set him and his family up for years after such great service for the club. The resigning of the contract was unusual in itself in that it’s now quite clear he only left due to a fall out with VK.

It maybe would’ve been harsh to him and his family, I agree, and I probably wouldn’t care about that were it not for his excellent service. So maybe slightly harsh on a personal level but also a huge loss for us especially in the context of the other players sold. So overall I think we have to put club interests first. Or maybe have upped his salary to compensate, given the outgoings. Good chance we’d have had 2-4 more points.