Sorry Ian - Ollie Out

[FurtiveFox]

I think the club has been quite clear about how we operate in the transfer market. Les and the manager decide what the squad needs from a positional sense, and between them and the scouts draw up a list of targets. From there further scouting happens if necessary and Les and Lee Hoos work out which targets are viable and try to make a deal.

Personally I think it's pretty clear that most of the players brought in over the last year are Ollies players, even if Les has put the deal together.

Your first two paragraphs are contradictory ...

However basically you have repeated what I said so I'll let you off!

[Pinkie]

Your first two paragraphs are contradictory ...

However basically you have repeated what I said so I'll let you off!

Ollies players furtive, case closed

[Tarbie]

Your first two paragraphs are contradictory ...

However basically you have repeated what I said so I'll let you off!

Nothing contradictory about them mate. I've explained the process and also explained that in my eyes, the majority of the players signed recently look very much like targets Ollie would have suggested.

With Luke Freeman, there is the Bristol link, and Ollie has always kept a close eye on players in his home town. Then with Scowen and Smith, they just look to me like Ollie players. The type of player we've been looking at in general since Ollie came in is just very different from the rest of the Les Ferdinand era. The only real exception being Ravel Morrison, who I'm sure was actually a signing that TF and Les wanted, I've heard on the grapevine that Ollie was never behind that signing at all.

Of the course, of the 2 paragraphs in the previous reply, the 2nd paragraph is my opinion, whereas the first is factual. But they aren't contradictory in any way.

[FurtiveFox]

Nothing contradictory about them mate. I've explained the process and also explained that in my eyes, the majority of the players signed recently look very much like targets Ollie would have suggested.

With Luke Freeman, there is the Bristol link, and Ollie has always kept a close eye on players in his home town. Then with Scowen and Smith, they just look to me like Ollie players. The type of player we've been looking at in general since Ollie came in is just very different from the rest of the Les Ferdinand era. The only real exception being Ravel Morrison, who I'm sure was actually a signing that TF and Les wanted, I've heard on the grapevine that Ollie was never behind that signing at all.

Of the course, of the 2 paragraphs in the previous reply, the 2nd paragraph is my opinion, whereas the first is factual. But they aren't contradictory in any way.

Well first paragraph says recruitment a group effort. Second one says all down to Ollie ...

However looking at it overall we have signed I think two very good players, Freeman and Scowen. Rest have been ok, bulked out the squad, not cost much, so fine.

Looking at transfer policy though has it really been successful? As has been said many times we play a system which allows for wing backs, we don't have any wing backs and have not recruited any. We have though recruited multiple wingers for a team that doesn't play with wingers. Seems odd. Is that Les' fault or Ollie's? People moan we haven't signed strikers but Ollie has said we have four superb strikers so was that given a real priority?

Looking at current (non-Ollie era signings) only Luongo seems to have flourished under the messiah. In fact three of our arguably better players have gone backwards. Pawel is a shadow of his previous self being played consistently out of position. In my view one of the best wingers in this division. After all his personal and injury difficulties I saw enough of Yeni last season to be excited about what we would see this season. What we have seen is very little and out of position. Sylla is by far our best finisher based on last season yet completely out of sorts. Not suited to current style of play. Could see players like this leaving.

Some people say Ollie gives yoof a chance. All we have seen is Furlong as a regular and Manning on fringe. A criticism of Ollie in the old days was he would always stick with his favourites regardless. Youngsters may not be good enough but no basis for some pushing Ollie as the champion of yoof at this club.

A good manager would play the team to their strengths and if they had a preferred system would gradually build the team around this over time if current players didn't work in it. If we had a good manager who did this think we would have decent chance of top 10 this season. As it is if Ollie stays all season (which I think is likely) I would expect 16-24th. You can only get so far with badge kissing and chest beating.

[FurtiveFox]

Ollies players furtive, case closed

Yet Ollie would disagree with them being his signings. Does your boy's views count for nothing?

[Pinkie]

Yet Ollie would disagree with them being his signings. Does your boy's views count for nothing?

Yer starting to look abit silly now mate with youre anti ollie thing

[1973 ranger]

Freeman good signing, Scowen good signing and stick Luongo in the mix makes a great midfield three. The big problem we have is the unbalance in the squad shown by Pawel playing as a wing back for most if not all the seaon.

[Tarbie]

Well first paragraph says recruitment a group effort. Second one says all down to Ollie ...

However looking at it overall we have signed I think two very good players, Freeman and Scowen. Rest have been ok, bulked out the squad, not cost much, so fine.

Looking at transfer policy though has it really been successful? As has been said many times we play a system which allows for wing backs, we don't have any wing backs and have not recruited any. We have though recruited multiple wingers for a team that doesn't play with wingers. Seems odd. Is that Les' fault or Ollie's? People moan we haven't signed strikers but Ollie has said we have four superb strikers so was that given a real priority?

Looking at current (non-Ollie era signings) only Luongo seems to have flourished under the messiah. In fact three of our arguably better players have gone backwards. Pawel is a shadow of his previous self being played consistently out of position. In my view one of the best wingers in this division. After all his personal and injury difficulties I saw enough of Yeni last season to be excited about what we would see this season. What we have seen is very little and out of position. Sylla is by far our best finisher based on last season yet completely out of sorts. Not suited to current style of play. Could see players like this leaving.

Some people say Ollie gives yoof a chance. All we have seen is Furlong as a regular and Manning on fringe. A criticism of Ollie in the old days was he would always stick with his favourites regardless. Youngsters may not be good enough but no basis for some pushing Ollie as the champion of yoof at this club.

A good manager would play the team to their strengths and if they had a preferred system would gradually build the team around this over time if current players didn't work in it. If we had a good manager who did this think we would have decent chance of top 10 this season. As it is if Ollie stays all season (which I think is likely) I would expect 16-24th. You can only get so far with badge kissing and chest beating.

I think you would be right to be critical of our transfer policy across recent years. I think in the last 2 transfer windows we've done incredibly well given the budget we have been operating on. And I think you have to give Ollie a lot of credit for that.

In terms of tactics, and how the players we have signed fit those tactics, I totally agree that something isn't right. I look at our squad and I basically see the correct personnel to field 2 starting 11's in a 4-4-2 formation. I don't see any specialist wing backs, and I don't see too many defenders suited to playing in a 3. I also see a huge number of wingers, that in our regular formation, are surplus to requirements or destined to be played out of position.

The above for me, is a tactical issue, and not necessarily a recruitment issue. I think the calibre of players recruited in the last year are good, we just need the manager to pick them in the correct positions and system.

[Shania]

I think you would be right to be critical of our transfer policy across recent years. I think in the last 2 transfer windows we've done incredibly well given the budget we have been operating on. And I think you have to give Ollie a lot of credit for that.

In terms of tactics, and how the players we have signed fit those tactics, I totally agree that something isn't right. I look at our squad and I basically see the correct personnel to field 2 starting 11's in a 4-4-2 formation. I don't see any specialist wing backs, and I don't see too many defenders suited to playing in a 3. I also see a huge number of wingers, that in our regular formation, are surplus to requirements or destined to be played out of position.

The above for me, is a tactical issue, and not necessarily a recruitment issue. I think the calibre of players recruited in the last year are good, we just need the manager to pick them in the correct positions and system.

This.

[FurtiveFox]

I think you would be right to be critical of our transfer policy across recent years. I think in the last 2 transfer windows we've done incredibly well given the budget we have been operating on. And I think you have to give Ollie a lot of credit for that.

In terms of tactics, and how the players we have signed fit those tactics, I totally agree that something isn't right. I look at our squad and I basically see the correct personnel to field 2 starting 11's in a 4-4-2 formation. I don't see any specialist wing backs, and I don't see too many defenders suited to playing in a 3. I also see a huge number of wingers, that in our regular formation, are surplus to requirements or destined to be played out of position.

The above for me, is a tactical issue, and not necessarily a recruitment issue. I think the calibre of players recruited in the last year are good, we just need the manager to pick them in the correct positions and system.

Happy to give Ollie some credit for players we have recruited. Couple of really good ones and rest have improved depth of squad.

Also Ollie not all bad. Gets players geed up, great history with the club etc. However you have hit proverbial name on the head. It is the tactics and team selections. You just can't get away with being poor at this level.

Agree we have players to be strong 4-4-2. Not perfect by any means but good goalie, ok defence, great midfield, bit weak up top. If, as suggested by others, you put Freeman on left with Pawel on right they could really go for it, aim crosses at Sylla/Smith with Washington feeding off that. When wingers tire just put on new ones and go for it for 90 mins. Instead we labour with players out of position and then when that doesn't work put on strikers and hoof to try and rescue game. Very frustrating.

[Cjskinz]

Who you going to get instead then? Realistically what manager would come to us right now?

Think about their wages, the transfer budget they'd want, their records, their last club's league, right age etc

We can't afford to buy a manager out of their contracts so below is a list of free agents. Good luck

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai...iner/statistik

[FurtiveFox]

Who you going to get instead then? Realistically what manager would come to us right now?

Think about their wages, the transfer budget they'd want, their records, their last club's league, right age etc

We can't afford to buy a manager out of their contracts so below is a list of free agents. Good luck

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai...iner/statistik

Well that doesn't say Ollie is right. It basically says he isn't any good but we might struggle to get anyone in who is.

Would be for club to identify targets. Sure would be plenty of foreign managers together with ones in this country interested. English league is arguably where a lot of managers want to be. We are one step down from Premiership and London based. Stable ownership. Yes not much transfer budget but would be starting with reasonable side. For all the moaning about lack of recruitment we aren't now type of club under pressure to sell. If managed well and with gradual improvement over next couple of transfer windows nothing to say we can't be starting to harass the play off positions. It isn't all doom and gloom.

I'm actually quite confident we could be challenging for play offs next season even if we stick with Ollie. League One play offs that is!

[dogsrrs]

Change for fukcing change sake brilliant !!

[Ginger Ninja]

Well that doesn't say Ollie is right. It basically says he isn't any good but we might struggle to get anyone in who is.

Would be for club to identify targets. Sure would be plenty of foreign managers together with ones in this country interested. English league is arguably where a lot of managers want to be. We are one step down from Premiership and London based. Stable ownership. Yes not much transfer budget but would be starting with reasonable side. For all the moaning about lack of recruitment we aren't now type of club under pressure to sell. If managed well and with gradual improvement over next couple of transfer windows nothing to say we can't be starting to harass the play off positions. It isn't all doom and gloom.

I'm actually quite confident we could be challenging for play offs next season even if we stick with Ollie. League One play offs that is!

Nice bit of question dodging there Furtive

[FurtiveFox]

Nice bit of question dodging there Furtive

Been working in the law about 20 years. If I can't dodge questions now there really is no hope!