Where do we go from here?

[blue lewj]

If we split your statement up:

I) we'd have seen signs of change by now - I disagree.
II) Mick's not going to change - I'm inclined to agree but we can't say definitely until end of this season with renewals/new signings etc.

I'm not saying we shouldn't push for better but that we can't do that without some resources to work with (money, youth players coming through) and we're in the process of building up our resources.

Fans on here speaking about mistakes from between DJ leaving and Harris coming in doesn't describe our club's current situation - though does have a role in explaining why we have so few resources to build on.

Just asking for a bit more patience really so that if it goes wrong next summer posters on here haven't exhausted their moaning during a time when things are going reasonably well given our circumstances.

Enjoy the re-building process! There's actually some things within it going well.

One man's rebuild process is another man's using kids because we have allowed our squad to become paper thin.

What parts of the rebuild process are going well for you?

[Rjk]

One man's rebuild process is another man's using kids because we have allowed our squad to become paper thin.

What parts of the rebuild process are going well for you?

We've removed a huge chunk of the wage bill, that was spent on players who just weren't justifying that expenditure. While our income has dropped by half we just couldn't afford to be wasting so much of it.

We've reduced the average age of the squad significantly, and we are trying to bring youngsters though. Some may not ultimately make it at this level, but they have a far better chance if we actually try.

Yes we aren't going to be in the hunt for promotion this season, and possibly not even next, but to continue as we were would have been madness. If we can stay around midtable in this division while the squad gets such an extreme overhaul then I'd consider that a big success.
That should then be a platform to push for more - if we have got rid of the premier league wages and old players, if we have developed 3 or 4 players to be good at this level then we can look to concentrate our remaining funds on the other players and have another go.
I'd say we are probably bang on schedule. Narrowly losing a game away at Coventry doesn't change that.

[surge]

One man's rebuild process is another man's using kids because we have allowed our squad to become paper thin.

What parts of the rebuild process are going well for you?

Playing squad:

- Becoming younger and more skillful - not being shown at this moment in time because defenders and CM hasn't really been looked at yet but type of player being brought in shows understanding of need to develop while cutting wage bill.

- Players we've signed have been spoken about positively by those I judge to have a good grasp on things (various acquisitions appearing on Notthe20's one's to watch) which suggests some good thinking going on even if not always successful.

Youth development:

- Real interest now in bringing through youth from within and being able to attract players let go from likes of Leeds and Man United as Brentford did with London clubs

- Some hints of looking at paying for Category 1/Tier 1 Academy - though it shouldn't stop at hints

- Keeping Steve Morrison seems like a positive move

Infrastructure:

- House of sport 1-3(?) plus now firm intentions to link up with local Universities to further improve facilities
- Previous stadium expansion isn't recent thing but was a good bit of longer term thinking

Clearly there are things less than ideal and this summer is a big moment to either commitment to improvements or go in the wrong direction (if things do go in wrong direction there's a good chance it's because Mick's contract is a year too long) but there are things which are going right