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like an abused spouse I want to believe he will change but so far the evidence points to it all being none identified, none goal setting, none committal and just alot of paraphrasing nonsense. The only positive which many have already picked up on he is obviously rattled or his team is he barely speaks and when he does it is always around a crisis point just have to wonder whats the point as we all know deep down nothing will change or the change will be so slight 99% will be the same and when wholesale changes are needed its the fans once again left disappointed.

I wonder how much we have increased his value by with that massive return of one goal and a big pile of missed chances ;D ;D ;D

Bare in mind that was at the end of the last financial years with a mystery 26 million unaccounted for well there may be more to spend I guess as the money made on Santon, wages saved on Ben Arfa following release (when they usually budget for the life of the contracts wages) sale of Mbiwa and Pardspew comp. However I still dont think that is enough, quality players cost money you can easily spend 15-20 millions on your striker and 10-12 million on a decent back up. Defenders maybe 10 million and wingers 10-15 million. I think we need 2 strikers, one centre midfielder 2 wingers and 2 centre halves and a left back as a minimum and on top of that you need to beef up the developmental and backup side as they are all full of plodders as proved by this half of the season. We can probably carry 2-5 below par players as long as they are getting minimal game time. The more you start thinking about what we need the more frightening it becomes as we all know we need better coaches, and fitness and conditioning people we also need a manager that can buy into a blue print whatever that may be. We also need to find new homes for those in contract who are not so good which can be a task in itself. Just pleased I dont have to get it all done in a few months of the closed season. No doubt we will end up doing something stupid like sign players without a new coach in (repeating cycles again) or we will take 6-10 weeks looking for the right coach/manager only for them to turn us down and we are right back into making a new list.........

I know money spent isnt equal to success or anything like that but if the club honestly think the 34 million in the bank is enough to solve this squads problems they have another thing coming, it was already small in size and the 3-4 out of contract players dont deserve even a 12 month extension so lighter still. The plight we find ourselves in is needing at least 6-8 players and 5-6 of them being first team quality. These need to happen soon to have a chance to bed in and a new manager brought in to have a say on Carr's shopping list. Even if they dont get final say a style of play is needed in order to take the club forward even if it takes another window or 2 to fully assemble the team required.

Mick Lowe's comments rubbing salt in my very sore wounds

While some of the reaction on here is one of the reasons they are reluctant to engage as it gets picked apart the simple rules of business is you soften bad news with good news telling loyal fans the up side is they are taking their time is just idiotic. Not only that but having sold and not replaced players then giving that as an example of what the new trusting "triangle" is about is ludicrous

The eternal optimist in me hopes it means a year of regular playing and get confidence back following the shit he has put up with and that we have someone lined up the manager likes enough to play. The doom sayer in me says one off the wage and get back out there to re increase his value to get a profit or money back and making do with kids and current crop. Its most likely the second option but ill carry oj hoping iam wrong

dribbling affliction when applying her layers of makeup

Refuses to sign contract extension so noises now coming to say he is on his way to stop another Enrique situation?

Good news in general, The optimist in me thinks that Joe’s inability to get the job done, his general personality has cost players or he has alienated himself with his woeful people skills. The pessimist in me thinks that he was here as a way to deflect negativity from Ashley and other areas of the club and that he was prepared for a tidy sum to be the fall guy. However once the crowds started to turn and the club realised he couldn’t be the scape goat they had all hoped for he was told his time was done. He was either pushed or told he can stay with next to no power or stature and the old goat walked. Similar to the management situation I have no faith in them making a correct appointment following this wouldn’t be surprised if the lack of a director at his level they use it as an excuse for slow to no movement over the summer. No doubt wont have to wait long for the idiot to come out guns blazing with a statement or two.

What is anyone buying? That there's an intention from club's hierarchy to do anything other than make money out of the club. Hmm, right, I don't know if anyone believes that, or at least not to any great extent. I certainly don't. But the fact is we have made some signings, and some good ones. I dont think they see us as a cash cow we simply don't make enough player sales or any other large income other than TV money. Its simply the fact we are being run on a shoe string budget similar to a club that is worrying about over spending incase they go down, we are simply now stuck in limbo. The catch 22 is you need constant investment either youth system creating first teamers every few seasons or regular good level senior players to replace those who are long term injury worries, getting on, not suiting the system or team etc in order to progress. Spending little to nothing means nothing happens and there is little chance things will happen. As I have seen a few people say why go to games and support the club if the ambition per season is survival.

worrying if this was the case (not saying our budget will be 30) but will need about 20 million to secure our current 2 loan strikers

A 1 in 2 striker for 10 million these days sounds like very good value for money his first half season we were just spoilt a bit like our finishing position.

you can tell they havent really gotten out of the blocks as there is no need unless we go 1 up then all they need to do is contain and in fairness they dont need to do much to put us off.

why is Cisse living on the wing?

2 games in 5/6 months does sound terrible though Not really. He's been injured. Another broken leg, or a cruciate, would be worse. I think that's maybe what I mean he hasn't had a "big" injury this year but still managed to miss most of the season, can already see it before it happens he comes back late preseason gets a game or two to get his fitness up and then pulls or strains something else and the cycle begins he is a technically gifted wonderful player the team time after time has to do without. whether that is related to the players weaknesses or our fitness/coaching staff I cannot really tell.

2 games in 5/6 months does sound terrible though

I can understand being excited about a skillful player however he hasn't done much for us since being here and the group of lads that are out there need supporting, might stop all the match thread talk of "wouldn't it be better if Ben Arfa were here" enjoy the team we have and try and put to the back of your mind we have him he seems to be made of glass and I cannot ever see him playing week in week out for us.

Seems to be made of glass at the minute small niggles keeping him out for weeks and cant get a run of games together worrying in terms of our fitness/coaching/conditioning staff and worrying in terms of him as a player and his resilience.

I agree and we go on the defensive far too early far too often, it is also very ugly to watch and while I appreciate we are never going to look like a perfect carpet football side all the time we do tend to make the opposition look like Brazil with chance after chance after chance it makes us look like we are barely hanging on rather than keep to the game plan that got us the lead in the first place. Sides like tonight possibly don't have the quality in the final 3rd to ultimately punish us but other teams will spank us and have done this season.

I hope he still has that attitude when/if Yanga-Mbiwa takes his place. Is it my imagination but didnt someone else mention that players had become settled in their own positions, might have just been a general board comment not too sure. Possibly finishing as high as we did last season some were still patting themselves on the back for a job well done while the season was turning to shit. Nice to see signing players can scare a bit more fear in to those who think a season is enough to secure your place forever.

he should have released something like this before his "letter" although dont think it has made much difference get on the pitch and keep playing well and all will be a memory until the end of the season at least

unless we see Cisse as a permanent fixture out wide where he has been frankly toothless and useless

for the record I don't believe most of the stuff that spews out of his mouth however stranger things have happened like us signing players rather than just being linked with them.

so if he goes now it free's up a squad number and might save some of his wages off the books.