Sorry, I don't agree

I've seen this gibberish about how we 'wasted' money on Marshall before: could you not see what a constant shambles we were in goal last season? Any side needs a good keeper before it can do anything else, and Marshall was an excellent buy. He's gradually losing his confidence, which is a shame, but very understandable given the joke of a team he's playing in; but capturing him was the best bit of business Grant did. Otsemobor, similarly, came with an excellent reputation from Crewe, and has bags of potential - but he too has lost his confidence.

Lappin, a League 2 player? Tosh. He's a left winger, and if he's continually played at left back instead, that's hardly his fault. Ditto Murray: ok at centre back, but not a left back - so what do we do? Play him at left back or on the left wing: it's ridiculous! Chadwick was a decent buy too - and Cureton seemed like a bargain given his record last season, and the desperate need to replace Earnshaw.

My issues are with Fotheringham and Brown, poor signings both - but the fundamental problem here is the malaise running right through the club, which has been with us for almost three years now. The spirit in the dressing room - so integral to our success in 03/4 - went when Malky and Iwan departed, and has never been replaced. The incompetent board don't know what they're doing, have made a succession of shocking footballing decisions, and splurged money that should've gone towards the team on bricks, mortar and paying off the Jarrold Stand debt. And the team has basically forgotten how to win: especially on the road, where our record now reads an unbelievable 12 wins from our last 73 away games, 45 of which have been lost.

It isn't Peter Grant's fault that he lost Etuhu and Earnshaw for fees vastly below what they were worth: key players are always crucial if new signings are to bed in properly. And moreover, something at this football club is very, very wrong: to me, only that could explain the farce of us signing someone as ludicrously out of condition as Hartson, because players all over the country are quite clearly being told by their agents to steer well clear of this sinking ship. And only that could explain why Brellier - a talented player, believe me - has been such a disaster so far, Safri wanted out (let's face it, he hardly joined a bigger club with vastly more potential, did he?), and Huckerby has become so unhappy.

Don't get me wrong: Grant made plenty of mistakes, and his signings were hardly world beaters - but I'm 100% convinced they're better than they've shown, and don't think any manager or player should carry the can for what is the board's responsibilty.

Posted By: thebigfeller on November 11th 2007 at 02:37:55

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