I think

In 2009 the club was a basket case. The financial problems that had dogged us for decades had got out of control and we were heading to administration. Separately both Peter Cullum and Alan Bowkett estimated that a cash injection of ?20m was required to make us competitive. On the field we were back in the third division, and with a board whose aim was to consolidate there. Bowkett and McNally came in and sorted all that remarkably quickly, and we found ourselves debt-free and back in the Premier League ? all without that cash injection.

What the current regime have failed to do is manage success. When Bowkett came in he made it clear that he specialised in turn-arounds ? having turned the club around he had then made it clear that he would leave. So while the timing of his departure may be unexplained, the actual fact of his going is something we always knew would happen. As for McNally, he will have targets set by the board. They appear to be financial, and he hits them. And that is a good thing ? the long period out of the top flight after the Chase relegation, and then, a few years later, the descent into the third division were caused in significant measure by the club?s chaotic finances.

It?s important to remember what we are: a club that yo-yos between the first and second flights. It?s also worth remembering that for most of our history we weren?t even that, and by the end of the Munby/Doncaster period it is something that we had ceased to be. So the questions that confront us now are ? Will the yo-yo swing us back up again, and can we consolidate like we never have before (becoming the next Stoke City I suppose)?

We are being relegated with a squad that (despite a few inevitable departures) looks like it will be competitive in the second division. Additionally, we will have the ability to out-spend the vast majority of our competitors. All things being equal it is not arrogant for us to expect a return to the Premier League.

All things are not equal. The club has two major problems:
Firstly, our academy has not produced a Premier League standard player since Robert Green. He joined the club 28 years ago, and made his first team debut 17 years ago. That is not acceptable. It is not acceptable to turn out loads of non-league and fourth division players (Loza, McGeehan etc), third division players (Murphys etc) and the odd Championship player (Smith, Shackell). This needs sorting out. It should be a top priority ? but unfortunately it will take years for the benefits to bear fruit.

So we need to rely on recruiting players from elsewhere. And there is the second problem. We seem to be able to recruit solid championship players, but when looking for players better than that our record is patchy. I don?t believe it?s a financial issue ? we spent fortunes on Van Wolfswinkel (who is back AGAIN next year) & Naismith etc and they appear to be either not fit enough, not talented enough, or both. And we need to get the timing of recruitment right too: Klose had a shaky start but then was brilliant, Pinto had a very shaky start but in the last 2 games has looked very good. Imagine if they had joined us in time for pre-season ? it?s hard to believe that we wouldn?t have picked up the handful of points that we need. And we need to think about signing the right type of players. Since Holt left the only player who has looked remotely like he could get into double figures in the top flight is Hooper. But he has not fitted into the style of play of any of the three managers he played under.
The financial situation is good. The football infrastructure is not. McNally should be instructed to sort that out with the same rigour he brought to sorting out the finances. If he?s not up to it, then we need someone who can.

Posted By: Winged Eel Creosote, May 8, 11:28:14