Pimlico_Villa

It’s not, no. It’s aimed at those who believe that, unless you are a Club insider, no one is in a position to criticise him.

...Yet, there are posters in here that staunchly shot down any criticism of him.

With subs or formation? If the former, I don’t think it matters who he brings on really, as there is such little quality in depth.

Difference is though, I think this is actually these players playing at their max. I don’t think they were with Bruce. They are just not good enough, technically or physically.

No one else that would be a legitimate target for us could get any more from those players.

There are far too many completely uninformed assumptions there to unpick, and I don’t have the patience to educate you, save for picking up on your last point. It’s also ironic that you’re exhibiting exactly what you are accusing me of. A DoF is there to oversee and execute on the transfer strategy. Yes, there is input from other people, but it his responsibility for execution. The shortlist of players is there, having been collectively decided by the club, and his role is to find a way of getting them in. It’s also a shame you can’t comprehend the basics of what I’ve tried to explain to you. I’ll try once more and really try and make it as simple as possible for you: no one is questioning or doubting the effort he may or may not be putting in, but what is objectively undeniable is that he has been ineffective during a period of crisis, in terms of actually delivering. For that, there is one sole criteria: bringing in accretive players that improve the starting 11. If you still can’t grasp that, then please, continue with resorting to your usual go to rebuttals of “you’re not a Club insider” rather than actual debate, which seems beyond you. Based on your comments, it’s posters like you that really bring down the average on here. I’m genuinely curious as to what any one at the club would have to do in order for the happy clappers to tolerate any criticism or allow any debate.

As usual, you’re making things up. I’ve repeatedly said that he should have been lining up players before January, given how obvious it was needed. That’s not ‘instant’ by any stretch.

Drawing analogies with computer games is a strange one. No one has said that January is easy and that players can just be signed. Likely this is just the ‘go to’ thing to say for the Happy Clappers when they don’t like hearing justified criticism. Just like ‘you’re not the Coach’ and ‘you’re not a Club insider’. It’s actually perfectly rational to expect signings to be made, especially when we have a dedicated DoF that has known reinforcements have been needed since the Summer and that we are in DESPERATE need of a striker. When that doesn’t materialise after nearly a third of the window passing and with two entirely winnable games this month, the criticism is entirely justified. Yes, January is difficult and, yes, he might be working hard. But this is a results industry. You don’t get points for effort.

You’re being harsh and intolerant on this Poster. Makes you sound weird. This is a place for opinions and discussion and is not going to be underpinned by first hand insight into what is going on. For that, I suggest you follow the more informed journalists and the better newspapers out there. 100% of the views here are going be anecdotal and from an outside-in perspective. IT IS A FAN DISCUSSION BOARD, where OPINION is expressed. I’m also beginning to think VT is a safe place for insecure Happy Clappers to lurk. Anything that is said against their delicate view immediately gets met with hostility.

This is what annoys me about VT. A complete intolerance for actual debate. This is a prime example of one poster elaborating an argument and then another poster who happens to disagree reverting to a childish rebuttal. Far too often on here, if someone disagrees, out come the classic “you don’t work in the game” or “you are not the Manager”, etc. That doesn’t preclude you from having a view. Mods should really crack down on it as it is painful to see. These threads are Discussion Topics, not just a safe place for Happy Clappers. I suggest you engage with that.

Well, if he is working hard and no players are coming in, then that shows he is completely ineffective. How hard he is working isn’t really a proxy for success. There’s only one metric: calibre of players coming in. I’m not denying that the January market is difficult. But, he needs to deliver because of our predicament.

That’s interesting that you’ve heard it first hand from actual players. I had heard opposition Managers say that in post match interviews. The other thing that makes me not mind the fans giving players a hard time on occasion, is that without the fans cons TS a rly reminding the club and players about expectation levels, we would have folded years ago. I suppose, in recent years, there has just been a fundamental mismatch between stature of the club, standards/expectations of the fan base and the actual quality of players on the pitch. imagine being a Fan that has seen us win Leagues and European trophies to now have to see Neil Taylor or Elmohamady play.

Most painful thing about relegation this time round is that it will be despite us putting the effort in and trying to avoid it. Last time, we were just waiting for it, which cushioned it. Going down after a battle won’t feel good

It would be far, far more effective for Purslow just to engage directly with Agents. Pay them a buyside/success fee. Suso has just not been anywhere near effective enough - its predicaments like this where you’d really need him to step up - and has shown appalling judgement, on balance. Anyone who looks at Wesley, Targett or Trezeguet and think that the DoF role has been successful, should really question themselves.

Criticism has been entirely legitimate, most of the time, especially when it is motivated by a complete lack of effort. There are an abundance of Happy Clappers on here that will always be against players receiving criticism, though.

Such an insightful comment. Really, really impressive.

Yes, but he’s still net neutral because he wasted £50M on Wesley, Targett and Trezeguet. Thats why I suspect he isn’t being trusted with money this January.

No, no, no. Pure nostalgia. Why would he give up a strong contract at Palace to play on a heavily-incentivised one? We already know he is a mercenary and was previously contemplating playing in China.

It’s unlikely to be Smith as he worked very effectively under the same structure at Brentford.

By that logic, there is absolutely zero point in having a DoF, then. You either don’t comprehend this, or are just choosing to ignore it, but the point I’m making is that signings should have been buttoned up before January. It has been clear to everyone that those wingers we bought in the Summer are not cut out to compensate for having a striker that does not score goals. We’ve known that for ages and he should have been working hard outside of the window to get it done. I don’t see how having a DoF has been of any advantage to us whatsoever.

By the simple criteria that, given our predicament, we should have signed a striker or a set of wingers.

I didn't say whether he did or not. I'm saying that they should have been better.

Because his first approach should not be a highly reactive one in January. He should have been far more pro-active and sussed things out beforehand. Its not like he has other distractions like coaching.

I'm not saying we should. What I'm saying is that, as a DoF, he should be working prior to January to engineer deals. Its not like he only gets switched on in January. For example, we always knew we needed more than Wes and also desperately need PL standard wingers. He is the DoF and is fully cognisant of the restraints the January market has, so how to manoeuvre in this market should have been better planned.

Then what is the point of a DoF? If he can't engineer deals, then what are we paying him for?