romavillan Posted December 20, 2013 VT Supporter Posted December 20, 2013 We've gone from people happy about the idea of signing Dale Stevens to most now realising we need better quality. I think the hype around this approach is over. What is the alternative strategy? That's the thing, it's all well and good saying we need better quality, but quality you either have to buy ready made, which we can't afford at the moment seeing as we still have to free up a lot of wages for players who aren't ever going to play for us again, or you can produce it. Our academy has furnished a good number of our starting 11, the other way is to buy potential and produce it that way. This is something we're trying to do. Producing from the academy and buying potential takes time for the players to mature to see whether the potential will be fulfilled or not. For now I don't see an alternative and buying quality is something we will be in a position to do if the current strategy bears some fruit in a couple of years. Either by selling players that have doubled, tripled, their value since we bought them or because we have increased revenue and are in a better financial position after cementing a place in the top half of the table again. Their is no quick fix here. If we were to buy quality now, we'd have to do it just like MON did to start with and pay over the odds in wages to get players to come and play for us. Then, and there is no guarantee even with big fees and wages, if the players don't turn out well long term we cannot recoup the money in sales and are paying massive wages to a failing team. AGAIN. 2
Big_John_10 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 We've gone from people happy about the idea of signing Dale Stevens to most now realising we need better quality. I think the hype around this approach is over. What is the alternative strategy? Buy better players.
villan_007 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 We've gone from people happy about the idea of signing Dale Stevens to most now realising we need better quality. I think the hype around this approach is over. What is the alternative strategy? Buy better players. Grounghog day!
GENTLEMAN Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 We've gone from people happy about the idea of signing Dale Stevens to most now realising we need better quality. I think the hype around this approach is over. What is the alternative strategy? Buy better players. Okay.
Big_John_10 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 The books are balanced, tv money will be coming through and big wages will leave the club in the summer. And according to some our commerical income bodes well for the futurem So tell me why we can't buy better players then? 2
romavillan Posted December 20, 2013 VT Supporter Posted December 20, 2013 We'll be better placed in the summer to do so. January is a seller's market unless you are really astute it's hard to get value for money. We can't buy "better players" today can we? January is tricky so we'll see in the summer. By which time we will have hopefully seen our form pick up again like last year and a few people change their minds about some of last summer's new faces just like last year.
Morpheus Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 There is little or no difference in the performance level of both sets of players at the moment and to validate the youth policy those performances that we are seeing now would have to improve dramatically. Young players are not going to "improve dramatically" in a short space of time though. We played much better football in the run in last season and have regressed from that.
sne Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 I'd be much happier with the "young & hungry" thing if the young players came from our academy instead of from League 2 in france, Sky Bet league 2, the championship, or whatever hole we found Enda Stevens under. We all know young & hungry means cheap gamble, it's not like we're going to sign Will Hughes or Kurt Zuma. With that said, good job in signing Okore, too bad about his injury
GENTLEMAN Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 There is little or no difference in the performance level of both sets of players at the moment and to validate the youth policy those performances that we are seeing now would have to improve dramatically. Young players are not going to "improve dramatically" in a short space of time though. We played much better football in the run in last season and have regressed from that. I agree the style football has regressed (recently). But maybe there are good reasons for that?
Morpheus Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 Before we start writing off a strategy and making false claims that we have not kicked on or somehow are doing worse let me just point out we are 11th in the table (a far better league placing than last season at this stage) we have more points than at this stage last season and we have beaten two of the fancied top 4 teams and have one of the best away records in the division. I think what is over is the fans realistic expectations which have been replaced by unrealistic expectations and that is one big issue for me In the same way that last season's start was excused by some as too early in the season to judge this should also be applicable this season as our present position cannot be triumphed as a constant. Yet our home record is poor with having the lowest goal tally in all four divisions and I have yet to see any poster with 'unrealistic expectations.'
Supervillan78 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 Nothing wrong with buying young talented players (Hazard for example) just as long as they are good enough. It's just a shame that our actual philosophy seems to be young, hungry and cheap.
Zatman Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 these threads are getting ridiculous. Im sorry but if you cant see improvement from last season then maybe football isnt the sport for you
rjw63 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 these threads are getting ridiculous. Im sorry but if you cant see improvement from last season then maybe football isnt the sport for you From the front row of the Lower North stand I've seen no improvement at home at all. In fact we seem to be worse. 1
Zatman Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 the table indicates we are much improved than last season, we didnt get this many points until mid january last year
Kwan Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 Probably should wait until the season is over before declaring it over...
villan_007 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 Before we start writing off a strategy and making false claims that we have not kicked on or somehow are doing worse let me just point out we are 11th in the table (a far better league placing than last season at this stage) we have more points than at this stage last season and we have beaten two of the fancied top 4 teams and have one of the best away records in the division. I think what is over is the fans realistic expectations which have been replaced by unrealistic expectations and that is one big issue for me In the same way that last season's start was excused by some as too early in the season to judge this should also be applicable this season as our present position cannot be triumphed as a constant. Yet our home record is poor with having the lowest goal tally in all four divisions and I have yet to see any poster with 'unrealistic expectations.' Yet you love to use the table doesn't lie when we are bottom of it. Just not midtable.
Morpheus Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 The point is that both should not be used as a constant until the season ends although I wasn't wrong last season.
Kwan Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 I thought you said we would get relegated last season?
abdulaziz1 Posted December 20, 2013 Posted December 20, 2013 I shudder when I hear the phrase "young and hungry". It basically means "cheap, shit and out of his depth". Can't believe so many fans fell for it. That is ridiculous. I will take these players over the ones they replaced any day of the week. Not me. I rather enjoyed those top 6 finishes. Much better than the consecutive relegation battles and humiliating defeats the "young and hungry" brigade have served up so far. Well .. The side that was replaced had us in relegation battles ! The only difference was Milner .. The same squad was there .. Only manager changed .. And we were humiliated ! It didn't take too long to get beaten but the promoted Newcastle 6-0 ! We started to gel at the end of last season .. somehow like last season .. We were only 7 points less than Houllier season .. With a squad that doesn't have the likes of Young and Downing ! Put in mind that most the players that season played for Villa before .. So unlike last season .. New players New Manager .. And the whole new people aren't from the premier league .. Anyway .. I'll add one point .. with MON and the same squad he had we won't pass 7th ! City Spurs Newcastle Southampton Weren't as now .. Everton too are much stronger ! This point isn't mentioned a lot ..
smetrov Posted December 20, 2013 Author Posted December 20, 2013 I shudder when I hear the phrase "young and hungry". It basically means "cheap, shit and out of his depth". Can't believe so many fans fell for it. That is ridiculous. I will take these players over the ones they replaced any day of the week. Not me. I rather enjoyed those top 6 finishes. Much better than the consecutive relegation battles and humiliating defeats the "young and hungry" brigade have served up so far. Anyway .. I'll add one point .. with MON and the same squad he had we won't pass 7th ! City Spurs Newcastle Southampton Weren't as now .. Everton too are much stronger ! This point isn't mentioned a lot .. I wonder why.....?
Recommended Posts