Ghost of Clough

There is a lack of intent by the management team to play younger players.
Thompson was given minimal minutes last season, then Warne was still reluctant to use him this season. When he did, it was at LM.
Robinson has been in 8 of Warne's matchday squads and only used on the pitch once - during his first month managing the club. The Carlisle game when we were winning 2-0 was the perfect opportunity to bring him on as a late sub.
Other youngsters have been named in squads, but the intent is never to actually test them. Warne stated he was hoping we would go 3-0 up vs Notts County for us to give them a run out.

There is a gap in the 19-21 age groups, with Bardell the only remaining player from them, and he is currently injured. Delap, Williams and Gordon got poached from those groups, and all would have been in our first team.
Other notable players from those age groups, who I felt had a chance of making it in our first team being: Solomon, Aghatise, Roberts, Ibrahim and Borkovic. Whilst Roberts and Ibrahim didn't really kick on from when they were 16/17 and their first involvement with the first team, the others suffered from a series of injuries.
The next age group has already lost Ryan (who I felt was the best CB we've had in the academy in a long time) and Ebiowei (who was already in the first team 2 seasons ago), but we do still have Evans, Richards, and DRobinson.
From the two age groups below them, we have lost Kellyman, Sharpe, Scanlon and Kaba. Whilst they're all talented and their departures had an impact on the overall quality, none were head and shoulders above the likes of Cox, Hawkins, Davidson, Brown, JThompson, Allen, etc... I woudln't expect any of them to be regulars in the matchday squad yet, but I would expect a handful of minutes throughout the season. If they are named in the squads, then there needs to be an intent to play them, and give them a meaningful amount of time on the pitch, no matter if we're 2-0 down or 2-0 up, and definitely not just for 1 minute to run the clock down.

There is a lack of intent by the management team to play younger players.
Thompson was given minimal minutes last season, then Warne was still reluctant to use him this season. When he did, it was at LM.
Robinson has been in 8 of Warne's matchday squads and only used on the pitch once - during his first month managing the club. The Carlisle game when we were winning 2-0 was the perfect opportunity to bring him on as a late sub.
Other youngsters have been named in squads, but the intent is never to actually test them. Warne stated he was hoping we would go 3-0 up vs Notts County for us to give them a run out.

There is a lack of intent by the management team to play younger players.
Thompson was given minimal minutes last season, then Warne was still reluctant to use him this season. When he did, it was at LM.
Robinson has been in 8 of Warne's matchday squads and only used on the pitch once - during his first month managing the club. The Carlisle game when we were winning 2-0 was the perfect opportunity to bring him on as a late sub.
Other youngsters have been named in squads, but the intent is never to actually test them. Warne stated he was hoping we would go 3-0 up vs Notts County for us to give them a run out.

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

My mates just text me to say the U15s beat Leicester tonight 4-1 in a cup game 😀 ⚽️ 

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

Yet we were 8th top scorers (62 goals scored) in the only full season Cocu had as manager.
In the 2nd season, we went into the 1st game with only a few attacking options:
Sibley - had only played 739 minutes in the league by this point.
Whittaker - had only played 400 minutes in the first team at this point)
Marriott - disinterested and forgot how to shoot, lasting only a couple of games before injury.
Rooney - disinterested and even more overweight than ever before.
Knight - the only attacking player of a suitable level to play consistently
Whilst Jozwiak soon returned to the squad, his end product at our club was non-existent. Holmes was not long after that, but even he hasn't got the best end product. We went 3 games without defeat when Lawrence, Waghorn and Kazim returned to the squad (coinciding with Rooney being out due to Covid), only to start struggling again with Rooney playing again.
We picked up just 4 points from the 10 games Rooney played in, averaging 80 minutes across those games.
Wrong summer (in was 2021), but we didn't let Marriot go. We extended his contract, only for the EFL to withdraw the approval. We also tried to keep Wisdom and Waghorn, but both chose to leave.

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

The squad as it stands is probably the most experienced and deepest in terms of quality in the league. I really struggle to see any other team in the division as comparable. 
Oxford finished two points from the relegation zone last season, had very little budget to make adjustments and have managed to improve significantly to the point where they are now (on current form) a better team than us. I would put that down to Liam Manning, who is a good manager. 
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that we aren't working at an optimum efficiency - some players aren't performing as expected, the recruitment could've been a lot better and the coaching could be a lot more effective. I do feel like we're improving, generally, but there are some fundamental issues within the club that aren't going to see us become the next Brentford, Brighton, etc. 
You could see with the approach adopted by Sunderland and Ipswich that they were putting processes in place with a long-term vision and each decision was meticulously thought out. It's worked out well for them and they're going really strong this season. I don't feel like we have that level of vision, work-ethic or competency at the club to achieve at the same level.

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

How many people are saying "we're a shoe in for promotion"? Very few.
There are two main streams of displeasure.
1. Style of play often resulting in an inability to pass the ball to a team mate
2. League position being some way off challenging for automatic promotion. We're only 11 games in, but already 9 points off 2nd spot. Many would argue this isn't challenging for automatics.
One man is ultimately responsible for the first topic. He's the one who coaches the team and instructs them how to play on matchday. That criticism is therefore perfectly valid if those supporters do not enjoy the football on display.
When comparing a side to determine if they're overperforming or underperforming, budget vs league position is one of the main metrics. When looking at historic wage expenditure of clubs in this division, rumoured fees paid for players in the summer, etc.. it's very obvious that we have a 'top 3' budget. Since we're currently 9th in the table (7th on ppg), we're underperforming. People may disagree over the reason, but it still ultimately falls back on Warne.
- Some say Warne isn't getting the most out of this squad due to tactics, player selection, etc... = Warne at fault
- You say the players aren't good enough. Therefore, either of the following are the reason:
      - The recruitment team, which Warne helped to assemble, isn't identifying good enough players
      - Warne didn't choose the right players in the summer window
      - Warne couldn't convince the right players to join

I'm certain he'll start, but most likely on the wing. It's hard to see Warne breaking up the Fornah, Smith, Bird midfield at the moment.

Good point. I expect Warne will start with Barkhuizen and Sibley on the wings. Mendez-Laing probably won't even be in the squad, with Ward taking the spare spot on the bench. Something like this:
Wildsmith
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
Fornah   Smith
Barkhuizen   Bird   Sibley
Collins
Subs: Vickers, Bradley, Wilson, Ward, Hourihane, Washington, Waghorn

I'm certain he'll start, but most likely on the wing. It's hard to see Warne breaking up the Fornah, Smith, Bird midfield at the moment.

Transfer fees paid for the players who have scored more league goals than Waghorn so far this season:
Devante Cole - Free
Colby Bishop - £500k
Jamie Reid - Nominal
Jordan Rhodes - Loan
Dion Charles - £300k
Alfie May - £250k

We were in Division 3 (North) for 2 seasons in the 50s, returned in the 80s for 2 seasons, and are now in our 2nd season at this level in this spell
55/56 = 2nd (equivalent to 3/4th)
56/57 = 1st (equivalent to 1st/2nd)
84/85 = 7th
85/86 = 3rd
22/23 = 7th
23/24 = 9th (currently)

Brought on for injury time against Wigan and Burton. Then brought on at LW for 30 mins against Oxford, and started against Fleetwood and Peterborough because "there was no one else". We've since Signed Fornah, so the chances of Thompson getting game time at CM are very small.

Transfer fees paid for the players who have scored more league goals than Waghorn so far this season:
Devante Cole - Free
Colby Bishop - £500k
Jamie Reid - Nominal
Jordan Rhodes - Loan
Dion Charles - £300k
Alfie May - £250k

Mainly because we surrendered possession to Carlisle, in another game we decided the best tactics was to not pass it to our own players. That's history now... hopefully the recent improvement continues.
I see JBrown and Guy both started again. Brown scored a very good goal last week, and it's great to see he's settled in to league football so we'll.

There is no misconception as it has already been announced by the club that we could spend fees. Our first team management staff decided that it would be a better use of money to spend it on wages than on transfer fees - logic being we sign higher quality players. We will also pays fees for Washington, Fornah and Wilson upon promotion and selling them on.

There were a lot of players I would have chosen for Warne's 352/3412 system over the players we did eventually get. It's difficult to know their reasons for going to other clubs, from not wanting to drop down to L1, not wanting to move to the area, not thinking they will suit Warne's system, etc.
At LWB, I would have liked Maxi Wittek (was at Vitesse but joined Bochum for £650k) or Derry Murkin (went from Volendam to Schalke for £700k), so I was a bit over ambitious with those.
Excluding the players who went to Championship clubs, here's a summary of who I would have gone for:
RCB: Matt Pennington (Blackpool)
LCB/CB: Lloyd Jones (Charlton)
RWB: Tom Hamer (available for £200-300k from Burton)
LWB: Jack Sparkes (Portsmouth), George Cox (Volendum)
CM: Jensen Weir (Brighton loan to Blackpool), Caleb Watts (Exeter), Cameron McGeehan (Colchester)
AM: Harvey Knibbs (Reading), Nathan Young-Combes (available on loan from Brentford), or Scott Banks (Palace loan to St Pauli)
CF: Aaron Pressley (Brentford loan to Stevenage), Tyler Walker (Lincoln), Sam Smith (Reading)

So many people are falling into the same trap as I did by arguing with a troll. This is the same person who said:
"It WILL take time to get back to glory days, (albeit I am of the opinion that our great clubs glory days at best would be a club challenging at the top end of the Championship)"
That's right. This particular poster thinks that's the best we can ever hope for.