Promising signs?

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A bit too early to comment , really. Need to wait until recruitment completed.

Far too early to even comment, although this first signing seems to be a good one, and hopefully it's a sign of our intent going forward to sign quality. As for Hemmings, hopefully he's shipped off this summer, he's poor.

Still need a keeper, a winger, and some squad depth but that was a great start - be nice to have business done by the big pre-season games - no coincidence we have started slowly after doing very late business. I've full faith in Dawes, this time last year we were watching endless defenders getting signed and the 5 at the back was soul-destroying. Dawes looks like he just wants to go at teams - sooner lose 4-3 than 1-0

A key plank of the club’s strategy now is to sell players on for decent fees.

If we fail to sell anyone this summer for decent fees, the strategy is failing. But it’s almost certain we will be selling, Hawkes and Bristow the obvious two, but there may be others.

So, assuming that part of the strategy delivers, we’ll have a fair bit more recruiting to do than just filling in the pieces missing from the current jigsaw.

We’ll see.

As for Dawes, his credentials have been discussed many times so no point going over all that again. But it’s hard to argue that his spell at the end of last season gives any encouragement for the future, seeing as all he delivered (with a very limited squad it must be said) was less pragmatic football that simply resulted in conceding more goals and failing to get results against poor teams.

I wish him well, of course, but he’s got a lot of convincing to do.

I like the fact they've brought in Danns and Adkins. A readymade replacement who could do well with a good mentor, should Dawes not be up to it.

Quote:

XFA
A key plank of the club’s strategy now is to sell players on for decent fees.
If we fail to sell anyone this summer for decent fees, the strategy is failing. But it’s almost certain we will be selling, Hawkes and Bristow the obvious two, but there may be others.

So, assuming that part of the strategy delivers, we’ll have a fair bit more recruiting to do than just filling in the pieces missing from the current jigsaw.

We’ll see.

As for Dawes, his credentials have been discussed many times so no point going over all that again. But it’s hard to argue that his spell at the end of last season gives any encouragement for the future, seeing as all he delivered (with a very limited squad it must be said) was less pragmatic football that simply resulted in conceding more goals and failing to get results against poor teams.

I wish him well, of course, but he’s got a lot of convincing to do.

I share your concern. If Adkins wasn’t alongside him I think his tenure would be short, I predicted he would be gone by Halloween. However, I reckon Adkins is a de facto part time manager, with Dawes taking charge of training. This gives me a greater degree of confidence, albeit I wonder what would happen if Adkins was offered a better management job at a higher level? I am assuming the arrangement at Rovers creates a win:win for him.

Maybe Adkins has decided he doesn't need the dosh, and can chill a bit with his family.

I disagree, I thought Dawes did OK after picking up the pieces and steered us to a top half of table finish. With proper refereeing we would not have lost that game against Northampton at the end which spoilt his 100% home record. And who can forget his WWWWW record in his first spell as caretaker. I really dont know what people are worrying about.

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Right now we need a main goalkeeper and also a back up goalkeeper.
Beyond that we will see who else may leave or be brought in.
It's then up to the fans to get behind the team with the focus of achieving promotion together.
New signings, new management team, new kits, new fan park, new hope. SWA

The fact remains Dawes has a big challenge on his hands to command the respect of, and then get the best out of, whatever squad he ends up working with.

Fans can already see we’ve probably planned for his succession already. That might be too harsh a perspective, but it’s certainly understandable. Players won’t be easily fooled either.

There is also a risk that the structure put in place to help him succeed might actually end up undermining him. A manager should be able to command a dressing room on his own. In our case, we’re relying on a rookie who the club has publicly said needs mentoring by an ex PL manager, with an ex PL player as his assistant. In terms of who commands the most respect from the getgo, the ex Floriana and Bangor man probably starts off ranking 3rd of 3.

He might well have the personality, leadership and man-management skills, as well as the technical skills, to win them over very quickly. I hope he does, because he’ll need them.

Quote:

Crazylegs Cranebird
And who can forget his WWWWW record in his first spell as caretaker.

You for one, seeing as one of those Ws was actually a D!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:07:19:46:17 by XFA.

Okay, but 13 points out of 15 is hardly shabby. Not that I'm saying your point is an attempt to do Dawes' record down.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

1 signing!!! Is neither promising nor a disaster how on earth anyone can come to any conclusion on what we will be like is nuts, and to be fair we wont go up we cant compete with Wrexham and Co

I see Kyron Gordon the young centre back, we were hoping to loan last season, has been released by Sheffield Utd.

From memory, it didn't happen because the Blades wanted us to pay his wages if he didn't play.

The end of last season was hardly an endorsement of Dawes but nor can he be judged given the quality with which he had to work . With 4-5 additions needed and more depending who goes it is premature to judge our potential. That said, the first signing looks better than any we made last close season
Nor do I go with the theory that our resources rules out promotion. 3 auto and 4 in the play off places gives scope for breaking into the group.Last season we were inconsistent and set up negatively.It is not a high step to beak into the top seven.
My biggest concern is that we have a number of players who will still be here who would need to improve significantly on last season

Quote:

Bored rover
how on earth anyone can come to any conclusion on what we will be like is nuts, and to be fair we wont go up we cant compete with Wrexham and Co

Yet you managed it with relative ease.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

Quote:

Matt34

Quote:

Bored rover
how on earth anyone can come to any conclusion on what we will be like is nuts, and to be fair we wont go up we cant compete with Wrexham and Co

Yet you managed it with relative ease.

No comment on how promising or otherwise we will play simply that a number of money bags are landing ! No indication as to our abilities!

When you take over a ship with holes in the bottom , you can only pump out the water until you get it to a dry dock for repairs prior to re-launching.

Then you can assess how sea worthy it is.

Mind you , if it gets converted to a submarine again 😜

He now has that Eufa pro licence which means he must be at least capable of managing a professional team. We need to see how it goes. Not enough data to judge him as a manager as yet.

Quote:

XFA
The fact remains Dawes has a big challenge on his hands to command the respect of, and then get the best out of, whatever squad he ends up working with.
Fans can already see we’ve probably planned for his succession already. That might be too harsh a perspective, but it’s certainly understandable. Players won’t be easily fooled either.

There is also a risk that the structure put in place to help him succeed might actually end up undermining him. A manager should be able to command a dressing room on his own. In our case, we’re relying on a rookie who the club has publicly said needs mentoring by an ex PL manager, with an ex PL player as his assistant. In terms of who commands the most respect from the getgo, the ex Floriana and Bangor man probably starts off ranking 3rd of 3.

He might well have the personality, leadership and man-management skills, as well as the technical skills, to win them over very quickly. I hope he does, because he’ll need them.

Quote:

Crazylegs Cranebird
And who can forget his WWWWW record in his first spell as caretaker.

You for one, seeing as one of those Ws was actually a D!

Really? are you referring to the EFL trophy game which finished a draw but we then won on penalties?

Yes. Really. 🙄

Play nice, chaps. Just tell him the game we lost (I can't remember).

Quote:

ALOTBSOL
He now has that Eufa pro licence which means he must be at least capable of managing a professional team.

Well you'd have to hope so, although I would think someone with a B license could possibly manage a professional team.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

Quote:

Bored rover

Quote:

Matt34

Quote:

Bored rover
how on earth anyone can come to any conclusion on what we will be like is nuts, and to be fair we wont go up we cant compete with Wrexham and Co

Yet you managed it with relative ease.

No comment on how promising or otherwise we will play simply that a number of money bags are landing ! No indication as to our abilities!

You kind of did though, by saying Tranmere won't go up, it makes you look like you think they would not have promotion achieving ability.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

Quote:

Matt34

Quote:

ALOTBSOL
He now has that Eufa pro licence which means he must be at least capable of managing a professional team.

Well you'd have to hope so, although I would think someone with a B license could possibly manage a professional team.

My comment still is true though! 😜

Absolutely.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

Quote:

Matt34
Absolutely.

And when Tranmere wins the F.A. Cup this season, he will be allowed to manage the team in Europe 🤪