There seems to be a division between CL fans who think they have seen enough of the owner to hold a pessimistic view and those who believe he can still come good. People like me look at the sales of two of our best players when we needed to strenthen. More positive people point to Riga's introduction. Negative people like me observe that Riga was not offered a new contract and that he relied on Powell's players and we were lucky we had two great youth players in Poyet and Cousins! Yes lucky as there was not guarantee they would be as instrumental as they were. Positive people say give it time. Negative people look at Hamer and Dervitte claiming they were made laughable offers and Dyer saying that the network scouts its players over the internet. I understand Morro's initial offer was lower than his previous contract! Negative people look between the lines of knowledgable people like Powell and develop a picture from what he hints. Positive people say Peter the Pole will come good. Negative people like me say that if Charlton pay 700 euros for a player, it is reasonable to expect him to be able to go straight into the first team. Positive people point to the players we tried to sign - Gradel, Wickham on loan. Negative people note that we failed to do so and the players we did sign were on the whole pretty crap.
To turn me into a positive, I need to see some good signings and the tide turning. Excuse me if I don't hold my breath though. That would be my tipping point. Where is the tipping point for the positive posters? Do they have one?
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Peeters being moved on after just one season would be another (as it stands) as he is the first manager indisputably RD's first choice given other clear and viable options, Riga not least of them. I want to see evidence he wants the club to actually progress, not stagnate.
Personally though I am intrigued and excited as much as I am perturbed and apprehensive. I am not blind to the prospect of disaster but RD is still in credit in my eyes, if not quite as much as before and at least in part due to NOT being Slater & the Shysters. I will give him time and the benefit of the doubt for sure.
Agree with SHG that the players brought in will be the litmus test but for me, the most positive action possible would be the signature of Diego on a new contract.
But as of this minute, I am somewhat of a bystander with no 100% views either way whilst trying hard to stay positive.
Call me Splinters Fanackapan.
This would be a time to worry as RD has had the summer his way, Peeters has had time to settle and the players have had time to gel. If we are getting beat convincingly, then I'll be worried.
This positivity has deserted me in recent weeks. I probably cannot articulate why, I just have an uneasy feeling about RD and the playing side of things.
What would increase my negativity?
Losing Poyet and Morrison would tip me. Losing one would have me on the edge.
Continued links to decent Championship players that don't come to anything.
Getting to the end of June with little or no signings.
What would tip me towards positivity?
Better communication
Some signings of decent or potentially decent young players with experience of the Championship or League One.
A sensible and controlled influx of established and high quality imports who are here to further their own careers.
Sorting out things like the pitch, training facilities, links with the UoG, using a broader network for players could improve the club in different ways and positive. I also like the intention and clear desire to get our youngsters involved and to have a team of them playing for us. It's been a while since we have had so many academy players coming through and not looking out their depth, it's a nice touch for a fan to know we are making our own success. Will they be sold for profit to make the investment worth while? Who knows, I'd like to think not but just like any footballer, everyone has their price.
If we lose more players and are not really recruiting as we were hoping in a months time then obviously it will be concerning and my opinion could change.
All we can do is get behind whatever team is on the pitch and manager in the dugout.
On the players, it will be if we start selling quality players under contract (Cousins, Harriott, Wilson, Solly) not losing players because they want a juicy contract elsewhere, as much as i want to keep them.
Im in the lemar camp. 50/50.
It's stuff like this that doesn't help the atmosphere on this site
If things continue like this (losing key players, not replacing them, more bad words coming out about the club etc) then I find it hard to see how it can be looked at in a positive light. If some good signings are made, and by good I don't mean network rejects, then it'll be much easier to be optimistic.
Reckon I'm about 70/30 at the moment
The loss of Yann, Stephens, Dervite & Hamer all point to this worry for me, that it is just not realistic without causing serious damage to our on pitch competitiveness to try and fix football unless something major happens with how it is governed.
So i respect RD in many ways but im losing faith that the idealogy has a serious chance to succeed in this country especially when it does not even seem to be running for the best chance of success ie no sign of a director of football and such.
So if we have actually offered him less money then i will sign up to your way of thinking but i suspect we have offered him and the others the same amount he is currently on just not a pay increase like many players would like and have taken at other clubs already, which i don't see as insulting so much as paying a player a decent wage to play a game we all love.
Not that i would hold it against any player for taking more money elsewhere, they are just thinking of themselves and the their families.
We reduced another key players salary last season who re-signed.
I am generally pessimistic as the evidence so far points that way to me but there is time to change that at the moment.
Come on Rolly. Improving the match day experience means winning not all the fluffy stuff.
I like to try and get as much info before forming my opinion, cheers.
My tipping point is the end of the forth coming season
I expect atleast a top 12 finish to show progression under RD anything less I will see as failure