While some still cling to the remote possibility of making the play-offs, and Henderson is correct to say that while it is mathematically possible the players should keep going, realistically attention now switches to the summer.
Every team in every division is always "only just two or three players" away from success but if only it was that easy.
As well as finding and affording those two or three players clubs need to hold on to their existing stars and for one season more in the Championship stay within reducing FFP rules.
At the moment we have the got into the habit of winning games, playing well and having confidence that results in yet more positive results and so a virtuous cycle of victories continues. Even the setbacks of losing at Derby and falling behind at Cardiff were overcome such is the new found confidence and resilience.
Can we keep it going this season might be less important that can we carry this form and positivity into next season.
For that I believe we need two things. No, not a centre forward and a creative midfielder although they could well be products of what we need.
Stability.
The bumpy ride statement I made back in February 2014 has become a bit of cliche but like many cliches it has a grounding in fact.
Four coaches, players coming in one window and being loaned or sold at the next alongside short term contracts and loans. CAFC aren't the only club where this happens but rarely does that lead to success.
We have Luzon in place now and it seems to be working. He still has to prove himself over a whole season when every game matters but so far so good.
So he needs to stay. Luzon's 18 months at Liege is the longest any coach has lasted under Roland. We may never see the longevity of a Curbs or even an Alex Furgusson again given the nature of modern football but good sides are built over seasons not months with stable management, coaching and direction. Yes, some clubs chop and change and still do well but usually when they can afford a large number of mistakes. If our aim is to break even then we don't have that luxury.
Progression
But to justify an extended stay Luzon and the club have to progress. That means off the field with the academy re-build and investment in IT and other infrastructure at the Valley but also on the pitch with the squad.
There is already some quality and now, finally some depth and experience, in the squad and it is showing in the results. Guy needs to be allowed to strengthen the squad he has. Not in only September or February but early on. Yes we can gamble that there will be bargains like Johnson and Eagles but we saw this season how the progression made in the early unbeaten run was allowed to slip away because the obviously needed re-enforcements never arrived.
More importantly, the net for potential recruitment needs to be spread further than Standard Liege reserves or even the rest of the network. The majority of success stories have come from outside the network and a large number have been those with experience of British football.
That doesn't mean UK and experienced is the only or even the best place to shop as Igor and JGB show but neither should its importance as a factor of success be underestimated. Imagine what might have happened if Tony Watt had signed in August. Annoying isn't it?
If we can keep Luzon (and before you say "why wouldn't he stay?" remember Jose Riga), keep the key players and add greater quality and depth then we might keep this form and momentum into next season when it could really takes us somewhere.
There are a lot of ifs and maybes above. It is never that easy or simple and every other club will be looking to improve as well but when you find a formula that works then you should stick with it and add to it rather than starting all over again from scratch with a new head coach and squad every 12 months regardless of what the model says.
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Comments
I don't think he has a fixed strategy for each of his clubs; I think he is capable of adjusting the priorities, resources, etc, for each, as things pan out. Perhaps the best thing a really good run in the remainder of this season can achieve is to raise our priority in RD's eyes. Which is, of course, what we were all thinking last autumn about the January window.
We should also aim to keep Ben Haim, Bulot, Eagles, Diarra and Johnson.
Consistency will be essential and another turnover of staff will destroy that.
We know little about the real footballing ambitions of the owner except that he believes in his network, likes the current FFP regulations and wants his clubs to break even.
With the FFP regs becoming a lot easier after next season it means that next season will be the best chance for a club that values financial probity to be successful and reach the Premiership.
So Mr D (via Ms M) let's have some of Henry's stability and progression and go for it.
A) don't get relegated at any cost AND
B ) if there's a chance to get into the premiership, go for it
It would sort of make business sense and tie in with what has happened so far. However, probably too logical and too simplistic.
To do this we have to -
1. Keep any player who has a decent sale value - i.e. Vetokele, Gomes, and Cousins.
2. Ensure players with only one year remaining are tied to longer contracts - i.e. Gudmundsson
3. Sign on any players with expiring contracts who are considered crucial to the team - i.e. (and some of these may be debatable?) Johnson, Eagles, Bikey, Ben Haim, Diarra.
4. Try to sign permanently the loan players who have performed well - i.e. Buyens, and Bulot (or replace them with equally good loans/signings).
5, Get rid of dead wood and sign better squad players - i.e. Wilson, Church, Harriott, Lennon, Onyewu, Etheridge, Nego, Reza, Parzezcek (sp?), Pigott.
6. Continue to bring through the youngsters (even if that means being hard on some other Academy graduates who aren't going to make it) - i.e Ahearne-Grant, Obileye, Holmes-Dennis, Edwards, Mitov, Muldoon, Gerrard, etc.
OK, players have to move on but "deadwood" is such a horrible way to describe someone who's played for the club to the best of their ability
Curious about your reasoning
Three words that the meanings can be destroyed with Roland's main goal, which is selling assets of the Football Club to break even/make a profit. This Summer will be interesting, there will be a handful of our players wanted, and we're only a handful of players lost away from being right back to the not so nice side of The Championship.
Let's wait and see
If I were RD I'd be spitting feathers at the moving goalposts.
He plans for one thing then it changes on the whim of the influential.
I imagine he is sickened by the English authorities inability to stick to their word
even an Alex Furgusson
Who?
You know, the bloke who when he finally decided to retire, made sure that those that followed would have to work hard to emulate him.
IF there is a sound recruitment strategy ready to replace players we add value to and then sell then there is nothing wrong with a strategy of buy cheap, raise profile, sell high and replace cheap because, when you don't to milk the Premiership TV cash cow, player sales and recruitment is the fastest way to get yourself in and out of a financial mess.
The problem is, is it's a lot easier said than done but then the right way of doing things isn't always the easy way.
Sell or release those that aren't good enough to free up cash - this is a contentious area but for me Harriot, Church, Piggot etc
Then we need to replace those who'll leave or buy them permanently - Buyens, Bulot, anyone we sell to free up cash
Then we need to look at strengthening - BUY A BLOODY NUMBER 9, probably another winger, maybe a RB too (based on Gomez playing centrally), keeper if Henderson is going to be in and out of the treatment room
If all the above happens we'll be looking at a solid chance of playoffs