I could have written most of this comment a hundred times over the season.
Signings during 2023/24 were to fit the Scott interpretation of the SE7 business plan. February 2024 with the arrival of Nathan Jones saw it tweaked for the addition of Ramsay & Small.
I see no value to any further Scott debate. Technical Directors rarely work in isolation. I had no knowledge of the remedial work needed, his specific remit or allocated budgets. Yet based on his modus operandi & preferred playing style once Jones is in the building it was always whether the SE7 plan, Scotts’ MO and the Jones culture could align.
As Methven confirms NJ was a SE7 target before they were in the building. He just wasn’t biting at that stage. Arguably the GFP intervention positions him as their recruit. A relegation fight was won on the back of Mays’ goals, keeping Dobson as a twin pivot with Coventry protecting the back 5 (& Small gets his 1st 15 game run in the EFL).
A June executive realignment suggested a disconnect but with; - the 8+8+8 fiscal plan - Key Performance Indicators for a “development 8” senior game time - transfer windows involving only 3 loan signings since July 10 none spoke to more than “progress”
It wasn’t a squad built for immediate promotion. Out of window short term signings Potts & Hylton spoke to fiscal control and/ or Jones not signing off on Scott/ Rodwell targets. Yet at this point if you don’t fully embrace the Jones culture then don’t employ him ….at all. For each compromise you demand the more you diminish HIS ability to do HIS job.
He is a “blank canvas, build from the bottom” sort of guy. I harangue none who jumped off the deep end during those early months but was never sure why some expected instant success. Survival had been built on not getting beat. “Progress” was being built on an attritional plus+ game plan based largely on the ball “falling our way”… more often than not.
Any number of pub football references were understood but it can be very, very hard to play against. The NJ variation on a theme was/ is bloody hard work for all 20 outfield players on the pitch. As an opponent the message is “miss one too many steps and you will likely get beat.”
We had at least 5 key players learning roles. Ramsay had only ever played RWB in our shirt, Docherty & A Campbell were traditional CM/DM working the attacking third while Ahadme, Leaburn, Godden had to adapt to zero service as T Campbell also learned a new hybrid role. No it most certainly was not, and is not for everyone.
Could performances continue in such vein? No, but permutations were tried and a formula for some fell into place. For others it didn’t. A Campbell, Ahadme, Kanu, Edun, REG, Watson, Taylor were ultimately rendered as peripheral or not really fit for purpose.
With such a profile for any normal promotion joust a Jan/Feb transfer window with the 7 salary departures and 2 arrivals defied all traditional logic. Yes, it set a tighter format for future internal growth but was a huge punt in simply not having enough grown ups in the building.
The 2025 journey was no cake walk. It was solid, hard graft, team discipline & spirit and a lesson in delivering to the basics. I make no apology for reinforcing Ramsay, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Coventry, Small, T. Campbell all delivered to the best performance standards of their careers. Anderson & Leaburn made their contributions when able/ allowed while Godden in particular and Berry reminded us they’d played at a higher level.
It was not the beautiful game but the epitome of the beauty of team spirit, endeavour & professional discipline. I applaud every single contributor and the belief instilled by NJ which overcame all challenges to deliver way beyond the sum of the parts.
NJ delivered - on the 4th, 5th, 6th largest budget in the League - the target for growth and a play off spot - the target plus of a play off final - the target plus, plus of a promotion.
The achievements posed questions in January ………and still more today.
GFP & SE7 arguably blinked in January. I fully respect their financial commitment but there can be no hesitation now. The Board has to rise to the challenge set by it’s own workforce not through extravagance but key strategic acquisitions.
Steady as she goes is often a commendable ethos but not when it risks losing all that has been gained. Whatever the long term planned growth from within, this Championship season is already on us.
The group of 22 retained outfielders includes 3 (Ahadme, Leaburn & Taylor) who have real remedial programmes to address, just 10 seniors now inc, Campbell and 9 development contracts.
However worthy the infrastructure scoped in January 2024, implemented in July, refined in January 2025 it is nowhere near yet ready for a Championship campaign.
Comments
Signings during 2023/24 were to fit the Scott interpretation of the SE7 business plan. February 2024 with the arrival of Nathan Jones saw it tweaked for the addition of Ramsay & Small.
I see no value to any further Scott debate. Technical Directors rarely work in isolation. I had no knowledge of the remedial work needed, his specific remit or allocated budgets. Yet based on his modus operandi & preferred playing style once Jones is in the building it was always whether the SE7 plan, Scotts’ MO and the Jones culture could align.
As Methven confirms NJ was a SE7 target before they were in the building. He just wasn’t biting at that stage. Arguably the GFP intervention positions him as their recruit. A relegation fight was won on the back of Mays’ goals, keeping Dobson as a twin pivot with Coventry protecting the back 5 (& Small gets his 1st 15 game run in the EFL).
A June executive realignment suggested a disconnect but with;
- the 8+8+8 fiscal plan
- Key Performance Indicators for a “development 8” senior game time
- transfer windows involving only 3 loan signings since July 10
none spoke to more than “progress”
It wasn’t a squad built for immediate promotion. Out of window short term signings Potts & Hylton spoke to fiscal control and/ or Jones not signing off on Scott/ Rodwell targets. Yet at this point if you don’t fully embrace the Jones culture then don’t employ him ….at all. For each compromise you demand the more you diminish HIS ability to do HIS job.
He is a “blank canvas, build from the bottom” sort of guy. I harangue none who jumped off the deep end during those early months but was never sure why some expected instant success. Survival had been built on not getting beat. “Progress” was being built on an attritional plus+ game plan based largely on the ball “falling our way”… more often than not.
Any number of pub football references were understood but it can be very, very hard to play against. The NJ variation on a theme was/ is bloody hard work for all 20 outfield players on the pitch. As an opponent the message is “miss one too many steps and you will likely get beat.”
Could performances continue in such vein? No, but permutations were tried and a formula for some fell into place. For others it didn’t. A Campbell, Ahadme, Kanu, Edun, REG, Watson, Taylor were ultimately rendered as peripheral or not really fit for purpose.
With such a profile for any normal promotion joust a Jan/Feb transfer window with the 7 salary departures and 2 arrivals defied all traditional logic. Yes, it set a tighter format for future internal growth but was a huge punt in simply not having enough grown ups in the building.
The 2025 journey was no cake walk. It was solid, hard graft, team discipline & spirit and a lesson in delivering to the basics. I make no apology for reinforcing Ramsay, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Coventry, Small, T. Campbell all delivered to the best performance standards of their careers. Anderson & Leaburn made their contributions when able/ allowed while Godden in particular and Berry reminded us they’d played at a higher level.
It was not the beautiful game but the epitome of the beauty of team spirit, endeavour & professional discipline. I applaud every single contributor and the belief instilled by NJ which overcame all challenges to deliver way beyond the sum of the parts.
NJ delivered
- on the 4th, 5th, 6th largest budget in the League
- the target for growth and a play off spot
- the target plus of a play off final
- the target plus, plus of a promotion.
The achievements posed questions in January ………and still more today.
GFP & SE7 arguably blinked in January. I fully respect their financial commitment but there can be no hesitation now. The Board has to rise to the challenge set by it’s own workforce not through extravagance but key strategic acquisitions.
Steady as she goes is often a commendable ethos but not when it risks losing all that has been gained. Whatever the long term planned growth from within, this Championship season is already on us.
The group of 22 retained outfielders includes 3 (Ahadme, Leaburn & Taylor) who have real remedial programmes to address, just 10 seniors now inc, Campbell and 9 development contracts.
However worthy the infrastructure scoped in January 2024, implemented in July, refined in January 2025 it is nowhere near yet ready for a Championship campaign.
Adjustments are required.