Hughton: "I have no doubts we'll be ready come that first game of the season."

[Zebedee]

What seems very interesting by the very mixed views of how the season almost upon us will turn out is this.

When CH was appointed, if he has come in and won most of the games last year, everyone would have been expecting at least reaching the play offs and potentially even automatic promotion. With that not happening peoples expectations are diminished and even non existent in some cases.

For that reason I think the Manager and the Chairman will be quite happy with that being the case and fans Expectations managed to a sensible level. That way if we do well it seems like it's a bonus, so all the posters posting negative comments on the Manager and Chairman, they are in fact doing them a favour, with or without realising it. Or perhaps they are just diming down and keeping their own expectations in check. Either way it's good.

Spin at its best. Well done.

 

[Bladders]

What seems very interesting by the very mixed views of how the season almost upon us will turn out is this.

When CH was appointed, if he has come in and won most of the games last year, everyone would have been expecting at least reaching the play offs and potentially even automatic promotion. With that not happening peoples expectations are diminished and even non existent in some cases.

For that reason I think the Manager and the Chairman will be quite happy with that being the case and fans Expectations managed to a sensible level. That way if we do well it seems like it's a bonus, so all the posters posting negative comments on the Manager and Chairman, they are in fact doing them a favour, with or without realising it. Or perhaps they are just diming down and keeping their own expectations in check. Either way it's good.

Good one....

 

[spanish flair]

Maybe it's us who also need to review our expectations for the season?

Do you mean fans should stop aligning their expectations to those expressed by the Chairman at every fans forum, that we have a good Championship squad and that he is expecting a top 6 finish. If he states that he expects it, why shouldn't the fans?

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

What seems very interesting by the very mixed views of how the season almost upon us will turn out is this.

When CH was appointed, if he has come in and won most of the games last year, everyone would have been expecting at least reaching the play offs and potentially even automatic promotion. With that not happening peoples expectations are diminished and even non existent in some cases.

For that reason I think the Manager and the Chairman will be quite happy with that being the case and fans Expectations managed to a sensible level. That way if we do well it seems like it's a bonus, so all the posters posting negative comments on the Manager and Chairman, they are in fact doing them a favour, with or without realising it. Or perhaps they are just diming down and keeping their own expectations in check. Either way it's good.

Totally disagree. Expectations are low, yes. But there's underlying frustration at being treated as just another "revenue stream" amongst all the corporate bullshit about being a club with Premier League aspirations while we sign players off the scrapheap . It got nasty last year and another dire season won't help the club, especially with 1901 tickets up for renewal as well.

Negative vibes = less spending, and that's all the club really care about.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Totally disagree. Expectations are low, yes. But there's underlying frustration at being treated as just another "revenue stream" amongst all the corporate bullshit about being a club with Premier League aspirations while we sign players off the scrapheap . It got nasty last year and another dire season won't help the club, especially with 1901 tickets up for renewal as well.

Negative vibes = less spending, and that's all the club really care about.

Which players have we signed off the scrapheap this year ?

 

[chaileyjem]

while we sign players off the scrapheap .

.

So far this summer we've signed a premier league defender, a La Liga striker, a 19 year old "starlet", a World Cup / proven Champ full back and an international goalkeeper to be our #2.

And last season Hughton signed a international with Champions League experience.
It's quite a scrapheap. An expensive one too. Admittedly his loans didn't exactly do the business.
Some clubs (forest, Blackburn , Leeds) can't even do that due to their FFP restrictions .

(pS: Doesn't mean we're ready, they'll perform better than last season and other clubs, somewhere, will have signed better players and more of them)

 

[Icy Gull]

What seems very interesting by the very mixed views of how the season almost upon us will turn out is this.

When CH was appointed, if he has come in and won most of the games last year, everyone would have been expecting at least reaching the play offs and potentially even automatic promotion. With that not happening peoples expectations are diminished and even non existent in some cases.

For that reason I think the Manager and the Chairman will be quite happy with that being the case and fans Expectations managed to a sensible level. That way if we do well it seems like it's a bonus, so all the posters posting negative comments on the Manager and Chairman, they are in fact doing them a favour, with or without realising it. Or perhaps they are just diming down and keeping their own expectations in check. Either way it's good.

What you forgot to mention in this upbeat post is how quickly the atmosphere will turn nasty if we go into the season with the current squad and lose a couple whilst still being unable to score.I doubt the chairman or the manager will be happy with that. I'm also not sure how not signing the right players the can be good in any way either.

We do have a bit of time obviously but given how last year panned out with late signings and the fact that our shortcomings have been obvious for over 7 months it's a concern to me at the moment.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

So far this summer we've signed a premier league defender, a La Liga striker, a 19 year old "starlet", a World Cup / proven Champ full back and an international goalkeeper to be our #2.

And last season Hughton signed a international with Champions League experience.
It's quite a scrapheap. An expensive one too. Admittedly his loans didn't exactly do the business.
Some clubs (forest, Blackburn , Leeds) can't even do that due to their FFP restrictions .

(pS: Doesn't mean we're ready, they'll perform better than last season and other clubs, somewhere, will have signed better players and more of them)

Are you Barber?

A "premier league defender" on a free from a club in the Championship now.

A "starlet" who has never played a senior game.

A "proven" Champ left back who played a few games for relegated Wigan

An "international" keeper for...Finland. a relatively small nation who never qualify for anything because they get beaten all the time. On a free transfer.

A 'La Liga' forward who is unproven. Could do an Ulloa, could do a Rodriguez.

We've gone relatively like for like in replacing Bennett and Hughes, have nabbed a free keeper to warm the bench and have boosted the U21s. Hemed is the only exciting signing and he's a gamble because we've gone for the cheap foreign option.

 

[Knotty]

Do you mean fans should stop aligning their expectations to those expressed by the Chairman at every fans forum, that we have a good Championship squad and that he is expecting a top 6 finish. If he states that he expects it, why shouldn't the fans?

Has he ever said that he 'expects' it?

Aiming for it or hoping for it are not 'expecting' it.

 

[chaileyjem]

I just hope we can stay up and stay as high as we can until we get a Chairman and Manager capable of fulfilling our dreams.

Bloom, like Gibson at Boro and Benham at Brentford have very deep pockets but because they support the team as fans they are happy to do it. None of em are in it to make a fortune
What's the quickest way to make a small fortune owning a football club? Start with a large one.
The chairman are effectively subsidising their clubs with their vast fortunes. And with millions each year.
we're lucky to have him.

Pleas for him to make way for well who ?
Or would you prefer the chaos of a Cellino, Tan, the Venkys, Forest or even Bianchi at Sheff Weds spending line crazy one minute or changing the clubs very traditions and then who knows ?

Most fans would be horrified at the very thought.
But some on here seem quite keen on it.
Fair enough . Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Knotty]

Totally disagree. Expectations are low, yes. But there's underlying frustration at being treated as just another "revenue stream" amongst all the corporate bullshit about being a club with Premier League aspirations while we sign players off the scrapheap . It got nasty last year and another dire season won't help the club, especially with 1901 tickets up for renewal as well.

Negative vibes = less spending, and that's all the club really care about.

What is your solution to us being a revenue stream, the corporate bullshit and the nastiness?

 

[Grassman]

Are you Barber?

A "premier league defender" on a free from a club in the Championship now.

A "starlet" who has never played a senior game.

A "proven" Champ left back who played a few games for relegated Wigan

An "international" keeper for...Finland. a relatively small nation who never qualify for anything because they get beaten all the time. On a free transfer.

A 'La Liga' forward who is unproven. Could do an Ulloa, could do a Rodriguez.

We've gone relatively like for like in replacing Bennett and Hughes, have nabbed a free keeper to warm the bench and have boosted the U21s. Hemed is the only exciting signing and he's a gamble because we've gone for the cheap foreign option.

You are so negative, it's unreal. I'll agree 100% with Chailyjem, even with what you have written, it's hardly a f*cking scrapheap, is it.

 

[Knotty]

Are you Barber?

A "premier league defender" on a free from a club in the Championship now.

A "starlet" who has never played a senior game.

A "proven" Champ left back who played a few games for relegated Wigan

An "international" keeper for...Finland. a relatively small nation who never qualify for anything because they get beaten all the time. On a free transfer.

A 'La Liga' forward who is unproven. Could do an Ulloa, could do a Rodriguez.

We've gone relatively like for like in replacing Bennett and Hughes, have nabbed a free keeper to warm the bench and have boosted the U21s. Hemed is the only exciting signing and he's a gamble because we've gone for the cheap foreign option.

Based on that assessment we might as well pack it in.

 

[B.W.]

You do realise he was being INTERVIEWED right?

It's not like we were about to close a deal and Chris stood up from the player negotiation and said "sorry chaps. I just need to go and tell everyone we will be ready for the season"

So ****ing what? We have talked big / failed to deliver again.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

I'm happy to give the club 10 days to get in 2 more signings before, to use insulting NSC vernacular, 'wetting the bed'.

That should give us a fighting chance vs Forest, and still time to get in 3 more before transfer deadline day.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

What is your solution to us being a revenue stream, the corporate bullshit and the nastiness?

Limit the amount of mass marketing at season ticket holders, reduce the visibility of Barber so he's more like other CEO's rather than preaching about profits every five mins while sitting on a 450k salary...and be honest about the expectations rather than claim we're aiming for promotion via the play-offs when plainly we no longer have the budget for that.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

So ****ing what? We have talked big / failed to deliver again.

What a weird choice to quote my post.

My post was mocking the illogical comment that Chris should "stop talking" and start signing people.

He was talking because he was in an interview.

But, of course, you have seemed to completely misunderstood what is going on and have targeted my post even though it doesn't actually make any sense in terms of your response.

You seem obsessed with me. It's VERY flattering but this ship has sailed x

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

You are so negative, it's unreal. I'll agree 100% with Chailyjem, even with what you have written, it's hardly a f*cking scrapheap, is it.

3 free transfers, 1 transfer fee gamble and a couple of kids we're now dressing up as first teamers in a PR stunt.

Expect Barber to come out and tell us that 'free transfers aren't really free'...oh, hang on a minute...

 

[OzMike]

He's hardly going to say anything else is he.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

So ****ing what? We have talked big / failed to deliver again.

Having not played a single game I can't believe how anyone can be so bloody negative.