Lepkowski Article

[SW4Baggie]

Employ Mowbray using some random stats as a reason - tick
Don’t employ a DoF - tick
Don’t employ someone who can increase revenue away from selling players - tick
Employ a manager with no experience in one of the toughest leagues in world football - tick
Employ a manager who seemingly won’t budge from a system that requires players we didn’t have - tick
Sell our best players and replace with no better if not worse - tick

That’s where the clubs decision making has been this year. Yes the owners are managing PSR problems but almost every decision they’ve made that is related to the football side of the game has been badly thought out, either through naivety or arrogance or perhaps both. Anyone who is still arguing we have a coherent plan in place has been asleep since we appointed TM.

Didn't get the manager the process isolated due to last minute complications, saw the form dropping off a cliff, and hired a man that made sense at the time - tick
Has isolated the need for DoF and has been recruiting for around 12 months - tick
Has appointed two c-suite roles focused on increasing revenue - tick
Employed a highly regarded coach who'd been given 2 separate caretaker spells in charge of a Champs League contender PL club that had worked with Mourinho, Conte etc etc - tick
Employed a highly regarded coach with a very solid track record in another league of improving players and substantially over-achieving in league performance vs. budget - tick
Forced into selling players due to previous regime's mismanagement but has managed in 2 windows to bring in substantial profits whilst lowering the age and wage of the squad - tick

I can put a similar spin on these points.

Ultimately a plethora of crap decisions made over many years have left us where we are presently. It's not the sole fault of Nestor or Patel, there are plenty of people who've stolen a living from this club at all levels, for the last decade

Oh please there is no spin, the owners have made avoidable and obvious mistakes, that aren’t hindsight, they were pointed out at every point they were made.

There is spin Derek - if you can't see that, there's no hope.

I agree that the owners have made mistakes... and I have said they overestimated their capabilities and how easy this turnaround job would be, but you're pushing an agenda at CL levels!

This isn’t spin it’s simply my opinion and my agenda is to want the club back in the Prem and at least able to compete with our local rivals. 

The points I made above I’ve made since they appointed Mowbray, I haven’t moved from my position despite the criticism coming my way for daring to point out the problems the club were making for themselves. 

The most important positions the club needed to fill last summer were DoF, Manager, and someone who could increase revenue streams beyond selling players. We are still waiting for those positions to be filled or in the case of the manager on our third attempt at getting it right. Add to this, the players we have brought in are no better, if not worse than those we had previously and hey presidento we find ourselves in the relegation zone. 

I have a lot of sympathy with the owners having to manage the financial mess the previous owners got themselves in, and have tried to temper my expectations about what is possible in the time frame they’ve had, but there is no way the mistakes this year are acceptable if you have any real ambition to compete as a Championship club let alone in the Prem.

Just for Tech Bro’s…

But, the spin is that your statements are heavily embellished... 

I do not disagree with our key needs being a competent DoF, a manager that fits our present circumstances, and there's a need to expand our revenues, but selling players is a feasible strategy provided the right people are in place. This can't all be done overnight, and you're sounding like a toddler moaning about wanting everything now but not suggesting anything these owners could practically do...

Employ Mowbray using some random stats as a reason.... Mowbray was appointed as he was seen as a safe pair of hands with a fair track record and who knew the club. We were running out of time, had no money to pay compensation and even the most pessimistic amongst us didn't think he'd be as bad as he was. You've also been refusing to give him any credit for the last 15 years despite him delivering one of our best seasons for a long time.


Don’t employ a DoF - The intention to hire one was stated at the start of Bilkul's time in charge but there were so many fires to put out. These appointments take a long time, look how long it took United to get Ashworth... 

Don’t employ someone who can increase revenue away from selling players - we HAVE hired people to look at this - there aren't queues of investors sitting wanting to throw money at us, and Bilkul are putting money in every month to make up the short falls. 

Employ a manager with no experience in one of the toughest leagues in world football - every managerial appointment is a risk, Mason didn't work out. Sometimes you get it wrong. We did, we acted, we move on. 

Employ a manager who seemingly won’t budge from a system that requires players we didn’t have - THIS is a clusterfuck and gets no argument from me. 

As has been said, they've been naive at best and arrogant at worst - I do think we have owners who are good people and want to do the right thing, which is a vast improvement on the last lot. I just hope they learn their lessons FAST as they need nous, knowledge and competence in key roles ASAP.

Maybe you should offer your services!!! 
Sell our best players and replace with no better if not worse - tick