Your reading of what constitutes a 'conspiracy theory' seems to be rather permissive, if I may say so.
You’re clearly part of this thing. It’s even bigger than we thought. What was that in the bushes just now ?
https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2023...be-guidance-opens-up-recruitment-post-brexit/ There's a decent enough guide here to the new rules in general. That being said I'm still uncertain whether Lewis counts as an EQP (England Qualified Player) for instance. Playing for NI technically disqualifies you from playing for England so does he still count as an EQP? Or is it not that deep and as long as you could've represented England at any point does that count?
I just don't see why we think we're a relegation candidate. We are absolutely too thin on the ground with senior player options to be a strong play-off candidate (Need a ST, RW, CDM and CB ideally but minimum ST and RW to make a case) however we are nowhere near the level to be a relegation candidate either. We aren't a hapless looking team barring the 1st half v Stoke and we do look to be fighting for the ball and scrapping with much more cohesive application than just individual moments of pressure which is more than can be said for all of last Season and the one before that but we look a side that's still has something of a brittle confidence and isn't fully comfortable with the new style of play. QPR I agree overly raised our expectations, but it also showed us what we are trying to get to and how it could look as well. Plymouth are a good team and we were very unfortunate not to take a win there as well so that's I think is being underplayed. Stevenage and Stoke show we still have a lot to learn how to play against teams that don't respect us with the time on the ball, which is where VI will need to coach into us how to handle that better if he's given players to work with. Just have some calm heads this Season. We're likely to finish mid table. Maybe upper depending on injuries. Promotion is not realistically the name of the game but it's the much fabled transition season we should have had years ago.
I think the new interpreation relates to "total squad size" rather than British players in the squad.
From my perspective it’s not about how we’re playing right now. VI has galvanised the team and I like a lot of what we’re doing, however, it’s all with one hand tied behind his back. It’s all about who we recruit before the window closes. But, you can only make predictions on how we are right now. With the current squad and no additions, we’ll be down the bottom fighting relegation. There’s absolutely no doubt about it in my mind. We can’t score goals when everyone is fit, so once injuries kick in, which they will, we don’t have the personnel to get us through. It’s inevitable we’re going to struggle. Already, we’ve played 4 matches and have failed in 3 of them. We should be on 7 points and in the 2nd round of the cup, imo. Only the first half against QPR was something of a delight. The rest has been a real struggle and this is how it’s going to be, unless we bring in quite a few upgrades over the next 11 days.
Genuine question. I have neither the time nor inclination to look at other championship squads but is our squad that bad compared to other clubs in the league? Will all the other teams be able to ride out injuries because they have quality back up in all positions? I could be wrong but I struggle to see us as relegation candidates, despite the poor showing at Stoke.
If you don't have the inclination or time then neither do I. But it's largely immaterial, imo. I know the strength of the league and the type of teams we'll be up against week in, week out. There's a certain level you have to be at in order to get results. Even now, with a mostly fully fit squad, we're struggling to get results. Bayo is not suddenly going to score bundles of goals, as many predicted pre-season (or Healey for that matter). We've not got many goals in us and once injuries strike, we're going to really struggle. We just don't have to players to adequately cover. It's just my opinion, but even when the sun is shining, everyone is onboard and fully fit, we've failed to get the results we should have in 3 of our 4 matches. It's only going to get worse, rather than better, unless we sign quality players over the next 10 days. It's naive or fantasy to think anything else will happen. I've heard all the excuses, we thrashed QPR, unlucky against Plymouth, Stevenage doesn't count, Stoke are strong and going to be top 6.....etc, etc. No, it's all down to not having a serious goal threat for the league we're operating in and a threadbare squad that cannot be sufficiently rotated and refreshed. If we do end up in a relegation scrap then that will be 100% down to Gino and his recruitment policy for this year.
The lack of a potent goal threat also affects the confidence of the team. If we go 0-1 down do we or the team think " don't worry Bayo will score and get us back into this" ?. I don't . Anybody who has played football at any level knows the importance of a goal threat for their team . But I don't blame Bayo He is ok as the cavalry sitting on the bench. It is the recruitment that is the problem
