Graham Alexander

Young Jake has scored for Swindon tonight. Deffo one for GA to ponder.

He said 1st choice out of the candidates and he gave him the job so technically he was 1st choice.

 

He seemed quite relaxed about the squad. Saying we have very talented players, but they needed guidance on how to exercise that talent. We shall see, he might have other ideas on how to employ the players. He might be an excellent jigsaw artiste

 

What I was pleased to hear him speak about is the importance of mindset and how that is something he is going to focus on early doors with the players. It is something I think you and I have discussed before Onside, and I am glad GA recognises this is something that needs addressing with this group of players.

 

Wether GM was first choice or not it's all irrelevant as we are where we are, I know we've all been here many times but I have a good feeling about this appointment as he looks to have a good experience in dealing with the lower leagues which is what we need right now, and not a Championship manager doing us a favour or a high calibre appointment who's no knowledge of L2, there's a good chance it may work.

 

I think the 'mindset' is there with some of the players some of the time but it's just not consistent enough ....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0grc0k1

 

Milton Keynes has roughly half the population of Bradford and zero football tradition, less than 20 years in fact, Dave. So at most , using our model, on a pro rata manner , I could see them getting 7k max. That shopping arcade would be needing to attract hell of a lot of punters spending lots of money to additionally support a club losing £10,000 a day? ( If that article I posted is correct and using the MKD invitees response)

A short train ride into London and then realise where the football supporter in the new towns , like Harlow, Slough , Croydon, Stevenage, go for live football

Very very few support their “ Home” town club.

They don’t have the local competition like we do either.

A problem for sure .

 

Good interview that.

Big hint there that we will be recalling Jake Young, without actually naming him

 

I thought the same, he didn't do enough to impress Hughes, Alexander needs to bring him back have a look and make his call on the lad can he fit into our formation does he do enough to impress.

 

He has to talk them up initially but don't be fooled - the assessments, possible improvements and squad trimming will be at the forefront of his mind already

 

Without a positive mindset and a determination to win, you might as well stay in the dressing room.

 

I didn’t think that at the first hearing Idle , but agree , it can’t be anyone else.

 

Do you remember playing for Bury Dave. I’m think I do. The name rings a bell?

 

Just can’t warm to Sparkes he talks like a standard politician it’s all about corporate wording and comments without real substance.

We desperately need a CEO with football club experience it feels like he’s here on a YTS

 

I'm unconvinced that Sparks has done much wrong, financially, over the past couple of seasons to support their manager.

Young could go for a daft sum in January or come back to us a better player. So that would mean, if Sparks sorted out the loan, then he we have to give him some credit as he backed his manager and made sure he has a recall clause in the agreement. I mean Huddersfield fouled that up when they loaned us Crichlow, with no protection, i.e. Sparks out-negotiated a Championship team.

Of course he's made errors, but I can think of just a many decent decisions he's made.

His error was falling in love with Adams and giving him everything and then not backing up his 'love'. And he's right to be criticised for that.

 

Since when has a CEO at almost any level, below The Premiership, not been involved in the financial transactions of a club.

Gent and the manager agree on targets and find them. Sparks negotiates.

Puzzled why this is seen as a surprise.

 

In fairness he started off fine, but had a terrible attitude in the Middlesbrough match. But then again, that could be Hughes not understanding how to get the best out of flawed players.

I seriously can think of few very bad / poor signings. If anything I'm least impressed with Odour.

 

Yes. But we can't just have a narrative that Sparks makes mistakes 100% of the time, when clearly he must have negotiated the loan.

The jury's out on him for me. I just don't see him as that bad. Let's remember that Lawn / Rhodes got failed with four managerial appointments before Parky (and I still don't see how it's never mentioned that arguably the worst decision this century, was the full time appointment of Peter Jackson)

I think most clubs have that record though. Brighton and Luton might have got it correct recently - but let's remember they got it horribly wrong for many a yesteryear and suffered.

 

The problem is, as we've seen with many of our former rivals over the years - we could have done an awful lot worse, than having an owner that's given us a Top 7, more or less, for the entirety of his time here.

I think we should be careful what we wish for. Until we own our ground, we are not an attractive proposition.