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    My thoughts on what's happening at the club

    Posted by Ltfc39 on 13/8/2024, 8:39:46

    I didn't want to post this last night straight after a poor result, but do feel like it's time to get a few things off my chest. No one is above criticism, although of course credit should be given when warranted.

    The overall management of the club since 2009 has been laudable. The team on the pitch has had 10 years of straight progression. As the most important KPI, this is clearly unmatched with any other club in the country. This should be rightly celebrated and as I say, there should be significant credit in the bank for this.

    Over the summer, the amount of positive comments I got from fans of rival clubs and people I know overseas, I've never seen in previous years. The profile of the club went through the roof last season.

    The club is run by the fans for the fans. Actions over the years make me proud to be a fan of LTFC.

    There is a big BUT here though.

    The warning signs have been there for a while and I fear for this season on various levels if things don't improve or change in the near future.

    The recruitment has been a failure this summer. Part of me (joking of course) is that our Sheffield United supporting scout has given them our target list this summer! I completely undestand the reasons behind it, but we cannot expect teams to spend £10Ms on players when we won't spend a little more ourselves. Teams and agents are only going to see us as more and more desperate - we have 17 days to sort it out.

    We are underprepared (again). Yesterday was not a shock. It happened against Bochum last summer. It happened against Celta Vigo last week. The defence is all over the gaffe. We are wide open. We persist with a system that doesn't work with the players at our disposal.

    The selection last night speaks volumes. Tom Holmes and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu are experienced players at Championship level, regardless of their ability. To have two teenagers selected ahead of both for their first starts said a lot. Does Rob not trust them any more? Based on pre-season, I'd agree.

    Gary Sweet is coming in for a lot of criticism on here. He is one of us. He was there in 2003 and again in 2007. He deserves our absolute respect. But Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher weren't around forever - they were eventually moved on by their parties (I hate to use this as an analogy). Change is sometimes a good thing. How many CEOs are in position for 15+ years? Fresh ideas are usually a positive. His workload from the outside looks absolutely enormous.

    I was struck by the comments of Kieran Maguire last week - he cited the lack of transparency from the club. This was surprising in a way, but I don't think he's wrong. Communication from the club has been poor for some time (yes, I know, it's summer).

    The situation with the stadium is frustrating. I'm a consultant PM by trade... if the stadium was my project, I think I'd have been replaced by this point. Is it worth having a proper Project Manager in place and Gary and others allowed to concrentrate on the operational side of the club. It is clearly a role for a specialist. As I say above, workload must be insane.

    The day-to-day are run by a vast band of consultants and I believe have been in place since about 2017. This is clearly not unusual, but the excuses for further delay are wearing thin. I'm glad to see progress on the site recently and I appreciate the bureaucracy in executing such a project is insane. If the current Labour government was in place a few years ago and they had YIMBY polices, perhaps we'd be further along by now. But it's now go time. The detailed plans should go in within the next month. If there isn't decent progress this season, there needs to be some tough conversations.

    The situation with the kit is ridiculous - there is no way that decision was taken in the way that has been portrayed publically. Part of me thinks that it's insulting the intelligence of the supporters. And when the kits are released, they aren't available to buy for "weeks"?

    Why are we a parachute club on the field, but a League 1 club off the field from a commercial perspective? Nothing changes. Change is needed here and frankly some accountability.

      Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

      Posted by Notorious D on 13/8/2024, 9:42:14, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

      Very articulate post. Agree entirely with everything.

        Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

        Posted by Sandgrounder on 13/8/2024, 9:36:36, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

        I don’t believe that Gary Sweet project manages the new stadium. Isn’t that Michael Moran?

          Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

          Posted by Ltfc39 on 13/8/2024, 9:46:30, in reply to "Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

          He is an accountable director of 2020 Developments (Luton) Ltd. He has had very much a hands on involvement by his own admission.

          Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

          Posted by Round Green Hatter on 13/8/2024, 9:30:24, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

          Fair enough , some very valid things, especially around communication.

          Burnley bring on Weghorst, we bring on Pelly, however they have debts of over £100 million, run by yanks who will fuck off at the drop of a hat.
          We have debts probably a tenth of that and a club run by people who are Luton, as a politician would say, I'm intensely relaxed about the whole thing.

            Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

            Posted by Crisps on 13/8/2024, 9:25:24, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

            No disrespect to Liam Walsh, but it seems likely he's signing , another sick note and a cheap option, I and many others expected a 2 or 3 really decent signings, without breaking the bank , very dissappointed.

              Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

              Posted by JR on 13/8/2024, 9:06:38, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

              Very good post.

              I absolutely love 2020 for everything they have done, but like any organisation they should not be beyond criticism, if done in a constructive way!

              The final line certainly rings true.


                Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                Posted by Father Ted on 13/8/2024, 9:05:51, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                Better screenshot this before it gets deleted. Agree with it all.

                Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                Posted by HH on 13/8/2024, 9:04:13, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                Decent post.

                I agree with some of it and others I'm a bit wary of not being too knee jerk but largely agree with the overall sentiment.

                I'm a tad concerned about Rob tbh. The trend isn't particularly good right now and he doesn't have much time to turn it around.

                  Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                  Posted by bbb on 13/8/2024, 8:55:40, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                  Great Post.

                    Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                    Posted by Nailed on on 13/8/2024, 8:53:32, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                    Very well put. Couldn't agree more.

                      Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                      Posted by Herts Hatter on 13/8/2024, 8:49:19, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                      Stadium is a side issue as is the kit. Pre seasons are pre seasons and pretty irrelevant once the season starts. Main thing is that we have a squad capable of competing at this level which means a squad that can handle 7 or 8 injuries and still give the best teams a game. We do not have that which is inexcusable given extra money and our raised profile. Sweet needs to prioritise that over next 3 weeks - again last night 4 or 5 out and we look like a L1 team. We also need to show some balls and keep Taylor and make Ade/Morris earn their places

                        Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                        Posted by DAK 1 on 13/8/2024, 8:46:37, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                        All true and interesting that more 'respected' people are now starting to come out and say what others were calling out months ago.

                        Others who were castigated endlessly for ever questioning the club.

                        And with one exception last night (HB), are either missing or posting immature and offensive replies this morning (CF).

                          Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                          Posted by Ches Fordroad on 13/8/2024, 8:53:54, in reply to "Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                          And you are????

                          Are you claiming to be one of the "more 'respected' people are now starting to come out and say what others were calling out months ago"?? Quite the claim considering you appear to have started posting on here at 8am this morning.

                        Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                        Posted by Herve Baquet on 13/8/2024, 8:45:53, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                        But of an overreaction to a poor team selection and bad performance IMO.

                        The other stuff has been blown out of proportion because of a quiet news summer.

                        When have the board ever failed the club? A bit of patience is called for

                          Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                          Posted by Ltfc39 on 13/8/2024, 8:49:19, in reply to "Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                          Yes last night was a poor result, but you could argue that many trends were pointing in the wrong direction. As I say, stadium has been rumbling on for many years, recruitment in the entirety of 2024 poor and the commercial situation a problem for many a year. There have been opportunities to correct these things.

                            Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                            Posted by DAK 1 on 13/8/2024, 8:48:59, in reply to "Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                            "poor selection" - and why was that?

                            what lessons had pre-season taught?

                            why were the signings expected post-Dundee United and Celta Vigo (in both interviews) not made?

                            Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                            Posted by NJ fan on 13/8/2024, 8:43:35, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                            Decent post.

                              Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                              Posted by Ches Fordroad on 13/8/2024, 8:42:55, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                              That's far too sensible and thoughtful, expect it to attract plenty of moronic comments.

                              You've already got one.

                                Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                                Posted by Hitchin Hatter on 13/8/2024, 8:50:36, in reply to "Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                                Excellent and well articulated post. Others will say it's only one game, but I do fear for us over the next few weeks. We looked like absolute cannon fodder last night.
                                Just to say we have injured players to come back does not hide from the fact our previous excellent early recruitment has been shown up this summer. For RE to daily say 'we're trying to get a couple in' sounds like all the other desperate clubs we would normally leave far behind.
                                Not replacing Nakamba was and is negligent in my opinion. You can't play this gung ho system without a holding midfielder. To have not got one in during January, or even this summer was appalling management.
                                I predicted a heavy defeat last night and was not surprised. It will be a real test of everyone's resolve if this start is a sign of things to come.
                                Agree on your wider points re the club. GS does seem to spread himself very thinly across a lot of workload. Maybe that is starting to show in several key areas now.

                                Re: My thoughts on what's happening at the club

                                Posted by Garth Crooks on 13/8/2024, 8:41:15, in reply to "My thoughts on what's happening at the club"

                                I warned all you mugs last season, same again this season.

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