Should Ben Mansford update us?

Tons of Apples

Tons of Apples

Well-known member
Yes: There's a lot of people who have invested hard earned money in to their ST for next season and so far we're being met with silence and no incomings. He should update us without having to name names.
No: We're 3 weeks to the new season, let them get on with their jobs and let's judge them at the end of August when we can see the squad we've built.

What do we think?
 
Tons of Apples said:
Yes: There's a lot of people who have invested hard earned money in to their ST for next season and so far we're being met with silence and no incomings. He should update us without having to name names.
No: We're 3 weeks to the new season, let them get on with their jobs and let's judge them at the end of August when we can see the squad we've built.

What do we think?
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The season starts two weeks on Saturday and we have a squad capable of getting a result against Reading.

But the problem I have had which others don't seem to be concerned about is a slow start to this season, we can't afford that in a stronger division this year, with the same squad that crawled across the line last season is a huge problem. We recognise we are short at right back and central midfield and probably left wing. Maybe not in numbers but definitely in quality and we're lumbering around and struggling to get people across the line.

We have far too many unproven players at this level and rather than sign someone with experience we seem willing to go into the season with a central midfield partnership of Dougall + Connolly or Virtue and if we're extremely lucky, Stewart. Which, from January, was extremely poor as a duo.

I wonder if the focus this close season has been outgoings and waiting for bids opposed to incomings.

Ultimately Appleton has a different formation so we'll have to see how we get on but I'll be disappointed if we don't have 2/3 new players by that Saturday.
 
Tons of Apples said:
Yes: There's a lot of people who have invested hard earned money in to their ST for next season and so far we're being met with silence and no incomings. He should update us without having to name names.
No: We're 3 weeks to the new season, let them get on with their jobs and let's judge them at the end of August when we can see the squad we've built.

What do we think?
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What can he say, the club is working on a number of options, he can't say who they are or when they might come off, he can't tell us if the club have had to change tack for any reason or if any of the transfers have fallen through.

Realistically there's nothing useful he can say.
 
Cable Cat said:
I think people like Scrafton are genuinely stirring up trouble here and if I was Mansford I'd be saying something just to give the club's side of the story (and I'd do it on the official site and not give it to his rag!).
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Scrafton is in the information and speculation game. He needs bits and bobs to feed off and to spin out for more than they are worth. Can't blame him for poking a stick.

As for Mansford what can he say that can be put in a positive way? You can't spin a missed signing or failure to get deals over the line that were close. Of course he may have to justify the recruitment set up at some point.
 
We would be fine at the moment with the squad we have, although it would probably be Connolly at RB first game.

It’s not desirable - we want those signings but we are not weaker than last season as it stands.

Plus Carey and Dale love a bit of Reading!
 
Scara nails it and people need to be a lot more patient. SS says the budget is greater this season and I’m sure offers are in place so what do you want him to say?
 
Yes, he can cancel that meeting with an agent to explain to the nervous types that he is out there doing his job, or would be if same nervous types and a local journo in need of a story (well a few words mixed up amongst the adds on the website) left him alone to do it.
 
My hope is that they do not wish to make any announcement while the coach and the staff are in Scotland. But come next week when all are back at base, with their hair combed for a photoshoot, there will be a raft of incomings!
 
Macseasider said:
As customers who pay hundreds if not thousands of pounds each year I think you are deluded.
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Don't get me wrong cos I know where you're coming from... but no one is entitled to aanything other than a seat at 23 games if you buy a ST (even then, read the small print!) and saying someone is deluded for thinking the opposite is just as bad.
 
What do you really want him to say? I presume they are looking at quality in competition with bigger clubs and that isn’t easy. Frustrating Yes but I trust they are working hard on this and not just taking the easy, cheap option, that can easily be done there will be lots of that type still looking for a club after the season starts.
 
No. We will be updated when something happens, until then what's the point. We need to relax, signings and splashing cash is irrelevant if the players you get don't fit into or are not better than what you have.
 
GTFsTwinBrother said:
Don't get me wrong cos I know where you're coming from... but no one is entitled to aanything other than a seat at 23 games if you buy a ST (even then, read the small print!) and saying someone is deluded for thinking the opposite is just as bad.
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And I accept what you are saying but for a club that have talked about fan engagement there is very little other than wanting to sell the next overpriced garment.
 
The only announcement I want to hear is that we have signed a player. I then hope that player is an improvement on what we already have or back up to a good player in a position where we need it.
Let the bloke focus on his job, we can all speculate and give our opinions on here and when we get to the night before our 1st game we can give an opinion that holds a bit of weight.
There will still be time for players to be brought in but I will be disappointed if we start the season with a makeshift right back again.
 
Cable Cat said:
I think people like Scrafton are genuinely stirring up trouble here and if I was Mansford I'd be saying something just to give the club's side of the story (and I'd do it on the official site and not give it to his rag!).
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‘Twas Mansford himself at Southport that said a couple of signings were ‘close’. That was direct to the fans, so hardly Scrafton being mischievous.
 
I don’t think there should be an update for updates sake, however Shrewsbury Town use to do updates every month from their CEO. I actually watched a few found them quite good.

On a separate note, it’s all very quiet on all fronts at the minute. Training ground, where’s that up to? North east concourse redevelopments, which I am sure we’re mentioned for this summer. Has that happened? Is it happening? Not everyone’s cup of tea but a pitch update? East stand updates? This new football community hub. What’s the plan for that etc?

It would keep us interested throughout the summer and maybe, if it was good quality content, get us excited for the season and distracted us from the lack of signings.
 
Yes. Good communications with stakeholders/ supporters is critical to a successful business model.
 
Hoppo said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1547303371186601986
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Those on twitter have no idea who we're trying to sign.

It's not worked so far and maybe our budget re wages is too rigid, whoknows.

But you can't call it bullshit re the budget when there's still a lot of window to go. Yes ideally we want them in sooner.

If were going for a higher calibre of player too it makes it harder.

Its annoying and we need some good news but not sure many reactionary twitter people are worth listening to.

If we signed 3 good players this week he'd feel pretty daft.

Surely the club have earned some trust that the will be working as hard as they can to get the right people in....

We've made some positive signings every window, this will be no different.

Just because our budget may have grown doesn't mean people will instantly sign of were competing with other clubs with higher wages.
 
SeasideSid said:
I don’t think there should be an update for updates sake, however Shrewsbury Town use to do updates every month from their CEO. I actually watched a few found them quite good.

On a separate note, it’s all very quiet on all fronts at the minute. Training ground, where’s that up to? North east concourse redevelopments, which I am sure we’re mentioned for this summer. Has that happened? Is it happening? Not everyone’s cup of tea but a pitch update? East stand updates? This new football community hub. What’s the plan for that etc?

It would keep us interested throughout the summer and maybe, if it was good quality content, get us excited for the season and distracted us from the lack of signings.
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I suggest you take a look at Fleetwood Town social media if you want these kind of updates. They are quite good at it.
 
Hockaday’s Quiff said:
‘Twas Mansford himself at Southport that said a couple of signings were ‘close’. That was direct to the fans, so hardly Scrafton being mischievous.
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I literally heard him say that.

I think there's an element on here who will hear nothing bad about the club ever. I personally don't agree that our squad is piss weak but I do agree we need to strengthen. I also recall we were told when Critch left all the work was in place and the football staff was way deeper than the manager so it's all fine...

We still have signed no one.

We also signed players really early in the previous 3 summers under Sadler (Kaikai, Nuttall all in situ early, then Yates, Keshi etc, then last year at Southport, Bowler, Lavery, Connelly, Carey, Grimmy etc all in place...)

This year, it couldn't be more different.

It naturally makes you wonder. What is different? What is stopping us signing *anyone?*

I don't think observing that something is very different from the previous experience or that the reality differs from the way it was projected makes you a bed wetter or 'panicing' - it's just rational observation.
 
Part of the problem is that multi media over feeds us.
I could spend the next 6 months reading, watching nothing but Laurel and Hardy if I so desired.
That's what the modern football fan is a bit like. New info everytime you take one of your daily 300 quick peeps at AVFFT.
The expectations are ones bourne out of boredom, lack of patience and bugger all else going on in one or two lives.
We re in better shape than many a pre season and come the start of the season proper I totally expect us to be in even better shape.
However, I must confess to being an optimist and a pretty patient one at that. Up the Mighty Pool. 😁
 
td53 said:
I literally heard him say that.

I think there's an element on here who will hear nothing bad about the club ever. I personally don't agree that our squad is piss weak but I do agree we need to strengthen. I also recall we were told when Critch left all the work was in place and the football staff was way deeper than the manager so it's all fine...

We still have signed no one.

We also signed players really early in the previous 3 summers under Sadler (Kaikai, Nuttall all in situ early, then Yates, Keshi etc, then last year at Southport, Bowler, Lavery, Connelly, Carey, Grimmy etc all in place...)

This year, it couldn't be more different.

It naturally makes you wonder. What is different? What is stopping us signing *anyone?*

I don't think observing that something is very different from the previous experience or that the reality differs from the way it was projected makes you a bed wetter or 'panicing' - it's just rational observation.
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Surely as we aim to improve we'll find it more difficult with our wage structure, as we're seemingly trying to spend within our means, which is proper but hardly any other clubs do it.

So when were competing for better players they'll always be someone else with more.

So maybe its just the better players were going for have more options.

I've said before as a strategy that instead of 2 squads of similar ability some teams seem to have a main 11 plus a few but beyond that theres a drop off to the next lot, squad players.

But maybe they have to do that to afford better championship players on more money.

Either way its clear things were close but they don't seem to be working out.
 
Loco said:
I suggest you take a look at Fleetwood Town social media if you want these kind of updates. They are quite good at it.
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Not sure i get your point? Why would I be interested in Fleetwood updates as a Blackpool fan? You could ask why I watched the Shrewsbury updates, but there is a connection with Shrewsbury.
 
td53 said:
This year, it couldn't be more different.

It naturally makes you wonder. What is different? What is stopping us signing *anyone?*

I don't think observing that something is very different from the previous experience or that the reality differs from the way it was projected makes you a bed wetter or 'panicing' - it's just rational observation.
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In our last conversation we spoke about and pretty much agreed we should ( and it looks like we are) be after a small number of high quality players for this level.

That, to me, is in stark contrast to last year where we needed to build the basis of a Championship squad after being heavily reliant on loans in League One.

But really the main difference is the managerial change. You seem like a smart guy so I’m a bit puzzled that you basically completely discount it as a factor. You’ll know last summer we had continuity of staff which will undoubtably help any transfer window.

I think a big part of this is out goings and not really for financial reasons. Quitchley will have told the board who he think needs to go out, there for transfers are most likely worked out around replacing these players. Apples comes in takes time to assess the squad, the out goings likely alter significantly, at least from what I can see. This means all those transfer in the pipe line to replace previous outgoing players are now defunct. New players need to be sought not only to help Apples in his new style of play but to augment new players leaving the club.

Given the fact we punch well above our weight at this level, people can disagree, fine, but for us and the way we operate the managerial change has had a massive impact.
 
Think we might go a bit ott on here at times with the "punching above our weight" stuff, historically mid table in the championship is about our level and even stature/attendance wise we're not a million miles away from 1/3rd of the teams in this league.

I understand the financial realities (a bit) but remember how the first thing Holloway did is talk up Matthews and Armfield and the 40? years uninterrupted in the top 2 divisions and say "why not us?".

High likelihood Mansford would end up looking stupid if he said anything now and he's definitely not stupid so moot point really.
 
SeasideSid said:
Not sure i get your point? Why would I be interested in Fleetwood updates as a Blackpool fan? You could ask why I watched the Shrewsbury updates, but there is a connection with Shrewsbury.
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Just pointing out how a smaller local club can manage to provide updates, just as you were.
 
Thatseasider said:
In our last conversation we spoke about and pretty much agreed we should ( and it looks like we are) be after a small number of high quality players for this level.

That, to me, is in stark contrast to last year where we needed to build the basis of a Championship squad after being heavily reliant on loans in League One.

But really the main difference is the managerial change. You seem like a smart guy so I’m a bit puzzled that you basically completely discount it as a factor. You’ll know last summer we had continuity of staff which will undoubtably help any transfer window.

I think a big part of this is out goings and not really for financial reasons. Quitchley will have told the board who he think needs to go out, there for transfers are most likely worked out around replacing these players. Apples comes in takes time to assess the squad, the out goings likely alter significantly, at least from what I can see. This means all those transfer in the pipe line to replace previous outgoing players are now defunct. New players need to be sought not only to help Apples in his new style of play but to augment new players leaving the club.

Given the fact we punch well above our weight at this level, people can disagree, fine, but for us and the way we operate the managerial change has had a massive impact.
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I'm just wordy mate, not the same as smart! Anyway, yes I agree to degree. The manager changing is likely a thing - I think my point is more that Mr 'very well remunerated' Mansford was at pains to say 'the manager changing makes no difference' (or words to that effect) but it palpably does (I hope that is the reason as opposed to a.n.other reason)

If Mansford said 'look everyone - a bit of patience - we've obviously had a big disruption and therefore targeted new players' then I think that would quell a lot. As it is, he said the opposite + then total radio silence. To some extent, say nothing is great. No one wants the club spouting off constantly but we're kind of guessing about everything and that itself opens up wild speculation.

We get all these videos of players cycling and running. Great stuff if you're into people running about, but a short video on how the recruitment team works would go a long way. It's a total mystery. As stuff like that becomes a bigger and bigger part of the club, then people will call it into question as the behind the scenes stuff represents an every larger portion of what we help subsidise with our tickets and shirts etc. The more Mansford talks about the set up and how it means we're in a good place etc, the more people are likely to say 'ok, but where are the players then?'

I don't expect us to go and get players for millions from other champ clubs or pay millions for a loan for a season. I'm just surprised that we haven't yet got anyone - as it doesn't tally with the vision of the recruitment being permanent whilst coaches are temporary.

View 1 - Mansford was telling the truth and we're finding the exact right players for the exact right price. Micky Apples is a canny appointment

View 2 - Mansford was saying what he thought would ensure ticket sales go well.

I'm not him, so I don't know. None of us do. The 'everything is awesome' crew don't know and neither do the 'its the end of the world' crew.
 
Thatseasider said:
I’ve never understood the hatred towards him he’s delivered nothing but success since he’s been here.
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Quite right! The anti Mansford rhetoric is borne out of ignorance. Pretty common amongst so called fans, most of whom haven’t a clue how a football club is run…
 
Rock and Roll Star said:
Quite right! The anti Mansford rhetoric is borne out of ignorance. Pretty common amongst so called fans, most of whom haven’t a clue how a football club is run…
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I don’t think it’s that at all,

I think it’s his own doing to be honest.

No point telling us how good “Critch” is if you then have to replace “Critch” and tell us what type of Head Coach you want and then appoint someone who isn’t that person.
 
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