Thought I'd start a thread to discuss his role and record so far (ignoring his personal connection to RS). I had felt that, on balance, recruitment has been quite good since he joined, but also think that may be clouded by one or two really excellent signings.
I was very criticial of the recruitment under SC, as it felt like we paid a lot in wages and fees for players who were either clearly past it (Sercombe, Long, Tozer) or not good enough (Cardwell, Quigley) but has it gotten better?
Permanent signings for a fee/compensation:
Mendy - a superb signing and made a healthy profit. Does MB take credit for this one or RS?
Bamba - a disaster, but we at least recouped a fee of some sort for him.
Babalola - as above.
Rees - looked good early, then got injured. The way we play doesn't suit him at all as he needs a strike partner.
Haughton - has shown glimpses, but again, we don't use him effectively. Cost a huge amount in both fee and wages.
Kircough - currently a disaster, needs an opportunity.
Kengni - decent enough depth, has shown glimpses.
Pemberton - not good enough.
Campbell - big success. Was good as a holding midfielder and looks class as a centre half too.
Etaluku - I think there's a player here but definitely has some rough edges that need polish.
Mellor - looked okay early days but doesn't score
Obi - unfortunate injury, way too early to judge
Ewing - early days but seems lightweight. Don't really have a point of difference but isn't helped by playing him only with Clarke.
Osude - has been great as an impact sub. Not a striker though.
Sass - too early to judge.
Of that list we have only Mendy and Campbell who you could consider an unqualified success. There are a few that just need time and development, and Rees and Haughton may look good in a more suited system (but to date have been flops for what we paid).
Free transfers:
Clarke - good player but hasn't been used effectively. I like him in his current role but needs midfield support.
Mitchell - was effective early on and suits the lone striker role RS players. Then got injured and has disappeared from the face of the earth.
Robson - presumably not good enough, but has also had no opportunity.
Ajayi - looked a good signing on paper, then had a poor preseason and now can't even get on the pitch.
McNicholas - looked competent, then got injured and has never got his place back.
Isted - good signing.
Ross - looks decent enough on early evidence, not being helped by our inability to defend wide areas or either post,
Ifeanyi - been injured, too early to judge.
Patrick - underwhelming so far and can't play more than 60 minutes. Assume he's on big wages too.
Of that lot, a good player in Clarke and a couple of handy 'keepers.
Loans:
Whitwell - one of the best players to ever pull on the shirt. Huge tick but we also missed him when the loan ended early.
Moore - looked handy but also seemed to lose his place to Whitwell.
Kanu - solid, not outstanding but did a job.
Buyabu - I would call him a success, even with his defensive shortcomings.
Balagazi - Scunthorpe equaliser aside, not good enough.
Dausch - not good enough.
Nwoko - decent enough but was never going to be able to replace Whitwell.
Walker - no impact, only short term.
Mingi/Ahmed/Morrison - I combined these three as it felt like they all arrived at the same time. Mingi was okay I guess?
Mabete - looks decent so far but very early days.
Agina - highly rated but think he's struggled positionally. Doesn't help that he's often had Berry in front of him.
Berry - been very underwhelming so far. If we're paying a big chunk of his wages as rumoured it's a terrible deal.
Kelly - he looks tidy and was great in preseason, but we've underused him.
Only Whitwell you could say has been a big success, although Kanu, Buyabu and Nwoko were all solid.
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Looking at that list, has he actually done a good job in terms of recruitment?
Or is it just that we don't have a manager that is able to get the most of our the players brought in? I'd definitely like to see this squad under someone like Stuart Maynard as I still think there is a promotion contender there with the right set-up.
