Phil Ham's take on things ITFC when asked for his thoughts

[hallamblue]

Question:

"I have noticed in the last 3 days the amount of established posters from years back finally expressing their dissatisfaction at our current clubs set up.

It pleases me (as someone who desperately wants change) so youve always supported McCarthy so what are your thoughts?

I realize you often keep your inner most opinions private for obvious reasons

So?? "

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Phil on 09:47 - Dec 5 with 251 views PhilTWTD

I think I've outlined my thoughts plenty of times. Frustrating, inconsistent season in a division in which it is becoming harder and harder for us to compete given the finance available to clubs coming down and one or two others who'll throw big money at it for a couple of years or so in the hope they go up.

The loss of Murphy - and I don't think it was an offer we could or should have turned down - and no replacement having been brought in at a time when we were so short of strikers due to injuries has had a big impact on our season. The goals for/goals against column tells the story really. Murphy was key to how we played and we had rarely played well without him in previous seasons.

I thought how much we missed him was evident on Saturday when I don't think we played badly. Thought we played well enough for the most part, albeit without creating enough. Didn't really disagree with the assessment of MM or Adam Webster.

I can see the reasons why it was difficult to bring someone in given that the offer came in so late and other clubs were either bigging up prices or unwilling to sell given the timescale but doesn't make it any less frustrating. I also think - and said at the time - someone ought to have been brought in in a previous summer as a Murphy deputy, regardless of whether there was an expectation that he might move on. Injuries were always going to hit him at some point and he was 33.

I don't think there's any realistic prospect of a change of manager at this stage as much as some may want it. ME will look at things in the wider context of MM having taken Town to sixth and seventh in successive seasons on budgets which have been somewhat lower than that. As much as some may dislike MM, want him to move on, not like his football etc, he has overachieved in budget-to-league finish terms.

And this year he has been hampered by the loss of a very key player and injuries to others. I don't doubt someone will be brought in in January as a more direct replacement for Murph and regardless of results between now and then I don't see ME making any big decisions for some while after that. To be honest, given the hand that MM has been dealt this season I'm not sure it would be fair to do so anyway.

Regarding the club or ME's overall aims, plans etc, I don't think there's any great mystery. The play-offs are seen as the most realistic aim, as has been stated plenty of times. Other than the handful throwing very big money at it to compete with those with parachute payments - something I'm not sure they'll be able to sustain for too much longer in some cases - I don't think many other established Championship clubs will be looking at things much differently. I think there needs to be greater recognition that the division isn't as it was a few years back, it's now much more skewed towards those relegated from the Premier League.

But I think even to maintain sixth/seventh finishes (regardless of how this season ultimately ends, and mid-table does seem most likely) there needs to be greater annual investment at Town. It's not going to get any easier.

[herforder]

Last para is it in a concise nutshell. Rest of Phil's response, though difficult to argue against, smacks a bit of not wishing to bite the hand that feeds him - in terms of the cooperation from, and access to, the club that he needs to support his forum. Lacking passion in a forensic sort of way!

[hallamblue]

...and your obs of Phil Hams comments are probably not far wrong, and a criticism that has been levied by many Town fans at EADT / Stuart Watson, which makes his comments today almost a watershed moment I think.


Will the Club respond? Probably by Ian Milne with a load if spin yet again . I think the gulf between the Club and it's fan Base is becoming increasingly wider. How else can the paying public adult demonstrate their collective frustraion.

Not attending games makes a far bigger noise than a few SBR fans waving a couple of banners and shouting for Micks head. Evans should be answering some questions as much as Mick.