I can't be bothered to look it up

but I'm sure McNally said somewhere that the new structure was put in because previously the way the club operated put too much on the manager. Which is code for "the two transfer window fiascoes were Hughton's fault".

But that won't wash really. Hughton's way of playing required a strong physical lone striker, and Hughton had got rid of Morison and Holt couldn't bear it. So he replaced them with RVW and Hooper - neither of whom could play that role, and who additionally couldn't play together. Whatever their merits it's no surprise that they both had poor seasons.

What pisses me off is that anyone could have seen after 5 minutes that neither of them fitted with Hughton's system. Whether it was Hughton's fault or Chester's fault doesn't really matter someone on the board should have asked for the rationale behind the signings before the cheque was signed. In particular, why on earth sign Hooper when the manager had recently signed Becchio & RVW to play that role.

The buck stops with McNally.

Posted By: Winged Eel Creosote, Aug 6, 14:57:52