[quote author=peterhague link=topic=45686.msg1347239#msg1347239 date=1307732513]
[quote author=Avvy link=topic=45686.msg1347231#msg1347231 date=1307731509]
It's always difficult to see how that could work; but the alternative is to give the manager carte blanche for everything..which I actually think is preferable when the manager has excellent scouting contacts and knows exactly what he's trying to achieve.
We havent done so good over the past 10 odd years unfortunately, so I hope this works out.
There've been loads of players in our squad that we look at and ask 'WHY'... if this works, we might avoid a lot of that.
If it doesnt we'll definitely see conflict and resignations galore.
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i definitely don't think one person should just have 100% control over the budget - not that i think that's ever really happened, anyway - because you need checks and balances, but i do think you'll run into problems without one person ultimately being in charge. i also think that while having 2 people involved would probably lead to fewer major fuck ups, as you say, it might also mean a more timid and risk-averse approach with fewer really inspired signings - typical of management by committee, basically.
could this even be why our current targets seem to lack that bit of glamour and imagination? henderson and downing, for example - possibly safe compromises but are they actually anyone's first choices?
just an idle theory, of course.
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Suarez being the obvious exception, and I don't think Carroll is a 'safe' signing either. I prefer to believe that we're adding depth to our squad, something Henry was 'shocked' about. Whatever it is, though, our list of targets is hardly setting my pulse racing. Dalglish said 'we would only sign players who will vastly improve a position' and then we go and spend £20M on Henderson. Fuck knows what's going on really.