24 Sep 2021 06:29:56
Should we see Rodriguez’s move as Brands clearing out the chaos from other managers or another failure on his part to build a decent squad? What do people think?


1.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 07:00:54
James was 100% Carlo's idea and Carlo's man. Brands did his job and delivered what the manager asked for. Question is did he pay more than we could afford and should he have said no and the answer is yes. Also Unfortunately for the money we paid proper checks and balances on lifestyle were not done. He hadn't been fully fit for a while and the red flags about matches played over past 5years and the rumours about his dedication were ignored, this was Brand's fault and his responsibility to tell Carrlo no. That said the first month and the Liverpool game he showed he was quality.


2.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 09:07:24
Cookie78 on the other hand the conversation may have gone like this CA "I want James" Brands "No he doesn't fit the team profile" CA "If i don't get him i'll walk" Brands "Sorry but he dosen't fit the team profile" Moshiri "Sorry Brands we better let him have James as it would be too embarrassing if Carlo left two weeks after he signed" Brands "I think that's the wrong decision" Moshri "sorry but its my decision". Pure speculation of course but if the club was a bit more open to explaining why decisions are made then we may have a better understanding of what going on but they don't and that's their prerogative. It sucks though. Having said that they are extremely open about the stadium so they can be open if they want to.


3.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 10:03:30
Don’t think you would be that far off the mark their sa90 mate.
Looking at it another way, think If we actually made money on the James and Moise deals then Brands has done pretty well there.
Think the next couple of windows will give us a clearer indication of how they plan to progress. Do they go for younger players with potential as in the lads from Rangers and Sheffield Utd. These types of players would certainly be on a lower wage. Or do they carry on buying “experienced” players on high wages.
Hopefully they have learned from their past mistakes now, and so the club can move forward again.


4.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 12:54:32
I sometimes think the directors of football are on a hiding for nothing. They get players in and the manager don't fancy em. Ie Kean. Then he gets the managers favourites in and they bleed club dry. Ie James. Shame we can't go back to the manager picking payers, negotiating to sign them and eventually being responsible for there own brilliance/ mistakes. Brands has spent more time trying to remove unwanted players on huge contracts than sign up and coming talent.


5.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 13:33:14
I would say SA90's points are spot on.


6.) 24 Sep 2021
24 Sep 2021 20:36:36
I think the Rodriguez business had actually been good by Brands. Just a shame we couldn't offload him before deadline day.

Essentially we took a punt on a potentially world class player that was for the manager, we paid nothing for him other than wages (perhaps too high wages) .

When he played he did very well at times, pre December anyway, but then it fell apart, didn't work out and we have offloaded him, for reportedly a small fee.

Job done by Brands om that one. I'm not exactly a huge fan of what brands has done so far, but that one he did his job well in my book.

{Ed014's Note - That guy had one World Cup when he shone, the rest of the time he’s been an utter waste of space.