I'm not optimistic, because we are so unlike Mr Caldwell's previous managerial experience. We talk blithely about giving him 10 games to see how is getting on, but that means the end of September. Not long is it? With Wigan, with all their resources and a chairman who existed, wasn't selling and was supportive, after ten games he had them in 9th place having a 4-3-3 record (including beating us 2-3!). After 2 games they were 23rd, imagine us on that start on top of this season. He didn't get them into an automatic promotion position until match day 32 and they didn't go top till game 40. So, how and when do we judge, is halfway after ten games okay? How many teams get relegated after being halfway after ten games, how many managers end up sacked? And at the moment we have only a record of 2 wins in 19 games to go on, a much worse record than his predecessor ........... do we take that into account when looking at GC's record after 10 games, or can next season be a clean slate in fans' heads?
At Wigan from July 1st 2015 Mr Caldwell transferred in 20 players and got rid of 18. Of the 20 transfers he spent a known £1,050,000 on two players and there were 10 other undisclosed fees. Of the 18 going out of Wigan he received £1,500,000 and 10 undisclosed fees. His dealings were clearly successful, but WE can only sell our family jewels - our youngsters - and cannot afford fees, or high wages, to attract proven free agents - it's chalk and cheese.
Even Mr Caldwell's loan dealings weren't reminiscent of us. At Wigan he was able to loan out 13 players and loan in 11. Wigan with Sharpe/Whelan money were a whole different ball game to Chesterfield.
So far there isn't much to be optimistic about. Caldwell's team apparently pass the ball about nicely, but that doesn't result in them shooting, or even stopping goals ........ We've ditched some players and kept some, whether they were the right ones is up for debate. We sold our most obvious asset cheap, because we daren't let his value fall further on the back of another failing season. In addition I remain baffled that our best youngster in the last two seasons is the only young player who can't get a first team game. When we hit a transfer window our dealings were completely shambolic. Team selection seemed pretty random and experienced players were open in their bafflement over what was expected of them on the pitch ......... And all this was being played out against a backdrop of a club in financial crisis so deep that the "owner" is attempting to sell at a wholly unrealistic price, a Chief Executive who was first moved then sacked, a ragged rump of a Board halved by departures and an administration so lax that player contracts cannot even be located.
Reasons to be cheerful? Over to you Ian Dury 1-2-3.
At Wigan from July 1st 2015 Mr Caldwell transferred in 20 players and got rid of 18. Of the 20 transfers he spent a known £1,050,000 on two players and there were 10 other undisclosed fees. Of the 18 going out of Wigan he received £1,500,000 and 10 undisclosed fees. His dealings were clearly successful, but WE can only sell our family jewels - our youngsters - and cannot afford fees, or high wages, to attract proven free agents - it's chalk and cheese.
Even Mr Caldwell's loan dealings weren't reminiscent of us. At Wigan he was able to loan out 13 players and loan in 11. Wigan with Sharpe/Whelan money were a whole different ball game to Chesterfield.
So far there isn't much to be optimistic about. Caldwell's team apparently pass the ball about nicely, but that doesn't result in them shooting, or even stopping goals ........ We've ditched some players and kept some, whether they were the right ones is up for debate. We sold our most obvious asset cheap, because we daren't let his value fall further on the back of another failing season. In addition I remain baffled that our best youngster in the last two seasons is the only young player who can't get a first team game. When we hit a transfer window our dealings were completely shambolic. Team selection seemed pretty random and experienced players were open in their bafflement over what was expected of them on the pitch ......... And all this was being played out against a backdrop of a club in financial crisis so deep that the "owner" is attempting to sell at a wholly unrealistic price, a Chief Executive who was first moved then sacked, a ragged rump of a Board halved by departures and an administration so lax that player contracts cannot even be located.
Reasons to be cheerful? Over to you Ian Dury 1-2-3.