Sheehan v Cravatt

[Colin-swansea]

There is no doubt that the second half of season 2024/25 regarding a playing style was the most welcomed since Potter’s second half of his one year tenure, albeit down to one player – Liam O’Brien. He alone instigated an attacking formula and by the end of the season there were rumours demanded he be signed on a permanent contract. Sadly we are led to believe that his wage demands / transfer fee were out of our wage restriction, or were they?

As the summer progressed the club made early ventures into the transfer marker and some time before the season started the club’s recruitment appeared to be one of the best windows since relegation from the PL, or was it? Despite some disappointing results from the pre-season friendlies a good start to the season saw the club in the lofty position of 7th in the league before the second week of September and thoughts were naturally thinking over a top ten finish, or even a positive attack on getting into the Play Offs.

Since then however there has been just one win – at lowly Blackburn – performances are getting worse as the club slips down to 16th following another home defeat while players who began to impress at the start of the season, and along with a defensive approach to the playing style, has deteriorated into a what do we do next scenario during 90 minutes.

Thoughts go back to the praise awarded to the Board for a successful summer recruitment but in reality we have to question if it really has – or to the reasons why so many attacking players are being ham strung into playing defensive tactics.

Or, was the decision dictated by Cravatt and Worth in deciding which players to sign totally against the ones Sheehan actually wanted to sign, and also former Head of Recruitment Montague which later saw him leave the club.

Since Cravatt and co. bought the club from K&L they have’nt shied from spending cash and they are to be applauded for doing so – a reported £20m, but is it a case of Cravatt listening to Worth more than taking note of what players Sheehan actually wanted to sign and recommended by Montague.

Something has dramatically gone wrong when we see the decline throughout the team as the season progressed – but where does the blame lie – at the feet of coaches Sheehan and O’Dea or at Cravatt & Worth. You make your own mind up but just remember the breath of fresh air after the last game of the season where almost 20,000 fans attended the stadium with thoughts of carrying on the success into a new season that couldn’t come quick enough to present day as the club slips lower down the league to thoughts of relegation who is actually to blame.

 

[Smurph]

O'Brien wasn't worth 40k per week just Darling wasn't worth what he was asking for.

In terms of transfer I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Sheehan was involved at some stage with potential signings.

Worth remembering that Oxford added a considerable amount of fans to the attendance and also final game of football for a number of months tends to boost the home attendance.

I also think titles like Sheehan vs Cravatt are a little disingenuous.

 

[cmajack]

O'Brien wasn't worth 40k per week just Darling wasn't worth what he was asking for.

In terms of transfer I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Sheehan was involved at some stage with potential signings.

Worth remembering that Oxford added a considerable amount of fans to the attendance and also final game of football for a number of months tends to boost the home attendance.

I also think titles like Sheehan vs Cravatt are a little disingenuous.

Don't think O'Brien partner was keen on a permanent move here either, which was a big reason on his decision to not come here. If his partner had been keen he may have dropped his wage demands.

 

[Smurph]

Don't think O'Brien partner was keen on a permanent move here either, which was a big reason on his decision to not come here. If his partner had been keen he may have dropped his wage demands.

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. They said he wasn't coming on loan because of the very same reason.

 

[Smurph]

Don't think O'Brien partner was keen on a permanent move here either, which was a big reason on his decision to not come here. If his partner had been keen he may have dropped his wage demands.

I did a quick google search on why he rejected Swansea and it came up with this. It seem his wife might have actually played a part.


Lewis O'Brien rejected Swansea City for a combination of financial and personal reasons, including better financial offers from other clubs like Wrexham and Southampton, and a desire for a move closer to his family in the north of England.While he enjoyed his time in Swansea, other clubs could offer him a larger salary, immediate promotion contention, and longer contracts. The decision was also influenced by his family, as his wife was settling into the area after the birth of their daughter.

 

[cwmdonkinjack]

This isn't a post for or against Sheehan, but it is still early days for a lot of the new signings. Having criticised a lack of investment over a long period, given our last few set of accounts, nobody can deny that a lot of money was spent this summer. This in itself could be a worry going forward if we continue to spend more than our income. Several of the signings look like a good buy to me, with Galbraith the pick of them. In spite of the usual pelters on here(think back to Gyokores, Guehi etc etc and for those old enough, Dean Saunders) for players in a team not exactly hitting top form, I think Idah with the right service shows promise, Innoussa has pace and trickery whilst still green, Burgess is more than solid and Stamenic a defninite upgrade. I will have to reserve judgement on Widell and Santos as no idea yet. The London loanees look good for cover but the one glaring absence is cover/replacement for Key.
It would be nice if someone other than Tymon on the wing was able to cross the ball for two strikers who I am sure have goals in them. I am not too certain you can blame the manager for that unless they never practise crossing from open play.
As above it is no good to moan about losing O'Brien. Wrexham have spent heavily and re not pulling up trees either. It is a tough division and no team has a divine right to succeed. Much bigger clubs than ours have mismanaged their finances and ended in a far worse position-just look at Wednesday today.

 

[monmouth]

Like Leon going to Sheffield to be nearer his daughter...

It was money and contracts, the rest is negotiable when all that is equal.

 

[Colin-swansea]

O'Brien wasn't worth 40k per week just Darling wasn't worth what he was asking for.

In terms of transfer I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Sheehan was involved at some stage with potential signings.

Worth remembering that Oxford added a considerable amount of fans to the attendance and also final game of football for a number of months tends to boost the home attendance.

I also think titles like Sheehan vs Cravatt are a little disingenuous.

Oxford brought close on 2000 fans but the home percentage(17700) was almost as high as it was against Hull in a previous match.

There is something radically wrong in our quick decline regarding our passages of play and who do you believe, Sheehan or the players.
Are the players letting Sheehan down or are they not basically good enough. If that's the case its Cravatt's fault for leaning too much towards Adam Worth and his recommendations.

 

[Smurph]

Oxford brought close on 2000 fans but the home percentage(17700) was almost as high as it was against Hull in a previous match.

There is something radically wrong in our quick decline regarding our passages of play and who do you believe, Sheehan or the players.
Are the players letting Sheehan down or are they not basically good enough. If that's the case its Cravatt's fault for leaning too much towards Adam Worth and his recommendations.

I don't know how many fans Hull brought, I'd have to take your word for that. The fact it was coming towards the end of the season would have played a hugely significant role in bumping up attendances along with us winning.

The pressure of getting the job on a full time basis is probably part of the reason we've regressed along with a load of brand new players. There was always going to be a period of embedding them in to the club and team.

The players we've signed all look good and have shown glimpses of what they are capable. We just need to have a little patience for the time being rather looking for something or someone to blame.

 

[magicdaps10]

It could just be that everyone agreed on things and it hasn't worked...not to say that it might not in time but sometimes tweaks are needed.

In terms of the Montague situation, its anyone's guess what happened. My idea is that he didn't align with the majority and then just downed tools knowing what would likely be coming his way.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Colin, do you know something about what's going on behind the scenes re Worth and Cravatt?

If you do, that's very interesting and it would be good to hear more.

If you don't, it's not the most helpful and a bit unnecessary if you don't mind me saying so.

 

[Colin-swansea]

Colin, do you know something about what's going on behind the scenes re Worth and Cravatt?

If you do, that's very interesting and it would be good to hear more.

If you don't, it's not the most helpful and a bit unnecessary if you don't mind me saying so.

Andrew, I don't have any inside information and all I have done is look how far Worth has come in a short time at the club as against an experienced recruitment officer in Montague and it appears to me that Cravatt is backing Worth.
We all agreed that the summer recruitment was very good but the more and more I watch games the only players(in my mind)who show any semblance of consistency is Burgess and Galbraith, although in my mind he is not as effective as he was in the early stages of the season.
From early September we are treading water in comparison to the opening weeks of the season. Why?

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Andrew, I don't have any inside information and all I have done is look how far Worth has come in a short time at the club as against an experienced recruitment officer in Montague and it appears to me that Cravatt is backing Worth.
We all agreed that the summer recruitment was very good but the more and more I watch games the only players(in my mind)who show any semblance of consistency is Burgess and Galbraith, although in my mind he is not as effective as he was in the early stages of the season.
From early September we are treading water in comparison to the opening weeks of the season. Why?

Ok, thanks Colin.

Fwiw I agree with you on those two. The jury is out on the rest of them. It's still very early of course, but we have to start preparing ourselves for the possibility that we might have signed a few duffers.

 

[Colin-swansea]

Ok, thanks Colin.

Fwiw I agree with you on those two. The jury is out on the rest of them. It's still very early of course, but we have to start preparing ourselves for the possibility that we might have signed a few duffers.

At the moment I think its more the system of play that is the problem. No driving midfielder through the centre, all of the play is totally predictable that even a moderate Rangers side took advantage of prior to Yacouye's dismissal.

 

[Moorlands]

I have to say that my early impression is that the new midfield is a definite upgrade on previous seasons.At last players who can turn with the ball and go forward ,not to mention picking a pass through the opponents and Stamanic has the presence and positional sense needed behind the more attacking midfielders.
Around the edges of that Inoussa shows trickery and a turn of speed which we lacked,Burgess is a great defensive asset ,with no mention yet of Idah,Mason and Widdell and what they will offer.

When you add this to our existing stalwarts and with Vipotnik finding his feet at last surely we can get a winning combination out of this group.
Good luck to them all in getting there.