Don’t disagree with you regarding our finishing spots with Rowett, but would you agree/disagree with the fact that other clubs in the Championship have improved their squads over the past couple of seasons, signing players who do have that pace, technique and athleticism whereas we haven’t done that?
More and more Championship clubs have realised that that is what is needed to get out of this league, including Ipswich who a season ago were in league 1. We still have, 5 seasons after he left us, 7 players who Harris signed, that are still playing for us. We haven’t moved on with our players but other clubs have. That I think is the difference and why we are where we are now.
Yes, Rowett signed the likes of Watmore who is quick but, try as he might, does his best but usually flatters to deceive. Who do we have in midfield that has any kind of pace, with the exception of Cuffy? Why are so many balls played out to him? Because he can take on players, the likes of which Mitchell, De Norre, Saville and Flemming (brought into the club by Rowett) in midfield can’t.
We have Emakhu who is quick but I will agree isn’t being played in the right position (so a minus point for Edwards there.) Honeyman is a box to box player and has had some fine games recently but doesn’t create the chances that someone like Cuffy does. Our over reliance on Cuffy is probably why Edwards has signed a left winger in Mayor, to mix things up a bit and stop us being so predictable.
Question for you: do you think we would still be in the same position as we are now, with Rowett still in charge, bearing in mind that we still have today pretty much the same team as Rowett had, before he left? I think you’ll probably say no, but I would disagree because of the points I’ve raised above.