I think there are a few of you lot who need too give your head a wobble.
If we are yet again going down the route of signing injury prone players then we shouldn't expect a different result. I understand the notion that we wouldn't have got them if they were fully fit, but surely the fact that these players have had major injuries means that by definition, they aren't the players they once were and are not ever likely to be. What on earth makes us think our staff at OUFC are any more in the know than the likes of Coventry City etc when it comes to understanding sports science and the most likely outcome of 3 major injuries? Im absolutely baffled.
The most frustrating thing for me is that we continue to look beyond our requirements in our push for promotion. We seem seduced by getting in the best quality players we can, whatever their physical issues, whilst blissfully ignoring our need for aggression, strength, endurance and know how. Its almost as if we believe we are a team of clobbers who need a sprinkle of stardust when in reality we are an exceptional, technically proficient squad who are crying out for a few clobbers to achieve something special.
We don't need higher quality! Mcnally, Moore, Bran, Henry, Taylor, Browne, Baldock are all superb at this level, and could arguably play in the Championship. We need DIFFERENT qualities. The kind of qualities that will see you over the line against physical opposition. BALANCE.
Now, I realise I may be premature in my rant here, but it is worrying and terribly frustrating when Jones is the first signing we are talking about. Of course he is very good at football, no one is doubting that, but his return to being the player he once was has an element of roulette to it - as does the recovery of Browne, Gorin, Bodin, Baldock. Teams who achieve are able to keep their best players on the pitch for the most amount of time. Its very possible that the above players will have to be wrapped in cotton wool (if they don't suffer a set back of course), and I just think we are being naive in what this league demands in order to be successful.
Its very hard to lay back and trust the process when every bone in your body feels that the process is hopelessly flawed.