This is a wonderful thread with some excellently presented and considered views. I'd like to add my thoughts for what they're worth...
The three biggest things annoying me/worrying me at the moment are...
1) Being economical with the truth to fans
2) Not appreciating what you have got
3) Not developing the club off the field as we were promised
Point 1 - What annoys me about the club more than anything at the moment is that they think the fans are idiots. On promotion, they told us we'd not be here to make up the numbers, why not three promotions on't trot, we'll invest etc. Call me a cynic, but it always seems to coincide with the drive for season ticket sales. The same happened again this season, only this time (having, I can only assume realised just how difficult this division is last season) we played the "learnt from last season's mistakes and are stronger for it" card, and as a result we'd be midtable this season. Even more interestingly, when Evans was on Sky Sports news for the day during pre-season, he accidentally mentioned our goals were to survive, then realised what he'd said and corrected himself saying they were our bare minimum goals.
Just be honest with us. Any Miller going knows we're punching above our weight at this level, particularly now the league has strengthened (in budgetary terms, at least). We were the bookies favourites and for a reason. Smallest crowds (that would still stand up very well in League 1), lowest wage bill, average-wealth Chairman (comparitively, not disrespectfully) and so it dictates that we'd be favourites for the drop. And let's be honest, barring a top half finish, it will be the same every season.
Point 2 - But we've not helped ourselves this time at all. I always say, Evans has this paranoia that what he's got isn't good enough an that if players have played at this level before, their experience counts for absolutely everything. Well it doesn't. JCH has played about a dozen games and has 3 or 4 goals. Collins was hated by Sunderland and Forest fans and I think we're seeing why. Losing the Morgan and Arnason was catastrophic, but doing it at the same time as losing our most creative midfielder in Pringle was, as is now proving, insanity. Small, incremental change not big bang get rid if your captain and two of your best performers in the hope it will be ok.
Point 3 - what is going on? Why are the units not filled, we've been here 4 years and we're a Championship club (in paper, anyway). Smaller clubs like Chezzy and Donny seem to be making it work. We're slap bang in Rotherham and we can't do more than get Lindley's to sell us beer and pies (and not very well). Is that the big masterplan? Outsource to crap companies, not realise any profit per volume and not utilise the units?
And what about the training ground? The future of lower league sport in this country, is pretty clearly in youth development. And yet we're lagging behind when we shouldn't be. Why? Where's the promised investment gone? What's stalling it? These are the things we need to be hearing from the club, not how we managed to chase off Bayern Munich and Benfica for Ladesma's signature (despite the might if Walsall not wanting him a few years back).
We've got the right idea in terms of fees paid. Young players with the potential to develop them and sell them on for more. But then we're not daring enough to give them a run, the fans practically had to force Evans to play JCH (and drop Roos) and Bowery hasn't played as many games as his fee commands. So either it was a poor investment or we're not giving them the game time to realise their potential and sell them on. Newell has started like a train so hopefully he won't become bit part as well.
Finally, a strategy would never be to Captain a player that ties his hair up in a bun. Craig Morgan looked like if you chucked him on the jungle he'd come out with a dead bear in his hands, whereas Halford for all his size looks like the one thing he'd take on a desert island is a hand mirror.
I'd forgive him for his hair if he looked up for it and interested. He doesn't. That's our captain. How on earth?
