Right, so Pagan it is, with Silvagni and (most likely) a couple of new blokes by his side. Good or bad, that's the way it is, let's accept it and put staffing and board-related issues aside for a moment (well, sort of).
So, what's the plan for 2007? What's the agenda we set for our refreshed football department?
Youth will be the obvious answer to any question, no doubt, and youth development needs to be taken seriously and given more than mere lip service. So the kids will be picked, and Denis will swallow a bit of pride and give them more game time than he thinks is best for them (and the team). The supporters are sold the youth policy during the pre-season and rejoice, for good times are ahead, Murph and the other young fellas will lead us to the promised land.
All is well for a few rounds; some competitive losses and maybe even a well-fought win. Then comes the first hiding, the sort of blow-out that inevitably occurs with a young side as they learn the ropes. Then another. Perhaps even another.
How much of this are we prepared to accept in the name of development? Is our agenda to play and develop the kids at all costs, bugger the scoreboard? Will all involved accept this happily, aware of the big picture and eventual benefits, or are we going to threaten the coach? Throw out the board? Need someone, anyone, be a scapegoat?
Will we accept that losses will be a side effect of the development process, provided we're seeing tangible improvements, growth and progress along the way? How do we measure those improvements, how does one gauge our progress? How patient are we and the board prepared to be?
If the short-term mandate is simply to develop youth, with all other concerns secondary, then one can't blame the coach(es) for a lack of premiership points - provided we see that steps are taken to improve the kids, and perhaps the game-plan. I'm reading a lot of talk of Pagan being given half the season to show something...well, what do we want to see? Can we measure it only with wins, or are there other developmental targets for which we should strive?
I'd be interested to hear all your thoughts on just what it is that will be deemed a step forward, what you see as acceptable progress, and what goals you'd set Pagan and his team for 2007.
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