They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
Here at Peterborough United, that’s exactly why you’ve seen so many players leave the club during the summer.
Some we sold because the offers were just too good to refuse. Other were moved on who I felt could not take this football club to the point of fighting for promotion.
Whatever the case, a change was needed. The last four seasons have seen our chairman Darragh MacAnthony invest big sums of his personal wealth and all he got in return was a points tally that fell well short of what was the agreed objective.
If he continued to do more of the same, the end result would be the same.
Why continue to do something that you know will fail?
He agreed that it was time to build a new team and that’s why we let 18 players go. Even so, I must admit I expected to keep some of the players who have left for sizeable transfer fees.
Desire
Unfortunately, each of them was going into the last year of their contract and with those lads expressing a clear desire to play in the Championship the deals had to be done.
The player who left us for the biggest money was striker Jack Marriott, who has joined Derby County. The kid has everything in his locker: finishing, speed, agility, awareness and a fantastic attitude every day of every week.
Some players take a few weeks to adjust to a higher level, and it seems Jack is. But I have no doubt he will play a big part as the Rams fight for promotion. He is a quality addition for Frank Lampard.
The other genius from last season at Posh, Marcus Maddison, is now back with us after a very unsettling period whereby two – not one – Championship managers spoke to the player’s agent about taking him and then didn’t see it through.
Marcus will learn from that although he quite rightfully would have been very low after such actions.
Magician
Nevertheless, he is simply a magician on the ball and if we can get him working a little harder for the team he can go and play at the highest level. It really is down to him!
Time will tell if we have built a squad capable of improving on last season but already the likes of Siriki Dembele, Mark O’Hara, Jason Naismith, Matt Godden and Alex Woodyard are proving to be excellent additions.
And we’ve started well. Don’t believe all this stuff about not looking at the table early doors.
Let me be very clear – three points in August is worth exactly the same as it is next March, April or even May.
That is sometimes forgotten, but not by me. Every win and every point gained now takes you closer to the total you as a manager have agreed with your chairman and board of directors as the objective for the season.
And anything you get in the bank now is insurance against injuries, suspensions or dips in form later.
By now, we’ve all had an opportunity to get nine points. And anybody who has achieved that will be full of confidence for the rest of the season.
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