Rohl Needs Time, But Fix the Starts

To be fair, this wasn't going to be fixed overnight. It was always going to take at least two transfer windows to properly reshape the squad, and while Rohl has done an acceptable job with what he's had, the January window left a bitter taste. Some signings look promising, others haven't justified their fee yet, and injuries have muddied the picture.

Mixed returns from the windows

Rommens looked like a decent bit of business when he arrived, even if there were whispers about fitness concerns. Naderi feels like one we overpaid for so far, and there's a longer injury history to consider. Skov has been the real surprise in the wrong way — I expected him to stand out and he hasn't. None of that is to say the recruitment team have been useless, but there are clear question marks that need answering.

Starts are letting us down

My biggest gripe is how often the team looks flat at kick-off. Too many games we've been poor in the first half and only picked up later. That pattern tells you more about motivation and preparation than tactics sometimes. Rohl needs to find a way to get this group firing from minute one — you can't keep relying on second-half turnarounds against stronger opponents.

What I'd like to see

I want more urgency from the off. If a player isn't giving 100 per cent early on, don't be shy to change him. Subbing someone early might sting, but we need the right attitude stamped on the team. Also, be patient with the longer-term plan — two windows was always the minimum. But patience doesn't mean accepting sloppy starts. Demand the shift every time.

Training ground work matters as much as transfers. You can plug holes in January but you can't coach grit overnight. The manager has to set a tone every day — sharp sessions, clear expectations, and a bit of ruthlessness in selection. Fans want results quickly, but the culture change is the long job. Keep the pressure on the players to buy in from day one.

At the end of the day I'm not ready to write Rohl off. He's had worse options than I'd expected, and some signings will come right with time. Still, January needed to be sharper and the "burst a gut from first minute" mentality has to become non-negotiable. That's the only way we'll stop gifting games away early on.

Written by bleedblue77: 21 June 2026