A comment I made ref those who believe Jones is immune from criticism because we are top 6.
I think the people who need to calm down are those effectively saying Jones is beyond criticism because are in the top 6 and have been for a while. The only time position counts is May, it really is that simple. I have always felt this is a top half of the table but outside the top 6 squad, over the course of the season I have seen nothing to alter that view, merely strengthen it. Indeed, I have scope to be even more pessimistic given that pre-season I felt we would be stronger at full back, on the presumption that Matthews & McNaughton would play most weeks and that Quinn would be able to put one foot in front of the other, thus being a marked improvement on Kennedy. Alas, that has not been the case. I also had faith in Jones to replace Johnson at centre half effectively and whilst losing such a fine player was obviously a loss, I felt it was something that could be masked given good organisation and a perceived strengthening at full back and in goal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A55203239. As mentioned in the attached piece, I have always maintained that Chopra was a signing we should never have made
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A60370508.
Allthough until this season I felt Jones had done a very good job overall, Jones has predominantly acheived what he should have acheived since being here, a mid table budget, albeit one we couldn't and still can't afford, rewarded with midtable finishes. Last year I felt was our chance, but Jones for me, despite having spent over £5m this summer, preceeded to weaken us rather than strengthen us. No-one is to blame for that other than Dave Jones.
As for budgets and how that has been spent, Jones bemoans the lack of depth to the squad. Well whose decision was it to run with such a small squad Dave? Could it possibly be you old chap? Do we ever hear Dave Jones complain about how unfair it is on other teams when we have players at the club like Michael Chopra who we simply cannot afford? How is it that a club like Swansea, with such an inferior budget can operate with such a sizeable squad? Surely it couldn't be down to financial mismanagement from our Chief Executive could it? Hang on, Chopra on £20k+ a week?! Hudson on £14k?! Plenty of others on lucrative contracts, some of which can't even get a game? I'm beginning to understand, but the bottom line is Ridsdale & Jones have made their bed with decisions made back in the summer and indeed longer, for those of us who thought our recruitment in the summer was less than spectacular, despite such lavish outlays that exacerbated and have led to our current financial crisis coming to a head, we are simply being proven correct to doubt the management and decisions made by both Ridsdale & Jones.
If you want something to be concerned about, it shouldn't be whether we will be top 6, but that given administration before the seasons end is all but certain barring a miracle, a 10 point deduction will leave us a mere 5 points away from relegation, something that could well turn administration into liquidation.