Still a few weeks left of the transfer window, can we even afford to let him go? results are shocking.

Being a good player and being a good manager or coach are worlds apart.

He'll see this season out unless it really does go to ratshit.

Mind you ...

1. An Evatt-style 0-4 v Wigan  &

2. A repeat of the bizarre/insulting substitutions

could just achieve it.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by Dr. Feelgood

 

5 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

He'll see this season out unless it really does go to ratshit.

Mind you ...

1. An Evatt-style 0-4 v Wigan  &

2. A repeat of the bizarre/insulting substitutions

could just achieve it.

I agree.

And 3 days after Wigan its Stevenage away.  2 points from 6 games wouldn't be a good look so there is little option but to improve a lot, just to get back to the days of 1-1 draws away.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by Johnnyrotten

I’m nowhere near having a new manager to be honest. I think he’ll come good for us. 
 

We’ve had to sacrifice a bit of technical ability for some size and whilst they’re not aggressive enough right now, I think a few more additions we’ll get there. 

But right now it’s fuckin frustrating and I’m reaching the end of my tether with a few players 

Hard to figure out where it's gone wrong recently. Was so refreshing start of the season, to watch wingers with pace and a team with more fight and grit, but those positives faded fast.

ACD on his hot streak feels like ages ago. Every team has doubled up on him now, he roams, drops deep etc but cannot carry us in the same way. The drop-off in quality from him is so big for the rest of the attackers. Cissoko and Gale both frustrating for different reasons. Forss, Dalby and Burstow have their moments of quality but none of them have proved themselves match-winners or game changers.

Don't mind the midfield, Erhahon, Sheehan, Simons, Dempsey all good options at this level.

Defence is just consistently inconsistent. Conway been the standout for me this season but he isn't going to guarantee us clean sheets. Confused what's happened with TSL - made a few mistakes but not sure it justified being dropped? Maybe it's just me but TSL gives me more confidence than Miller.

Think Schumacher is unlucky that the patience of the fans is thinner post-Evatt and he has had to try and transform the whole squad. The signings were never all going to be hits and we had a lot of deadwood anyway. 

Think he has to see the season out for now. Fail to make playoffs and he's probably done.

A couple of good signings late this window could reinvigorate our season, let's see.

 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Mantra

11 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

If we get shut of SS I’d not be going for Nolan, I’d be looking for an experienced manager not an unexperienced coach.  

Nolan inexperienced? I’m not advocating for change (yet). However, have a look at Nolan’s coaching career over the last 9 years.

He has more on his CV than either Evatt or Schumacher had, when they were appointed, and at a higher level. Four and a half years at a senior level in the Premier League, working with higher quality players than both Evatt and Schumacher have ever done; both as a player and a manager.

I agree with that.

As others have said though, he didn't manage in that period.

I'm sure the powers that be would do their homework though on any prospective candidate.

The risk any club takes when making an appointment. 

7 hours ago, Mantra said:

Hard to figure out where it's gone wrong recently. Was so refreshing start of the season, to watch wingers with pace and a team with more fight and grit, but those positives faded fast.

ACD on his hot streak feels like ages ago. Every team has doubled up on him now, he roams, drops deep etc but cannot carry us in the same way. The drop-off in quality from him is so big for the rest of the attackers. Cissoko and Gale both frustrating for different reasons. Forss, Dalby and Burstow have their moments of quality but none of them have proved themselves match-winners or game changers.

Don't mind the midfield, Erhahon, Sheehan, Simons, Dempsey all good options at this level.

Defence is just consistently inconsistent. Conway been the standout for me this season but he isn't going to guarantee us clean sheets. Confused what's happened with TSL - made a few mistakes but not sure it justified being dropped? Maybe it's just me but TSL gives me more confidence than Miller.

Think Schumacher is unlucky that the patience of the fans is thinner post-Evatt and he has had to try and transform the whole squad. The signings were never all going to be hits and we had a lot of deadwood anyway. 

Think he has to see the season out for now. Fail to make playoffs and he's probably done.

A couple of good signings late this window could reinvigorate our season, let's see.

 

Fair points, agree with most of that.  And of course he'll see out the season, its just down to whether this becomes like last year when the last 10 games or so were painful and irrelevant, or we make a fight of it.  That only happens if we improve significantly away.

On TSL, not sure what the greater confidence on him can be based on?  He can look good claiming routine crosses and his distribution is decent, but bottom line is if the opposition threaten us more than once or twice, its a goal.  Or in the case of Exeter and Mansfield, they don't even have to threaten and its a goal.  He may turn out to be a great keeper (unlikely) but at this stage in his career he isn't a good loan signing, he won't even be here should he improve in future.  Miller has his moments, but again not good enough to be long term no.1.  SS has got position badly wrong, we make such hard work of finding a keeper post-Baxter.  Southwood wasn't much better (IE signing), its rare we have the luxury of facing the standard of the last 3 we've signed.

3 hours ago, Rival Son said:

Nolan inexperienced? I’m not advocating for change (yet). However, have a look at Nolan’s coaching career over the last 9 years.

He has more on his CV than either Evatt or Schumacher had, when they were appointed, and at a higher level. Four and a half years at a senior level in the Premier League, working with higher quality players than both Evatt and Schumacher have ever done; both as a player and a manager.

I’d take Nolan if Sam was by his side for couple of seasons… I know that ain’t happening though. 

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I’d take Nolan if Sam was by his side for couple of seasons… I know that ain’t happening though. 

What's Phil Brown up to these days?

30 minutes ago, Blondi said:

What's Phil Brown up to these days?

Or Sammy Lee or even Owen Coyle (loves his table tennis) 🤔

32 minutes ago, Blondi said:

What's Phil Brown up to these days?

Appearing on Fighting Talk on 5 live Saturday mornings before managing Peterborough Sports in the afternoon, not sure we'd be able to prize him out of his contract. 

22 hours ago, Winchester White said:

People who clamour for ex players to be the next manager make my teeth itch. When has it ever worked for any club?

I wouldn't wish the Bolton job on Nolan, let him build a successful career elsewhere.

Think about it...

Big Sam would've been potted after Walsall away if it was up to our mongos.

30 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Big Sam would've been potted after Walsall away if it was up to our mongos.

At that point, I wouldn't have minded. Fuck me, it was grim.

Just shows a bit of patience pays off sometimes.

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Big Sam would've been potted after Walsall away if it was up to our mongos.

And Evatt after port vale at home

Xabi Alonso available.

Wonder if he fancies having a go in the lower leagues.

25 minutes ago, freds dad said:

Xabi Alonso available.

Scousepool or Stretford.

Nailed on.

11 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Scousepool or Stretford.

Nailed on.

Slot won't be going anywhere yet

Utd could do a lot worse

He wasn't doing a bad job, only 2 defeats all season in the league, but clearly losing a cup final to Barca and being 4 points behind them isn't good enough

Wonder if Mbappe feels guilty

16 minutes ago, Zico said:

Slot won't be going anywhere yet

Utd could do a lot worse

He wasn't doing a bad job, only 2 defeats all season in the league, but clearly losing a cup final to Barca and being 4 points behind them isn't good enough

Just listened to Talksport on way home from work, one of their European football correspondents was saying alot of the senior players at Real were not happy with the positions he played them in or the system.

Player power is a very real thing these days it may seem. 

Not thinking about a new manager at this point. SS ticked most boxes for me and was happy with him coming, and happy with most things that's gone on since.

Concerned about Saturdays events though, and he seems to be visibly stressed/suffering under the pressure when I see his interviews.

Might be a wild theory but it wouldnt surprise me if as part of the interview process our owners advised that playing attractive footy is part of the gig, maybe they think the rise in attendances over last few years was down to Evatts possession footy. It was that which convinced my mrs and daughter to come watching us and even get season tickets a few years ago, no way they'd come if we played like Wrexham or Derby the other year.

If that's the case then it makes it a difficult job for whoever is in charge, its hard enough playing patient, controlling styles with prem players, almost impossible with league 1.

What makes me think this is that people have noticed SS is using a much different style to the one that got Plymouth up. Seems odd after having the chance to bring his own players in.

Calling for managers head after a year! 🙄😂

No surprise it comes from the armchair supporters either!

13 minutes ago, BOWTUN BAKED said:

Calling for managers head after a year! 🙄😂

No surprise it comes from the armchair supporters either!

Vs the supporters who happy clapped Ian Evatt for 4 years, while our club was spinning its tyres in league 1 going nowhere, with an out of control manager, spending millions on his own ego and giving jobs to all his mates.