Has Adams irretrievably lost the fans?

[Yellow Fever]

Adams certainly hasn't irretrievably lost the fans. If we put a good run together now, similar to the one we saw at the start of the season, and therefore we begin to climb the table and get into a good position, then everyone will be right behind him again, it just looks like right now he's not capable of doing that. He is in a little bit of a no win situation though. If we go and beat Wigan and then go on a brilliant run, then it will be because of Phelan's impact, if we continue to lose games then it will be Adams' fault.

Agree with all of this, but it also raises a curious question. If Phelan is Adams' likely successor should he be sacked, what advantage would be gained by sacking him now? Wouldn't it be more logical to give Phelan time with the players and build up a rapport with them rather than throwing him into the deep end with one coach short at such a critical time. I wonder if that is how the Board is thinking at this time. So the dilemma stated by Din might also be what could gain Adams more time. Those wanting someone like Pulis in (which I don't) wouldn't be happy, but how many others are willing to see what impact Phelan has over the next few weeks.

 

[morty]

Who says Phelan is Adams' likely successor? In my opinion, the board appointing him, to help Neil, shows that they intend sticking by Adams.

And its pretty obvious that Adams is going nowhere any time soon, our only option, for now, is to get behind him, and the team.

As I said earlier, if results improve, does it really matter who takes the credit?

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

What is Phelan's official job title? Is he a coach or is he Assistant Manager?

 

[Yellow Fever]

I agree completely Morty, but there have been many people claiming that Phelan has been brought in as the eventual successor to Adams. I don't agree with that myself, but I was posing the question for those out there who do. I have always been supportive of Adams and the players, because that, IMO, is what being a 'supporter' is about. I'm as concerned as everybody else about the current run of results, but I don't think sacking Adams would solve anything, quite the contrary in fact.

 

[Yellow Fever]

What is Phelan's official job title? Is he a coach or is he Assistant Manager?

I'm pretty sure that his title is First Team Coach, the same as Holt.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Does Phelan's arrival undermine Adams though or does it help him. Surely Phelan will get the credit now for any achievement Adams makes. Morty makes the point of 'who cares?' essentially, which from a fans perspective is spot on, but has Adams essentially been chopped off at the knees in terms of building a reputation for himself? Did the Mulensteen appointment help the then Fulham manager?

 

[morty]

Does Phelan's arrival undermine Adams though or does it help him. Surely Phelan will get the credit now for any achievement Adams makes. Morty makes the point of 'who cares?' essentially, which from a fans perspective is spot on, but has Adams essentially been chopped off at the knees in terms of building a reputation for himself? Did the Mulensteen appointment help the then Fulham manager?

He is a new coach, we needed one.

I don't think it needs to be any more complicated than that.

 

[Highland Canary]

I think the simple answer is 'yes'. I doubt many are confident of Wigan away. We are approaching the end game. A Holt winner for Huddersfield will signal the end.

 

[morty]

I think the simple answer is 'yes'. I doubt many are confident of Wigan away. We are approaching the end game. A Holt winner for Huddersfield will signal the end.

Sounds like you are almost welcoming it?

 

[Highland Canary]

We need an experienced manager to get us out of this league. My aspiration is for PL football again at Carrow Road, and not to languish in the Championship mid-table for years to come. Many of us were unfortunately correct about the consequences of inaction last season, it seems nothing has been learnt from that debacle.

 

[eatonparkboy]

He is a new coach, we needed one.

I don't think it needs to be any more complicated than that.

But on the other hand, if things don't work out, they do have an experienced man to take over. Someone who can say the rot had set in and he couldn't change it. It's all very well to say that Phelan has really only been a coach but he wasn't ever going to get the top job at United was he.

I know its unfortunate that we all have our own take on conspiracy theories and dramas and I doubt any are accurate but we are getting close to the point where, I assume, some new players will be recruited and I would imagine even the coaching staff have their own views on who to bring in.

If we look at the ones NA has brought in, who, if any, are successes, clear successes? If the board are genuine that they want an instant return, its obvious the current squad is going to need some help. Is Phelan the man to help more with advice on who would fit and enhance our squad?

 

[hogesar]

It's only becomes irretrievable when the manager gets the sack.

Up until then, it can always be turned around. If we went unbeaten for the next 10 with 7 wins - unlikely though of course possible - there'll be very few anti-adams posts.

It's one of those things, whilst he's in charge you have to hope he turns it around.

Hoping he doesn't do well so a new manager comes in is proven flawed logic and only goes some way to demonstrating the lack of intelligence on that side of the debate.

Ooh. I put that quite eloquently. I might use it again sometime.

 

[GazzaTCC]

Hoping he doesn't do well so a new manager comes in is proven flawed logic and only goes some way to demonstrating the lack of intelligence on that side of the debate.

*Throws hand grenade into the room and retires quickly!

I do like it though

OTBC

 

[Yellow Fever]

A grenade going back in the other direction at least balances things up a bit! 

 

[Dubai Mark]

A quality thread this, but in anser to the question, I cant answer for all the fans....but he has lost me 100%. So much so, that even if we do end up going up following a dramatic change of fortunes, which will be as a result of MP's influence I'm sure, then I will still want a new Manager in place ready for the EPL.....out of his depth, simple as that....sad but true.

 

[ZLF]

If he wins 4 in 5 we will all be happy - so not irretrievable for me - but he needs a quick turn around and stop with the woeful team selections and preferred players - more than half the season now they have let him down in delivering his poor tactics yet no change (fingers crossed for today!)

We are joint bottom of the 10 game form table for a reason - things ARE that bad and a change is needed - if it wont happen in formation and team selection its unlikely to happen in results and so a manager change becomes inevitable.

Team announcement at 2pm will be highly indicative of the likely result,  an unchanged back 5, BJ back in and or a 442 variation and its not likely to be a good day

 

[ZLF]

"Team announcement at 2pm will be highly indicative of the likely result,  an unchanged back 5, BJ back in and or a 442 variation and its not likely to be a good day"

My humble pie cooking as this could be a classic prat post...

 

[Yellow Fever]

I think we all make prat posts at times, ZLF, but Cuellar for Turner seemed to make a big difference today and perhaps it registered with other players as well. IMO, the 4-2-2-2 formation gave a balance between attack and defence that has been missing of late and was a key factor in the result. [SIZE=13.63636302948px]Wigan found it difficult to deal with and our players responded with discipline and concentration throughout the match. Very much what I was hoping to see.[/SIZE]

 

[ZLF]

not sure I agree with that YF - I saw little balance (and a flat 442 not 4222)  with a rear guard action;  plenty of confusion going forward (at time so many yellow shirts close together they were in each others way - like kids rush football) and precious little creativity and too much hit and hope

The were a great number of positives from yesterday better resilience,  3 points,  ruddy a commanding presence,  confirmation that the players are still committed for the manager and a significant improvement in movement,  especially in midfield.  Cuellar was excellent and howson took his chance well.

It was a "gritty" rather than great performance and a repeat against better sides wont get the same result - Ruddy had more touches of the ball than all bar two players and that is a real worry - yet we were playing Wigan not Derby and such an approach wont be productive elsehwere.  Wigan were frankly abysmal and its hard to not see them getting relegated.   The passing was lacking accuracy or penetration with precious few chances created and no link up play between CJ & GH.   We still need to resolve the whit/martin problem - and cuellar having outplayed both martin and turner in his last two appearances probably deserves the right cb slot.   

Yet I am hoping it gives the team confidence and all great journeys start with but one small step - a win was wanted and win was got - if we continue to embody the positives while improving the obvious short comings  promotion from this poor yet competitive league remains more than possible

 

[Yellow Fever]

We can disagree about formations as they are seldom as fixed as their descriptions, ZLF. For me, it wasn't a 4-4-2 because there were no wingers getting forward wide on the flanks, but rather four CMs, two playing back and two moving forward in attacking situations but dropping back across the back when defending. It worked well when Howson got forward to convert Hooper's incisive pass for the goal. It wasn't pretty after that but it was effective and gained a vital result.