Wiz
New Member
I'm in the 9% I'm afraid, I want him gone before its too late.
That's all I'll say on this subject for now.
That's all I'll say on this subject for now.
Canaryboy
Well-Known Member
What names would this person put forward as alternatives for the position?
Need to bear in mind that we'd need multiple targets because we probably won't be the most attractive job on the market for the unemployed.
Moyes? Rodgers? Poyet?
I honestly don't fancy any of those.
Just recycling failed managers over and over.
Alex Neil is best placed to know right now what weaknesses we have in the squad. What happens if we appoint David Moyes, he knows some super dooper fantastic young winger in Spain to spend our money on, and he works out in February that he should have invested that money in his defence?
Give Alex Neil whatever was left unspent in the summer and let him try and spend it. We know that we wanted a centre back, we know that if we got Dwight Gayle we'd probably have sold Hooper or Grabban.
He's got some business to finish to get the squad he knew he needed.
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hogesar
Well-Known Member
The prospect of sacking him is bordering on ridiculous in my opinion. There are obviously those of you who think otherwise, fine. There's also other club's director's that think otherwise. Monk getting sacked is also crazy - but at least in that case the squad is seriously under-performing. Our squad is not as good as Swansea's and is certainly in the bottom 5. Which is where we find ourselves. Shock horror.
As always, the case for whether he should be sacked or not can only really be quantified if someone else is available who is likely to give us a considerably better chance of staying up this season. There's a few more experienced heads but no one who has consistently achieved well in the Premier League.
The fact we went through the process last season of head hunting Alex Neil, getting him down from Hamilton along with the staff he wanted despite zero experience in real-terms suggests this is a long term appointment from the board.
He is currently struggling to find a balance and certain players are letting him down on individual errors whilst others cannot seem to find any kind of consistent form this season (Howson) when they were important players for us last season.
My only real gripe of AN at the moment is his struggle in getting performances out of Redmond since we've gone for a more defensive style. He was a part of most of our goals in the early part when we were relatively gung-ho. It's perhaps even more important when we are relying on the pace of Redmond for a counter-attacking style that he is performing.
I think my views will be shared by the board and unless we end up bottom and some distance away from other teams I can't see him going anywhere.
As always, the case for whether he should be sacked or not can only really be quantified if someone else is available who is likely to give us a considerably better chance of staying up this season. There's a few more experienced heads but no one who has consistently achieved well in the Premier League.
The fact we went through the process last season of head hunting Alex Neil, getting him down from Hamilton along with the staff he wanted despite zero experience in real-terms suggests this is a long term appointment from the board.
He is currently struggling to find a balance and certain players are letting him down on individual errors whilst others cannot seem to find any kind of consistent form this season (Howson) when they were important players for us last season.
My only real gripe of AN at the moment is his struggle in getting performances out of Redmond since we've gone for a more defensive style. He was a part of most of our goals in the early part when we were relatively gung-ho. It's perhaps even more important when we are relying on the pace of Redmond for a counter-attacking style that he is performing.
I think my views will be shared by the board and unless we end up bottom and some distance away from other teams I can't see him going anywhere.
GazzaTCC
Active Member
I'm not sure I agree with this, Saturday excepted, of course, although I'm still of the view that the players were far more culpable than the manager at Watford.
Canaryboy
Well-Known Member
I think Alex Neil got it wrong at Newcastle and wrong at Watford.
Other than that I think his tactics have been fine.
If anything I'm just a bit bemused that Mulumbu isn't the first name on the team sheet because he looks class.
Other than that I think his tactics have been fine.
If anything I'm just a bit bemused that Mulumbu isn't the first name on the team sheet because he looks class.
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It's Character Forming
New Member
yep - don't think you can say AN has been seriously at fault tactically, and he's learned quickly when he has made mistakes.
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RhythmicTheory
New Member
Man, people have short memories...
Anyway, I think he has shown he is very tactically astute, only getting it wrong for Newcastle, but I wouldnt want him to change his urge to chase a win late on, its paid off more than its cost us.
Hes dealt with numerous individual mistakes from players, they have really let him down on the whole this season, Ruddy's form has been absolutely shocking. Hes had to juggle this, whilst adapting a squad, game by game, to keep us competitive (I dont believe he wants to do this on the whole). We have been in every game bar two, he not only has a plan A, but B, C and D.
On top of that, hes pretty much playing with someone else's squad. Having only gone up through the play offs, we were late to the transfer table, that combined with the attractiveness of our club (I think this is why the emphasis on rebuilding colney has been mentioned so much lately) and the wages we are prepared to offer, really hampered the squad rebuilding that should have taken place.
I dont know what will happen in Jan, I hope hes supported, but we dont historically do well in the Jan window, it just depends how much people over charge, because theres certainly a decent amount available. Going by what ive seen reported and heard its got to be something in the region of 30 mil (thats an educated guess btw).
Regardless, I would stick with the guy even if we got relegated, he knows how to approach the champ and I would be confident if we went down, hes a top manager and we are lucky to have him.
Anyway, I think he has shown he is very tactically astute, only getting it wrong for Newcastle, but I wouldnt want him to change his urge to chase a win late on, its paid off more than its cost us.
Hes dealt with numerous individual mistakes from players, they have really let him down on the whole this season, Ruddy's form has been absolutely shocking. Hes had to juggle this, whilst adapting a squad, game by game, to keep us competitive (I dont believe he wants to do this on the whole). We have been in every game bar two, he not only has a plan A, but B, C and D.
On top of that, hes pretty much playing with someone else's squad. Having only gone up through the play offs, we were late to the transfer table, that combined with the attractiveness of our club (I think this is why the emphasis on rebuilding colney has been mentioned so much lately) and the wages we are prepared to offer, really hampered the squad rebuilding that should have taken place.
I dont know what will happen in Jan, I hope hes supported, but we dont historically do well in the Jan window, it just depends how much people over charge, because theres certainly a decent amount available. Going by what ive seen reported and heard its got to be something in the region of 30 mil (thats an educated guess btw).
Regardless, I would stick with the guy even if we got relegated, he knows how to approach the champ and I would be confident if we went down, hes a top manager and we are lucky to have him.
eatonparkboy
New Member
I can't agree about AN and his tactics. I think at best he is naive and inexperienced and worst unsure what his best team is. If your squad is not good enough then I don't think automatically handing the initiative to the opposition is what is needed. Against some teams it is taken out of your hands of course. But listening to Bellamy and Carragher bemoaning the trend of one striker and criticising British coaches for following trends and basically being one trend behind each time made me even more convinced that AN is not really being true to his own belief on how football should be played.
And to be honest I think our strike force as a unit is as good as any other unit in the team. And I'm sure they would rather be playing as a two than the solo role they have at the moment. And we have sent the ideal player to play in a two man unit out on loan. 4-4-2 isn't ugly and worked so well for years.
I think AN has the youth, vigour and will to take this club further. But I want him to put his stamp on the team not just copy what everyone else is doing. And despite Canaryboy's reticence about Eddie Howe, he has stuck with what he believes and if his team goes down, it won't be for the lack of entertainment.
And to be honest I think our strike force as a unit is as good as any other unit in the team. And I'm sure they would rather be playing as a two than the solo role they have at the moment. And we have sent the ideal player to play in a two man unit out on loan. 4-4-2 isn't ugly and worked so well for years.
I think AN has the youth, vigour and will to take this club further. But I want him to put his stamp on the team not just copy what everyone else is doing. And despite Canaryboy's reticence about Eddie Howe, he has stuck with what he believes and if his team goes down, it won't be for the lack of entertainment.
morty
Moderator
Staff member
Blimey, I hope that guess is very well educated!
Dubai Mark
Active Member
I like this from Eatonparkboy: "I think AN has the youth, vigour and will to take this club further. But I want him to put his stamp on the team not just copy what everyone else is doing. And despite Canaryboy's reticence about Eddie Howe, he has stuck with what he believes and if his team goes down, it won't be for the lack of entertainment"
He stopped believing in his way of playing way to soon, went a different way and results havnt improved, and now the team doesnt look like it knows what it is doing most of the time, other than one exception in the second half vs Arsenal.
I think we all are united in our respect for AN and what he has achieved so far and his potential too, BUT he is not beyond criticism and our results so far this season and against some of the lesser lights in the division do indicate that he has made several mistakes so far himself.
He stopped believing in his way of playing way to soon, went a different way and results havnt improved, and now the team doesnt look like it knows what it is doing most of the time, other than one exception in the second half vs Arsenal.
I think we all are united in our respect for AN and what he has achieved so far and his potential too, BUT he is not beyond criticism and our results so far this season and against some of the lesser lights in the division do indicate that he has made several mistakes so far himself.
hogesar
Well-Known Member
4-4-2 is great if everyone else is playing two up front as well.
Problem is when you're not one of the strongest midfields in the league as it is, and you then end up being a man less in the middle of the park, it pretty much spells disaster.
eatonparkboy
New Member
That can be true but Watford don't have any better midfield than we do and they seem to manage to get the ball up to two strikers often enough to create enough chances to score and ultimately collect enough points.
I don't think our midfield is the worst in the league by any means but by always sticking two in front of the back four, our more creative players are often forced to drop too deep and end up getting criticised for not defending well enough. And if we end up like last week and making mistakes like Tettey then we are going to have to score at least two every game to win. And it is wins we need to get ahead of the bottom teams.
Personally, I don't want Wes, Robbie or Nathan constantly picking the ball up 30 yards from their own goal. We aren't stretching the game enough to give them any space to do their damage.
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GJP
Well-Known Member
Well in the case of Howson not hitting his best form often enough a fair amount of that is due to the manager.
Beauseant
Well-Known Member
Not sure he got it wrong at Watford. The choice of Grabban clearly indicates a desire to pass the ball on the floor, yet after Tettey's brainfart we were chasing the game and ended up hoofing it because the midfield couldn't get a foothold and the two wide men insisted on drifting infield. Yet again Redmond took every option other than to actually run his fullback which annoys the hell out of me.
eatonparkboy
New Member
The Redmond stop start bothers me but first I want to know is if he is under instruction to do that . Not sure how to find out. If he isn't then when, after doing it for so many games, hasn't he been told not to do it.
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gerryinromania
Well-Known Member
Beausant. I agree re Redmond. He has it in spades to fly outside of the fullback. If he's following orders. then there's a tactical problem. If he's doing what he wants, then he's the problem, and needs to be set right, or moved on. he's not a threat at the moment
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RhythmicTheory
New Member
Given what we have spent so far, what we have spent previous seasons, plus the bids reported by what seemed to be from creditable sources in the summer, I think so. But I dont think that will get us much, when you throw in wages plus inflated Jan prices.
hogesar
Well-Known Member
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GJP
Well-Known Member
If he wants him to do that he needs to play him there. Not wide left, not wide right and not off the front man. It'd be lovely if he was great in all those positions but he's not. By our standards he's a very good central midfielder.
If AN can't see where he's gone wrong there then we're in trouble.
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GJP
Well-Known Member
I would also add, and I know this is a stretch, but if AN picked Hoolahan at centreback and he didn't perform there would you say that's Hoolahan's fault for not taking charge or AN's fault for putting him in the wrong position?
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