This is as bad as Houghton's time..........so, tell me why it's not?

[dj161]

I'm unconvinced by many of our signings especially Naismith - still not convinced we're better with him behind the striker rather than Wes and I wonder if we play him basically because too much was spent on him to leave him out regularly. 

I agree with that, we spent around £8m on him and I'm guessing he's on around £40k+ per week, big money for a club that isnt mega rich, if Neil didnt play him he'd have to justify why he wanted to sign a player for big money and have him sit on the bench, either that or he's incredible in training

 

[Canaryboy]

I suppose we'll have to judge Naismith on his contribution over the course of his contract, he'll probably be a beast in the Championship if he gets himself up for it and he'll repay the investment in one promotion if he does the business. Its not like we'll be getting relegated because of him, we were rubbish before he arrived too... 

Disappointing that he hasn't had much impact though considering we'd paid a big premium for a player who already knew this league inside out, at the time I figured that was the point in spending so much on a 29 year old, the fact that he'd be able to hit the ground running quickly and be worth a few points.

 

[GJP]

Just for comparison, Hughton got the push after 33 games and we were on 32 points.

AN currently has 31 points from 34 games.

We were 17th at the point of Hughton's departure but 5 points clear of 18th.

 

[It's Character Forming]

But if you allow for the outcome of the games in hand, when Hughton was sacked we would have been in a relegation place.  & the remaining 5 games were the toughest run-in you could ever expect.

Truth is that Hughton was got rid of because the results were awful and the team performances gave no sign that he could turn it around ever - summed up by RVW passing to empty space etc.  With AN, the results have been awful but the performances have been close to getting a result on many occasions, so there's a reasonable prospect of improvement.

Plus I'm sure the board are not getting rid of AN now partly because the outcome after sacking Hughton showed what a bad idea it was to change a manager so late in the season - which many said at the time.  I think they decided some time ago that if we go down, they will keep him on next year, barring some catastrophic meltdown or signs he's lost the dressing room completely.

 

[GJP]

So did we lose 4 games in a row and go 4 games without scoring a goal under Hughton?

 

[eatonparkboy]

I do fail to see how Hughton was regarded as totally responsible, which he was, for the teams's failings but so many think that AN is not responsible and it is the players' fault. Much the same as so many thinking this is the best squad we have assembled yet it will be relegated during a season that has probably been the worst overall since the Prem started in terms of quality and entertainment.

 

[dj161]

mainly because under Hughton we played some of the most dire backwards and sideways football I've ever seen, yet under Neil I pretty much never come out of the ground thinking we were poor today, it's always we've played alright but made a mistake

 

[GJP]

Very generous.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Over generous.

 

[GJP]

Bump.

 

[Garry H]

Ha Ha least we can laugh at Ipswich they sold Daryl Murphy to Newcastle

 

[eatonparkboy]

Ha Ha least we can laugh at Ipswich they sold Daryl Murphy to Newcastle

A team not concerned with the age off a player rather more how he could contribute to them getting promoted.

Is that the same Ipswich team above us (alphabetically) in the league. 

 

[GJP]

Bump. Again.

 

[GJP]

Struggle to see that we have that much more style or creativity. Think that's clutching at straws to be honest.

January and February 2 years ago under Hughton we got 9 points in total. This time around we've got 4 points.

At the moment AN is doing a much worse job than Hughton.

Even more true now than when I said it a year ago.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Well I'd agree that AN has got a lot worse as a manager this season, compared to his season in the Prem.  Hughton never had the chance to show us whether he'd have done the same, better, or worse, if he'd been kept on after we were relegated. 

The fact that Hughton's done well at Brighton this season proves nothing.  Just take a look at the Sheff Wednesday manager's record before he came to them - a poor record IMO.  He still looked like a better manager than AN on Saturday.