Who's confident of promotion?

[Watling the Gnome]

in Adams we have a tactical genius on our hands

Hmm.  That's the kind of hyperbole that tends to prove unhelpful.

 

[Wiz]

Adams has a wealth of experience, all his coaching badges and now adding managerial knowledge to his CV on a daily basis, he's made very astute signings and seems to have the players respect.

Not only does he have a plan A I suspect he has a plan Z too!

I think he's the real article Mr Nome.

 

[Boyerboy]

Neil Adams is not a tactical genius.

Nor is he a radio commentator.

Neither hyperbole is accurate because both are overstated.

He is a very bright and imaginative tyro manager learning his trade who has hit the ground running with excellent transfer and tactical acumen. He has made mistakes and will continue to do so. He has done some brilliant things and also will continue to do so.

We are enjoying a great time which may well get better. But, today's genius can be tomorrow's idiot. Let's keep a balance here because it will be easier to support Adams when the rough times come and not overreact through over disappointment.

 

[mustard gas]

Yes, I know its early days but I'm 100% confident of promotion at the first attempt, why?

1.   Squad quality and size.

2.  Tactics and a manager who appears to know how to use them.

3.  McNally and a boardroom who will back the manager in the January transfer window should it prove necessary.

What do you think?

I feel as though I have landed in an alternate reality. Can this really be the one and only Wiz, the new voice of reason and logic? Wiz, I applaud your transformation.

 

[Beauseant]

I feel as though I have landed in an alternate reality. Can this really be the one and only Wiz, the new voice of reason and logic? Wiz, I applaud your transformation.

I've been wondering about alien abduction....

 

[Wiz]

On a serious note I appreciate how difficult my transformation might seem to some posters but I'm really enjoying being positive about our wonderful club.

 

[morty]

Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Wiz?

 

[Watling the Gnome]

It's not specifically directed towards Wiz, and I know this message board is intended to be more "live and let live" than others, but the swinging from elation to despair to elation to despair on a game by game or month by month basis is no foundation for meaningful or useful discussion.  I will admit that during the Cardiff match I swung quite sharply from optimism to despair to elation - that's following Norwich City (albeit recently without the "elation bit), but I wasn't calling for Adams's head at half time and I wasn't thinking he was the next Lambert/Mourinho/Ferguson at full time.

Essentially, I'm hoping this board is the "broadsheet*" to another message board**'s "tabloid" and we can take a longer and more reasoned view on things.

* Preferably Guardian rather than Telegraph

**naming no names

 

[morty]

It's not specifically directed towards Wiz, and I know this message board is intended to be more "live and let live" than others, but the swinging from elation to despair to elation to despair on a game by game or month by month basis is no foundation for meaningful or useful discussion.  I will admit that during the Cardiff match I swung quite sharply from optimism to despair to elation - that's following Norwich City (albeit recently without the "elation bit), but I wasn't calling for Adams's head at half time and I wasn't thinking he was the next Lambert/Mourinho/Ferguson at full time.

Essentially, I'm hoping this board is the "broadsheet*" to another message board**'s "tabloid" and we can take a longer and more reasoned view on things.

* Preferably Guardian rather than Telegraph

**naming no names

This is something I struggle to get my head round, I really don't know how some people get through the day when its "sack him" one minute and "we're going to win the league" the next.

 

[splutcho]

I looked over a particular messageboard during the game on saturday, and there were 3 or 4 people calling for his head and saying that our decent start was a fluke at half time. That's the sort I'd rather not have on here. When emotions are running high, try and take a deep breath and think whether what you're about to type will make you sound like a raving lunatic.

Back to the topic at hand, I am STILL confident we will go up, but probably no more and no less so than before Saturday. NA is becoming a very good manager, but he's no genius yet. Frankly I'd rather not have been 2-0 down in the first place.

 

[mustard gas]

Adams team selection for the next few games should be interesting. He will probably rotate a few of the players, Wes and Johnson for a start, and Hooper will likely replace Grabban at some point. I just hope that none of our posters complain when their own favourite is rested. With the team starting to gel, I would expect no more than two changes in any match (cup excepted).

 

[Yellowfuture]

Most of the signs are positive at the moment, the big squad we now have could be the crucial factor both in terms of providing competition for places, motivation for the players in training and dealing with the inevitable injuries.

My concerns at the moment would be whether we can get the results we need away from home and our ability to play a style of footy that will turn draws into victories at Carrow Road.

I am expecting a top six finish and hopefull of top two.

Have been away from UK for last few games so my opinions are certainly not based on having seen our guys play. It looks to me as if we have found a way to win on the road, having been to Brentford it was great to see such a second half performance.My earlier concerns about our performances at home have not been been allayed however, I would love to see us rip in to the opposition with Murphey and Redmond playing as true wingers in home games, we have the quality there to tear any team team apart and if we can stretch defences early on then surely we will get a few. Easier said than done but for me that initial high intensity wide play stretching the opposition at home is all that is missing,

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Didnt see the game today as I couldnt get a stream, so not going to comment on that. Going into this run of 7 games in 3 weeks I think it is, I felt confident we would do well because of the size of our squad. I felt we would show our superiority because we would be able to rotate and keep people fresh. Im disappointed that Adams has moreorless picked the same team every week. I understand the idea of keeping a winning team together, and I know we lost in the cup with multiple changes, but I would have thought one of our advantages over other teams in this division would be the size of our squad. Im disappointed we havent utilised that strength. I know Adams wants to give Hooper some time and if he's not right thats probably the right decision. But his persistence with Hoolahan when we have VOO on the bench disappoints me. Hoolahan is a key player, and even though he's been criticised he was a the heart of most of the key moves on the Charlton highlights, but nevertheless he cant play in every game, and I maintain he is not the right choice for certain games. 

Think Adams needs to be a bit more flexible, as games against teams like Rotherham at home are games we really should be winning. I havent seen either Charlton or Rotherham games, but from what I've heard both games were three points dropped.

We're still top, so obviously no need to panic, Im just disappointed we havent been able to overpower teams like this when we clearly have a stronger squad. We should be making it unfair on these teams, but we're not

 

[Wiz]

I'm still quietly confident of promotion, its a marathon not a sprint .

 

[Yellow Fever]

I'm still quietly confident of promotion, its a marathon not a sprint .

I think we still have players who are adjusting to a new style of play in another league and that this will develop over the season as a whole. It was great to see Jonny Howson back and buzzing. Breaking down teams who pack their defence will always be difficult, but Howson adds another option, as will Hooper and Odjidja-Ofoe when their time comes. We are still top as Watford, Derby and Charlton all had the same problem we did, producing less than half the chances we did today. The performances are good, but we need to get the results as well. I think we will. OTBC!

 

[Dubai Mark]

Hopefully this topic will be revisited a few times during the season, as we will I am sure have a few more ups and downs before we are........PROMOTED back to the EPL.

Yes, I am still confident that we will go up in one of the two automatic places, and I think it will be as Champions.

Sure, we are having, shall we say a "bad run" right now, BUT....it's a bad run where lady luck has clearly not been on our side and where we are still creating plenty of chances.

We should, I believe, be a few points better off, but have a rookie Manager who is learning his trade and, in my opinion, who IS making a few mistakes along the way, particularly in terms of team selection. However, he seems to learn quickly and is doing enough for us not to get concerned unduly I believe, I am enjoying seeing things develop as he gets to grips with the challenge and finds his feet.   

Rather have a rookie Manager now with possibly the strongest squad in the league than risking a similar situation with a rookie manager in the EPL with one of the weakest squads in the league, which would be asking for trouble.....perhaps that is a note for the future......

 

[eatonparkboy]

It's not specifically directed towards Wiz, and I know this message board is intended to be more "live and let live" than others, but the swinging from elation to despair to elation to despair on a game by game or month by month basis is no foundation for meaningful or useful discussion.  I will admit that during the Cardiff match I swung quite sharply from optimism to despair to elation - that's following Norwich City (albeit recently without the "elation bit), but I wasn't calling for Adams's head at half time and I wasn't thinking he was the next Lambert/Mourinho/Ferguson at full time.

Essentially, I'm hoping this board is the "broadsheet*" to another message board**'s "tabloid" and we can take a longer and more reasoned view on things.

* Preferably Guardian rather than Telegraph

**naming no names

I guess with some its just pure emotion. With others its unreasonable expectations. Luckily with most its, "its happened, discuss calmly, move on." The day Man City were losing to QPR when they needed to win for the title was such an illustration. Some chanted their lungs out, others stood in disbelief and one chap took his shirt off and was whacking everything in sight with it. Come the final whistle, they all illustrated unbridled joy.

Age does help in these matters of course as historically those of us with over fifty years of supporting City have seen it all before like Groundhog Day. And everyone whose opinion is accompanied by goodwill and manners is welcome.

 

[Graham Paddon's Beard]

Adams now has to prove he can unlock teams that have parked the bus. A player sent off in the first minute against Watford, a penalty at a critical time against Blackburn and thereafter 3 points from 12 at home.

I don't think there is any doubt that our squad is as good as most , if not all, in this division. But this is now the challenge; to use the squad effectively.

 

[splutcho]

I'm still really confident. At the moment, things aren't dropping for us, soon they will and we will be scoring plenty. I would worry far more if we weren't creating chances.

 

[splutcho]

Adams now has to prove he can unlock teams that have parked the bus. A player sent off in the first minute against Watford, a penalty at a critical time against Blackburn and thereafter 3 points from 12 at home.

I don't think there is any doubt that our squad is as good as most , if not all, in this division. But this is now the challenge; to use the squad effectively.

I don't think it's an issue with unlocking teams. The issue earlier was having a slow start, we seem to have fixed this, now it's just that stupid things aren't going for us. Ridiculous saves, silly missed chances, dodgy refereeing decisions. etc.

Adams has us playing in a way where we are creating plenty of chances, he can't physically make our strikers put the ball in the net.