How many games?

[Highbury_Blade]

So how many games are we going to give the manager in order to get results before we start getting on his back? Will this change depending on who gets it?

To me it's vital that this is the last managerial appointment we make this season. We really will be the laughing stock of the country if we're looking for our fourth managerial appointment (or 5th if you count carver's internship) before the end of the season.

 

[beightonblade]

1 .......................

 

[SteelCity Blade]

So how many games are we going to give the manager in order to get results before we start getting on his back? Will this change depending on who gets it?

To me it's vital that this is the last managerial appointment we make this season. We really will be the laughing stock of the country if we're looking for our fourth managerial appointment (or 5th if you count carver's internship) before the end of the season.

As long as its a sensible and well thought out appointment I will give the manager as long as he needs. I was prepared to be patient with Speed so I will be with the next one.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

But what if it isn't? In a poll on here Speed was wanted by something like 30% of people, yet there were plenty of people on his back from about the third game.

what if it's not O'Driscoll, Coppell, or Adams, but what if they go with Carver or Someone equally unwanted?

 

[Bladesway]

So how many games are we going to give the manager in order to get results before we start getting on his back? Will this change depending on who gets it?

To me it's vital that this is the last managerial appointment we make this season. We really will be the laughing stock of the country if we're looking for our fourth managerial appointment (or 5th if you count carver's internship) before the end of the season.

If McCabe drops a clanger in his appointment the fans have every right to be annoyed from day one. I'm guessing whereas it ought to be a chance for a new start and we ought to be optimistic most Blades are currently shitting themselves because Super Blade has a crap track record in appointments.

Said it elsewhere, if he goes cheap option and goes internal I would expect him to get pelters. If he gets the best man for the job (in the fans opinion as well as in their own) then he will be given all the rope in the world I would guess.

Personally I think this is a monumental moment in our clubs history. Get it right and we could be saved from the abyss of League One and below. Get it wrong and we could be staring down the chute of administration and being nowhere for the foreseeable at just the time as the Pigs have got their acts together. Does anyone else want another 25 years of gloating pork in your faces?

But what if it isn't? In a poll on here Speed was wanted by something like 30% of people, yet there were plenty of people on his back from about the third game.

what if it's not O'Driscoll, Coppell, or Adams, but what if they go with Carver or Someone equally unwanted?

Thats because theres 70% of the people who didn't want him according to your statement!!! I don't think people were on his back from the off. He got some stick following a 4-0 reverse at home to Scunthorpe. Whats wrong with that. Is that acceptable?

 

[Vancouver]

It's not a matter of games for some people; more like a matter of minutes into the press conference announcing his appointment.

 

[JohnDenver]

I was prepared to be patient with Speed so I will be with the next one.

Same here. But aren't you at all tempted to join the toy chuckers? I never even called for Robson's or Heath's heads so it's now getting to point where I feel I'm missing out.

Although it is a bit chilly for shoes-off isn't it. Maybe next time eh?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

If McCabe drops a clanger in his appointment the fans have every right to be annoyed from day one. I'm guessing whereas it ought to be a chance for a new start and we ought to be optimistic most Blades are currently shitting themselves because Super Blade has a crap track record in appointments.

Said it elsewhere, if he goes cheap option and goes internal I would expect him to get pelters. If he gets the best man for the job (in the fans opinion as well as in their own) then he will be given all the rope in the world I would guess.

Personally I think this is a monumental moment in our clubs history. Get it right and we could be saved from the abyss of League One and below. Get it wrong and we could be staring down the chute of administration and being nowhere for the foreseeable at just the time as the Pigs have got their acts together. Does anyone else want another 25 years of gloating pork in your faces?



Thats because theres 70% of the people who didn't want him according to your statement!!! I don't think people were on his back from the off. He got some stick following a 4-0 reverse at home to Scunthorpe. Whats wrong with that. Is that acceptable?

That's not necessarily true. According to the current poll, 70% of people don't want O'Driscoll either. It's not that they didn't want him, it's just that he was people's first choice.

People were on his back from something like the third game, when to plenty of people, myself including thought he was making small but good steps. All that went to pot at the scunny game, and the progress seemed to stop, but people were on his back earlier than that.

 

[lenners]

I think it would be a total culture shock if SOD came in.
No ranting about refs, no blaming the grass, the wind, the shape of the ball etc, no platitudes, not too many inanities just a bloke mumbling in brummie and, hopefully, allowing his team to do the talking.
Interesting listening to his interview just now. There's little chance of him coming unless he's going to be allowed to do his own thing by the sounds of it.
Also sounds remarkably principled for someone who's been in football all his life.

 

[Bladesway]

That's not necessarily true. According to the current poll, 70% of people don't want O'Driscoll either. It's not that they didn't want him, it's just that he was people's first choice.

People were on his back from something like the third game, when to plenty of people, myself including thought he was making small but good steps. All that went to pot at the scunny game, and the progress seemed to stop, but people were on his back earlier than that.

I'm missing summat here. If a poll says 30% of people voted for him it means 70% didn't. Perhaps to say didn't want him is pedantic but 30% isn't a clear mandate in anyones book.

That detracts from the point somewhat however. I don't actually blame our Managers recently. McCabe selected the wrong man in Robson, pulled the rug from Blackwell and Speed saw a better opportunity. What I do see is the continual build up of frustration from the fans and it has to go somewhere. It may be misdirected but its understandable. Why the hell are we here? Whose fault is it? What the hell is going on? All valid questions that we never get any answers for. Its glib to just laugh at people and say they aren't giving anyone a chance but theres a good solid reason for it.

 

[bladesadviser]

As long as its not a promotion within and not Megson they will have a lot longer than Speed. Even longer if we stop looking like relegation candidates!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'm missing summat here. If a poll says 30% of people voted for him it means 70% didn't. Perhaps to say didn't want him is pedantic but 30% isn't a clear mandate in anyones book.

That detracts from the point somewhat however. I don't actually blame our Managers recently. McCabe selected the wrong man in Robson, pulled the rug from Blackwell and Speed saw a better opportunity. What I do see is the continual build up of frustration from the fans and it has to go somewhere. It may be misdirected but its understandable. Why the hell are we here? Whose fault is it? What the hell is going on? All valid questions that we never get any answers for. Its glib to just laugh at people and say they aren't giving anyone a chance but theres a good solid reason for it.

Governments have been elected on that sort of mandate!

 

[Bladesway]

Governments have been elected on that sort of mandate!

Thats me won over then.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Same here. But aren't you at all tempted to join the toy chuckers? I never even called for Robson's or Heath's heads so it's now getting to point where I feel I'm missing out.

Although it is a bit chilly for shoes-off isn't it. Maybe next time eh?

Oh dont get me wrong JD, I've thrown my toys out of the pram on the odd occasion. Robson was one of the main managers I lost patience with after a while.....it tends to depend on the circumstances.

I'm quite a reasonable supporter for the most part and I'm prepared to be patient under the right scenario (i.e. young manager, working with poor players or starved of funds). But when it comes to those who have been there and done it, got the players, got the money I expect results pretty quickly because there are no excuses.

It's just about being rational really and reasoning it before kicking off.....feels good to have a rant though! If Speed had reached the point of protests.....would it have been Speedos off????

 

[muttsnuts]

I dont care who the manager is, if he doesnt get any backing from the board in january then iam afraid we will be going down. How the hell have we managed to cock things up like this in such a short time? I know there is a recession, but how come we are now supposedly 46 million in debt?, where has that come from. Also, what happened to the link ups with the foreign teams lending us players? As much as it hurts, we have all been taken for a ride and I for one will not renew my season ticket next year. Going to the lane has now become a chore, and only a social gathering for a drink with all the lads (and their kids) who have been going as long as me (who all feel exactly the same)

 

[DuncDisorderly]

1 .......................

...and we'll boo them off at half-time...

 

[oldblade]

I dont care who the manager is, if he doesnt get any backing from the board in january then iam afraid we will be going down. How the hell have we managed to cock things up like this in such a short time? I know there is a recession, but how come we are now supposedly 46 million in debt?, where has that come from. Also, what happened to the link ups with the foreign teams lending us players? As much as it hurts, we have all been taken for a ride and I for one will not renew my season ticket next year. Going to the lane has now become a chore, and only a social gathering for a drink with all the lads (and their kids) who have been going as long as me (who all feel exactly the same)

We managed to mess it up quicker than this in the 1970s! We can't even make a good job of messing things up these days.

 

[Bergen Blade]

But what if it isn't? In a poll on here Speed was wanted by something like 30% of people, yet there were plenty of people on his back from about the third game.

Were they on his back or were they voicing their concerns because things didn't seem likely to improve much even after Blackwell left(same squad)? As is very often the case fans don't quite agree on what they disagree on. I think the two fronts basically said:

A: The team is not good enough, we could go down
B: Give Speed time

(A) didn't necessarily want to get Speed fired, and (B) may not necessarily have thought that the team was great.

 

[JJ Sefton]

So how many games are we going to give the manager in order to get results before we start getting on his back?

Third game, 27 minutes in.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Third game, 27 minutes in.

First time monty slices it into the crowd i reckon. Could be a new record

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 PM ----------

Were they on his back or were they voicing their concerns because things didn't seem likely to improve much even after Blackwell left(same squad)? As is very often the case fans don't quite agree on what they disagree on. I think the two fronts basically said:

A: The team is not good enough, we could go down
B: Give Speed time

(A) didn't necessarily want to get Speed fired, and (B) may not necessarily have thought that the team was great.

Like i said earlier i thought he was making small improvements. We were passing the ball better and creating more chances, but at some point the progress stopped.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

So how many games are we going to give the manager in order to get results before we start getting on his back? Will this change depending on who gets it?

To me it's vital that this is the last managerial appointment we make this season. We really will be the laughing stock of the country if we're looking for our fourth managerial appointment (or 5th if you count carver's internship) before the end of the season.

Seriously think the right man will be given loads of time. Recently we have not appointed the right man so it is difficult to prove. Feelings for all our recent managers have been split.

Although Speed proved to be the wrong guy even us who didn't want him were prepared to wait and see what happened. I do not think there was or had been a ground swell of opinion that wanted him out. The right man will get a chance to prove himself.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Like i said earlier i thought he was making small improvements. We were passing the ball better and creating more chances, but at some point the progress stopped.

It would have been foolish to sack him and I can't really blame him for not making a rather poor squad win more. I've been disappointed that he's not succeeded in signing a quick forward when the team has been desperate for one.

I simply don't agree with the view that it's always best to wait for the ideal signing to come around. If pace and movment is what's missing, then go and sign the best pacey forward that you can find. If that means signing a Luton reserve, then so be it, it'll have a better effect on the team's balance than pairing two slow strikers flanked by two slow wingers, even if they all have hefty wages and Premiership experience or whatever.

 

[Revolution]

I simply don't agree with the view that it's always best to wait for the ideal signing to come around. If pace and movment is what's missing, then go and sign the best pacey forward that you can find. If that means signing a Luton reserve, then so be it, it'll have a better effect on the team's balance than pairing two slow strikers flanked by two slow wingers, even if they all have hefty wages and Premiership experience or whatever.

Funnily enough, we had a pacey forward, not from Luton, but called Luton, and he was awful, which shows the risks of signing someone pacy and crap.

If you operate like you suggest, you waste money on players who you don't know are going to be any good. With the vast amount of mediocre players we have and the small budget McCabe is allowing, we have to go for signings we know will make the team better. Andy Reid was a great signing from this perspective. If there are no pacy forwards we can afford, there are other problems with the team we can fix in the meantime.

 

[Bergen Blade]

If you operate like you suggest, you waste money on players who you don't know are going to be any good. With the vast amount of mediocre players we have and the small budget McCabe is allowing, we have to go for signings we know will make the team better. Andy Reid was a great signing from this perspective. If there are no pacy forwards we can afford, there are other problems with the team we can fix in the meantime.

I suggest loaning a reserve from Luton (or whoever) and still get told off for wanting us to spend too much? You bring in affordable players that you know have the attributes that we're desperate for. For me, the balance of the team is more important than the players being "proven". Obviously all players have to be of some quality, but if the alternative is:

Calve Britton Monty Quinn
Cresswell Evans​

then almost any quick forward with some talent would be an improvement. The above front six are all players on high wages, all bar Britton have top flight experience, but the balance is just rubbish and pace and movement is especially missing.

I think Reid is great, but even he will struggle if hasn't got movement and pace (and the right mix of any other attrribute) around him.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I simply don't agree with the view that it's always best to wait for the ideal signing to come around. If pace and movment is what's missing, then go and sign the best pacey forward that you can find. If that means signing a Luton reserve, then so be it, it'll have a better effect on the team's balance than pairing two slow strikers flanked by two slow wingers, even if they all have hefty wages and Premiership experience or whatever.

Funnily enough, we had a pacey forward, not from Luton, but called Luton, and he was awful, which shows the risks of signing someone pacy and crap.

If you operate like you suggest, you waste money on players who you don't know are going to be any good. With the vast amount of mediocre players we have and the small budget McCabe is allowing, we have to go for signings we know will make the team better. Andy Reid was a great signing from this perspective. If there are no pacy forwards we can afford, there are other problems with the team we can fix in the meantime.

Saw him terrorise Man U at Old Trafford and never saw him play that role again.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

With the vast amount of mediocre players we have and the small budget McCabe is allowing, we have to go for signings we know will make the team better.

Like Speed's signings Calve, Parrino, Wright and Batth then? They really made the team better. We had three highly-paid and very similar strikers on the books (Evans, Bogdanovic and Creswell). None with skill, none with pace. Move one out in order to bring one in. That's what Speed failed to do, despite saying a pacy forward was his TOP priority.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Saw him terrorise Man U at Old Trafford and never saw him play that role again.

If only the ref was being neutral that night....

 

[Bergen Blade]

That's what Speed failed to do, despite saying a pacy forward was his TOP priority.

Yes, if he couldn't get his top targets, I think he should have just moved on to the next ones on his list until he was successful.

 

[raul]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A1KZKksGKE&feature=related

 

[Revolution]

Like Speed's signings Calve, Parrino, Wright and Batth then? They really made the team better.

Exactly. That was one of my gripes with Speed. There was no need to sign any of those players save for (arguably) Calve, and yet we moan about having no money.

The point you make regarding the forwards is similar to the one I've been making about the midfield. Britton was a good signing in isolation, but then it's dumb to keep Monty and Quinn as well.

As for this:

You bring in affordable players that you know have the attributes that we're desperate for. For me, the balance of the team is more important than the players being "proven". Obviously all players have to be of some quality, but if the alternative is:


Calve Britton Monty Quinn
Cresswell Evans

then almost any quick forward with some talent would be an improvement. The above front six are all players on high wages, all bar Britton have top flight experience, but the balance is just rubbish and pace and movement is especially missing.

Well, that's partly because you have completely ignored the existence of Mark Yeates and Jamie Ward. But seriously, I'm not saying it can't work (though Shelton's performance suggests you need some talent to go with pace). What I'm saying is this club does not have money to waste on sifting through loan players who might improve things. The money needs to go on people who are more likely than not to improve things.

And "it's just one player on loan" is the thin end of the wedge. As well as Batth, Parrino and Wright that Sothall mentions, there are other players on the books who are doing nothing (Kozluk) have no defined role (Ertl) or would be doing nothing were they actually fit (France). That's thousands of pounds per week in useless wages, and it would be nice not to sign more dead wood for the sake of it.