Slav (again) from a Fulham Fan

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Lukey

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About Slavs airing his grievances publicly; without wanting to state the obvious, Slav is a 'coach' not a 'manager' and making sure he has the tools is the most important part of his job; Even if that is pressuring the money men publicly, despite no doubt being in regular dialogue with. I wouldn't read too much into his public rants right now. Unless someone completely reneges on a promise he won't

As for the bad start. i am sure he'll be feeling no pressure whatsoever. Observing how players react to him losing football games will be as valuable to him in the long run as any new manager bounce. He's the type of manager to call a player into his office and expose them to him doing the knife game on himself (stabbing around his hand on the table) whilst staring at them (just to check their reaction). Fulham fans used to sing "he comes from Serbia, he'll f**king murder ya"; which, of course, some found disrespectful/distasteful (although it remained popular till the end).

The truth was though when you look beyond his steely glare and dead-pan demeanour, Slav being likened to someone who could kill someone couldn't be any further from reality. The team he built around himself each season (and it was a last-minute rebuild EVERY season!) was always full of the nicest and most likeable players you could hope for, who put everything into it for their manager, and who would retrospectively describe those years (under Slav) as some of their best in football. Following his departure, popular consensus amongst Fulham fans was (when deriding Scott Parker) was that he really got the best out of his players (by comparison). Other than the short preseason after a win at Wembley, Parker struggled to fill such large boots with a large number of Fulham fans.

When, without fail, we took a month or two to get properly going each season (after every August transfer window closed) "In Slav we trust" was commonly used amongst our fans. So, on that note, here's a response from a Fulham fan over the weekend on a Fulham Forum that encapsulates the mood of Fulham fans towards you .... "I hope we play them while they are still crap, because it won't last forever!"

Good luck for the season
 

I am keeping the faith as i like the guy and Slav deserves some support from the fans and total backing if promises have been made by the board.
At least today there seems to be some positive news feeds and left field but talented new blood on the horizon.
Pity this wasnt sorted pre season instead of 11th hour.
 
It all depends on whether we can afford to risk another multi million pound failure this season.
To me it would be common sense to try some of them first don't you think ,
Or would you prefer another expensive ornament in the team ?
 
Nice players ?
Likeable players ?
WTF !!!!
We don't do those, it's written in the clubs DNA that all players will like beer and fags, carry a bit of a gut, have the turning circle of the QE2 and like kicking people.

In fact our medical examination is similar to an Egyptian driving test, it consists of being able to trap a ball and pass it to a team mate, preferably the goalkeeper after missing your chance to pass to another team mate due to mis-controlling and needing an additional four touches to bring it back under control.

A player failed the medical only last week because he didn't understand, the coach said stop the ball and pass it back to me, he succeeded and was bombed out immediately
 
Thank you for the optimism. I do share it and I think most Blades do deep down it’s just one of those starts to the season after we thought we’d start much better. We’ll click and we’ve not had a bad window. Up the Blades. Top at Christmas 😬😮
 
Referring to the OP's observations, I recall Wilder in a very early interview stating how important coaching and recruitment were. Nothing new in this, it follows the beliefs of some of football's leading managers. I've lost count of the times I've read this from some of football's leading managers/coaches, most recently the Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel featured in a documentary in which he discussed his entry into top flight football. He discussed the way he became obsessed with improving as a coach and as someone capable of making footballers perform to their maximum capability. Tuchel dedicated himself to coaching in a way that made him one of world football's most admired coaches.

I mention the above because it seems that Sav's media presence is what's causing some of our supporters to describe him as a failure. The fact that we had the bare minimum of pre-season games as preparation was not something that Sav had responsibility for, the same applies to the late recruitment of players, yet these seem incidental to those supporters who have chosen to cry "failure!". Expectations at most clubs are high when it comes to new managers, forgetting of course to consider the work that hasn't even begun on coaching with new players and new playing systems. Does anyone recall Sav asking for players who specialised as wingers? Well they never arrived, and I don't know about anyone else but one thing I do know is that finding players in a short time span, especially those who play in specific positions, can't be easy.

So Sav was left with a makeshift squad, based on a lack of preparation to change the footballing mindset that players who've been here for several seasons had become used to. Yet to those who are critical of Sav it's unimportant that these facts were never addressed. Of course, what this means if we were to follow the advice of these knee-jerk specialists is each time we appoint a manager we give them an unrealistic time-frame in which to impress us. This is lunacy, it's the type of mob mentality that can't see any further than the end of their nose. Well, good luck with that. We did well to appoint Sav as our manager, but do not come bleating when the next manager doesn't deliver your unrealistic expectations, or is that how this works? That if you don't receive an immediate return on your unrealistic hopes you once again whinge and call for change? And all based on your obvious absence of understanding the role of a coach?
 
I hear what you are saying… but some research over the summer might have helped. He was given the job at the end of May and had some time to review and and get rid of those who weren’t going to fit / weren’t good enough.
I genuinely had - and still have high hopes for SJ. I just wonder if he did sufficient research prior to the start of this season. We were on the tv every week last season so he had plenty of material to view.

Oh - he’s also called SLAVISA (there’s an L in there) 🤭
 
I think we have been getting better and better with more understand of how we play apart from the millwall game that was terrible .We are a few players short of what we need making chances now as well just need to put them away .Sure slav will get a few in and a few out and then push on
 
itsinyerblood said:
Referring to the OP's observations, I recall Wilder in a very early interview stating how important coaching and recruitment were. Nothing new in this, it follows the beliefs of some of football's leading managers. I've lost count of the times I've read this from some of football's leading managers/coaches, most recently the Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel featured in a documentary in which he discussed his entry into top flight football. He discussed the way he became obsessed with improving as a coach and as someone capable of making footballers perform to their maximum capability. Tuchel dedicated himself to coaching in a way that made him one of world football's most admired coaches.

I mention the above because it seems that Sav's media presence is what's causing some of our supporters to describe him as a failure. The fact that we had the bare minimum of pre-season games as preparation was not something that Sav had responsibility for, the same applies to the late recruitment of players, yet these seem incidental to those supporters who have chosen to cry "failure!". Expectations at most clubs are high when it comes to new managers, forgetting of course to consider the work that hasn't even begun on coaching with new players and new playing systems. Does anyone recall Sav asking for players who specialised as wingers? Well they never arrived, and I don't know about anyone else but one thing I do know is that finding players in a short time span, especially those who play in specific positions, can't be easy.

So Sav was left with a makeshift squad, based on a lack of preparation to change the footballing mindset that players who've been here for several seasons had become used to. Yet to those who are critical of Sav it's unimportant that these facts were never addressed. Of course, what this means if we were to follow the advice of these knee-jerk specialists is each time we appoint a manager we give them an unrealistic time-frame in which to impress us. This is lunacy, it's the type of mob mentality that can't see any further than the end of their nose. Well, good luck with that. We did well to appoint Sav as our manager, but do not come bleating when the next manager doesn't deliver your unrealistic expectations, or is that how this works? That if you don't receive an immediate return on your unrealistic hopes you once again whinge and call for change? And all based on your obvious absence of understanding the role of a coach?
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I genuinely think the players look good in training but have no bottle out on the pitch. He only started in July, he was let down by the recruitment and is trying to make do with what he has.

We can all see the deficiencies but some seem to think it easy to sell players (when no one has any money and they're on high wages) and bring others in. We seem to have no medium or long-term money. He needs a couple more windows before he can be fairly judged.

If he's not given the players he's asked for his hands are tied.
 
William Large said:
I hear what you are saying… but some research over the summer might have helped. He was given the job at the end of May and had some time to review and and get rid of those who weren’t going to fit / weren’t good enough.
I genuinely had - and still have high hopes for SJ. I just wonder if he did sufficient research prior to the start of this season. We were on the tv every week last season so he had plenty of material to view.

Oh - he’s also called SLAVISA (there’s an L in there) 🤭
Click to expand...
I don’t think anyone including him expected our senior players to be so ineffective in the Championship.
Yes he could have watched them last year and the year before, but it was reasonable to assume they would compete at this level.
He needs time to reorganise the squad. There were times yesterday when the football was as good as it has been for some time, but not the shooting. Things are improving but from a very low base.
 
The inconsistancy and defensive niavity is a massive worry. Inconsistancy comes from the non-exsistance of a defined system which we had under CW. Even if players wern't having a great game they would know where to be and what to do. Alan Knill's coaching would simply not have allowed the goal that happened yesterday at this level. To let an attacker be so alone from a punt like that was criminal.
So Slav has inherited a team that for five seasons played a specific way. He wants them to have them "thinking for themselves" and taking responsibility rather than follow the "CWAK" way.
Having discussed it with a mate of mine after the match there seems to be two choices. Either Slav swallows his pride and go reverts to 3.5.2 and utilise the Centre Halfs in attacking areas or a total rebuild which will take a time as the players at his disposal are not really suitable for what he wants. To try and use this squad (apart from Illiman and Gibbs White) would really be difficult due to age and ability.
Like Brexit despite the difficulties, the argument as to whether it was right or not is over as we can never go back due to position we would be in if we did. The same situation is with CWAK. The owner will not go back so it's therefore looking at what we have and revamping is the only way forward.
I think we have to trust Slav as he has form getting promotion but it is unlikely it will be this season. He needs two windows and hopefully remaining in this division as losing games like this has become a dangerous habit. If he needs wingers then we may have to wait until we can get them. Hopefully we can look forward to a better second half of the season and next season.
 
SelbyBlade said:
The inconsistancy and defensive niavity is a massive worry. Inconsistancy comes from the non-exsistance of a defined system which we had under CW. Even if players wern't having a great game they would know where to be and what to do. Alan Knill's coaching would simply not have allowed the goal that happened yesterday at this level. To let an attacker be so alone from a punt like that was criminal.
So Slav has inherited a team that for five seasons played a specific way. He wants them to have them "thinking for themselves" and taking responsibility rather than follow the "CWAK" way.
Having discussed it with a mate of mine after the match there seems to be two choices. Either Slav swallows his pride and go reverts to 3.5.2 and utilise the Centre Halfs in attacking areas or a total rebuild which will take a time as the players at his disposal are not really suitable for what he wants. To try and use this squad (apart from Illiman and Gibbs White) would really be difficult due to age and ability.
Like Brexit despite the difficulties, the argument as to whether it was right or not is over as we can never go back due to position we would be in if we did. The same situation is with CWAK. The owner will not go back so it's therefore looking at what we have and revamping is the only way forward.
I think we have to trust Slav as he has form getting promotion but it is unlikely it will be this season. He needs two windows and hopefully remaining in this division as losing games like this has become a dangerous habit. If he needs wingers then we may have to wait until we can get them. Hopefully we can look forward to a better second half of the season and next season.
Click to expand...
The players at his disposal are not fit for much.
Quite good at getting tattoos and earning vast amounts of money while being useless at their job.
 
Snowflake said:
I don’t think anyone including him expected our senior players to be so ineffective in the Championship.
Yes he could have watched them last year and the year before, but it was reasonable to assume they would compete at this level.
He needs time to reorganise the squad. There were times yesterday when the football was as good as it has been for some time, but not the shooting. Things are improving but from a very low base.
Click to expand...
You referred to them as a ‘makeshift squad’ I agree he needs more time, but he had time over the summer to sort out the ‘makeshift squad’ if that is what they were.
In my opinion they are good players who are completely underperforming, who look like they haven’t got a clue (as apposed to two years ago where everyone was well drilled).
Yes he need support and more time and yes, there were flashes of really good play yesterday. The fact that we concede so easily and so late on in games and the fact that we have no leaders on the pitch, I’m afraid at the moment, I lay at his door.
 

William Large said:
You referred to them as a ‘makeshift squad’ I agree he needs more time, but he had time over the summer to sort out the ‘makeshift squad’ if that is what they were.
In my opinion they are good players who are completely underperforming, who look like they haven’t got a clue (as apposed to two years ago where everyone was well drilled).
Yes he need support and more time and yes, there were flashes of really good play yesterday. The fact that we concede so easily and so late on in games and the fact that we have no leaders on the pitch, I’m afraid at the moment, I lay at his door.
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I don’t recall using the term “makeshift squad “, as I think it is better than that. However I don’t think he had much time in the Summer to do anything active at BL as he was still contracted elsewhere.
I will make my mind up when the reformed squad have played 10 matches next season.
I will of course be interested to see what he can achieve in January.
 
Snowflake said:
I don’t recall using the term “makeshift squad “, as I think it is better than that. However I don’t think he had much time in the Summer to do anything active at BL as he was still contracted elsewhere.
I will make my mind up when the reformed squad have played 10 matches next season.
I will of course be interested to see what he can achieve in January.
Click to expand...
True - it was another poster! (Itsinyerblood) Apologies pal.
 
SelbyBlade said:
The inconsistancy and defensive niavity is a massive worry. Inconsistancy comes from the non-exsistance of a defined system which we had under CW. Even if players wern't having a great game they would know where to be and what to do. Alan Knill's coaching would simply not have allowed the goal that happened yesterday at this level. To let an attacker be so alone from a punt like that was criminal.
So Slav has inherited a team that for five seasons played a specific way. He wants them to have them "thinking for themselves" and taking responsibility rather than follow the "CWAK" way.
Having discussed it with a mate of mine after the match there seems to be two choices. Either Slav swallows his pride and go reverts to 3.5.2 and utilise the Centre Halfs in attacking areas or a total rebuild which will take a time as the players at his disposal are not really suitable for what he wants. To try and use this squad (apart from Illiman and Gibbs White) would really be difficult due to age and ability.
Like Brexit despite the difficulties, the argument as to whether it was right or not is over as we can never go back due to position we would be in if we did. The same situation is with CWAK. The owner will not go back so it's therefore looking at what we have and revamping is the only way forward.
I think we have to trust Slav as he has form getting promotion but it is unlikely it will be this season. He needs two windows and hopefully remaining in this division as losing games like this has become a dangerous habit. If he needs wingers then we may have to wait until we can get them. Hopefully we can look forward to a better second half of the season and next season.
Click to expand...
A system that was so rigid it cost us any chance of competing last season
 
Are you taking the piss mate.. Seriously.. You love him so much do you want him back? Bet the answer is no..

On a lighter note, I don't dislike him as a person, it's still real early days etc, but tactically he's all over the shop, doesn't know the players and doesn't seem to want to, fucking clueless and out of his depth.

How long should we wait in your opinion because Fulham have got a better manager and team ( we should wait till your team gets promoted shouldn't we) lol..

Bet you're laughing your arse off at us..

Nb: I think he's fucking rubbish.. Sorry. I Said it, he's detached from the team and squad and fans... Doesn't give a fuck...picking a wage up..
Dogshit.
Lukey said:
About Slavs airing his grievances publicly; without wanting to state the obvious, Slav is a 'coach' not a 'manager' and making sure he has the tools is the most important part of his job; Even if that is pressuring the money men publicly, despite no doubt being in regular dialogue with. I wouldn't read too much into his public rants right now. Unless someone completely reneges on a promise he won't

As for the bad start. i am sure he'll be feeling no pressure whatsoever. Observing how players react to him losing football games will be as valuable to him in the long run as any new manager bounce. He's the type of manager to call a player into his office and expose them to him doing the knife game on himself (stabbing around his hand on the table) whilst staring at them (just to check their reaction). Fulham fans used to sing "he comes from Serbia, he'll f**king murder ya"; which, of course, some found disrespectful/distasteful (although it remained popular till the end).

The truth was though when you look beyond his steely glare and dead-pan demeanour, Slav being likened to someone who could kill someone couldn't be any further from reality. The team he built around himself each season (and it was a last-minute rebuild EVERY season!) was always full of the nicest and most likeable players you could hope for, who put everything into it for their manager, and who would retrospectively describe those years (under Slav) as some of their best in football. Following his departure, popular consensus amongst Fulham fans was (when deriding Scott Parker) was that he really got the best out of his players (by comparison). Other than the short preseason after a win at Wembley, Parker struggled to fill such large boots with a large number of Fulham fans.

When, without fail, we took a month or two to get properly going each season (after every August transfer window closed) "In Slav we trust" was commonly used amongst our fans. So, on that note, here's a response from a Fulham fan over the weekend on a Fulham Forum that encapsulates the mood of Fulham fans towards you .... "I hope we play them while they are still crap, because it won't last forever!"

Good luck for the season
Click to expand...

Do you want him back.... I bet the answer is NO..
 
I blame YorkBlade , when the prince said we have an amazing squad, Hal should have said to him no we have a shit squad just that for a period it was playing greater as a team than the total sum of it's parts 🤣🤣

On a serious note i really hope PA is starting to realize that this squad isn't as good as he described at the beginning of the season.
 
jono_t2000 said:
I blame YorkBlade , when the prince said we have an amazing squad, Hal should have said to him no we have a shit squad just that for a period it was playing greater as a team than the total sum of it's parts 🤣🤣

On a serious note i really hope PA is starting to realize that this squad isn't as good as he described at the beginning of the season.
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He also said he was working on new investment and that should be coming soon, hopefully in time for the Jan transfer window!
 
YorkBlade said:
He also said he was working on new investment and that should be coming soon, hopefully in time for the Jan transfer window!
Click to expand...
If that doesn't happen then its all your fault - building my bloody hopes up - ill not sleep now
 
Bladesince59 said:
PA probably won't have enough to buy Slav out let alone rebuild the team.
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This is my concern, we’ve taken on a manager on big money over 3 years. You want him out then you have to pay him up, you pay him up and that’s money off the transfer budget.

A new manager comes in and has to get the same players going, basically sacking the manager isn’t the answer & it won’t make any difference. Investing in the XI will.
 
Millhousesblade1889 said:
This is my concern, we’ve taken on a manager on big money over 3 years. You want him out then you have to pay him up, you pay him up and that’s money off the transfer budget.

A new manager comes in and has to get the same players going, basically sacking the manager isn’t the answer & it won’t make any difference. Investing in the XI will.
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agree with you there think its gonna take at least 2 more transfer windows for slav to sort things out were gonna have to be content with championship survival this season i think
 
To manage in this country Slav has to be with us 2yrs unless a big club come for him (unlikely) we are stuck with him good or bad. Not sure he is the man to build a team without any money to spend I think it will be make do and mend until the summer of 2023, by that time I think we will be parting company as I'll be very surprised if the Prince finds any cash to splash.
 
metalblade said:
To manage in this country Slav has to be with us 2yrs unless a big club come for him (unlikely) we are stuck with him good or bad. Not sure he is the man to build a team without any money to spend I think it will be make do and mend until the summer of 2023, by that time I think we will be parting company as I'll be very surprised if the Prince finds any cash to splash.
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I cant think of anyone who could get this lot up without money to spend , never mind Slav.

The very best of luck to him because without a cash injection to enable him to bring in HIS players and play to HIS system we will continue to get what we are getting , perhaps slightly better but no more than mid table .

I very much doubt that the players bought in so far have had much to do with him
 
Bladesince59 said:
PA probably won't have enough to buy Slav out let alone rebuild the team.
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Why on earth would the Prince want Slav out?

Slav has inherited a nightmare - he gets criticised trying to play a formation he wants to play without having the players he ideally needs to play it . But what's the alternative - keep playing as we were ?

No - play the formation he prefers and see who can adapt then plug the gaps . Otherwise we will make no progress whatsoever. We all now know we have to go backwards to go forwards. Stick with him.
 

Bell4 said:
Why on earth would the Prince want Slav out?

Slav has inherited a nightmare - he gets criticised trying to play a formation he wants to play without having the players he ideally needs to play it . But what's the alternative - keep playing as we were ?

No - play the formation he prefers and see who can adapt then plug the gaps . Otherwise we will make no progress whatsoever. We all now know we have to go backwards to go forwards. Stick with him.
Click to expand...
I am simply making the observation that even if the Prince did, he couldn't afford it. I hope Slav stays (and gets heaps of dosh in January).
 
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