Watching Brighton tonight, how could they not want O'Grady back?

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I'm a long sufferer over 50 years too my Lord.

How many managers have we followed in all those years? We know the score and what to look for. From my viewpoint Clough had an exceptional start. He quickly evicted certain players who did not show proper commitment and attitude and I understood each decision ( King, Taylor, Brandy), in fact I was delighted with two but had slight reservations about Taylor leaving. His team selections always made sense to me and he seemed to get Coady and Murphy playing better than they were before, Baxter too. His loan signings were excellent and added to all that there seemed to be more money from the prince to support him.

I fondly imagined we had the absolute right fit for us, he even talks like a Blade.

All summer I was delighted, at last we were doing early business and I could see reasons for signing each player as they were announced. I presumed we would be signing a talisman striker, maybe on loan or permanently it didn't matter, but the gap was never filled.

I welcomed the belated signing of Higdon but had never seen him play. McNulty seemed one for the future as he was described. To sign Porter was unbelievable but maybe 4th choice back up, with Baxter in case of need 5th choice.

I'm not sure Clough had ever seen Higdon play to be honest. In every way he just doesn't fit the profile needed with our playing style. His suspension and injuries have not helped but he costs money and still looks a hasty, desperate signing, made while other competitors have got new men up and running.

The striker problem has held us back all season and we are not in good shape to mount a big challenge. There is time but two fundamental things give me doubts about Clough for the long haul: signing new players and management style. Other worries are his caution and his late substitutions and unwillingness to change formation during games.

I'm still willing him to succeed and still have hope for this season. It is hard to imagine where it would leave us if he fails. He has been given all the tools he needs and unprecedented power and control and he just has to come good. He is feeling the pressure and obviously cares deeply. I think he needs to relax a bit more and allow all around him to relax. Clough will have learned a lot from his mistakes this year and should do better next year. I hope he gets a new Chief Scout.

Good post Woodwardfan. I still have belief in Mr Clough , and do hope the second half of the season , we hit the ground running . To do this and succeed , we require to have a turn around of playing staff , with perhaps 3no players added to the squad who have the attributes of experience and mental strength . The quality and flexibility of the existing playing staff is there , but we do require a number of strong, experienced players who have the quality / character , to provide leadership on the field of play . They say a successful team has 11 captains / leaders on the field , we have one .( the guy who wears the armband ) .

The days in running a business or football club from a autocratic management style aspect are long gone . Mr Clough perhaps does need to reconsider his own management style , as confidence , does go a long way in winning football matches , and at the moment ,the players do appear to be both scared in making mistakes / decisions , and are on a downward spiral of no confidence. ( in saying that ,Mr Clough was understanding of Basham just becoming a father and subsequent loss of form , new club and all that goes with it )

I may be totally wrong , but the poor performances and results , does not tell me otherwise. Mr Clough has to learn from his mistakes just like the players and us fans do . ( although us fans have been more than tolerant this season ) . The Mr Clough new SUFC era is here to stay , which we do need for stability .

With the teams above us pulling away from us , automatic promotion may well be a hard task and not be achieved . If it is the playoffs , then so be it. Does form count for everything and league position nothing in the playoffs , - no idea .

However , one thing we do seem to be successful in , is knockout competitions , which the play off lottery is.

Mr Clough is here to stay . It is Mr Clough playing staff , tactics and vision , of which we have no choice to buy in to.

The scouting regime will not change from being managed by Mr Clough brother . ( blood is thicker than water) . The football management / coaching staff does i feel , require strengthening , and this may well test the loyalty Mr Clough has to Mr Morgan. We do appear to lack both tactical awareness in both playing formation within a game , and substitutions. This has got to change .

Mr McCabe and Mr Prince have to be resolute and back Mr Clough to the hilt in player recruitment in January. Mr Clough should have earmarked the players already . It is always shit or bust at BDTBL and the second part of the season will be no different .

The expectations are immense . We are doing everything right off the field , lets start getting things right on it.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

probably because some of the rumours on here (and most on on Blades Mad)are bullshit/lies and they are usually quite easy to spot.. Also note that Fulwood Blade has given an opinion ('I've got a feeling') and not passed on a rumour. ;-)

It was just a bit of banter mate,but what i will say is that what he said was certainly not an opinion,he was stating what he thought was a fact and more than likely he was right.