SL: Back him or Sack Him

[westonred]

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

Edited October 23, 2021 by westonred
mistake

[GrahamC]

FFP…

By the way, although football is strange, I doubt very much we are planning to sack someone who is currently being allowed to remove the previous coaching set up.

[Roger Red Hat]

2 minutes ago, westonred said:

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

These people are all under contract and would have to be paid up, how does that help with funding?

[tin]

The question should be is SL willing to back any manager ever again after the money squandered under LJ and MA.

No manager worth their salt would be willing to touch us with a 10-foot barge pole if he’s not — because the waste that’s gone before puts us at risk or breaching FFP now. 

Edited October 23, 2021 by tin

[Smokey]

This ain't Fifa or Football Manager.

[Northern Red]

1 minute ago, Smokey said:

This ain't Fifa or Football Manager.

I bore myself saying this. It's genuinely mental how people don't get it.

[sh1t_ref_again]

If only owning and making a club successful was as easy as being a ketboard warrior with all the answers 

[RivieraRed]

Anyone of the above go to the game today?

[David Brent]

Why does Steve need to do either? He’s obviously backed him by giving him a contract. 

Just go have a cup of tea and put your feet up. 

[EmissionImpossible]

Can people not think before they post? Jaysus 

[Fordy62]

I’m pretty sure he’ll back NP. But he couldn’t back him on top of how much he’d backed Johnson. It’ll come, but our cloth has to be cut accordingly. And NP has done a decent job of cutting so far. 

When we see the back of the likes of COD, Wells and Bakinson and Palmer (not that I think I’ve necessarily seen enough of the latter two) then there’ll be more room for manoeuvre. 

[1960maaan]

Can someone explain the obsession with wingers?

Yes, they can be great to watch. Yes we've had some corkers. Yes I'd love to see us with a Dave Smith/Mark Gavin/Bob Taylor/Robbie Turner style front line. But the game is different. We haven't set up or had the team to play with wingers for years. 
Eliasson good assist record, but a luxury that Johnson could set up to afford. Through that time we had Leko , Kent, COD , Adelukin none of which got any success. Now with a manager who's preferred set up is 4-3-3 why would we want 2 wingers when we have no money and FFP could be really dodgy.

He will back him, when he can ! 
We didn't allow all those players to leave for shits and giggles. There are a few on here who can tell you how poor the financial situation is, but if there is a chance to do something within the rules, Steve Lansdow will, as he has done with every manager.

47 minutes ago, westonred said:

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson

How ? Unless we pay up their contracts. If we have that money why not buy a ready made Prem team?
The only way players move is when someone else wants them, plus the market (at our level) is really difficult. If you offered them around I doubt we'd get enough to pay the other up. 
It would be great if football worked like that, it don't .

[BTRFTG]

48 minutes ago, westonred said:

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

Could we? What have you in mind? Brake pipes fail on their mini bus coming down Rownham Hill, a genetically modified virus that targets shite footballers (problem there is we might struggle to put out a side,) nerve agent sprayed on the bench? Methinks either you're the King of Salesmen, a master villain of Bondesque proportion else unable to spot the folly in your proposal.....? I think it the latter.

[One Team]

He’s already backed him by giving him a 3 year contract.

[TonyTonyTony]

5 ready made players in January and other clubs wanting to buy KP, COD etc?

Ill have some of what you are smoking

[Loosey Boy]

OP - you need to go for a lie down.

Its not that SL won’t back NP, it’s simply that he can’t (due to FFP)……

The squad is good enough to survive this season and then NP has two more years to get us to a stage where we can start challenging for the top 6…..

Gonna be a bumpy couple of seasons but hopefully in the end, it will be worthwhile

[Supersonic Robin]

1 hour ago, westonred said:

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

We CAN'T get rid of players like Palmer - no one will buy them. That's part of why we CAN'T just go and sign 5 (quality) players in January.

Similarly, we won't be able to find a manager with NP's experience who would want to come to BS3 and work with no budget.

We've spent a few years driving the club into its current state - unfortunately it will take more than a couple of months to resolve. 

 

[S25loyal]

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

FFP…

By the way, although football is strange, I doubt very much we are planning to sack someone who is currently being allowed to remove the previous coaching set up.

Oooo ffp as everyone else is super scared of that arnt they. 

[TonyTonyTony]

1 minute ago, S25loyal said:

Oooo ffp as everyone else is super scared of that arnt they. 

You mean they cook their books. The others in the mix have parachute payments

Its just maths mate. 

[Taylor10]

Christ this forum is becoming more & more like that hideous Bristol City BS3 Facebook group

[Northern Red]

3 minutes ago, S25loyal said:

Oooo ffp as everyone else is super scared of that arnt they. 

I bet Derby and Sheff Wed wish they'd stuck to it.

[BCFC_95]

The thing which baffles me with the ‘Sack NP’ brigade is not only how do we do that within FFP, but who the hell are you going to replace him with?

 

We all wanted a proven manager with a decent track record… we’ve got that? Or is he not the right one? Who is the right one if NP isn’t?

Do we go for a young and upcoming manager with modern methods who’s doing a decent job elsewhere? Lee Johnson type perhaps? Oh, we’ve already done that and it didn’t work. Or was he the wrong one as well? 

Should we take a punt on someone unproven? Like an ex player? Oh, Dean Holden. That didn’t work. Or was he the wrong one as well? 

There’s nobody out there realistically who could come in and do a better job. I genuinely think it has to get worse before it gets better, a period of unrest whilst the deadwood goes and we almost start a fresh, and for me r Nige is the man. 

[Partridge is a robin]

What would be the point of sacking an experienced manager with proven success, who else would actually make a difference?

[Ostrich]

Clearly no point sacking him this season unless things go really awry which they won’t. The point to get rid of him was in the summer when he’d underwhelmed at the end of last season, but now you’ve jumped into it he has to have the chance to remould the squad whilst the club sorts the mess of a structure that seemed to have been created previously. Another manager might be able to do better now tbf but they still won’t do well and if you’ve got to take a period of pain to sort the mess out, you might as well go with somebody who has been able to do similar before.

Was it Norwich the other year that were painful in Farke’s first season but selling Maddison allowed them to sort out an aging, struggling squad. Problem is you don’t have any 20m quid players to sell because you sold them all and replaced them with lots of hangers on.

[JoeAman08]

I am not saying sack him because not sure who we could get or would want to come here. 
 

That said, I have decided NP isn’t the right manager for us imo. We don’t set up or play like modern championship clubs. I think we are at the start of the players not buying into this anymore as well. 
 

For a lack of a better term, he is a dinosaur. Mick McCarthy, Chris Hughton and Nigel Pearson. Names from the past and successful in a different era of football. 
 

He inherited and absolute mess and it will be a mess for another season after this minimum imo. So a bit of sympathy there. That said we have watched Cooper go to Forest and turn it around quickly. We have seen Ismael go to West Brom and make them a juggernaut. Even managers like Robins at Coventry or Jones at Luton having extreme success. Maybe Forest are better off financially and West Brom sure. What about Luton and Coventry though? We are not getting all we can from this squad even as dour as it is. We have seen glimpses of quality and fight but why can’t we sustain it? Imo that is from the main man.

I am not expecting miracles but no home wins under the man and performances that are trending down are worrying signs. Not sure January is going to help much either with funds being what they are. So yea can’t really sack him and with him I worry about staying up. 
 

Also, so much for Dave Rennie too huh? Massengo muscle injury out basically a month. King muscle injury out for awhile. Williams muscle injury, fit for 3 games and muscle injury. Some saying Vyner injured. All clubs have injuries but still trending in a similar fashion. 
 

[Red_Alligator]

Neither I should imagine - unless you've got considerably more influence than I'm giving you credit for.

[S25loyal]

39 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

I bet Derby and Sheff Wed wish they'd stuck to it.

Gave it a shot though didn’t they, it could of paid off. 

[sh1t_ref_again]

52 minutes ago, BCFC_95 said:

The thing which baffles me with the ‘Sack NP’ brigade is not only how do we do that within FFP, but who the hell are you going to replace him with?

 

We all wanted a proven manager with a decent track record… we’ve got that? Or is he not the right one? Who is the right one if NP isn’t?

Do we go for a young and upcoming manager with modern methods who’s doing a decent job elsewhere? Lee Johnson type perhaps? Oh, we’ve already done that and it didn’t work. Or was he the wrong one as well? 

Should we take a punt on someone unproven? Like an ex player? Oh, Dean Holden. That didn’t work. Or was he the wrong one as well? 

There’s nobody out there realistically who could come in and do a better job. I genuinely think it has to get worse before it gets better, a period of unrest whilst the deadwood goes and we almost start a fresh, and for me r Nige is the man. 

They can have Houghton or McCarthy now as they have both done well

[Murraysrightplum]

Back or sack? We’ve definitely all cracked

[Red white and red]

1 hour ago, JoeAman08 said:

I am not saying sack him because not sure who we could get or would want to come here. 
 

That said, I have decided NP isn’t the right manager for us imo. We don’t set up or play like modern championship clubs. I think we are at the start of the players not buying into this anymore as well. 
 

For a lack of a better term, he is a dinosaur. Mick McCarthy, Chris Hughton and Nigel Pearson. Names from the past and successful in a different era of football. 
 

He inherited and absolute mess and it will be a mess for another season after this minimum imo. So a bit of sympathy there. That said we have watched Cooper go to Forest and turn it around quickly. We have seen Ismael go to West Brom and make them a juggernaut. Even managers like Robins at Coventry or Jones at Luton having extreme success. Maybe Forest are better off financially and West Brom sure. What about Luton and Coventry though? We are not getting all we can from this squad even as dour as it is. We have seen glimpses of quality and fight but why can’t we sustain it? Imo that is from the main man.

I am not expecting miracles but no home wins under the man and performances that are trending down are worrying signs. Not sure January is going to help much either with funds being what they are. So yea can’t really sack him and with him I worry about staying up. 
 

Also, so much for Dave Rennie too huh? Massengo muscle injury out basically a month. King muscle injury out for awhile. Williams muscle injury, fit for 3 games and muscle injury. Some saying Vyner injured. All clubs have injuries but still trending in a similar fashion. 
 

That’s that then. 

[JoeAman08]

1 minute ago, Red white and red said:

That’s that then. 

Exactly. Glad you are on board

[Waconda]

2 hours ago, Fordy62 said:

I’m pretty sure he’ll back NP. But he couldn’t back him on top of how much he’d backed Johnson. It’ll come, but our cloth has to be cut accordingly. And NP has done a decent job of cutting so far. 

When we see the back of the likes of COD, Wells and Bakinson and Palmer (not that I think I’ve necessarily seen enough of the latter two) then there’ll be more room for manoeuvre. 

In League One.

We could get Matty Taylor back !

[Waconda]

2 hours ago, One Team said:

He’s already backed him by giving him a 3 year contract.

Yep and a decent squad of Championship players capable of achieving much more.

[Waconda]

1 hour ago, JoeAman08 said:

I think we are at the start of the players not buying into this anymore as well. 

Not the start, a fair way down the line.

[JoeAman08]

7 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Not the start, a fair way down the line.

Yep and it is worrying. Even more so when it seems SL is so bought in that NP is making lots of staff changes at the minute as well. Feel like making similar mistakes to the Ashton era. NP looks to have a lot of power. I do think he is clever and is assembling a much more competent staff than Ashton ever did but if he can’t get it right on the pitch, are we going to be left with a bunch of staff on new contracts and not wanted by the next guy? 

[IAmNick]

22 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Yep and a decent squad of Championship players capable of achieving much more.

Out of interest where do you think an average season for our current squad would have us finishing?

[Waconda]

4 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

Out of interest where do you think an average season for our current squad would have us finishing?

Depends on the manager and coaching but potentially on ability alone -  8th is my answer.

[Waconda]

16 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

Yep and it is worrying. Even more so when it seems SL is so bought in that NP is making lots of staff changes at the minute as well. Feel like making similar mistakes to the Ashton era. NP looks to have a lot of power. I do think he is clever and is assembling a much more competent staff than Ashton ever did but if he can’t get it right on the pitch, are we going to be left with a bunch of staff on new contracts and not wanted by the next guy? 

Doesn't mater who the manager is, his history or perceived power within a club, once he has "lost the dressing room" he is toast, just a matter of time.

 

[IAmNick]

22 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Depends on the manager and coaching but potentially on ability alone -  8th is my answer.

So good enough on ability for our joint best season in the last 14 years? Hmm.

Not convinced personally. Not even close. I'd say our squad is weaker now than the last few years, and we've only managed top 10 once since rejoining the Championship.

[Waconda]

3 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

So good enough on ability for our joint best season in the last 14 years? Hmm.

Not convinced personally. Not even close. I'd say our squad is weaker now than the last few years, and we've only managed top 10 once since rejoining the Championship.

I respect your opinion.

[Port Said Red]

14 hours ago, westonred said:

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

A bigger nightmare than Simpsons backpass. There isn't one correct word in your whole post. 

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

12 hours ago, S25loyal said:

Gave it a shot though didn’t they, it could of paid off. 

So you don’t mind us going potentially bust and having to start a phoenix club playing in the Westin counties league or something? 
 

As long as we give it a shot?

Edited October 24, 2021 by IdliketoRogerMoore

[steviestevieneville]

16 hours ago, westonred said:

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

Ffs

[Davefevs]

16 hours ago, JoeAman08 said:

I am not saying sack him because not sure who we could get or would want to come here. 
 

That said, I have decided NP isn’t the right manager for us imo. We don’t set up or play like modern championship clubs. I think we are at the start of the players not buying into this anymore as well.

Why aren’t we set up to play like modern Champ clubs?  The closet we got was 3-4 months in 17/18 when the gems of the Academy, SOD, Cotts and LJ (yes, I’m giving them all credit) gelled to form the makings of a good side, with predominantly young(ish) players with upside (you’re an American, you’ll like that term) and a few in their peak years (Flint, Pack).  You could almost call it the perfect coming together.

I honestly don’t think LJ really knew what he’d assembled, I think he stumbled on it….and then couldn’t recreate what he wasn’t aware he’d created!

Selling Flint, Reid and Bryan, generating £20m should’ve been the foundation to kick on, but he’d spent £12m in advance (Diedhiou, Baker, Eliasson, Walsh).  That is often forgotten.

For a lack of a better term, he is a dinosaur. Mick McCarthy, Chris Hughton and Nigel Pearson. Names from the past and successful in a different era of football.

Maybe, and why I think within his 3 year contract he will transition a younger manager into place and he’ll step away a bit.  What you don’t do is start the rebuild with a novice imho.
 

He inherited and absolute mess and it will be a mess for another season after this minimum imo. So a bit of sympathy there. That said we have watched Cooper go to Forest and turn it around quickly. We have seen Ismael go to West Brom and make them a juggernaut. Even managers like Robins at Coventry or Jones at Luton having extreme success. Maybe Forest are better off financially and West Brom sure. What about Luton and Coventry though? We are not getting all we can from this squad even as dour as it is. We have seen glimpses of quality and fight but why can’t we sustain it? Imo that is from the main man.

Not sure West Brom is a fair example, relegated team on PPs!

As for Cov and Luton, teams with low cost bases, able to take advantage during tough financial times whilst the overspenders (us) struggle to adapt.  They recruit well…and cheap.  They don’t need to sell.  We should’ve been that type of club.

We aren’t getting all we can from the squad….I agree.  But I think some of that is “paper ability”, and I suspect that there are 5/6 players under contract who wouldn’t be here had they been OOC in the summer.  Perversely, a player like Paterson might’ve been kept.

It’s really not nice looking at sides like Coventry and Luton and seeing them thrive.  In some ways I think they are an unfair comparison.  Birmingham, Ipswich (now Lg1), Preston, QPR, Brentford (now PL) are our closest comparators.  A right mixed bunch!

I am not expecting miracles but no home wins under the man and performances that are trending down are worrying signs. Not sure January is going to help much either with funds being what they are. So yea can’t really sack him and with him I worry about staying up.

trend is poor, but having played the top 3 in the last 6, I’ll wait for the next 4 to see where we really are (Cov, Brum, Barnsley, Blackburn) over those 10 games.  No win would be very worrying.
 

Also, so much for Dave Rennie too huh? Massengo muscle injury out basically a month. King muscle injury out for awhile. Williams muscle injury, fit for 3 games and muscle injury. Some saying Vyner injured. All clubs have injuries but still trending in a similar fashion.

One to keep an eye on.  Vyner was 19th man and involved in the warm up v AFCB last Saturday.
 

Comments above Joe

[S25loyal]

6 hours ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

So you don’t mind us going potentially bust and having to start a phoenix club playing in the Westin counties league or something? 
 

As long as we give it a shot?

Not really no, I’d support city regardless of what division they are in. 

You come across like a glory hunter 

its better to be someone for a day, than a nobody for a lifetime.

Take Gretna for example, probably had the time of their lives and still have a club to support now.

We have had bar a few years at the start and the odd game, 99% of pure mediocrity. 

Edited October 24, 2021 by S25loyal

[JoeAman08]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Comments above Joe

Said in another thread just now. I am not against NP the organiser. I am just not sure he has the answers for the modern championship. Perhaps if stepped into a role of director of football and we signed a head coach. I’d be for that. 
 

We did have a perfect mix a few seasons ago. We don’t have that mix now but NP had a say in quite a few players playing for us yesterday. My problem is not our result yesterday or results in general. I feel like the performances are progressively getting worse. This on the back of an international break where we should be coming back stronger. Especially as we didn’t have many first team players abroad. 
 

As for Rennie, you can add Semenyo as well. We are missing or have missed probably 4-5 of our best 14 players for a month or more already. This doesn’t help for consistency. 

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

46 minutes ago, S25loyal said:

Not really no, I’d support city regardless of what division they are in. 

You come across like a glory hunter 

its better to be someone for a day, than a nobody for a lifetime.

Take Gretna for example, probably had the time of their lives and still have a club to support now.

We have had bar a few years at the start and the odd game, 99% of pure mediocrity. 

You’re the one advocating breaking FFP like Wednesday and Derby so we can make it to the Premier league! I’d rather build an sustainable based and grow steadily towards!  

[S25loyal]

6 minutes ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

You’re the one advocating breaking FFP like Wednesday and Derby so we can make it to the Premier league! I’d rather build an sustainable based and grow steadily towards!  

Sustainable, have you see the losses we have? The losses every club have?

Break FFP such as , QPR, Bournemouth etc. 

Bournemouth, a team that basically ripped us apart recently, a team many would had classed as tinpot compared to us, one we used to easily take 40% of the crowd to. A team that has simply walked past us like so many others.

Im glad our sustainable method has only taken 30+ years to get top flight football. 

At this rate I might see it before retirement 

Edited October 24, 2021 by S25loyal

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

Just now, S25loyal said:

Sustainable, have you see the losses we have? The losses every club have?

Break FFP such as , QPR, Bournemouth etc. 

Im glad our sustainable method has only taken 30+ years to get top flight football. 

At this rate I might see it before retirement 

Exactly you want us to chuck even more money at it with no guarantee of success, you’ve named 2 clubs who gambled and got lucky, what about the countless others who aren’t so lucky?

[S25loyal]

1 minute ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

Exactly you want us to chuck even more money at it with no guarantee of success, you’ve named 2 clubs who gambled and got lucky, what about the countless others who aren’t so lucky?

How many haven’t been so lucky? 

Bury? The list is pretty short really

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

2 minutes ago, S25loyal said:

How many haven’t been so lucky? 

Bury? The list is pretty short really

Portsmouth, Bolton, Wigan and notts County? For starters Cardiff got problems forest had them too? 

[S25loyal]

3 minutes ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

Portsmouth, Bolton, Wigan and notts County? For starters Cardiff got problems forest had them too? 

Wigan , Portsmouth, Bolton, Cardiff, 

All Clubs who have had much much better recent history than us the last 20 years. 

Ill give notts county although their admin was years ago. 

Forest have been failures really for years much like us

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

1 minute ago, S25loyal said:

Wigan , Portsmouth, Bolton, Cardiff, 

All Clubs who have had much much better recent history than us the last 20 years. 

Ill give notts county although their admin was years ago. 

Forest have been failures really for years much like us

So you’re saying because they’ve had better recent histories it’s ok they’ve almost bust?

[robin_unreliant]

2 minutes ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

So you’re saying because they’ve had better recent histories it’s ok they’ve almost bust?

Fact is, even trying to stick to the rules, without SL we actually would be bust now. 

[S25loyal]

8 minutes ago, IdliketoRogerMoore said:

So you’re saying because they’ve had better recent histories it’s ok they’ve almost bust?

I’m pretty sure the majority of fans would take their recent history over ours, even with their money issues. Most of those clubs are not too far off us, and everyone of them still have a club to support.

6 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Fact is, even trying to stick to the rules, without SL we actually would be bust now. 

We wouldn’t though would we.

[Bristol Oil Services]

10 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Fact is, even trying to stick to the rules, without SL we actually would be bust now. 

If we'd still paid out what SL has paid out (ie what he was paying Ashton, and buying yer Kasey Palmers and yer Gustav Dionies, oh, and yer David Jameseses, for example), then, yes. We'd be bust.

[Wiltshire robin]

16 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Fact is, even trying to stick to the rules, without SL we actually would be bust now. 

That points completely invalid though, we could have got owners like Swansea , Huddersfield ,Brighton ,Brentford and Cardiff. All of which probably have had less investment in them than us.

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

20 hours ago, Redwood Robin said:

What would be the point of sacking an experienced manager with proven success, who else would actually make a difference?

All experienced managers with proven success pass their sell-by dates at some stage.  Clearly Cardiff City felt that Mick McCarthy had passed his, even though his record last season was outstanding.  Pearson, on the other hand, had a dreadful start and his team have only shown limited improvement this season.  The question is at what point you decide that change is needed to avoid the unthinkable relegation.  I believe we have a squad that can stay up, but someone needs to get the best out of them and Pearson sure as hell isn’t at the moment.  If we pick up fewer than four points against Barnsley, Birmingham and Coventry, for instance, do we still do nothing?  Will someone please tell me what Pearson is actually doing at the moment that instils such faith in people?

[maxjak]

On 23/10/2021 at 18:02, westonred said:

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

Yet more knee jerk drivel.........get a grip FFS?

[Ivorguy]

1 hour ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

All experienced managers with proven success pass their sell-by dates at some stage.  Clearly Cardiff City felt that Mick McCarthy had passed his, even though his record last season was outstanding.  Pearson, on the other hand, had a dreadful start and his team have only shown limited improvement this season.  The question is at what point you decide that change is needed to avoid the unthinkable relegation.  I believe we have a squad that can stay up, but someone needs to get the best out of them and Pearson sure as hell isn’t at the moment.  If we pick up fewer than four points against Barnsley, Birmingham and Coventry, for instance, do we still do nothing?  Will someone please tell me what Pearson is actually doing at the moment that instils such faith in people?

NP has identified the problems he inherited and begun to address them, ie

relationship between roles of manager (not Head Coach) and CEO

lack of quality in coaching staff

an overhaul of players over a three year period.  Already begun.

fitness of players, eg unacceptable level of injuries last season halted 

group identity

one excellent first team acquisition, Atkinson

one excellent ‘one for the future’ (Pearson’s comment on Tanner signing)

achieved cut in players’ wages, not least with Weimann and Baker accepting lower wages.

With the limitations placed on him I believe he has achieved a great deal.  Judge ‘on the field’, at next natural break, on 1 January, not after three of the most difficult fixtures of the season 

Believe!  We will improve under Pearson but change always takes time.

 

[Davefevs]

Very good post @Ivorguy.

I do think some critique is necessary (and justified), but you can’t just look at results.  In some respects I’m more worried with recent trend in performances, but I also think it’s “where we are” at this stage in the re-build.

[Top Robin]

48 minutes ago, maxjak said:

Yet more knee jerk drivel.........get a grip FFS?

I knew someone would come out with the knee jerk argument.....it's not knee jerk, this has been building up over a number of dreadful performances if you haven't noticed.

[redrob]

On 23/10/2021 at 18:02, westonred said:

Dear Steve its time for you to come out and either back NP or sack him.

In January we need to bring in at least 5 championship quality players two strikers two wingers and a Tough tackling midfielder.

We could get rid of Martin, JD, Palmer, COD, Vyner and Simpson who offer us little to maybe help to fund the signings

If NP is not allowed to shape his own squad then you might as well sack him but to find a manager with his experience who would come to BS3 is unlikely so please Steve put your hand in your deep pockets

The sheer delusion shown by some of our fans is hilarious and are summed up in this post! 

[Loosey Boy]

1 hour ago, redrob said:

The sheer delusion shown by some of our fans is hilarious and are summed up in this post! 

Couldn’t have put it better myself…….some people need a reality check!

[BS4 on Tour...]

On 23/10/2021 at 18:02, westonred said:

We could get rid of Martin ...

Our top scorer - any reason you want to bin Chris and not Nahki or Andi? 

[Mr Chappers]

A comparison between the stats of ‘failure’ Holden and ‘saviour’ Pearson is interesting. Obviously you can’t just judge on stats, but equally, you can’t judge on blind optimism alone. The summer signings were a very mixed bag, worryingly very ‘old mates’, and leaving us desperately short of forward options. 
What I found most interesting was that under Holden, the Forum group-think was excellent squad, poor manager. Then it changed to rubbish squad, good manager. You have to objective, if things don’t improve by Christmas, think of accepting things haven’t worked out, just like Forest and Hughton didn’t work out.

Time will tell….

[Davefevs]

6 minutes ago, Mr Chappers said:

A comparison between the stats of ‘failure’ Holden and ‘saviour’ Pearson is interesting. Obviously you can’t just judge on stats, but equally, you can’t judge on blind optimism alone. The summer signings were a very mixed bag, worryingly very ‘old mates’, and leaving us desperately short of forward options. 
What I found most interesting was that under Holden, the Forum group-think was excellent squad, poor manager. Then it changed to rubbish squad, good manager. You have to objective, if things don’t improve by Christmas, think of accepting things haven’t worked out, just like Forest and Hughton didn’t work out.

Time will tell….

My views on Holden were….showed really good early principles, but inexperience showed.  I was a bit disappointed when he was relieved of his duties, but I also felt a bit relieved for him, because I saw it getting a bit desperate at the end of the window…the whole Lansbury, Massengo to Brum, no left back stuff, etc.  I felt unsurprisingly that Ashton was setting him up to fail, even more so with the Ipswich rumours.

With Pearson, I am disappointed with certain things.  Thought he’d get a bit more out of players, but also completely get the bigger picture at play and the cluster#### left by Ashton….and what Pearson has sorted out already.  If it doesn’t work out on the pitch we will still be in a better position off it for his time here.  Sounds like I’m having doubts, not really, just not ignoring some recent poor performances, just as I wasn’t getting carried away by 9th after Peterborough.

There is a long game at play, football often doesn’t let it play out, especially when a week is a long time, and momentum plays it’s part.

These next four games are important.  No point saying “x points minimum” or anything like that, but I do expect to see better performances, more cohesive team play and players showing they are better than what they’ve shown recently.

Lots of other stuff to look at too, e.g. what happens with Simpson going.  Can’t imagine that Downing is staying either from what Nige said, sounds like just formalising his pay-off.  Does that mean we go with Fleming, Cisse and Ball (Bell being made full-time to cover some of Alex’s responsibilities?).  The whole Tinnion, Davenport, Probert (leaving) now Bell stuff seems part of a sequence of events all linked together.

Time will tell indeed….

[wendyredredrobin]

On 23/10/2021 at 18:58, One Team said:

He’s already backed him by giving him a 3 year contract.

I think that might be a 3 year con trick.

[One Team]

7 hours ago, wendyredredrobin said:

I think that might be a 3 year con trick.

Well he’s had previous with some of his appointments. 

[Major Isewater]

Whilst recent performances have been worrying we can, perhaps, put that, in large part, down to certain first team stalwarts being overplayed.Martin and Weiman seem to have lost their ways and James is going through a bit of a dip in form.

These guys are in the squad to help stabilise the team and aid  the youngsters to kick on.When not at the top of their games we are a bit lacking in direction.

However, who do you replace these players with? 
 

We don’t have the depth in quality and have a terribly unbalanced squad, too many veterans and too many novices. 
 

The Championship is a very, very tough division and we are in the early stages of a reboot. We are a long way from competing with the best teams but , for some of us , we are actually doing better than we thought we would .

 We need patience and to SUPPORT our boys who, by and large, are giving it their best.