egg

These are the important stats: 0-1 0-1 1-3 0 points.

Yep. Managers who are their employees mates are the worst managers.

What we're seeing was predictable before he arrived. Quite interesting looking back in the thread at people's views. We got away with it last year, just, but I can't see him turning this around as much as I want him to. The ability just isn't there, and the approach so flawed.

Whatever it is, the longer he's out, the more difficult it'll be for him to come back.

I put one poster on ignore so I didn't have to see all his posts, but I could dip into it if I wanted to (which would usually remind me why I was ignoring the bloke). I see the function as a filter against being faced with all of a persons posts, not the poster as such.

I thought he'd get a decent championship club to be honest, but playing for Vancouver in the MLS probably has more appeal (although for a lot less money you'd imagine) than a season or two at Stoke or Preston. Good luck to him.

It amuses me why people get so animated by the CoT. Just scroll by if you ain't interested, but tbh, I look at the site mostly to chuckle at people having a moan. Anyways, I'll post up a nice easy CoT style image to help get the thread back in track.

I'm satisfied that my opinion that RM is learning on the job, isn't doing terribly well, and that it's not ideal to have a trainee PL manager, is watertight.

I couldn't give a monkeys about other managers and other clubs. Our manager is out of his depth, is tactically naive, and our club is destined for relegation of something doesn't change sharpish.

You're essentially saying that it's ok for us to be managed this season by a trainee PL manager. This is the richest and best football league in the world with many of the best players and managers. It's no place for a manager to be learning his trade, and (hopefully) eventually seeing what everyone else could see ages ago.

Lucky

What you're describing are different tactics.

What I heard was during the season. Since then we've had promotion, and the new contract. I take from it was they had doubts and were willing to be fire the bullet. Why they gave him a new contract is anyone's guess, but if they had doubts last season, they surely have them now.

Agree with all of that. From what I heard last season, RM was lucky to go into this season as manager despite us going up. He doesn't have long imo. Archer has got something about him. Good touch, movement and finishing. He'll be good for us and is a very sound investment.

The errors are coming because players are being asked to do what they shouldn't be asked to do, and frankly, cannot do. Example, the much maligned Stephens can't be blamed for being unable to take the ball on the half turn in midfield and instead play it backwards, leading to a THB error, and a goal. Neither player should have that expectation on them - they're defenders. Use tactics that suit the players and you get less mistakes like that, and in less dangerous errors. Stats are BS when you lose every week.

And that's the main point. Not good enough to play this way does not mean that they're not good enough to play at this level. Play them to their strengths, and don't put them under pressure with stupid tactics, and they'll do better.

I don't think people need to suggest names to have an opinion that a different coach could get more out of these players. In the same way us fans didn't have to suggest names to get upgraded players in the window. These people exist. It's not our job as fans to nominate them.

It's the football version of del boy's "this time next year we'll be millionaires Rodney".

That pre supposes that ABK is an option. Who's your back 4 if no ABK?

Too early to panic imo, but playing the RM way, we have no chance. I think this group of players, set up sensibly, and not playing suicidal football, has a decent chance.

Who would be your back 4?

He was, in the championship. AA was our best attacker. By your metric, AA should be our best attacker in the PL. It's a daft metric though. THB needs taking out of the firing line. I'd play Taylor as one of a 3.

Our whole set up and tactics are just wrong. Inverted this that that and the other is nonsense. Play a square peg in a square hole, and play people where they can be effective. We had a normal set up on Wednesday. In the league games it was sensible at Newcastle, but has gone to shit since then. RM has tried to be clever.

Yes, but we ain't got time to hope that THB improves. RM can only play Bednarek and the best he's got available to him on current form and anyone who's watched us will know that ain't THB. We all want THB to be good enough, but if we're being honest, he isn't at the moment.

On that we agree. I'm not saying Stephens is a PL level CB either. What I'm saying is that this season RM, rightly or wrongly, RM has chosen to play a back 3. He's chosen to freeze ABK out, again rightly or wrongly. Of the CB's available to him, Stephens will obviously be one of the 3. People are clambering for him to be dropped. That would mean that THB stays in the team, but he's a novice at this level and is struggling.