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Posted
On 22/11/2025 at 08:28, Midfield_General said:

The difference today was:

- every time someone received the ball in midfield they had clearly been told to turn, look up, and drive forward

- we played to the strengths of the three midgets/ wisps up front and played the ball along the ground as much as possible and into space behind rather than pumping the ball up in the air

- we took our chances (Azaz early one aside)

- we were aggressive and competed for everything (almost - free header for the goal aside)

- we got our forward players who have the ability to hurt people on the ball as early as possible, to feet, in the areas they wanted it - specifically Scienza, Fellows, Azaz and Armstrong 

Basic stuff, but put it all together and it’s stuff we haven’t been doing and it’s night and day from the nervous, back foot shite that’s been served up by managers and players too damaged by defeat to trust our ability to attack. 

Nice summary, was going to say maybe a little luck also. But then I thought about the uncontested header for the first goal, and realized Manning wasn't there by accident. That took some planning and desire from Manning to make the run. Maybe the luck was getting to play mad Nate, the players who had him as a manager really seemed to want to win.

  • Like 1
Posted
19 minutes ago, HnycS said:

Nice summary, was going to say maybe a little luck also. But then I thought about the uncontested header for the first goal, and realized Manning wasn't there by accident. That took some planning and desire from Manning to make the run. Maybe the luck was getting to play mad Nate, the players who had him as a manager really seemed to want to win.

But by my reckoning that was only Arma. Stephens was on loan that season and Bragg was buried deep in the academy. Everyone else is post Nathan. 

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Oisin said:

We win 5-1 away and some people on the forum spend their Sunday having an argument? 
 

Love this place 

Wouldn't you be more concerned if there was zero discourse about Eckert and his methods?

He's undoubtedly staking his claim, but there remains risk factors in making him permanent. And - perhaps - risk factors if we don't.

It's a bigger conversation than any single result. Especially when that has its own thread.

  • Like 3
Posted

The more I think about the game, the more I truly believe Eckhert absolutely schooled Jones. He knew exactly how Jones was going to set up his team and knew exactly how best to utilise our players to achieve a result, although I doubt even he could have expected such a fantastic result. Recognising that AA’s experience and ability could be utilised by dropping back and feeding others was a stroke of genius. Faster transition of the ball forwards was something we’ve been crying out for but thought the players were not capable of - they clearly are but needed the coaching to unlock that ability. Tuesdays game will be telling, but my money is on Eckhert finding a way for us to win or at the very least draw.

  • Like 2
Posted

Will be interesting to see the make up of his staff if he gets the gig full time.

Currently its pretty much his U21 setup. There will obviously be calls for more senior experience e.g a Trollope type but I think overall I would just want him to be able to work with people he wants and has chosen, as most successful managers do.

@J.cSHRIMP made a good point to me that perhaps the others we have been linked with like Strobl and Frandsen are more with a view to joining as an Assistant to Tonda than for the top job? Would imagine he knows Strobl at least from his work in Germany.

  • Like 2
Posted
13 hours ago, ant said:

Wouldn't you be more concerned if there was zero discourse about Eckert and his methods?

He's undoubtedly staking his claim, but there remains risk factors in making him permanent. And - perhaps - risk factors if we don't.

It's a bigger conversation than any single result. Especially when that has its own thread.

Echert made our squad rise like a Phoenix from the ashes left behind by Still. An almost impossible feat. Give him the job as an Xmas Present.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
27 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Anybody any good with photoshop? I think this is fairly self-explanatory.

 

Honda.jpg

Didn’t pay much for the software. Quite basic

IMG_0366.jpeg

  • Like 2
Posted
20 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

But by my reckoning that was only Arma. Stephens was on loan that season and Bragg was buried deep in the academy. Everyone else is post Nathan. 

Baz played under him too.

Posted
2 hours ago, Verbal said:

Well it completely fooled me. What is a "Honda" anyway?

In Japanese it's a combination of two words. The 'da' part refers to a field, particularly a rice paddy, and the first part of the surname refers to the position that the person occupies in that field and hence their social status. There are many other examples of surnames ending in 'da'

Yoshida, Yamada, Toyoda, Genda, Fukuda and so on. I'm not sure about Yoda though. 

The Japanese word 'Ton' means 'pig' or 'pork' , apparently. 

Posted
1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

In Japanese it's a combination of two words. The 'da' part refers to a field, particularly a rice paddy, and the first part of the surname refers to the position that the person occupies in that field and hence their social status. There are many other examples of surnames ending in 'da'

Yoshida, Yamada, Toyoda, Genda, Fukuda and so on. I'm not sure about Yoda though. 

The Japanese word 'Ton' means 'pig' or 'pork' , apparently. 

So. Our potential new manager is called 'Pigfield,' or, 'Porkpaddy.'

I like it. Not sure Paddy will mind.

  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)

I've updated the OP appropriately.

I never thought that someone could turn us from zero to hero so quickly. Hats off to him

Edited by sockeye
  • Like 3
Posted

That’s enough for me.

Seemingly nothing too exciting available on the market so it’s time to see where the momentum with Tonda can take us. Good for him after pretty much all of us not being initially enthused. 

Posted (edited)

OK, hands up time. I was convinced that Eckert was absolutely the wrong profile of manager we needed right now, and that appointing him would be a massive gamble.

But the way he has turned us round over the international break is nothing short of miraculous. The players are obviously loving playing for him and are now full of confidence and showing their superior quality. Thus proving that they don't need a big name or an experienced manager to get the best out of them.

As auditions for a job go, you can't really do any more than what he has done. 

Edited by Sheaf Saint
  • Like 6
Posted (edited)

Fair play to Tonda. Prepared for the game well. Singled out their left back early and the team is sorting out set pieces. 

I wasn't sure initially but seems like he maybe onto something.

Repeat against Millwall and that will cap an amazing week.

 

Edited by JohnnyShearer2.0
Posted

Scienza just got asked about Eckert on Sky: 

It's the decision of the big guys but we are happy with Tonda. He's doing a great job and he's a great character as well. Who can do better than four wins in four games? Give the man the job.

Posted
Just now, Daft Kerplunk said:

He's certainly getting things right, be nice to see us go after teams in the second half after we've taken the piss in the first 😎

But 3 games in a week, nice to be in a position to ease off for what technically is 90 minutes now. 

Posted
2 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Scienza just got asked about Eckert on Sky: 

It's the decision of the big guys but we are happy with Tonda. He's doing a great job and he's a great character as well. Who can do better than four wins in four games? Give the man the job.

THB was also full of praise for Tonda. Just give him the job

Posted

As job interviews go, he‘s knocked that out the park.  Well above expectations, it certainly appears our players have someone they respect, and Tonda has a collection of players he knows how get a tune from.  Why risk what we have now?

  • Like 1
Posted

The club should show their hand and faith in Tonda. He was not my choice, but boy has turned things around, and seems to have everyone back on the bus, so to speak! I think it would be a touch of class to have the balls and give 100% backing in return for this turn around. We are not going to win like we have in the last 2 games every week, or even win every week, but this is much better and feels a right fit for everyone. 

  • Like 1
Posted
Just now, Matthew Le God said:

 

The pause before answering may be down to processing the question in a second language 

I prefer to think of it as him wondering if that's the best the interviewer could do.

  • Haha 5
Posted

Think back to Preston at home, lost 2-0 to make it 1 win in 12, my hope had absolutely faded and I genuinely believed it was a stay up mission.

4 games and 12 points later, Tonda has performed absolute miracles. To get a team completely bereft of any confidence, the same players who've had chants of "you're not fit to wear the shirt" sung at them for the last two games, is utterly remarkable. 

He simply deserves the job. It's not everyone's ideal scenario, but it works. The players seem like they're full of energy, playing with smiles on their faces and the confidence levels are at polar opposites to the Preston game.

I wonder whether we'll bring in someone with experience as his assistant, as it's a long, grueling season and he'll need support when things aren't going out way (unless we just win every game until the end of the season).

  • Like 2
Posted
2 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

I prefer to think of it as him wondering if that's the best the interviewer could do.

He is a thinker - very measured in his responses. Very calm and collected. Probably why the players seem to like him - they know he has given a lot of thought to what he is asking or telling them.

Posted
Just now, trousers said:

Lampard singling out us as a threat in his post match interview.... We're playing well but surely too far adrift of Coventry...?!

I took from that that he sees us as a team that they could drop points against, rather than competition for the title.

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