Ross - thoughts?

[dansafcman]

Just reading a rokerreport article (will we get automatic promotion) then browsed the comments.

The criticism of Ross surprised me, blaming him for the draws, the fact our strikers aren't firing in x goals a game, over cautious tactics... Saying we should have gone all out attack like luton and Barnsley. One fan saying Ross has steadied the ship but anything other than automatic promotion is a dissapointment.

Personally, I think Ross has done great job given the stats of the club and squad before he joined. Maja situation wasn't his fault, Grigg was always going to need a few games but has had a good impact with his hold up play etc. Yes he did look isolated against Barnsley, but weather conditions, injuries, power and Gooch having to step in (and not played together that much recently) means that 8 don't think we should judge on that one game.

I've been mainly happy with Ross tactics/substitutions etc this season (there's always an exception or 2).

I'm also happy with where we are now, still everything to play for in the league and Wembley to look forward to

 

[Jack TheLad]

I think he's done a sterling job - though he's not above some criticism either.

We were a club in turmoil, shipping managers in as soon as we shipped them out. In absolute free-fall with players who didn't want to play for the shirt, fans or club.

He's brought in players who want to be here, who will bust a gut for him and the fans. They've had to gel very quickly. He's got us chasing automatic promotion which I think is above our expectations this season.

We're in the final of a cup and going to Wembley.

**** me some people are never happy.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

i voted yes, when something is broken as much as we were, i was expecting a while in Div 1 now however, things are looking rosy, a nice run and a few idiots think we are Barcelona and deserve to be in the Prem. I prefer our current manager and a lot of teams would jump at the chance to snatch him from us, moral of the story is if its not broken don't try and fix it ,please give him time

 

[Nacho]

It's been a hell of a job for him and Donald etc and they've done it admirably. I can understand some frustration creeping in because now the prize of automatic promotion is within reach, but it annoys me to see people laying into Ross and showing a complete lack of appreciation for how he's turned the club round. We could very easily have been battling to stay in league one at the other end of the table.

There's the theory that other teams play out of their skins against us too which if true is something else Ross has had to deal with. Not sure how much stock I put in it but we certainly haven't had many easy games.

 

[E.T. Fairfax]

What I was expecting/hoping was a slow start then push on and start beating teams comfortably and pushing for promotion. Instead we had a good start, beating teams comfortably without playing particularly well. I mean, I seem to remember that we had a habit of falling behind and coming back to draw and win. I think this prompted some fans, me included, into thinking along the lines 'imagine what we'll be like if we start playing well, the team starts gelling!' Instead we seemed to have stagnated, whilst Barnsley and Luton pushed on. If the season had been the other way round, as I expected, then we'd be riding on a crest of a wave around about now. I think the way the season has panned out, plus Barnsley and Luton being arseholes, has gone against Ross. But to complain about him is a bit harsh. Weve lost 2 league games all season (thus far) and are going to Wembers ffs! If we dont go up this year I'm sure we'll have a better crack at it next year.

 

[marcusblackcat]

Love to know who voted no!! Obviously not a Sunderland supporter

 

[Hefty fullback]

I really liked Coleman and Big Sam. Moyes made me ill. But, w/o the usual media coverage, (no commentator on SAFSEE, etc.), I don't have any connection to Ross at all. He's just the last guy off the pitch with his hands in his pockets. I put him in the same class as Baldwin, Hume and O9 - curious to see how it goes at the next level.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

if we look at all the other teams in this league, the top 5 were well gelled strengthened and had a pre season, if we had the pre season time together we would probably have stormed the league.i mean Grigg has only had a few games to know how the guys play, plus his lay off, what do you expect.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

Love to know who voted no!! Obviously not a Sunderland supporter

some ****ty mag no doubt, and you can see the name when highlighted.

 

[dansafcman]

I really liked Coleman and Big Sam. Moyes made me ill. But, w/o the usual media coverage, (no commentator on SAFSEE, etc.), I don't have any connection to Ross at all. He's just the last guy off the pitch with his hands in his pockets. I put him in the same class as Baldwin, Hume and O9 - curious to see how it goes at the next level.

Sure, he's a new manager on a big learning curve. He's going to need time to adjust every time we reach another level but surely you have a feeling on his tactics, subs, thoughts on what he's had to deal with.... Etc ?

 

[marcusblackcat]

some ****ty mag no doubt, and you can see the name when highlighted.

I can't see the name at all!

 

[Vincemac]

Don’t know why anyone is not happy
We have steadied the ship
We are in a final
We have a good chance of promotion
What else can he do

 

[Nads]

I’m more than happy with Jack, but stop short of delighted.

As has been said, some smashing signings for the level, he’s gelled the players and the number of late goals we get points to lads who never believe they are beaten, that firmly comes from leadership, and from the manager.

That said, I don’t buy into anyone that says promotion this season wasn’t a minimum requirement, yes we’d had a savage few years and there was going to be a period of adjustment, but we started with a squad strong enough to win the league and added to it.

I doubt anyone could have done a better job than him in the circumstances, I also appreciate after some of the fannies we’ve had the last few years he takes the rough and smooth, takes responsibility and doesn’t harp on about refs, weather etc, when legitimately he could have.

He’s still learning it’s a drop for us but a step up for him, there’s been a bit of a fear of losing there all season which he needs to shake, it’s left us only 2 losses, but if we’d lost 6 but won 4 more we’d top the league.

If we don’t go up, he has failed and no mistake, if we do he’s done a great job. He will have to prove himself all over again next season, absolute credit where it’s due this year but even if we go up, he’s only done what he should have.

He’s a feel for the club now, and I feel we can trust him, with a bit more quality added should we rise I’d imagine we play more attacking, as his teams were supposedly known for, and next season is when I’d really judge him.

Here’s the real question, as he has done a solid job. Should he remain if we don’t go up? That’s a question I don’t know the answer to right now, and as such won’t answer.

I’m aware this is not a clean yes about him, but to be clear, I’m happy with him right now, we have our right to question.

 

[Nads]

I can't see the name at all!

Yeah polls been set to invisible. I always like to see who’s cited which way as I do value folks opinions on here.

 

[marcusblackcat]

Yeah polls been set to invisible. I always like to see who’s cited which way as I do value folks opinions on here.

Yeah me too - seems very cowardly to vote no but not explain yourself - maybe it should be set to ensure you have posted your readon before voting!!! (I know that's not easy - I could do it in a database mind!!)

 

[Sunderpitt]

I voted yes.. but can we improve?

As I see it our settled, formation and tactics are well known to the opposition.

4 at the back, 2 DMs, 2 wingers, 1 striker and a CM behind him.

Creativity to mainly come from the two wingers and the CM behind Grigg. However Grigg has hardly had a pass to his feet in the past few games and we have had few on target shots.

Maguire is injured and he sorts of makes the CM position work. Nobody it seems can replace him. Power tried on Tuesday and was only so so. Gooch is in poor form, so all the opposition has to do is close down Aiden Mcgeady had we are ineffectual going forward.

Ross for the remaining games has to find a way of creating more chances, without Maguire and Watmore.

My suggestions, 09 as CM, Matthew's RB and Ovideo back as LB. Both fullbacks love to get forward and put balls in the penalty area. 09 behind Griggs has to be tried. Wyke still for me looks a dud, so give Kimi and Sterling some time partnering Grigg.

We have to try something new...the draws are killing us we need Wins

 

[Nads]

One massive thing I will add, which I think he deserves massive credit for, is remaining unbeaten at home.

We’ve been a shambles at home for 4 years, people used the toxicity and the great pitch to tear into us, managers targeted that.

He’s turned that and gone unbeaten in 13 or so ‘cup finals’ effectively.

We’ve had teams come and kick us off the park, we’ve rode it out.

To simplify it, if someone had offered me what we have now at this point before a ball was kicked, I’d have taken it in a blink. That fear of losing has to go though we need to kill now.

 

[marcusblackcat]

One massive thing I will add, which I think he deserves massive credit for, is remaining unbeaten at home.

We’ve been a shambles at home for 4 years, people used the toxicity and the great pitch to tear into us, managers targeted that.

He’s turned that and gone effectively unbeaten in 13 or so ‘cup finals’ effectively.

We’ve had teams come and kick us off the park, we’ve rode it out.

To simplify it, if someone had offered me what we have now at this point before a ball was kicked, I’d have taken it in a blink. That fear of losing has to go though we need to kill now.

Absolutely 100% this!

 

[dansafcman]

I’m more than happy with Jack, but stop short of delighted.

As has been said, some smashing signings for the level, he’s gelled the players and the number of late goals we get points to lads who never believe they are beaten, that firmly comes from leadership, and from the manager.

That said, I don’t buy into anyone that says promotion this season wasn’t a minimum requirement, yes we’d had a savage few years and there was going to be a period of adjustment, but we started with a squad strong enough to win the league and added to it.

I doubt anyone could have done a better job than him in the circumstances, I also appreciate after some of the fannies we’ve had the last few years he takes the rough and smooth, takes responsibility and doesn’t harp on about refs, weather etc, when legitimately he could have.

He’s still learning it’s a drop for us but a step up for him, there’s been a bit of a fear of losing there all season which he needs to shake, it’s left us only 2 losses, but if we’d lost 6 but won 4 more we’d top the league.

If we don’t go up, he has failed and no mistake, if we do he’s done a great job. He will have to prove himself all over again next season, absolute credit where it’s due this year but even if we go up, he’s only done what he should have.

He’s a feel for the club now, and I feel we can trust him, with a bit more quality added should we rise I’d imagine we play more attacking, as his teams were supposedly known for, and next season is when I’d really judge him.

Here’s the real question, as he has done a solid job. Should he remain if we don’t go up? That’s a question I don’t know the answer to right now, and as such won’t answer.

I’m aware this is not a clean yes about him, but to be clear, I’m happy with him right now, we have our right to question.

I don't feel he has been over cautious (setting up not too lose). We went through a bad patch, where we drew a bunch of games - players not on form or injuries played a big part in that .Unfortunately we've now got a few injuries again, but hopefully we can overcome that

Yes I agree promotion must have been a target this season (play offs at a minimum), and, I think, if you look at previous seasons we would be top or top 2 except this season 3 teams are in good form not only one. Because of that, if we only make the playoff places, I think Ross should be kept on.

 

[clockstander]

He is doing a great job, love the guy, but I will criticise him when I think fit, but we are on this forum, JR lives in the real world and we are very lucky to have him as this thread confirms.

On another note, the thread on Duncan Watmore has been locked? and I was going to say that coming from a man who has Bobby Kerr as his avatar, the initial comments were both surprising and shocking in equal measure.