The optimists will argue that this time last season we lost 6-1 at QPR but still made the play offs. The pessimists will argue that after losing comfortably at the bottom club this week, we’ll sleepwalk through to a mid table ending. For me it’s glass half empty. So far it’s been a wasted season, after last seasons second half improvement and bringing in Moore (injury notwithstanding) and Wilson, we really should be on a par with the top few clubs but after seeing us perform versus some of them this month, we are a distance apart.
Yep. The question of course is why. But there's another thread pretty much dedicated to the answer in my opinion.
OK, I'm generally an optimistic sort and COULD see us making another improvement / decent run like last year, however, I can equally see us stumbling on and finishing somewhere around 8th to 10th. A lot will depend on what happens in this window. The squad definitely needs further fresh faces and some players like Murphy, Day, Flint etc. could do with leaving. Nothing against them, they've just never settled/been given a chance. I'd have no qualms about Harris seeing us through to the end of season as I think his achievements last year earnt him that chance but given our inability to maintain our challenge then if we could bring in someone with a good track record at this level then I'd not be averse to change. It'd be very risky... probably more so than sticking with Harris until end of season as I can't see us getting relegated under him but it could go horribly wrong if a new guy comes in and tries to change too much too quickly. Lots of waffle just to say we'll probably finish around mid-table no matter what we do now... outside bet of playoffs.
If we lose tomorrow I just can’t see how the board can have any faith in Harris getting us into the top 6. If we win they’ll probably see it as light at the end of the tunnel but to me that would be a false dawn. In any event I’m not totally convinced Klopp could get anything half decent out of the likes of Ralls, Vaulks and Glatzel
I put this on tonight's match thread: ↑ "Yep. Our cushion is deflating fast. We could be 18th by this time next week and the form is definitely in the relegation category."
It's crazy really. We've gone from being THE form team (just edging Brentford and Norwich in the form table) to actually being the team with the worst form. I'm still confident that we'll turn it around again, probably make a late but unsuccessful dash for a playoff spot but will have continued our slow but steady rebuild that is required. The players brought in during the window thus far are young, hungry players that want to prove themselves. With a careful continuation of that policy, it should serve us well in the longer term. We just need the patience to ride the storm we're going through right now. Whether Harris is the right guy to continue skippering the voyage is another matter though. Problem is, changing tack again could turn us into even more troublesome conditions or just as equally guide us to calmer seas. Do the club really want to fork out for a severance package at the moment though?
That is a decision for the Directors. The football club is a business and if this was eg a manufacturing business and it was failing, decisions would have to be made to improve it lest it folds. On occasion this involves changing management having considered the financial consequences of changes. The financial position of the club if relegated must be a major factor. So on that analogy it may be economically prudent to cut their losses, pay him off and bring in a new man. As for your other point Brizzle, it can’t get any worse can it with a new man in charge?
Hi Brizzle. First of all, I have to say I admire your patience and positive outlook, attributes that have seen me through many a dark episode in my support of the club. However, this time I can't find either of them within me. Under his stewardship this season, Harris has lost the momentum of last season's unlikely climb into the play offs and now is overseeing a frightening slide backwards. Bringing in young, hungry players is excellent in most circumstances but regardless of their potential, I fear they will have development sorely compromised under the current regime. I look at Wilson as an example. Yes, there will be a cost to making changes but given the way we are going, the cost of not making them could be even greater.
All good points and arguments guys however Ninian makes a fair comparison with a failing business in another sector. I said weeks ago that I thought Harris was losing the confidence of his players. Regretably the last few performances, to me, have emphasised that opinion. Added to which, those on the park seem unsure of exactly what they should be doing - totally different to our run to the playoffs. Has regularly changing tactics confused the players, or perhaps we don't have the players who are able to deal with those changes, or perhaps they don't really want to make the effort for Harris? Much has been made of our inability to move the ball quickly through midfield, something the commentators on last night's Club TV pointed out (isn't it? - see my point about the verbally challenged commentator last night). Ralls was the chief culprit in this. On at least 3 occasions Watters was making a good run to get in behind defenders but Ralls either turned the other way or held the ball up so long that either the run was wasted or Watters went offside. What is annoying is that Watters has said that one of his assets is running the channels to get through defences. With 3 lumbering centre backs this was an ideal strategy if only Ralls was aware of it. Didn't Ralls talk to him before the game or even read the interview? Hopefully this defiency wil be addressed when Tomlin returns. Can we wait for that, will he be the same player on return from a serious injury and surgery, at 32 and with a carer spaning nearly 500 league games can he still hack it? In any event, we can't rely on Tomlin longer term and in the short term he is susceptible to injury and on field disciplinary issues. I can't see us forking out to buy in another creative midfielder and Wilson in present form (attitude?) isn't doing it. I would get rid of Harris now (perhaps his contract is performance related so the pay off might not be that bad), and get in someone now. While that person may be stuck with the current squad, with a bit of luck he could return some confidence and understanding to the players, secure our position in the Championship and build for next season. None of this comes cheap but if VT wants a product he can eventually sell at a profit, or a small loss, this is something that must be done.
Yep. Out with the old, in with the new. The new who? Heaven forbid Pulis or Mark Hughes. Sparkey, any news from the bookies?
Luckily you've just missed Fat Sam, but Parkinson is available from Sunderland now hahaha, no idea who else is free right now
