i really think we've sacked Cook too soon. this lot are not going to get us promoted any quicker than Cook might have done had he had Jan to make some changes. he never pretended they were doing better than they were. He knew what needed to be done and the players have said publicly its their failure not his. so why's he been given the boot? thats what transfer windows are for... The Wigan fans said it took a while to build that lovely attacking team there-it wasn't instant. I dont think anyone in the world could recruit a perfect 11 in one window. we're in a right mess now with no one better available. i kept saying this to the cookout types-fine you dont like him but there really is no one better out there right now.
The latest TWTD report confirms Neil Harris has applied for the role, which would be an underwhelming appointment. As Bucky and others have stated, is Harris really a better option - on paper - than Paul Cook? I get that the performances under Cook have generally been poor of late. He did little in the nine odd months he was here to suggest he'd be able to turn around the form and get us up the table. However, to fire him and not have lined up a readymade replacement just smacks of poor planning. Also worth noting that several linked names are apparently not under consideration, including Liam Manning, Tony Mowbray, Michael Appleton, Alex Neil, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Lee Johnson, Frank Yallop, and Marc Bircham. Doesn't leave many realistic candidates in the running, unless we are targeting someone from the Championship already in employment.
Y'all seem to be getting your knickers in a twist, i honestly think they have probably had someone lined up for a while, someone who nobody would expect. Look at how our transfers went in the summer, most tended to be signed within 48 hours of being linked. We tend to keep things under wraps then booooom, done deal!! I have the faith, it will someone we are relatively happy with. Oh and it WAS time for Cook to go, he had virtually a season and his record was pretty bloody grim!!
Completely agree, Cook's record at the club was awful but he's a good manager and actually I felt we still had a chance of the playoffs whilst he was here, I think by sacking him when there wasn't a ground swell of fans wanting him out plus clearly it seems like he didn't lose the dressing room has pretty much written off our chances. As you say many Wigan fans said the first season at the club wasn't great. This makes and interesting read on giving managers enough time to take a football club forwards: time https://www.skysports.com/football/...ootball-building-his-squad-and-play-off-hopes
The crumb of comfort in that piece for me was the point about how they had a mid table budget and a mid to upper mid position which any board with its head screwed on right knows is pound for pound a fair return. Managers aren’t miracle workers. in our case we have a lot of championship players on championship wages. So it’s fair to expect a higher return? but that brings us back to The players not so much the manager. If they’re here for the pay day then get on the phone in jan and cut your losses. Why’s the manager the one to get the sack? I know it’s a different level but Arigo Sachi said the main reason he built that all conquering Milan team was because he was given time. He was a shoe salesman remember with innovative ideas about football tactics and they backed him. of course time is what every manager will say they need and some are just a joke. Steve Kean at Blackburn being the one I remember best for being a total joker. so you do have to get rid sometimes. But at least do it when there’s a new guy ready to pick up the reins.
I think on the whole the manager has to be culpable, especially in this situation where the players are all pretty much his players (unless some are Ashtons). You sometimes can't legislate for individual mistakes but often when they happen often they are a symptom of wider problem, in our case it was probably chucking a whole new squad together without a pre season whilst trying to play an attacking brand of football. I was quite disappointed by how things were under Cook and expected better but still can't get my head around his sacking. We were always going to go through peaks and troughs in form as a new squad without a preseason add to the a whole new background team, so many changes to the club, and yes you can say look at Wigan they made alot of changes but not as many as us, they still have half a team who was there last season plus a manager who's been there for years and most consistent background staff...we've literally changed everyone. Look at how things change, when we beat Portsmouth back in October, they looked one of the worst teams I've ever seen and Cowley looked down and out, it wouldn't have been surprising to see him get the sack but he didn't and look at them now, he's a strong contender for November manager of the month. Ashton has said the decision to make the change was to basically save the season, I hope that's the case but my gut feeling is telling me if anything it has probably ended our season and actually put us back with potentially a lower calibre manager.. as many of us have said if we wouldn't have just sacked Paul Cook he would've most probably been the prime candidate
Agree with most of what you both say Bucky & ITFC. And if we had buried Sunderland who were there for the scalping, how different things might have turned out.
Tbh i don't care who it is, as long as someone is in place asafp!! People slagging off Harris etc but his record is better than Cook's of late!!.
Anthony Barry. he falls into the ‘young new ideas’ category. He’s waiting for the right opportunity. If we can sell the idea to him he’s my choice . I doubt we’ll get a second opportunity of getting him.
I hear Judge is looking to go into management. I could be wrong but not sure Harris has got a better record, it's not bad but he hasn't worked for nearly a year and only has 1 promotion on his CV
Yup. Think he payed under him at Chesterfield too but not 100% on that. Def was at Wigan as a Coach though. football is quite a small industry though and most people know each other and have crossed paths at some point. It’s just ever more baffling how cook didn’t work out given this guy is good enough to coach Chelsea and loads of good sides have coaches taught by cook. Sigh….
Spanish if u don’t pull your finger out and use your special lines of communication to get someone exciting in that we can all get behind I’m going to let MA give Alan Judge the player manager role.
