It is difficult - on the one hand the team are clearly playing for him at the moment and he’s not had a decent budget for players. On the other there is “plan b is doing plan a better” and sticking to 433 until forced to a back 3 through injury. I think Acun will have had his people watching since he started negotiating with the Allams which was when we were absolutely atrocious, and his decision will have been made in the context of the bigger picture and not the matches that he attended.
Don't get your knickers in a twist for asking for question.... Is there a scenario where grant stick around in some capacity with the new guy about????
When he gets the money he will probably buy another house, maybe a car or go away on holiday usual stuff you do.
Was Ehab insisting on the 4-3-3? It seems absurd, but he did make that comment about 4-3-3 being our style. The formation just didn’t suit the players we were buying. Eaves looks a different class in a 2. If you asked a neutral last night which Centre Forward was being linked with a £20m move, I’m sure most would pick Eaves.
A back three, and 3-5-2 were last associated with Steve Bruce. I can see how pettiness might have been behind Ehab's 4-3-3 instructions to McCann.
It seems that the new management are to meet with Grant today. Ironically, after all that's gone before, we're now in a position where keeping Grant until the end of the season is by far the safest option. The lads are obviously playing for him, last night was probably our best league performance of the season and a few decent additions should see us stay up comfortably.
Good lord, are we still beating McCann with the 433 stick? What, three months after he abandoned it? This notion that it was forced upon him is dogshit anyway, he could easily have used Bernard and Cannon as full backs but he didn’t- he is far more tactically flexible than nay sayers give him credit for, witness last night’s 3241. There’s a good debate to be had about McCann’s future. Wibbling on about 433 isn’t part of it anymore, surely.
I believe it did come from Ehab and LD, and was part of the reason McCann was recruited. But it also sounded to me all along that McCann fully bought into the so called '4 3 3' / Club philosophy, and continued to do so week after week, month after month even when it clearly wasn't working. He tinkered with how '4 3 3' was deployed but wouldn't change from it (or variations of) until he had no real option to. To me that means he was too weak and too naive as our manager. A good manager needs both strength and nous. Whether he's finally learnt & developed, who knows, but that's what some of us said we'd hoped had happened coming into this season ... but it clearly didn't. Credit to him though for keeping things together and for the way he's got the players playing for him. I fully expect he's gone, be it 'now' or by summer. Edit: had we lost last night, I doubt we would be seriously debating. It would have been 2 out of 18. But we did win, and it really was a great effort. McCann got it pretty much bang on last night, and the players absolutely gave their all ... perhaps now giving Acun a conundrum. I suspect the decision has been already made anyway.
Agree that keeping Grant til the end of the season seems the best plan. However wondering if the players where playing for Grant or Acun. No coincidence that he was there for the Everton and Blackburn matches where the tempo and performance where excellent .
I suspect last-nights result will have absolutely no influence on McCann's future? The decision will probably have been made by the new owner months ago as part of his plans moving forward.If there is a meeting today(not doubting anyone that that's the case),it's 50/50 (IMO)whether or not McCann will be handed his P45 or a reasonable mid-season budget? Personally speaking I'd prefer if he's given at least a chance to move us forward and get this "can't manage in the Championship" monkey off his back but ultimately it's not my decision. Acun will have to make some awkward decisions as new owner and today could well be the first...
So, does anyone know what staff turned up for work this morning? Is it just Tan Kesler, or is that bloke from Peterboro (?) there too? Will Ehab be there to do a handover or is he out of the door and straight down the Lamborghini showroom? Is Ilicali still there?
I have posted previously that McCann should go. I have changed my mind. I am not swayed by results. But if last night’s performance is anything to judge him by, he has earned the chance of a showcase.
At this stage of proceedings I would agree (even though I think he cannot take us where the new owner would like us to go). Very delicate situation. Get some solid additions in. Whatever decision is made we do not need to upset the equilibrium. If only he had listened to me (and lots of others) and changed to three at the back earlier I might have voted for him to stay. Short term stay. Long term thanks Grant.
I am assuming most of us think the safest option is to retain Grant at least until the end of the season. Nailed on he'll be gone then.
My main arguments for McCann leaving were his naivety on sticking with a plan when it wasn't working, and his in match tactical nowse just weren't evident, too many times being outthought. While I doubt he is the man to lead us to the promised land, his change in systems (albeit forced somewhat by the injury situation) has brought about an upturn in performances and results. At this stage of the season getting an unexperienced manager in this division is a gamble I'd rather not take. Get some players in to give us some quality, keep McCan til end of season then see where we are. Stick or twist ?
