I was having a think and with all the comments about should Sean Dyche be retained or not of if he should go now in November or December, wait and see, etcetera. All the managers of any ability get work quickly unless they are expensive. All the usual suspects are still unemployable, cost too much and would they want to test their skill at a difficult club. They would want their own coaching team and want to spend lots of money which is not available, so if not SD then who?
I think that has been my point from when the debate started, we do not have the money to have someone new in unless the club are prepared to take a gamble on an unproven manager. There are one or two in lower leagues who have good track records, but their existing clubs would want compensation.
Would have liked SoD but looks like Pompey have got him ! All the usual suspects I suppose Nigel Gibbs , Andy hessanthaler , Paul Tisdale etc!
That is where I stood for a long time OFH - and no-one came up with a satisfactory explanation of our financial status if we do get rid of SD. It would cost a lot and probably not make much difference to the results. My change of opinion came at the end of a tiresome week when we appeared desperately to be bringing in loan players to shore up the side and these players did not smack of quality. At that point I re-looked at the comments on SD's style - almost hoofball; his tactical awareness - not bringing on subs in time to make a difference or re-shaping the pattern at half time etc and also the clear reluctance to use our one gem - the Academy. On that basis I came to the conclusion that whether or not we had a replacement we would be foolish to hold on to the "wrong" man simply because he was there. Sometimes you hope a person will have the qualities you want and need but when he takes on the role you find he just is not able to - at that time at least. In my business life I occasionally found I had appointed a person who just was not "right" and sooner or later you part company with them - but usually you know very early on with some that they are not going to "fit". I suspect that is the case with SD. It is not about whether we win or lose the next 5 matches or whatever - it is about does this man possess the qualities Watford needs to make long term progress. At the end of a tiring week I wrote my " Sack SD now" thread - I wish I had not as it implies I know for sure where I stand on SD - but I don't. My gut instinct is that he is wrong for us - but maybe that is not enough to say goodbye
We have kept things in house last time around as we did with MM , Maybe this time if SD was to go an outsider might be a good idea , ,fresh blood so to speak ,fresh ideas and hopefully a useful contacts book! SoD imo would have been perfect for us , but not to be! Leo I agree that in business you soon know if a new member of staff will fit in or not! Its not about fairness , whether you like the person or not! Its whether you think they can perform the job they have been bought in to do! Can SD do that job? Maybe dodgy start , we will learn a lot in the next 4 weeks I feel as we will be playing a few of the other"unfancied sides" The results of November I feel will tip the balance one way or the other!
Leo, like you I am not certain about SD, but from picking up scraps of information from people who do have sources within the club I have come to the conclusion that it is unlikely that he will be shown the door. My reading of the financial situation is that things are still balanced on a knife edge and our owner has maybe bitten off more than he can chew. It has been reported that GT is spending some time with SD, I guess to give him some useful advise, but not to take over. This rather suggests that he knows that SD needs someone with experience to help out. The commentary that I heard on Saturday and most subsequent reports suggested that the passing on the floor was very much better and that tactics were changed successfully at half time. My guess is that Baz has listened to what he was told after MM left, that the squad was not big enough and to simply rely on the youngsters would not be an option. To preserve Championship status this season has to be uppermost in his mind, because if that is lost we are in a real pickle. I read that SD has admitted that there is no money to go and buy players, so a mix of very cheap imports is what we have seen coming in which makes it difficult for any manager let alone one in his first job. I think that this season has a huge importance for the club as we could see some progress on the ground works, paying off the bonds and showing if it is possible for a small club to be self sustaining. There have been too many staff changes at the club for whatever reasons for my liking, so to go on another round of them would be anti-productive to my way of thinking.
I wouldn't like to see him go just yet. if there is a sigfnicant improvement in the playing style and results over the next few games, then I think we need to stick with him. it does take a while to imprint your style onto the team. What I would like to see (like so many others) is more use of the youngsters, even if they are from the bench. They could impact again with their pace and determination! They could also become disillusioned and look to move as soon as the first team tries to sign them! As for replacements, there really isn't anyone who jumps out at me who could come in and do a job. We have the obvious ex-player candidates, like Gibbs and Hessenthaler. NG isn't tested as a Manager, and AH only at lower levels, but would certainly consider them. You then have others maybe looking for a shot at trying their hand at being a manager, someone like a Paul Scholes possibly, who would have good contacts and is well well-respected. I would also enquire if Solskjaer fancied trying his hand at Championship level... But there are much bigger things on the horizong for him - but as Fergie has sent numerous youngsters our way, hopefully who would promote us positively! But... for the time being, let's stick with what we have and with some continuity, hopefully things will pick up and start moving up
Again, like others have posted such as OFH, it is not financially viable for the club to sack Dyche, pay his compensation and bring in a whole new management team in the state that we in. I also agree with Norway in that I don't have as good a feeling about Dyche as I did about Mackay, but with Mackay we were helped with having two very strong starts to the season and having someone who we could constantly rely on to produce as we did with Graham. However, I feel we have the squad to survive, it is deeper, more experienced and more balanced then before, and I trust him. If, IF, he did go, my choice would be Hessenthaler.
If GT is stepping up his input as a mentor that would be an excellent thing - there is no doubt in my mind that IF SD can step up to the mark it will be the best thing for us as changing managers is a step into the unknown once more. Hopefully SD is "big" enough to know that accepting help does not reflect badly on him.
I wasn't for him when he was appointed I saw it as a step backwards but now he's here he's doing it his way, I think we would all do the same if we were in his shoes, if he starts of with a small squad of youngsters and has a bad start that really could ruin the kids, so he gets some new faces in looks to get points then bring in the young lads as did mm , so far it's 13 points maybe 6 points shy of where he wanted to be at this stage of the season . A win tonight would give us back to back wins and then maybe confidence would reappear. As for a replacement , if there was a better prospect out there without a club I'm yet to see one. Andy h , Gibbs , no there not the answer at all , the answer is 3 points tonight ,
If GT is upping the time spent with SD acting as a mentor then great , he needs the help from somewhere!
