But you said with the players we have we should be 10th -12th, we are at present 13th, as near as damn it inline with where you think we should be, and that’s despite playing round pins in square holes. Why do you think we’ve met your expectations despite playing players out of position?
I based my thoughts on 10-12 on last season, as it turns out, the Championship has proven very unpredictable. If Nige had played the right formation earlier, it seems we could have easily been in the top 10, maybe even top 6. He’s done well, but I’m not going to start tugging it to Nige as Red Robin does, as for me, we are about where we always should have been, but it’s taken 2 years. If we get top 6 this season, or next, then he deserves all the plaudits he will get.
Two years to sort the mentality the attitudes the pride the players who were bad apples and bring in his players under a straight jacket. For me the club is 1000% in a far better place. I know you don’t go to games much but the fans in the ground have their mojo’s back. The club is moving forward in the right ways. That is down to Nigel Pearson
I’m delighted that we are now approaching the league position level that we had achieved (or failed) consistently under LJ. Long may our recovery continue. If the trend continues then we can expect playoffs next season - exciting!! All good!!
I like the way we appear to be getting rid of the soft underbelly, the players fight for everything and work their socks off, that’s what most fans want to see. Players giving everything for the cause.
This I would 100% agree has been down to NP. LJ and DH, we’re too nice if we’re honest about it. Some (a lot) of our players did need a firmer hand and a kick up the backside. Nige has definitely done that and those who have embraced have remained and flourished. Long May it continue!
The team is developing nicely on a broad front, it has taken 2 years to using an old cleche turn the liner around, firstly economics, all the old culture of sign and spend, coaching, fitness and health levels, unfair, excessive wage and contract levels, in all fairness selling the family silver and replacing with brass, players and management singing from the same hymn sheet and most important of all no split fan base, we're not there yet but it's great to see the progress and belief growing.
Football is fickle. I have been behind NP all the way and appreciated it was going to take time, however after, I think it was WBA, I began to have my doubts, NP had been making some odd team selections, most of which involved King playing in central defence and I couldn’t see any way out. I thought we were going to be in a relegation scrap and thought Nige had probably been given enough time. I genuinely was beginning to think the writing was on the wall. We’ll never know how close he was, but since then the change has been chalk and cheese. Fair play to all concerned.
I had been behind him until the Lincoln game in the EFL cup; that was shameful to waste an opportunity for much-needed income so freely; add to that, the league form in the last 6 weeks of 2022, and he was lucky to still be in charge. That said, he seems to have turned the corner, and now it's lucky we didn't get rid of him. I don't buy into all of Wiz's points above, as NP has now also had to sell some family silverware in Semenyo, it remains to be seen if replacing him with Cornick is brass or not. As for the split fan base, that was never down to LJ's managerial ability, purely down to bigots among our fan base, as they never wanted him in charge, nor, ever gave any credit to the man. I do concur that the place was too soft under LJ/MA.
I was never convinced about Cornick, and still aren’t, although it’s far to early to judge . Mehmeti on the other hand looks a steal, and is certainly exciting. I don’t think we had a choice with Semenyo, I like him but I do believe it was in our best interests, as well as his to sell him when we did. Edit in relation to LJ, I was behind him when he was here, think he did ok, but also thought when he left was about right,
They are two different types of player, my worry with Semenyo is his fitness , he is so explosive and powerful I think he’s likely to be one injured a lot. If he can stay clear of injury and learn to get his head up a bit more, and be more composed in front of goal he’ll be one hell of a player, but there’s a lot of ifs, I think we did well to get what we did for him, as long as we use the money wisely, Eary days but Mehmeti looks one hell of a player. He also needs to learn a bit of composure in the final third, and when to release the ball, but I’m sure it’ll come.
100% agree. He did a good job at the time, and had gone as far as he could with us, so was rightly relieved of his duties.
I agree it was time for him to go, but the debacle that followed his departure ended up with us being a laughing stock. The way it was handled was an absolute disgrace. Now we have Nige and he seems to have steadied the ship. Let’s hope we don’t suffer a burnout and collapse after Tuesday……… stranger things have happened !!
I feel a bit the same, it wont be the first time such a bubble has burst. I also think Saturday Tuesday isn't what Williams has needed in the past and I dread him 'pulling' up tomorrow night. Williams and James have helped Scott enormously.
Good point about Wiliams, so far he has not been able to play Sat/Tues/Sat without getting injured. Maybe he will bring King on after an hour for his experience and to give Williams a rest ahead of the weekend?
He’s been in the team since Naismith been out. I think only last week was without a mid week game. He’s been well managed so let’s hope injuries are behind him.
