Time to experiment

Imo 6 wins needed to stand any chance of playoffs, is it time to give some fringe players first team experience, worth a go in my book.

 

Players are dropping like flies. Rigg and Ballard the latest ones to be ruled out for the season. Other than giving Lihadji some game time I'm not sure what other options exist for experimentation

 

Exactly...were practically down to the bare bones now, one or two under 21s on the bench Monday?

 

They have to earn it. We've set standards by making Hume, Michut and now Ekwah work hard before they've got a chance in the team. I don't want us to lower standards. If they work hard then give them a chance. Don't lower the bar, it's not good in the long run.

 

I have to agree.

Many of the players, such as Hume, Michut, Ekwah, Amad, haven't played much first team foot in their careers so need to keep playing. And we need to finish as high as possible to get next season off to a good start ...

... the higher we finish the better prospect we'll be for potential signings.

My only real issue is whether we continue with Mowbray or not.

 

Mowbray is developing these young lads excellently in my opinion. He's managing expectations well, putting just the right amount of pressure on to their shoulders, but protecting them when they need it and he has us playing good, expansive football.

I think as a club, we're very much in a "developing footballers" phase rather than aiming for promotion as the primary goal and Mowbray is perfect for that.

It's a difficult part of the model to get the balance right on. Neil would have sacrificed the development of half a dozen of these players but may have got us into the playoffs. Mowbray has probably developed assets that the club can sell or utilise in the future but we've fallen just short.

I think the latter is better for the long term future of the club, but I'd like to see us manage to find the best of both worlds. That wouldn't be next season though, I'm more than happy for Mowbray to keep building these players.

 

However, imagine the inspiration, the confidence, and the leadership that Big Sam could instill into this lot.

 

I don't think we were lacking much of either yesterday tbh.

 

Don't think we lack inspiration, confidence or leadership under TM what we have lacked because of our atrocious injury luck is that lack of experience in key positions, but these kids are learning fast.
it would be madness to get rid of TM at the end of the season imo.

 

Not sure if you are serious or not? But TM I'd happy to develop these young kids and play the youngest team in the league, he is in the minority and many managers would be like AN and want to buy experience and stop playing these lads and flip it the other way so there is majority experience with a few young lads.

 

Yeah true....just making comparisons. I do think we'll be strong favourites for promotion next campaign, and I suppose I'm thinking who could take us forward at the next level amongst the big boys, if we do succeed.

 

Yeah, we were immense considering the missing players.

 

I can't dissagree with anything you've said there tbh...I'm just making comparisons. I'm probably being a bit premature..

 

I'd be absolutely devastated if Allardyce was the next manager of this club. His time has gone as he showed in his only management role in the last 5 years. He would want control over transfers to fill the squad up with his agent mates' players. I'll stick with Mowbray thanks.

 

The Play offs are a distant dream marra

 

On what basis would you sack Mowbray?

 

Sorry, didn't phrase that too well.

I don't want to sack him, I'm just wondering what the club will do.

I can't think of another available manager who fits the bill better.

 

We are playing a fantastic style of football (the best I can ever remember us playing over a long period stretching back to last season)
And although I have my long-term doubts over TM I worry that any new manager will try and tighten the defence up and we lose that swagger going forward.
Tbf to TM he has coached the kids really well.

 

Me neither. He's a clever coach and after a match he sums everything up just as it happened. He is usually spot on too. He also is clearly a bloke who is a modern type of coach, quite happy and able to embrace bew ideas.

All he needs, (perhaps), is a proper team to look after the players, and one or two clever signings.

 

Not even yesterdays man. He is so far in the past. A lot of rose tinted glasses about his time with us, which barring a late escape from relegation was mostly awful. I cant imagine any of our young lads taking inspiration from someone like him at all. Thankfully he is history for us, same as Keane and Moyes.