I still think it's too early to judge and there's been some good mixed in with the bad. When has a manager last been able to successfully make us hard to beat? It's taken a few games for him to drill that into the team but looks like he's got there. Pretty? Nope. Effective? Seemingly. My big question is less about GA and more about the strategic direction of the club. I understood the mantra under Warburton - trim the wage bill each year, develop young players each year, and play the type of football that attracts PL scouts. We can debate how successful the strategy was, but Beale and Critchley clearly fitted into that same model for me. I'm defending Ainsworth a little, but happy to admit he doesn't fit into that strategy as obviously as Beale or Critchley did. So I'm left wondering what the strategy of the club's leadership is now, if any. Has it changed? If so, how much? What is it now? I'd like someone to ask this sort of question, if any, at a fan's forum.
If we go into the close season with all of Ramsey, Ferdinand and Hoos in place I’ll assume there is no strategy.
I’m not sure we are that hard to beat despite the last two results. At Burnley we got absolutely battered in the first half and Stoke were just appalling and on a poor run with nothing to play for. Relieved we’ve stayed up but given the sides coming up we have to be one of the three favourites to go down. Still, he deserves a crack at it if only because no other **** wants to do it.
It’s definitely a split decision on GA so far. He has definitely picked up on our distinct lack of leadership and aggressiveness on the pitch. So that looks to be a focus (though not sure Martin defines leadership for me personally). The big question seems to be … who’s going. I get the feeling he’s made some decisions on contracted players, so it will be intriguing to see who heads out of the door - I have little idea tbh. Who can be sold? Who can be replaced better on our budget? It seems an impossible task with our budget, given our football hierarchy and their past poor results. I am also really interested to see what happens with the youth side. The snake gave the impression it need a damn good shake-up - I would definitely like to see that happen and to see our coaching set-up reviewed and replace with new, top quality staff who can feed through to the first team and develop potential sales. Again we have been shocking at that given it was one of our priorities. Great training ground and poor youth teams is just lipstick on the pig. Lots to be done from Tuesday morning. No loss today. A well-earned win would be a nice way to close off the football side of the season.
We all have some worries about the new season but you've hit the nail on the head and yes I am still waiting for someone to answer the question, "if not GA then who?" Lots of noise that people don't want him as manager and that he should be relieved of his duties in time for the new season. But I haven't heard anyone come up with someone who would be available, affordable and willing to come to Loftus Road who they would be happy to see. Purists are thin on the ground. The likes of someone like Graham Potter would I dare say appeal to many but considering our lowly position, fan and owner expectations nay demands and the fact that, if the stories are half true, we seem to have almost as many prima donnas in our squad as Chelsea do, we need a manager who can cope with that pressure. Ainsworth has show that he can. Potter failed at Chelsea and before that didn't exactly set the world alight at Stoke.
Seeing Gareth and Dobson were given long contracts of 3.5 years I think just over 2.5 months ago I'll be surprised if they intend to sack them now after they have achieved the 1st part of the remit in keeping us in the Division. From what I know of what they did at Wycombe I think they are competent in playing a variety of football and bringing through young talent, Eze included. So I see no reason to sack them now. If our Board is still that crazy, I think the obvious candidate to take over either our Head Coach role or DoF role is the guy who is clearly capable of this Mark Warburton, especially after seeing the further evidence of this season.
I like Gareth and his passion but if we do keep him in charge I’d like to hear more of his vision and ambition for the club. Is the plan he is aiming to get us promoted or just hoping to avoid relegation next season. Will he reassure us that he has more in his locker than ‘hoof and hope’ football?
The only given in all this is that our board is absolutely stir crazy but then so again are many of the fans who jump on every manager's back after a run of defeats. Can't see Warburton being tempted back. He doesn't need the money or the hassle. If by some miracle he was prepared to come back there would be conditions giving him a budget and complete discretion over who to pick in the match day squad and the right to veto players with poor injury records.
After 3 months or so of Gareth, of course we're going to stick with him, particularly after he kept us in the Championship. And I think he should be given a chance to build his own squad and to show us whether he can play attractive football alongside the (hopefully occasional) ugly stuff. Therefore, it's moot whether Warburton would actually want to come back as manager, (unlikely if Les is still in situ). Personally, I'd find it an attractive proposition for Warbs to come back as Les's replacement; after all, that's where he started out at Brentford, so he knows the role.
I could never see Warburton returning to the club especially after he was booted into touch. Half the club that wanted him out wouldn’t would struggle to see him back after vociferously wanting him out too. Would be a lost cause. Better to search for the right man to manage upstairs and have the foresight and experience to get things sorted at the academy and produce quality players. Change we do need though. It hasn’t worked so far with this set up.
Remarkable really considering the sh1te that the team have produced since November...... A smart move by club to do cheap tickets offer on a Bank Holiday........
Dave mate. Week in, week out you've done an incredible job, meaning, I can't believe you've done this work. Nah, seriously mate, I actually find it hard to believe you can get the time to collect so much information every week. Just amazing. And I'm glad one of us has the patience and perseverance to get this work done in spite of our dour year. Good onya mate! Now, hopefully our boys can give us a final win to tide us over until the new season starts. C'mon U RRRs!!!
Just bumped into Roller (Simon) in Westfield. Always nice to catch up, especially as I haven't been able to go so often this season.
Chuckles is retiring today, lap of honor, players form a tunnel to clap him on or off the pitch...........
