Some really good points and counterpoints throughout I'm actually with Hilts in so far as I like Ralls and think he actually does add the right combination of tenacity and the ability to pass a ball, however, he does need the right kind of players around him too... Agree with you Hilts about the money spent, I was only referring to the fees rather than salaries too... Problem nowadays is even bang average players command stupid money most of the time and we often have to offer over the odds to attract players because we're not exactly an attractive proposition overall. In my honest opinion it takes easily 2-3 years to build a squad and style at a club, sometimes longer. Whilst we had a style of sorts under Warnock, everything was pretty much based on short term gains with no real eye on the future or for any true evolution.... And, as much as I loved the guy and our time under him, just how many millions were wasted in appallingly bad buys and long contracts for poor players who barely got a look in??? Every manager we've had have had a mixed transfer record, even DJ got a few wrong.... I think Buluts transfer record, all things considered isn't that bad. He's certainly a million miles from perfect but he's done an ok job in year 1 and deserves a crack at a 2nd year to continue his rebuild.
I am not all against Bulut. He still had a limited market we were all but relegated last season and id have bitten your hand off for 12th and 62 points before kick off. The style is so boring though and not giving the young players enough game time swings it to the dont renew for me.
I'm not..... I don't see how a Tan and his cronies can impose a style of play on a manager. No doubt the tools at Bulut's disposal dictated his options but he hasn't demonstrated any flair in his tactics - in fact he's been very poor on times. The best we can say about his tenure this season is that he's stabilised the club's Championship status from a disastrous position to a comfortable if unspectacular level. That's good, but the whole point is where do we go from here? Bearing in mind he's not exactly proved to be a footballing clairvoyant, would Tan see another mid table finish next season under Bulut as probable if not an initial objective? The target has got to be higher and mid table set as the minimum default position. How to achieve that? The answer isn't simply throwing money at it. It needs to be a lot more fundamental - Ipswich have just proved that. Leicester, Leeds and Southampton all had good squads and parachute money coming down whereas Ipswich have done it the hard way. Get an infrastructure in place and trust in a manager like McKenna with flair and a modern attacking approach. Liam Rosenior at Hull is another good example of the way to go. The history of our past dozen years under Tan indicates that's unlikely to happen unless the penny finally drops - don't hold your breath.
Thing is, teams like Ipswich and Luton last season tend to be the exception to the rule... More often than not it's the bigger spenders are the ones that do well.. Yes they need a decent manager at the helm too but giving a manager the tools he wants to do the job sure goes a long way to success. We could just as easily have gone the other way this season. Brum (from memory) spent a decent amount. Hull spent a small fortune. If I were to like our position to any club right now then it'd be Robbie's boys. They've built over time and stuck with Robins through thick and thin. I personally reckon that if Erol gets backed (and retained of course) then we'll start to see the style evolve. We've definitely had glimpses of it throughout the season. Yes we've had some dreadfully dull games and performances too, but let's not ignore some of the better performances too....
Some more mixed than others. To be fair to DJ, his first couple seasons he was just getting bodies through the door. When he arrived I think he had 9 senior pros. He churned through a lot of bodies in the first couple seasons, BUT, he had a plan and a vision. Also, the first season it was all frees. He knew the type of players he wanted and he got them playing as a team. Colin managed the same in terms of type of player and playing as a team. Step 1. Confirm if Erol is staying or going. Step 2. Instruct the manager to impress HIS style on the team. Step 3. Give him a few million to spend (not a fortune, but enough to make 2 or 3 key signings). Step 4. Keep your fingers crossed.
I'd like to be an exception to the rule then please, like Ipswich and Luton. Brum made themselves a disaster from within, and Hull were very unlucky to miss out on the playoffs in some instances through some dubious reffing decisions. They drubbed us twice home and away - to my mind probably the best allround side we faced this season. As for the dreadfully dull games and better performances, I must have been at the dreadfully dull ones. A lot of the "better performances" in terms of results at the CCS like against Ipswich and Soton were down to grit nothing to do with skilfull football. We should have lost both if there was any justice in the game but we know that doesn't always apply. Some will say Bulut deserves another season and that's probably morally right, but we could be having the same conversation this time next year.
And that's the worry. Nothing guaranteed in football. Educated choices count for much. As ever we are concerned that our senior management failed their 11 pluses.
I agree about Southampton. Ipswich home we started great. On the front foot and more than held our own 1st half. Came out 2nd half like a Bulut side and Ipswich took a deserved lead. I think luckily for us their goal was lateish and we then went back on the attack got the equaliser pressed for the winner then got it. Why not play attacking football at home at least for 90 plus minutes. The writing was on the wall Ipswich away. We were easily the better side 2 up he goes all negative subs Tanner and we lose. His style is ultra defensive , no pressing football with everyone behind the ball asap. Its going to be a hard watch and I dont think will bring success.
Agreed - not one of the top 6 this season played that way. They all played attractive and front foot football.
Bloody hell..... We're beginning to sound like West Ham fans Ok, ok.... Admittedly Erol guided us to complete safety AND almost had us sneaking into the play-offs for a while... Doing this with a relatively shoe string budget compared to others.... AND with an incompetent board above him.... But he hasn't done it with enough style and panache......
Agree with Hilts last para and to add there’s a desperate need to be more incisive in transition. One touch triangles through midfield to create space for overlapping wing backs and said midfielders flooding into the edges of the penalty area to convert cut back crosses. How many times did we see opponents doing that against us throughout the season?
Perhaps we can do a swap with this guy...................... https://getfootballnewsbene.com/the...ub-kortrijk-despite-vincent-tans-disinterest/
Any insight as to his playing style? Seems to have done a good job on a shoe string budget. Would be a 'known' quantity and knows one or two of our players.
Not much "known" - here's his Wiki page..................... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freyr_Alexandersson
Plenty stuff on youtube. Some of their defending looks a bit suspect, especially from set piece. Davies looks sharp running off the shoulder of the last man. Need to watch a bit more really.
