Who would you appoint instead? I wanted Glasner from day one but he isn't gettable and tbh at this stage is probably waiting for a bigger fish than us to swim past. I can't see a single manager in all of world football coax more than a mid table finish out of what is decidedly a mid table group of players. Since Son's departure, there isn't a single player I'd call 'elite' in our entire squad. This is Levy's legacy.
Had nothing to do with being a young side. It was a catastrophic error by a supposedly experienced GK that ultimately cost us the game. Not the ref certainly, no matter how poor he was. Our best player was one of the youngest, Bergvall. Gray didn't impress tbh, but wasn't the worst. The only players to come out with any credit in my book were Bergvall, RKM, VdV (who kept the score decent) and Kudus. I might also add in Danso who wasn't at fault for either goal and won absolutely everything in the air. I cannot believe that Udogie lasted as long as he did (is Spence shagging Franks missus?) and Porro managed to accurately deliver maybe 2 out of 50 good crossing opportunities. The first 3 substitutions were made at the wrong time - just after we had scored with a head of steam behind us - and none of them improved things. Players and coach have to take the responsibility for that defeat.
At the start of the season, it appeared that Frank (despite having a squad that still needed a lot more surgery), had managed to tighten up the defence. That was a solid start, and there were signs of improvement and some coaching that had impacted us positively in comparison to our chaotic approach under Ange. But the improvement we saw defensively seems like a life time ago, and we’re still struggling with the disconnection between defence and attack, as well as our potency in attacking areas. There’s now basically nothing to be positive about. We’re back to losing every week like we were under Ange. a lot of this is to do with the lack of quality which has been abundantly clear for ages, but at the same time I’m struggling to now see any signs of improvement that give me confidence that the manager just needs better players. Is he going to be the right manager even with some decent players? Or do we need better players and a different manager? I’m questioning whether he’s the right fit now, to be honest.
It is obvious that we have a host of players that Frank doesn't really trust. Chasing a goal at home and our top scorer from last season can't get on the pitch. Odobert, Tel and Simons all can't hold down a place in the starting line up. Sarr is in and out of the team. He gave a very, very telling interview in the summer at the time when the MGS transfer collapsed and then the Savinho and Eze deals started dragging out to their inevitable conclusion. Iirc, he made the point that at Brentford, they identified a target and then just went and signed that target. It was the first time in his career here that every transfer was bogged down in uncertainty and risk. True, he has a lot of adjusting to do as we aren't Brentford. But at the same time he needs to be given players he is actually happy to work with.
I have no idea who the manager should be. I think we have plenty of good players but a vanishing few who have the mentality to be elite and actually take responsibility. Part of having money as a club is being able to write players off and not renew contracts to protect value (Bentancur) for example. It’s not just about recruitment, it’s about management of the group. Frank ain’t doing it. Yes football is tactical but the metal aspect of management is just as important and he’s come in with the wrong outlook IMO. I think you can see it from his comments in the media. He’s far too reasonable and accepting of loss.
I don't think we have 'plenty' of good players. And by good I don't mean they've played well half a dozen times in a year like Bentancur or Spence. I mean those who have shown a good standard across dozens of games. Confirmed: VDV Porro Udogie Romero Maddison Kulusevski Solanke Promising but too early to tell: Palhinha RKM Bergvall Gray Kudus Danso Spence Currently absolutely not: Richarlison Tel Odobert Davies Vicario Dragusin Bissouma Sarr Simons Bentancur Johnson Kinsky That's how I would rate our squad at the moment. 7 good, 3 of them currently injured 7 promising 12 ranging from inconsistent to atrocious. So again I repeat: which manager in the world would get more out to Levy's legacy than we are getting now?
Yeah I was torn on him. Bottom line is he can't hold down a place and didn't under Ange either, which has to be a major concern. Good player when we're on the front foot, but I've seen no evidence that he's got what it takes to dig us out of a hole and change the flow of a game. I think when you list the whole squad out as I've just done, it hits you how ****e the average level is.
I was more at ease with big Ange’s brashness and **** you attitude than I am with Franks weak outlook I get it big Ange’s would have us relegated so I’m not saying I’d rather have him im just saying I just don’t feel comfortable with Frank’s outlook and passivness
Difficult to put into words my thoughts after that performance. That team plays with real fear and has "relegation battle candidates" written all over it. Part of me does NOT want to change managers but can you really see any plan at all in what he's doing? This will all end in tears I suspect.
Genuinely lost as to what I think about tonight. I want to back all our managers but I’ve spent a lot of money for 3 league games this season. Any extra money I have goes on spurs tickets and now the trains are a mess again and stuck outside Finsbury Park (don’t know if anyone’s been to Finsbury Park at 11 at night but the station is not a nice place and I just want to go home) for another insipid Home league performance (Bournemouth and wolves previously). Promised I’d take my dad to Sunderland game for a Xmas present but it’s all just so disheartening. 2-0 down in 10 minutes to a team that are terrible away from home. I’m lost with the team I love and don’t know how to solve it.
Going to take a while to turn this ship around me thinks after Levy’s years of misdirection on the pitch
little things like that will give us an indicator as to what to expect under the new regime imo I don’t blame the fans for being pissed off considering the prices they pay Hugo Boss prices for Primark underwear
I quite enjoy listening to phone ins and listening to fans saying it as it is regarding our club. I think the majority are in the same boat now with the odd one still stuck in the ‘project’ cycle of illusions
The area around Finsbury Park Station isn't exactly marvellous during the daytime either "Second hand" phone capital of London, apparently
