Should his job be under threat? I cant quite understand the backing he seems to have. Yes, we all know about the deductions and yes we know he had to put a team together at short notice. BUT, its seems the longer he works with the players the worse results you've got and also your wage bill, despite being cut, is still on a par with some clubs above you. I am surprised at the loyalty you've shown to him, is it a question of the off field issues excusing his poor record or do you genuinely think he's a good manager. I only started a thread because I am interested and there doesn't seem to be any discussion around him (which surprises me). One thing I do know is that other supporters would have started to turn by now, are you?
LD, he's a good guy. There's no need to get rid of him- how well could a manager do with Pompey's current situation ?? He's a top lad, and I hope that our next owners don't think about firing him. That's my biggest concern if a group other than the PST takes over- they'll sack Apples ..
I don't think we've seen his managerial abilities yet - Appy has just been a firefighter since he arrived at the club, and that hasn't finished yet. There are an awful lot of IFs around his tenure. IF we didn't have the off-field shenanigans interfering with everything on the field, IF we had at least one player (excluding the 2 youngsters) who had been at the club last season, IF he had been told about the budget cut earlier, he could have targetted different players, IF he had been able to find players who were match fit, IF he hadn't had to field 10 different pairings in defence................ and so on - then we might have an idea whether he is up to the job, but in these circumstances? Also he wasn't given the go ahead to get in the striker he was keen to bring in................
To be honest with you, Portsmouth will do well to retain Appleton if the take-over bid isn't sorted quickly. I think he did wonders for you last season in an impossible position having inherited a squad that was previously struggling under Cotterill. No manager could be expected to succeed in these circumstances and I think the rag-tag team of rejects he has assembled at the moment is there to fill up the fixture list as opposed to being the kind of squad that he would wish to have at his disposal. As a Saints fan we have seen this all before but I think what Portsmouth are experiencing is an absolute disaster which will end in relegation and serious problems if this isn't sorted quickly. I'm surprised that the PST offer has not been accepted as there are huge questions over the merits of the other bids. As an outsider, this looks like a poor decision to procrastinate with the selection of the ultimate buyer. Yes, the PST will be unlikely to take the club to the requisite level where Portsmouth belong but it is blindingly obvious that theirs is the only bid that doesn't look like it will have a detrimental effect. Any outsider will tell you that Portsmouth are too big for League One and a club of this calibre should be tearing up the league leaving the opposition standing. Given the fact that this league is far weaker than at any time within the last 3-4 seasons, the deal needs to be brockered and new team assembled which matches the club's rightful ambitions. Appleton is a good manager but needs a team capable of fulfilling his ambitions and not simply one put together in order to get sufficient bodies on the pitch.
If we can stay in League One (tough task) I think our new owners would (hopefully) give Apples around £2 million to bring in quality new players, who ca help us push for promotion to the Championship. Here's to hoping!
If it's Chanrai I doubt it, he's the one who cut the budget one week before the season started, hence Appy's comment that they (Portpin) were unprofessional. He will no doubt wish to punish Appy for those comments. Having read some of the posts on the News site I'm starting to feel really sorry for the PST should they succeed.
A certain element of the posters on there are very vociferous in their demands that Appy is sacked (immediately) as he is a useless coach with no tactical nous. Think of anything and they are complaining about it. It's his fault we were relegated with the team we had last season. It's his fault that we haven't won any games this season. It's his fault that the team haven't won any games because they are "his" team. Etc. Etc. Etc. They want Guy Whittingham to become Manager (he steadfastly refuses - because he is a very intelligent man and knows how the fans can turn) They want Harry Redknapp, or Peter Reid, or anyone on a list of out of work Managers they've pulled together. Etc. Etc. Etc. I was just imagining the demands they are going to make on the PST on the running of the club. Sod that -------- Chanrai for owner..............
I'll put this out there. There is one manager I would accept if Apples was fired. Ol' Droopy- Harry Redknapp! I think he has one managerial campaign left in him, and he does have a knack of turning round the fortunes of a struggling team .. Would anyone else like him back ??
Amongst others. LD the reason you can't understand is because you don't support Pompey. Some Southampton fans are arguing already about Adkins, although it's died down since yesterday. There really is a siege mentality in this City. You have to come from here to get it completely, I understand it and feel it's power although I don't come from Portsmouth. I've met people from all over Britain who move here and end up following Pompey even though they were die hard fans of other clubs. It just kind of gets to you. We like Appy because he is commited, he still doesn't get it totally, eg the fans singing about going on a L2 tour, but he will when the Stockport County moment comes, as it surely must. Witness Paul Merson, he stayed for one year, (after winning it all with Arsenal for yonks) on Soccer Saturday stating that we were the best fans he ever played in front of. I don't expect the Gooners thought much of that, let alone understand why he said it!
No disrespect but old Harry is more Likely to return to Bournemouth if he takes a local job. They have the money and his arrival would be more welcome by the majority. I'm sure the supporters get behind appy and the players during matches and everyone has to stand firm before the ownership issue is resolved. Portsmouth situation like any club is unique but the closest recent comparison has to be Bradford who are only just starting to get there situation resolved (my hot tip for promotion).
To be fair Meow, it was only Baz that was seriously suggesting that he should go, and he is out of kilter with the rest of the Southampton board on many issues, God bless him!...The whole of SMS were singing NA's name even when we were 1-0 down yesterday.
By the way PL Stewie......... I should have mentioned that the naysayers comments started at 6pm yesterday - so all these negative individuals calling for Appy to be sacked weren't even at the game. I can only imagine that they arrived as JCLs.
