I actually think Konchesky has improved massively this season. He's toned down his aggressiveness (I used to think he was going to get sent off in most games) and he's great at getting forward. Still has the odd defense error though that we could do without, but overall much better. That said, I'd still get rid if his wages are unrealistic (which I suspect they are!).
I suspect Nigel had a look last summer when Nicky Shorey was having talks I certainly wouldnt have had him in the top 3. My 3rd place would probably have been Danny Drinkwater or Ritchie De Laet
drinkwater was harshly done by this season, apart from the end he has been probably the best performer.
.. he's carp ... the little full back that Watford have (Anya?) did exactly what you's expect .. go past him with ease and deliver dangerous balls into the box at will (as most other opposition wide men have done all season) .. his distribution was appalling and only surpassed by his poorer decision making ... you don't improve at his age ... and he hasn't IMHO
Spot on - he should have played the best XI in the first game and kept our momentum going - the first of several very poor calls of judgement IMHO.
Watford no where near had a good side built by previous manager and the Cardiff side got completely rebuilt by Malky. He was given a full season to build and then this season to get results You need to completely ignore Nigel being here last season he was extrememly limited in the transfer market with players sulking that Sven left. You cant really say we did anything last season that in the long term helped us. This season Nigel has built something and next season its all about results. There can be no excuses next season
If we don't make the play-offs, which now seems likely, Nigel Pearson will have gone before next season ... again just my view but I'd be amazed if our owners, having sacked a former England manager for a less dismal run. allowed Nigel to carry on stumbling along ...
Maybe they just lost faith in Sven, Sven just blew over 10M and we had nothing to show for it. Sven was completely gung ho in the market paying 2M just to loan fat players. Albeit one knew where the net was (Yakubu) and the other just knew where the local takeaway was (Michael Johnson) add to that the suicidal contracts giving to average players like Jermaine Beckford, Matt Mills, Lee Peltier, John Pantsil, Sean St. Ledger, Sol Bamba and Paul Konchesky. He gave players like Richie Wellens and Paul Gallagher bumper new contracts with them started to decline. Players was brought in on loan who didnt give 2 ****s about the club. Jeff Bruma and Patrick Van Aanholt thought they was too good to be here. Diomansy Kamara didnt care less Gelson Fernandes was a class player but only here for Sven and who remembers ****ing Ricardo All that money spent and not a single decent player to show for it. Kasper Schmeichel is the only real success story from Sven Nigel has built a very good squad and for 2/3 of the season we have been superb. As I have said many time the owners now really have to consider FFP. There isnt many better managers then Nigel with that in mind. Nigel would have learnt alot this season and he will learn from his mistakes. If we didnt have some of Sven's deadwood in Danns, Beckford and St. Ledger still on the books then it would have allowed Nigel to have at least 3 more players there and still save bucket loads on the wage bill. Off the pitch we still recovering from Sven's trolley dash and probably will until we make the prem now. We need to cut the budget again while remaining competitve. Some of the money the owners are actually allowed to invest will have to be spent on paying compensation to Nigel and the club that we get the new manager from. I have full faith in Nigel and I think he will get us up into the prem. Sven was a car crash waiting to happen, the longer it went on the more costly it was getting.
Lots of good points ... but doesn't change my view one bit that the owners will sack Nigel Pearson if we don't make the play-offs ...
We are crying out for stability here not change. If we continue with the trend of changing managers every season we will remain a mid table championship side for a very long time. Pretty soon the owners will get bored of pouring money into a black hole and get bored and leave. The owners really need to back their man, they have been superb at backing managers since they have been here. Maybe they can see the bigger picture of what Nigel is doing and what he has got to deal with. While results are the name of the game their is more to it. We need long term success not short term success else you end up like QPR or even worse Portsmouth. Going gung ho every season will see us fail in the long term As I said, im more then happy to accept 1 season of disappointment if it bring long term success to our club. Its important the Premier league remains the goal and doesnt become the obsession. Look how long it took Chelsea to win the champions league. And thats because they became obsessed with it
But Nige is approachin two years in the job and how far have we actually come? I really think he's starting to lose the plot. Against Watford he didn't have a ****ing clue.
You need to totally forget about last season. We could all see we lacked everything need to have a good season, no balance to the team, too many egos, no flair, no width, too many lazy **** players, too many midfielders. This season we have been superb for 2/3. Something has gone wrong in the final 3rd. How far have we actually come you ask A very long way. We actually have decent players here now that care for the club and give their all. Yes we may have fallen short a times buts its not for a lack of effort. We actually have a side capable of destroying teams when things click. We have players that have a very good value in the transfer market unlike before. Due to contracts already given out before Nigel it has restricted him having a bigger squad giving us more options. Off the pitch we have created very good links with Man U. On the pitch we have a very good young side developing. A team that will only get better. Anyone who thinks we arent in a better position as a club now as opposed to 12 months ago must be blind
I dont buy into all these team work you out nonsense. Nigel showed too much faith in some players at times that I would agree with. Jamie Vardy was the first player allowed to cruise, Nigel kept trying to play Anthony Knockaert through his bad form and then David Nugent was played throughout his bad patch. Had they been pulled out the fire a little earlier and then put back in then maybe there bad runs wouldnt have lasted as long. In Vardy's case he just wasnt good enough In the summer we get rid of some high earners that are eating up a large chunk of the wage bill and we got again next year, much stronger for the experience with a bigger squad giving us more options on the pitch and off the bench. Beckford, Danns, Gallagher, Wellens, St. Ledger and Konchesky are on over 100K a week and that effects the squad size as we cant afford to simply go and get someone in on loan where we have to pay a decent amount of the wages. The most important thing has to be the long term future of the club over short term success (Portsmouth being the prime example) I really dont get why football fans always call for the managers head when times are a little tough but they always acknowledge when times a good that stability is key. Changing managers doesnt mean anything will change. He could do worse then Nigel or just the same, we need to stop looking at the names being linked with the job by the bookies and get realistic. Who is really going to want the job. The high profile managers linked in the past arent interested, just because Sven came it doesnt mean other will. You need a sensible manager and thats what we have got. We really need to work with what we have and not risk blowing all our work as we will go backwards and back to square 1. We cant keep repeating our same mistakes and just blame the manager
... how long did it take Mourinho to win the Prem? ... how long has it taken Malky McKay to win the Championship? .. you mention stability but Pearson has hardly kept the ship stable - the team's form has fluctuated from mediocre to very good to abject ... and we have a number of very disillusioned pros still on our books ... stability!
Proud, you talk so much sense. We have to stick with NP for another season as he has laid the foundations for us. As you said in an earlier post, next season will all be about results and getting us to The Prem. I would love to hear what the reaction would be IF we actually pulled off the miracle this season!!!
Yeah Sven's players. Changing managers isnt going to change the fact that Beckford, Danns, St. Ledger, Konchesky, Gallagher and Wellens are on miles too much money for their abilities. None of the them have had a run in the team this season except Konch because they arent contributing what there taking from us. Comparing Jose to this is totally different as he is arguably the best manager in the world. But just look how bad the team and club set up is at Real at the minute. Even Jose cant be deal with it, he seems tired and broken by it with his interviews. He has had enough and wants out Malky was given a full season to build something at Cardiff and had the full backing of the fans and everyone behind him. The crucial different with him is he had a 2 summers to build where Nigel has only had 1. That allowed him to build something and then have another look at what he had and needed to go again. Nigel took over a complete mess and just tried to patch it up in January. In the summer he tried to build his own squad but still the effects of previous mis management was restricting him Look when Nigel left last time. Paulo came in and simple destroyed everything in 10 games. And we went from a team not far off promotion to a group of players sulking and fighting relegation. The owners have never said they want promotion this season or next. They have always said as soon as possible. Very smartly worded While yes we know they want it this season but maybe they realise it takes time. Vichai built King Power from scratch so maybe he will realise it takes time to build something successful
