Basically it was asking the question does it matter who comes in as manager, as this squad isn't good enough? It's a question tbh many have asked on here. I do think we have a good enough squad to survive although we need Fletcher back ASAP but the article goes on to say di Fanti should bear some, if not most of the responsibility for a poor squad ( their words not mine) of players that have made little or no impact so far and they printed this team of new players that didn't make the starting line up on Sunday. Mannone Celustka, Roberge, Diakite, Dossena Mavrias, Ba, Cabral, Karlsson Borini, Watmore Now, I'm not suggesting it be done but would anyone not mind at least seeing that back 5 tried and maybe one from Ba or Cabral to play alongside Cattermole and Ki? I think it would leak less than 3 goals a game personally? Like I said, I do think our squad and team are far, far better than results and points suggest and think any new manager will have plenty of options to have a go until January, where perhaps 1 or 2 can be added on key positions to boost the run in. We are very much idem but nowhere near out IMO. I just wish a permanent solution is made this week sometime and it doesn't drag into yet another rudderless week for Swansea game?
I've been asking that question for a while now. Not if they're good enough but do they care enough. This is what I would like to see played while we wait for Fletcher to return Westwood Celustka, Roberge, Diakite, Dossena Cattamole Colback ki Johnson--------------------Giacc Jozy Frankly I think both goalkeepers are dreadful and feel really let down by Westwood and I'd expect the new manager to bring in a new number 1 in january. I think Colback in the middle with Catts will give the defense extra cover while they get to know each other and develop an understanding. Ki a little bit further forward so that he can join attacks and not just start them. we need bodies further forward quicker without leaving the defence too exposed.
I'm not convinced about both our keepers either tbh. They aren't bad but they aren't premiership quality IMO either.
Personally i do think their is quality there. However, its all about picking the quality and not letting the loonatics run the asylum. Bri you make a good point about Ki starting the attacks but i dont necceserally see him being the problem. Peter Schemeichel made a good point on MOTD about how long it took Westwood to distribute the ball. Its all well and good starting from the back but not when the opposition is back in position. If we want to play this way, the keeper and the defenders need to be quicker on their feet so Ki can get it to the likes of Jozy, Giac, etc. The team i would go for is; Westwood Celutska Diakete Roberge Colback Catts Ki Borini Giacherrini Johnson Jozy Im sick to death of Johnson cutting inside and skying. Lets get him on the left and supply some crosses for Jozy. I would have Borini and Giach interchanging on the right hand side. I like the look of Giach behind the front man in the no 10 role, hence why i have started him there as opposed to on the right. I think Jozy would give Vidic a good battle and taking him out the game may allow the other 3 to come on and attack.
Would you bring someone in in Jan? Id even consider it Short term. An older keeper who can still do a good job while educating the other lads. Like Given or Tommy Sørensen?
Surely your suggestion that Ball should be considered as permanent manager, with all the attributes you listed, means we're not rudderless. You were saying summat about him having the respect of the fans & players etc ...........
I have only championed Bally amongst others stating with some justification that he is not the worst of the possibilities out there? My contention that he would be a decent shout remains but as I have always stated, there are other options available that would be better. However there are plenty that are far worse? Btw, I have always maintained that our squad is far better than its current position would suggest and blame PDC absolutely for the shambolic state of the team and club. I mean, there are some folks who are championing Martin Jol, who has himself has this very morning stated he could be the next for the chop as Fulham are struggling? I'd be delighted to have Bally, Poyet, di Matteo, Ole Gunnar or even the lad Meulensteen as the top man so long as it's done sooner rather than later so we can all move on from the disaster zone left by the mad Italians reign.
I defo don't think Ki is part of the problem, I just think he'd be better utilised a bit further up the pitch. Can't have Jozy holding the ball up if the bodies aren't getting forward to support him in time. Agree with Westwoods distribution speed, Westwood is a real let down but all of his mistakes this season are much more forgivable than Mannone's positioning for the MK Dons goals imo. Positioning is a goalkeeping basic. A foundation all keepers must master if you're going to play in the premiership. If he can't get the basics right I dread think what the rest of his game is like. Set plays and goalkeeping errors are a big problem.
Sorry mate, it was poor phrasing on my part. What i meant was Ki is doing the job he was brought in to do and is setting up attacks well. However, its the rest of the team that need to give Ki the ball quicker in order to set up attacks quicker.By the time Ki gets the ball its a lot hard for him to do his job as the opposition are back in position. Imagine Ki in Villa's side the way they move the ball up the pitch?
Me for one, he's a million miles a better manager than Kevin Ball is at the moment. Jol has handled some very difficult situations with coolness, firmness and lots of dignity ........ I'd say that's exactly what we need at the moment. The last thing we need is a 'players pet' manager who has no managerial experience, allows the players far too much leeway and has only experience of relegation as a player and manager. Talking of bringing Bardsley back shows his lack of understanding both from a diplomatic & playing perspective. Jo & Fulham have ground themselves to a standstill together but that was inevitable given the situation there.
The idea was to bring players in better than what we have ok.what we have done is replace jimmy mac with giaccharine swapped sess for altidore.brought in all these players and still continue with the old squad.ki is the only difference.what is going to happen with the new back four we have bought.the central midfield we have bought I can't see them getting a game now catts is back and looking good.all those players should be knocking on the new managers door and saying play me play me play me now
definitely mate, agree 100%. Still would like to see him pushed a bit further up into his natural position. Laudrup always played him deeper than his natural role he played at celtic. I think it would give us the opportunity to help protect the defence a bit more by bring jack or cabral in next to cats.
I assume your 'players pet' assumption is purely speculative and your opinion only? Or do you have some concrete evidence to support that argument? For me, in his two solitary games thus far I have seen a marked improvement in attitude and application over the loony tune Romans reign and a decidedly happier camp of players. In my vast managerial experience, that's pretty good man management and culture provision for a far more prolonged and successful team ethic, given the perilous and decimated state the team was in 2 weeks ago. You may well question his suitability for the job based on his experience in the top flight, an argument we could certainly have legroom for expanding but not his application to this point.
Speculative, and my opinion, but with no little consideration or observation. Talking about bringing back Bardsley, despite him being out injured, was totally necessary and daft. Doing that after the club had punished him and put him up for sale is a clue. Allowing O'Shea to go to the press calling him 'Bally' and saying the players wanted him is another clue. Allowing Colback to do the same is yet another clue. Going to the press saying how good the players are is another clue. The players have got us to rock bottom so there's little room for praise is there? The players, in the camp, are bound to be happier ....... they've got there own way yet again and Ball is being treat like one of the lads. The problem is that he's allowing and enjoying it.
Cest vs Smug debates are great, totally pointless and I have no idea whats going on but great none the less.
OK, so a couple of players were politically incorrect by using the manager's name.As a temp manager maybe he asked them to use it to project harmony and their love for him! After the last ranter maybe the spirit of team ethic prevails now. Just a thought.
O'Shea would never have called SAF, 'Fergie' which shows how the players regard Bally imo. If Ball did ask them to do that then it shows why he isn't capable of doing the job. If he asked them to say he should get the job then that's abysmal.
i remember spraizia giving a interview when he was caretaker on sky after we won and all the players walking past shouting give him the job, look how that finished those lazy bastards are the last people who should be involved in the process. them calling the manager bally in interviews shows a total lack of respect for the man. they should be running through walls for us, for the shirt and for the honour of turning out in front of our great support week in week out. if thats not enough they only need to log into thier online banking and have a look at thier balance. where is these guys pride in the job? why arent they busting a gut to get us out of the situation they have got us in instead of rallying support for who they want in the hot seat. most of our squad need to take a good hard look at themselves as they are not performing well enough and if it was any other industry they could be sacked for not performing
