This old chestnut again... can we please just put this to bed one last time. The so called "super squad" which Hess put together, which apparently was "demolished" by Allen failed to win promotion from a "poor quality" league. Ok lets review: The so called "super squad" which Hess put together, which apparently was "demolished" by Allen failed to win promotion from a "poor quality" league. TWICE The team that was storming the early season contained a core of Allen signings Nelson, Barrett, Flanagan, Weston and Burton. Allen admittedly built on a strong squad but his input was required to give the team that final push, it is grossly unfair to ignore this critical input. And as for the five year plan, may I remind you that it was Scally who stated anything short of promotion is a failure. So we would assume that the promotion would have been part of the plan so I don't think it was the fan's impatience that caused Hess to fall on his sword.
Whatever chestnut you want you have, the fact is that the longer MA was in charge and the more influence he had on the team, the worse they became. Supporters of every other team he had managed warned us what would happen and they were right.
Depends on your definition of "worse" and the base case you use. If I get your drift you are suggesting that the form and style of football under Allen declined as the season progressed, this I think we can both agree on. However without Allen's tenure we would still be L2 which is an improvement. Now given the press about Scally wanting a manager in to make a short term, instant impact on the team and gain promotion MA ticked that box, however is that for the long term benefit of the club is debatable but the blame for the approach lies with Scally not MA
BSG I haven't agreed with you much about this 'old chestnut' - but definitely concur about where the blame really lies. I think that Mr.Scally, in his youth wrote an ( unfunny ) tv program called 'Never mind the quality, feel the width. [video]http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC4QtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyHl 8dJqtywg&ei=K1WBUpq9IYyshQfQmYGIBw&usg=AFQjCNECK0GMHlcqjAH8Z5Ymo_EoIp8QfA&sig2=NcSrZoYx_QEFYIGAWb-Mrw&bvm=bv.56146854,d.d2k[/video]
No Mad Dog, no passion. We've now got a team thats forgotton how to win and a new manager that wants to play a completely different style of football. Its a recipe for disaster... Its like getting Stoke last season and ask them to play like Barcelona!!!