I am quite happy to admit that I was doubtful about our new head coach. He arrived quickly to replace a very popular figure in GFZ. Somehow looking at his record over the years, I was not sure that he was the man to take us forward. It seemed to me that he was a cheap option like so many players we have employed in the past and someone who might be a flop. Over the past few weeks he has presented himself as a tactician, and I would admit that today he did get the tactics right. Not many managers/coaches have gone to Man City and had a two goal lead against a team that has been assembled at huge cost. Yes in the end we just didn't have the men to bring off the bench that were capable of replacing those who had run themselves into the ground, but in that glorious hour we used space that many EPL sides didn't know was there. Has Beppe bought time today? His record so far suggests that he has worked out how to shore up the defence against Championship sides, although we have not been certain that we can score goals. I am sure we all hope that he will be a success, but do we feel that today's showing is a progression, or a one off when players could show that their value on the Pozzo balance sheet had increased?
I still think he's a good option, his record was very good in fact, don't listen to the hype and put his career in context of Italian football. I don't believe the championship is complex either, do miss zola and he turned our style around in a way nobody else could have done but I think Beppe is the square peg in the square hole at the moment.
To be honest...not really. It'll take while yet to get a clear picture of where we are and where we are going. In the league there is still nothing to indicate that we are going to make a late surge for the play offs, but if we can replicate yesterday's first half then who knows? So for me the jury is still out.
Far too soon to make any sort of judgement. 8 months ago GFZ was the answer to our every prayer and one of the best managers we have ever had - now he is but a memory to us after those 5 home defeats in a row.............. It would be better to ask the same question in a year's time - not even at the end of this season.
An excellent article in the guardian (thursday I think) where Beppe talked about his background, struggles etc. I think he is an ideal manager for us - entirely compatible with our situation and philosophy. I think we will continue to improve the side as a team, improcve the solidity, improve the confidence that comes with that, and yesterday showed he could also inspire them to an astonishinig performance. I think it's fair to say that but for poor bondy's aberration (Kolarov) we would have walked off to a 2-2 draw. Smell that one West ham!
I thought he was scary looking. It was all I could comment on as I had no knowledge of him at all. I have certainly warmed to him. As has been said earlier, he seems to fit, and he believes in hard work. Whether he will be successful, or give the Pozzos long term confidence, is not something that can be answered yet, but I can't see people disliking him a la Bassett.
He is saying the right sort of things and we had a pretty good tactical set up in the fisrt half against City
I thought that Sannino showed some inexperience in putting Bond in goal, he is a young inexperienced keeper that could be the chink in what was otherwise a very strong Watford side. The rest we know which was a shame........ Sannino will be gone at the end if this season but he will do enough to earn himself some kudos for his next job
I knew nothing of him before so yes my opinion has changed. He was needed, with Zola we were sinking fast.
I liked him from the off. His first match against Ipswich was a really positive experience for the away support. In just 2 or 3 days he made improvements with the defence, and at the end of the match, when the players were walking off the pitch, dejected at the draw, he gathered them all up and changed their direction, walking them towards the away fans to applaud them. It made me smile. He has since been incredibly supportive of the fans, and on the pitch, there are obvious signs of improvement. Yes, some of his decisions seem strange at times, making only one sub in once match, i can't remember which one, for example but i love his style, i love his desire to include the fans, i loved that article in the Guardian, and i do think he really does know what he's doing. His record is misleading, and it's impossible to judge from that, but despite GFZ being lovely, Sannino has started to put right the seeming mess that Zola left behind. A great appointment so far...i think his passion and enthusiasm for the game, especially the English game, will drive him to greater things!
Rather surprised that you presume he will be gone by the end of the season. Sannino has 5 promotions to his name, which is 5 more than GFZ, so why should the Pozzos give him less time to prove himself. Within weeks he has shored up our defence and produced a side capable of tactically outwitting the second best team in the Prem. at least for 45 mins. which is more than any Premiership sides have done up there.
Ditto - and I wonder what would have happened yesterday had McGugan, Iriney and Hall been available....
I prefer to see for myself, so I'm looking forward to Thursday's game even though I'm only going to be able to see what the cameras show. It seems to be a case of so far, so good. I wouldn't say that my opinion of him has changed, as I will always try and give a manager a fair chance (strangely, the exception to that rule is Bassett. I was 14 at the time he was appointed but that opinion may have had something to do with it being the first managerial change since I started supporting the club)
While its great to bask in the glow of Saturday lets not lose reality..........in the league Sannino has won 1, lost 1 and drawn 3 not exactly impressive stats although one can argue that he has stopped the rot that was happening under GFZ and shorn up the defence As far as I know he is on a one year/season contract which the Pozzo's have the option of extending should he get us in the play offs (I presume). When he goes he will be replaced by another Italian unknown who hopefully will be able to speak at least a bit of the queens english. The next two matches against Forest and Brighton will probably dictate how the rest of the season will go, so good luck to the team
On current form I would say City are easily the best team in the Premiership (if not Europe) at the moment. Arsenal may be a great side but it is only a matter of time before City leapfrog them and stroll to the title.
I know frankness is not always welcome on here as it can upset the cozyness.At the risk of being unpopular (!!!) though I have to say Hornette you just go with the flow.So upset about the removal of Dyche, until was so exciting when Zola appointed about 5 mins later. Supposedly a Zola fan,you were then drooling over names of possible replacements for him while he was STILL IN CHARGE Now the word 'great' s being used about someone after a handful of games. I accept theres probably no one else out there who'd be willing to take on this club in its situation so unlikely to be any alternative to the current owners.Last season has to be seen as a success by any standards but they seem to have lost their way this.Seems the policy is they must have one of their fellow countrymen in charge of the team, thats a bit limiting and supposing they wished to recruit players from this country before the end of the transfer window where would their knowledge come from- Chamberlain?
