Quoted in The Times. "in the dark" about his future, no discussions with Fernandes. But if he is sacked "life goes on" Confident he can get results "when everyone is fit" Fans "pay their money to see their team and are entitled to their opinion" I'll give you my pure, unexpurgated opinion after 12 games. But I think you can guess the gist of it already.
OK. He has responded as have some of the players. They are aware its been woeful. They recognise that. Well lets see a bloody response on Sunday then. Lets see some kind of game plan from the off. Lets see the first half display improving. Lets see an increase in desire, tempo, commitment and effort. Lets see some personal pride and pride in the shirt. If we are chinned by a suberb performance from a great group of players, fine, I can accept that, but don't wander on to the pitch aimlessly looking like we're beat from the start. Take responsibilty, don't hide, take a chance in their half, and FFS sake play for each other!! Man up. That is all.
At least he thinks he can turn it around (although, with the millions at stake for digging your heels in rather than walking with dignity, what else would he say). That's the nicest thing I can say. However, I am really jarred off with the "when the players are fit" excuse. The players had from the end of May to the beginning of August to get fit - approximately 10 weeks. That includes a holiday and a pre-season where the fitness should improve. We are approximately another 10 weeks into the season so, giving everyone 5 weeks off for holidays, that's 15 weeks of training without reaching peak fitness. If someone badly sprained their ankle and was out for 5 weeks, would ANYONE think that it is alright for them to require another 4 months and still not be fully fit? Essentially, it falls into two possibilties - the "not fit" includes those coming back from injury. Which team has a season where everyone is fit all the time (probably in the more stoic days of Stanley Matthews)? Say we have injury troubles, by all means - blame that (although we looked to be mid to high in the teams most affected by injuries). It's a perpetual excuse that isn't even a very good excuse. The other possibility is that the players are genuinely not fit. This could be down to the players attitudes, the ability of the coaching staff or niggly injuries (knocks etc) that don't count as proper injuries. If it's the players that aren't getting or keeping themselves fit then they should all be fined. They should be named and shamed. A certain Moroccan has been named as not being fit (and if he's faking his ankle injury then he should be fined too). If all the other players are in the same boat then say so. If this is the case then it should be panic stations. If it's the coaching staff, fire them. Simple as that. There is no justifiable reason why coaches, experienced ones at that, cannot do what all managers and coaches do every season and get their team match fit by game one (or within a fortnight thereof). If it's the training facilities then replacing a few playing surfaces, whatever the cost, will be the smallest gamble we'll have made in the last 3 years. So, remind me again what this excuse is and why it's still being peddled????
FFS.... I thought I would only be depressed around 4:30 pm on Sunday, now I'm depressed and it's only Friday lunchtime....... Shape up or Ship Out Harold.....
Having evryone fit is not going to happen. Every club in the Premier League has players out through injury and this will be the case all season. HR is going to be bemoaning his bad luck with injuries and fitness all season. That one line tells me that results are not going to change. He clearly does not think that he is doing anything wrong. He can not blame the utter cr*pness of performances on this. We have been totally clueless in all areas of the pitch. Get rid quick TF or we will be left with a manager having to plan for the Championship (should we be allowed in). AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! That feels a little better.
