Am I the only person who is enjoying Neil being our manager? When reading the forum a lot of people slagging him off for picking his favorites, and them favorites are usually the academy lot. I think this is his best quality. I'm over the moon we have 4/5 players in our team from the academy. I would love that to increase to 6/7 next year - I don't understand why people seem unhappy with this trait of his. Secondly his record is pretty good when he's been manager / caretaker and we seem to be improving constantly. Finally, to me, he seems a good coach - not scared to drop someone who isn't performing (Adryan), not scared of picking someone he likes but the fans may not (Morrison) - and not scared to give people a second chance when others may have written then off (Murphy). Granted his subs aren't always the best and at times the tactics could be tweaked, but this his first full time roll and he seems to be improving constantly. Now this is only my opinion, but I'd like to know your views. Could Redfearn lead his Local Leeds Army to Premiership? Will he crumble when Cellino returns? Why do / don't you like him?
I partly agree with this part but then I question: 1) Is Morrison performing, he is a striker who is not scoring goals and missing a lot of chances, why has he not been dropped. 2) Second chances, Sloth and Antenucci should surely be starting ahead of Austin and Morrison? We have been a little fortunate, the formation was forced upon us against Sunderland and our midweek win came after forced injuries and illness meant changes to the team that made a difference. I think we would be mad to get rid of Redfearn right now, I think it would be plain stupidity to go into next season with him in charge of the first team. Someone has got it wrong, either Cellino is signing us poor quality players or Redfearn has his favourites, the combination of Cellinos signings and Redfearn coaching is not working so it needs addressing. When I hear Redfearn wanted us to sign Becchio it did concern me. We are winning at the moment, it feels good, one game at a time and at the moment I wouldn't rock the boat.
Ristac I for once agree with you why do we need Bechio he's injured and past 30 we stick with redders until the close season and get an experienced coach Parkinson should be looked at the lad works with freebies and has done well Morison should have gone last season unfortunatley he has still another year on his contract.How do we always give out the wrong contracts lets hope we have learned from our mistakes
Like Ristac I wouldn't be moving him on now. I don't think we will ever get to the prem with him in charge though, we have players who are capable albeit some inexperienced and not really a well rounded squad (way too many CMs, no wide players etc.) These are things that can and hopefully will be addressed in the summer. He just seems naive as a coach to me as 60 said, he has steadied the ship but don't compare him to the likes of Hockaday and Milanic because they were exceptionally useless. We haven't been treated to a great manager in a while, this is what is most likely to get us promoted imo. and not necessarily what players we sign at this stage.
I'm actually with you, leedsrevolution, not too sure why Redfearn gets so much hate. Of course he's going to be naive at times, it's his first position as a manager/head coach. Could he be better? Of course he could, but he's learning on the job and he's not done too badly considering the squad. A lot of people seem to think it's a really good squad, but I could not disagree more. Hopelessly unbalanced (how many central midfielders?!), ridiculous number of foreigners without experience of the league, no pace or width, and an over-reliance on inexperienced (albeit talented) kids. Other managers/head coaches may have achieved the same sort of results or better, but to be fair to Redfearn, he's working with restraints left, right and centre, and I'm sure his mandate after taking over was simply 'keep us up'. Playing foreigners with no experience of the league over seasoned Championship players when we could still conceivably go down would be madness.
I think Morison is performing - the goals aren't coming but we're winning games with him in the side and he does do a lot of good work with and without the ball. If we could replace him with somebody who does the same job and scores goals, then sure, but we have nobody else who can fill that target man role. Cani may be the answer, but his scoring record is dire, so unless he's suddenly become Ronaldo I don't see how taking Morison out would benefit us. I do agree about Sloth though - thought he was excellent at Reading, probably should've retained his place against Millwall.
A fair post, Rev, & I guess I agree (although I hadn't realised it!). Redders has to grow as much as the team does. I think we all tend to forget that even The Don and O'Leary struggled to start with, and look where we ended up with them! Much as I can't stand Morison, I acknowledge that he's been better this season than before, and that there's no obvious replacement for him, unless perhaps Cani has a remarkable transformation.
He is a Striker and we need a striker who can score goals, if Morison is in the team because he puts in a shift and performs then we might as well play another midfielder, I guess it depends on how you define performing?
Morison - think it's simply down to the fact that we don't have anyone else who's better at playing up top on their own. Cani? Who knows! Antenucci - he was awful on Saturday! Couldn't hit a coo's arse wi' a banjo! I like him, but i see him more as a Sherringham-type link man who scores goals on a fairly regular basis. He's certainly not a solo up top player IMO. Austin - there's no doubt he's been inconsistent during his time with us, but we're now playing him to his strengths. We've always played him as a DM, where he's blown hot & cold, but Redders is now playing him in an advanced role nd he's been outstanding. He may well go off the boil at some point, but he's doing really well. He's a source of great entertainment & amusement to the crowd where I sit. Cries of 'he's coming to get you' etc. every time he chases after the ball in the opposition half. His reputation goes before him, and it's a source of great amusement to watch player after player visibly shiitting themselves & either putting the ball out of play or messing up completely. His stats are good, but tbh, his tackling stats would be even higher, but for the number of fumbles/mistakes he forces.
That's just being facetious. I'm not a huge Morison fan, and if we had another striker who could play up front on his own, lead the line, bring others into play and score goals, I'd drop Morison in a second. The fact is, we don't (unless Cani proves myself and many others completely wrong). As Whitejock said, Antenucci's more of a link up man, Sharp's a poacher, Doukara's still something of an enigma and Cani is as of yet untested in this division. We're winning games at the moment - albeit we're not playing great football - and I'd say Morison has played a part in that run. He needs a goal, yes, but why upset the team or the system?
Sorry you feel that way but you pick a keeper to save goals, defenders to prevent chances, a midfield to create chances and chip in with goals and take the pressure off the back four and a striker to score you goals. Only one department is failing since the run of the year and that is the striker. Yes Morison did a lovely little chip pass to Byram the other week but the Murphy and Mowatt goals and the one scored by Sharp were nothing to do with a contribution from Morison. It is all fine lines and we could easily not have won those games and we might have only had 1-2 goals in the last 4 games. If Morison had not had any chances fine but he has and he continually fluffs them but this isn't about Morison, the opening question was in regards to Redfearn so I stand by my statement that something is wrong, Cellino in his signings or Redfearn and his favourites, do you wonder why Cellino signed Cani? My personal opinion is that Cellino feels Cani is better than what we have, Redfearn feels not, someone is wrong and I can't see the Cellino/Redfearn partnership continuing if Cellino continues to sign players who Redfearn refuses to use
No one would deny that you need a keeper to save shots, a defender to tackle a striker to score etc. But the reason you want this to happen is so the team wins. That is the only important thing. That is currently what's happening and you would be a fool to change it. I'm certainly not a fan of Morrison, but to change a winning team would be pointless. If we stop winning then yeah drop him.
I agree (regarding changing a winning team) if you believe Morison is playing an important part in the wins and I could argue why was Sloth dropped after a fantastic 2-0 away win to Reading. Look Murphy and Wootton were as good as sold in the transfer window, Warnock was not to be sold, Redfearn was overruled, a shuffle around against Sunderland, a couple of injuries and suspensions and by fortunate chance we have put together a nice run. I would honestly love to give the credit to Redfearn but I don't see it that way.
Im also happy with Redders. He still has some learning to do. During the summer, many were crying out for the young lads to get a chance. Hes giving them that and he still gets slated. Would you prefer another new man wholl feel obliged to playing all the johnny foreigners again? Our results are a hell of a lot more respectable than in recent seasons even the defeats. Do we not remember the relatively six and seven goal trouncings against rubbish? Short memories I think
Cellino has brought in 16 outfield players, on Saturday just two of those players started. Look at this through Cellinos eyes, he is signing players who he believes are better than what we have yet the coach continues to play the players he is used to - why? Cellino will not believe he is signing poor quality (and I am not saying he is), Cellino will feel Redfearn cannot handle the continental players and he is unable to coach and develop them.
I agree, No More Heroes - you only made that post on the 15th January Do I take it you are not impressed with the quality of signings made by Cellino? You agree that we have our best 11 on the pitch? Genuinely curious as to your thoughts on this.
Now this I agree with - Redfearn will not last, because he's not compatible with Cellino. There is a reason why the English players here before Cellino's time are starting ahead of his signings though - they know the league. Our little run is mainly down to pot luck and fortune in stumbling across a formation and system that suits us, but I don't think it's a coincidence that since dropping the majority of Cellino's foreign signings, we've been winning games and picking up points. I don't think any amount of persuading will make Cellino see sense over his transfer policy, but clearly Redfearn has (for the meantime, anyway) control of the players he picks - as far as I can see, he's picking the right ones.
Results show we likely have our best eleven on the pitch at this given time. Doubt if Italian guys on loan would care as much as young lads who have progressed through the youth ranks. Pleasantly surprised at where we now are Ristac. I dont dig as deep into performances as many because Im a plastic and dont have the same knowledge. Forty years ago, I got my kicks from Revies wins and five minutes highlights on MOTD. I get the same buzz from beating the Wallies regardless how it came about. His signings are not all poor and at least didnt cost a kings ransom
Disagree with this, the team can always be improved. Also imo. an important part of coaching/managing is being proactive rather than reactive. Seeing things fans don't etc. I think he sees less than fans to be honest, and thats the first time I have ever said that about a manager.
