I admit I have had serious doubts about fletcher's managing abilities but it has to be said we have undoubtedly improved since he took over from Reidy. Should we manage to stay up (and it's becoming a little more likely recently) I think he will have earned the chance to start as manager next season. However should we go down then IMO he has to go. Thoughts?
I have my tin hat on when I say this but ..... IMO I think he should go, I think its due to results around us that we are out of the relegation zone and not due to Fletcher's abilities as a manager .... I was hoping that he'd go to Bournemouth but sadly I think that was just a rumour and nothing else !
The mature spine of the team probably has more to do with it than Fletcher........you couldn't say he was an experienced defensive coach being a mid-fielder,with us having the best current defence in the league. A cockroach could have probably done better than Peter Reids one point from twenty seven Mrs LaLa.......although the odds where heavily stacked against him.......he should have been relieved of his job during the summer.......because he had failed dismally before adminisration started.
Brent has said this week that Fletchers position will be reviewed at the end of the season-whatever that means.From a fans point of view if we survive this season then he should stay.However anyone who is the manager next season will need improved coaching/training facilities and finances to get us into league 1.
Although we aren't winning enough games to be totally convincing, especially at home, we've become a lot harder to beat, and we haven't taken a multi-goal hammering since we lost 3-1 to Torquay on 19 November. Indeed, we've only lost 5 out of 22 league games since then. From our perspective, it's a bit of a circular argument to say we're only better because we have a stronger squad and not because of Fletcher when Fletcher may have been instrumental in bringing in the better players. Only Brent is in a position to know that. Given that there will be a bit of slack in the wage budget in the summer as old contracts drop out, I guess there's reason to hope for further improvement in 2012/13. On the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" basis, if we stay up, I suspect that Fletcher will stay on and maybe he would deserve that for pulling the club out of the screaming nosedive it was in. If we go down, he has to go, not just because of suffering relegation but because I suspect he's still a pretty expensive animal [expensive enough to be caught speeding in an Audi Q7] and I don't see how that will be paid for in the Blue Square. If I sound less than convinced, it's because I'm less than convinced.......
No No No notDistant..........we don't remember who was driving it.....although he has to cough up because the car is in his name, it could of been anyone of two people.
I think Fletcher has done well. This may be way off beam but I do believe that if we were not under relegation pressure - had picked up 10 points, say, from the first ten games - a modest aspiration - then this squad would be doing quite well in League 2. I don't think you can say it's down to the players when we do OK, Plymborn, and it's the manager's fault when we don't. Credit where it is due, Fletcher has put the current team together and we seem to be edging away from the trapdoor - fingers crossed!
mac......this is the first time this season that we have been more than one game from a relegation spot (4pts).......and that is because they are working their socks off, if only we had a mid-field maestro.
But surely that's the point, Plymborn. We were stone last and have struggled our way upwards - something we haven't been able to do for the last three seasons. Fletcher is raw and totally inexperienced BUT - and it is a big but - he did take the job on and has brought in some good players on loan and for free. Yes, we could do with a Nallis or a Frio but we haven't got one - and neither has anyone else that I've seen in league 2. We have some flair players on loan and one or two youngsters who have promise but in the main we have workers. The team has a solid spine now and Purse could well turn out to be the most crucial signing made. Wotton will run through walls to keep us in the league and generally we have a sound defence - a very different defence from Peter Reid's. I was not impressed by Fletcher's appointment and he isn't ther best speaker we've ever heard but he does have the players with him and is getting the points, slowly but steadily. I still think the team is much better than it's current position - not ready for League 1 yet but definitely the core is in place. A bit of money, some shrewd recruitment and next year - we shall see - but I still think you are far too hard on Fletcher. There wasn't exactly a queue of star managers looking to take us on and the money isn't there to pay for one anyway.
The prediction league I did last week covering the last ten games (before Sat).......showed that we were eleventh in the league.......so we are better than our present league position.........I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree about Fletcher.
My stance on Fletcher and any manager we have had remains the same. You simply cannot crucify him when things go wrong and then fail to give him some credit when things go well or better. Either no manager has influence or they all do and should be judged in the same way by results. Our results have improved therefore Fletcher must take some credit for it irrespective of who is playing in the squad. We all know the answer to this question already if we are honest. If we stay up then he will stay unless he gets a better offer elsewhere. If we go down then it is more likely he will go. Do I want him to stay is another question altogether. I am totally undecided on that one. Is avoiding relegation enough in the success collumn or is it just masking the situation. If he stays then I will back him and if next season started the way this one did then I think he would be sent on his way anyway so it will be accademic.
Survival is the name of the game at present.....if that is achieved then the Fletcher question should not be a sudden knee jerk reaction.........I think his contract is up for renewal this summer.....but when it would be interesting to know..........when he became full-time manager did his contract expiring date stay the same. Brent and the Directors should sit down without the feeling of euphoria dominating proceedings,then decide what next seasons targets should be. If we get relegated (heaven forbid) then Fletcher,Walton and sadly Larrieu should go,that would surely lighten the payload.........and without the hype, revalue if Wotton has anything more to give.......no one doubts where is heart is but is his body upto it anymore.
Happily see him given a chance next season; he's bought some good players in and if he can get a goal scorer 12/13 we have the spine to the team already. We haven't been winning all games but neither have we been losing!
plymborn I have to tell you as one who has seen first hand that Wotton brings to the table what Wotton always did. He was never the greatest player but he has drive and loves Argyle to the bone. He leads from the front and bullies others into doing the same. On the pitch we need somebody to galvanise the troops and put the passion back into playing in a green shirt. He may not wear the captain's armband but trust me he is the one you hear giving it welly. We need a Wotton and do not need a Walton.
Sparksy was waxing lyrical about Walton's defending on Saturday, apparently on at least 2 or 3 occasions it was him that kept goals out of our net - once from the line.
Laws of averages says that every player has to do something right at some point Mrs lalala. Walton just does not do it for me and I know it is always just opinion. No heart and very little effort and I just don't think he ever has had for anyone other than himself. He doesn't lead on the pitch and often just moans at others to cover his own ineptitude. Get rid for me and he could go now and not wait for the end of the season.
I don't normally disagree with you Sensible but I do on a few points you've raised ..... if it wasn't for Walton on Saturday we would have lost 2 - 1 on Saturday and in my opinion its Wotton who is definately passed his sell by date, when he left last time the dressing room became a much happier place. I personally think he was only brought back to appease the fans. Some matches that I listen to on the radio Wotton hardly gets mentioned and that poses a question ..... is he taking up a place in the team that somebody more capable could fill ?
Like I said Gat it is always only opinion but in Wotton's case I don't agree he is surplus to requirements. I absolutely don't think Brent would spend money to appease the likes of me so I would guess he was brought back because A. He was free. B. His wages would not be too high and C. He didn't need motivating and was experienced. You are talking about Walton and his contribution in one game. I said that laws of averages says all players do things right sometimes. On Saturday he did a few right. But, generally he does not cut it for me for the reasons I've already given. I just don't rate the man at all.
