Ask yourself the question how much it would cost.to strengthen the squad to survive in the Championship when you look at the current squad that Pompey have. I feel it is better to get promotion when you have accumulated a squad that will not only get a comfortable promotion from League 1 but also oñe that is capable of pushing for.the play-offs the following oñe. As we can see the current collective is not good enough, so although it is annoying it might be more prudent to rebuild the team by getting youngish players who might be with other League 1 or 2 teams, or even non League but who can improve under the stewardshio of a good coach and motivator.
Evening Devon. Hope you are well.I suppose Jackett has been slaughtered on other social media outlets in the wake of that result. I feel the present situatión is the culmination of several factors. It feels that KJs squad has reached its end. Rather like KJ himself after 4 good years in the job. I do not think a sudden replacement would solve anything. Let's just get to the end of the season, analyse strengths and weaknesses, who would be the best coach to take the club forward so that he can shape the squad in his own way. Oñe área that definitely needs strengthening is the level of youth players coming through. The club should be scouting South and West London because there must be a lot of talent there that is not hoovered up.
But you're assuming survival is the objective. If the objective, as some Portsmouth fans would argue and tbf I was assuming Sharpe was going down those lines too, was just to make money off the club, then it would always be in the owner's interests to get promoted as even if we went straight down again, a season in the Championship would probably be a nice booster and the massively increased TV/solidarity payment and increased away fans would offset any potentially smaller home attendance if we're losing every week. Of course, if their objectives are more benign, then it would be preferable to not got promoted until we're ready as you say. However, the many cynics in our fanbase would argue any desire to not get promoted shows that they just want to siphon money off the club but if that were the case, staying in League One would be counter-intuitive. Becoming a yo-yo club (the West Brom or Norwich of League One) would be the ideal.
Afford might be the wrong word. Aren't prepared to spend the enormous money required to compete in the Championship especially in the current climate. It wouldn't surprise me if they regret buying the club and don't know what to do with it.
It does feel like his time is up - he's had his time and after 4 years we're not really any further forward. Who can really argue that the team we put out against Sunderland in the cup is not markedly better than the one we have now? 4 years isn't a bad stint for a modern manager. They've let him have a good go and it's not worked out. I bet he can't believe he's still in the job or perhaps knows he's safe because he knows the owners don't want to pay out and let him go. Where is the accountability? As you said they won't do anything until the end of the season unless things get worse. Thing is we'll probably win a few towards the end of the season and he'll get a new deal and we'll be stuck in this same position a year on. Sigh.
That is the biggest fear, being stuck with KJ beyond the end of this season. However, he may feel it is in the interests of both parties to go their sepárate ways.
Can't really see how the Eisner's can siphon off money with the club in League 1, or as You would hope in the Championship because the increase in revenue would be offset in higher wages. I do not believe Championship clubs pay huge transfer fees. My ideal would be to be more savvy like Reading and Brentford. As for the cynics, I feel they might be slightly wide of the hierarchy's intentions, although there could be elements of truth.
You talk about the accountability of the manager, but what about the players? While I haven't watched many matches, I gather the players have been lackadaisical at best... but who holds the players accountable? If the Damned United taught me anything, it's that there seems to be no accountability for players' performances and actions. The manager loses his job but the players just coast along, hell they don't care if we're ****e or not, they're getting paid regardless, and chances are if they leave, they'll find another club easy enough. I saw on Twitter someone commented that our form has dried up since the salary cap was scrapped and suddenly promotion wasn't such a necessity for the players because they wouldn't have to take play cuts... Which if true (and I do remember the salary cap was dropped in January or whenever and our form has been ****e since then) could explain stuff. I guess, having a team of money-grabbing mercenaries is possible even in League One. And even if they have issues with the manager, they're over paid 'professional' footballers who clearly don't understand their own privilege (especially in these covid times) and they should put in the effort regardless.
Yes the players are playing really badly but who's job is it to motivate them, to put them in a system whixh enables them to play? He has completely lost the dressing room. They are not playing for him and he is stinking the place out.
I have met Kenny Jackett and he is a really nice person, BUT, he is unable to 'man manage' the players. He has lost control completely, hence our poor form since Christmas. It is difficult to see where the next League win is coming from to be honest. We might even struggle at Wembley next Saturday
They're professional athletes. They're paid more in a year than any 'ordinary' person could ever dream of, even in league 1. They do a relatively stress free job that thousands of people dream of doing but never even get close to be able to do. If after all that they still need motivation to do their damn job, then that says a lot about their character, or lack of. Fair point about the system, but even in a poor system, players can put in effort.
Interesting post Lapras. I would like to comment on one or two points that you have raised. One being players being lackadaisical and not really caring about their performance. Most of the players are in their twenties, and players such as Harness and Curtis are possibily approaching their peak years so I would have thought they would be hellbent on putting in a shift in order to get noticed by a club higher up the pecking order. So I am not sure that notion is quite correct, although it might seem apparent to some fans. As for other players like Lee Brown, I am certain they would like to get promotion to earn a higher salary and compete at a level that they have never experienced. I am not sure what the reason is. Why should a team that went top at Christmas and playing solid if not outstanding football should be imploding quickly, is a mystery. Is it down to KJ or is it that is something beyond Jackett´s control? The whisperings will continue.
Look most of them are pants - and should try harder. However, for me, it's ultimately down to the manager to motivate them and to built a team to get promoted. He's had 4 years to do that and failed. Those players have had it with him. They don't want hoof ball, ultra defensive tactics that don't suit them. He's also got a habit of falling out with players. It wouldn't surprise me it's happened again. I also reckon the multi millionaire owners asking the players to take a 40% wage cut hasn't gone down well.
If he has fallen out with some of the players, then surely he should be clearing his desk in the morning? The current situation seems to be a malaise from Pompey´s ghosts of mediocrity of the 60s, 70s, and 90s. KJ has awakened these bad spirits of the past.
Luckily I wasn't around to experience those memories. Must have been horrific! And yes, Kenny, if he had anything about him should have put his hands up after the weekend and walked away. But he hasn't. Too stubborn and too arrogant. Also wants another cup on the CV. He seems completely aloof to the criticism without the fans being their to demonstrate and owners turning their Internet off and phone off the hook. It's a paycheck until the end of the season.
