Oh, so my short tenure as MDT editor ends with a bang, rather than a whimper. Unlike our club, which seems hell bent on whimpering its way to the finish line - which quite frankly, can't come soon enough.
I still think winning all four remaining games would get us into the play-offs (73), and possibly even three wins and a draw (71). Hard to see it, though. I've always disagreed with people who argued there was no point in making the play-offs or getting promotion, but I'm coming round to their way of thinking. The money would help in theory, but I don't trust Webber to spend it wisely, and we need time to get rid of a lot of players and develop some new ones, which would be very difficult to do in the PL. Also, for the first time, I have my doubts about Wagner. Another miserable season, basically.
I think it’s harsh to have doubts about Wagner, just as it was harsh to have doubts about Smith during our PL relegation season. We have been horribly hit by key injuries at the worst times - he’s managed to grind out some great results despite that. But the team is mentally fragile and needs a lot of work, which just isn’t possible mid-season.
I agree with all that, especially the last point. I wish we had given Wagner the job before the World Cup because that would have meant he had some time to work with the group of players without having to chase results. As a consequence, he has been on the Sat - Tue - Sat treadmill, without any real opportunity to experiment in training, and because we have so many internationals, there was no time during the international break either. I only said I have doubts, which centre around the fact that we seem to have gone back to a bare midfield where Sara is being asked to do the impossible when there have been a couple of matches in which we seemed close to solving the midfield riddle that has hounded us for the last two seasons by making Sara into the lynchpin but also ensuring that he has enough solid support to allow him to be creative. I know the injuries haven't helped, but I am tired of seeing hopeful punts upfield which are generally badly overhit. Ultimately, though, I'm still very glad that Wagner is at the wheel and not Smith. At least Wagner seems to care and is making an attempt to rebuild the relationship with the fans that Webber and Smith allowed to deteriorate so badly.
The folly of sacking Farke has been fully exposed over the last eighteen months. That isn't however an excuse to have a go at Wagner. I doubt that last night's debacle would have occurred had especially Hanley and maybe Gibson not been sidelined. Ironically were to win the final four games we would probably be the firm team going into the play offs. Why do I find myself fearing rather than hoping that will happen?
I feel I need to step back a little from my previous post. I am not 'having a go' at Wagner. I am still very happy he is here, since under his coaching I have seen a handful of games all of which I enjoyed much more than any game under Smith. I also accept that he has had no time at all to work with the players except in preparation for yet another match (if only he had been given the World Cup break) and he's had horrible luck with injuries.
The play off final to Birmingham where we lost on penalties in 2002 still haunts me & I had belief in that group of players . This lot are sorely missing a leader especially without Handley . Seemed a bit risky to go with only 3 actual centre backs as suspenjuries happen in football & not for the first season we have players filling in out of position. Not replacing Pukki & going with Sargent & Idah clearly wasn't sufficient either . Last night Middlesbrough scored every time they shot which happens sometimes but only after we squandered 3 or 4 good chances to take the lead. Starting Pukki yet again when it's clear to see that Golden goose has stopped laying eggs & no longer wants to play for us is Wagner's biggest failing. Sending out a message that a guy that wants out & in horrible form is undropable
I think leadership is something sorely missing in this team, Hanley and McLean are ok but we need better leaders. Perhaps next game Wagner could drop Byram into CB which would allow Sorensen to move into midfield and push Sara up the pitch a bit
This defeat was abject surrender. How a team can play so well at Blackburn then play so badly at Middlesbrough is beyond comprehension other than the two established CB were missing. Even so, Sorensen has been so reliable when called upon as a CB, but went missing yesterday. The score line suggests that there was a general malaise amongst the team. Those out of contract: Pukki, Marquinhos(loan), Hayden (loan), Dowell, Byram, Hernandez and McGovern. Pukki is leaving and the two loan players have not brought much to the side, Hayden being injured for much of his time at CR. Byram is another injury prone player and will probably leave. McGovern is now 38 years old and with Krul still around I can’t see him staying. Leaving Dowell and Hernandez. Can’t decide if they will stay, but others will have an opinion.
Just let me staple the vicar. ( google misheard lyrics) I didn't take your post as being critical of Wagner. I think that you and I have been on the same sheet for the past couple of years.
Would you like either of them to stay? You said you don't know what they will do, but Hernandez and Dowell, do you want them to stay?
Dowell is 25 and seems talented enough to play in Championship. Hernandez is 30 years old and might be considered too old to be offered another contact, say beyond two years? Don’t think he has scored for about three years, but could be wrong on that one. My biggest gripe is that NCFC spent the best part of a total of £18m on Tzolis and Rachica both of whom have been on the bench or loaned out.
The frustrating thing is actually we were playing some wonderful football before the first goal. We were running them ragged. Then that sucker punch of a first break, with such a young team lacking that grit of experience, they crumbled. Simple as that. Also when you have a non-CB in there for too long it gets exposed, especially against the form striker in the league right now.
I would offer Hernandez a 2 year contract with an option of a third, maybe the same with Dowell, but not so much. Yeah I still have hopes for Tzolis, Rachica played as well as anyone in the premiership season. I think we loaned him for a year hoping we would get promoted and have him back the following year. We gambled on Tzolis, which doesn't look to have worked so far, but he is still fairly young, ask me this time ext year.
Most importantly, he hasn't had a run of games. Coming on a few times with fifteen minutes to play does nothing to develop a player. Look at Idah.
I would offer contracts to both Hernandez and Dowell. Onel is still very quick, has to the ability to beat players and gives everything on the pitch. Dowell is skillful, creates good movement and scores goals. Both could be vital next season. Tzolis needs more game time but he has to earn that. He's 21 now and needs to fulfill his youthful promise with hard work and results on the pitch. Wagner is the right sort of coach to get the most out of him and the other young players coming on.
He doesn't just get a chance because that's what he needs. He needs to be making a case in training. It's not the managers fault he's not starting, it's his. He needs to make the case for starting in training.
Regarding Tzolis, judging by the fact that he looked totally out of shape when he came back from Twente, you are probably right that he was not doing enough in training. But we don't know that because we can never know what happens behind the scenes. Managers have favourites and players they take against. Also, the way a player trains is not necessarily the way he performs in a game. Some players blossom under pressure, others wilt. The only way to be sure is to see what happens in a real match. The proof of the pudding. (Sadly, Tzolis does look a bit of a pudding, but let's hope Wagner is getting him into shape.)
