I am replying to you mate, but not directing at you, if that makes any sense. I have read a load of times Mowbray had no Plan B. It is laughable in my opinion to think he didnt. The fella has been a top level coach for 20 odd years and has probably forgotten more plans than most. The real question, in my opinion, is whether we had the players for a Plan B? It was a clear as day Mowbray was trying to change playing options, such as rolling Hume into midfield when in possession, or compressing the middle when we lost it. Players struggled to adapt to those things. We didnt give him a centre forward that allowed us to stretch the game, or wing backa worthy of the name. We got the balance wrong in recruitment. Mowbray too many wrong ingredients to effectively implement any form of Plan B, C or D. He will have had them in mind but it is daft to implement if you know as a coach you dont have the players to do it. Maybe as some say he went for being too outspoken. I dont know about that, he seemed reasonable enough to me most of the time. My personal wild guess is the club thought they could do better, some younger turbo charged version, but spent 10 days trying and realising they couldnt after all get their man. So went for Beale.
It’s starting to piss me off regarding speakman. Reading those minutes it’s just corporate bullshit. In no way does he take any accountability for anything, worry that all his reply’s in those minutes doesn’t suggest they’ve learned anything from the last two windows recruitment.
Not being rude here but what did you expect him to say ? They will listen more than they will give away. They’re right not to give staff info away, they’re right not to give detailed transfer strategy away, they can’t really say ‘we signed some ****e’ and make their employees feel unwanted. The proof will be in the pudding. Some on here want everybody sacking for anything but think they should be put in charge of everything (that’s not directed to you), Evolution is fine but we can’t afford another step back.
I listened to the "Stick to Football" podcast today and the latest episode was an interview with Les Ferdinand. Amongst other things, he spoke about his role as Director of football at QPR. He said that his biggest problem with coaches was them accepting the job on very specific terms and then trying to change the goalposts or moan about the plan once they were in the job.
Exactly. A period of reflection apparently .He wanted Beale significantly so and was happy with the best part of a 3 year deal. Then when questioned about signing experienced quality to compliment what we had he mentioned Dack and then cited contract renewals. He wasn't pushed , instead he used his corporate bluff and presented his process. Poor show
Is it ok to do that if it’s not working? Id say it’s all about balance, obviously if has to be affordable. Everything needs fine tuning. We’ve made a couple of striker shaped balls ups but other than that it’s fine margins so a slight change of goalpost is healthy.
It depends what the remit is and what the objectives are I suppose. If the remit is first and foremost that the owner wants the club to be sustainable and an upper mid table finish is acceptable, then I'd say it's not reasonable to start demanding players who are more expensive or on high wages when you've accepted the job on those terms. If the remit was promotion or playoffs whilst slowly reducing the deficits and age of the squad, then yeah it's ok to push for more. It all depends on how specific the goal posts were.
Of course it is, exactly like every other press utterance, from every club, since the dawn of time ... ... no one ever says anything other than 'things are ongoing, lessons are learned, we need to improve, blah blah blah'. Whatever is said it's only actions that count and all most people care about. I haven't even looked at the minutes and rarely watch press conferences.
I agree with what you’re saying but he doesn’t acknowledge any mistakes are made. He tries to waffle his way out of it, like you say the proof will be in the pudding in the summer. I’m just doubting more and more now that he can see or admit it’s been poor. Auochiche or how you spell it, trying to saying he’s experienced.
The more I see this type of stuff the more I fear he will hold us back long term. The biggest asset is to admit you’re wrong, change and adapt. I don’t think he can do that.
totally mate. Proof will be in the summer if he’s learnt from the mistakes, as I’ve said earlier I worry that he hasn’t or isn’t willing to.
I get what you are saying, and agree he tried to tweak a few things, but to me it felt like if teams nullified our flanks, then that stopped us. There was no tactical change to address that, there wasn't a tactical change to try and work the ball through the middle, nor did we change formation, or go more direct to change things up. Even when we brought a different striker on we didn't change to play to their particular strengths. They might be more obvious things, and he did try like you say, but for his last 7 or 8 games that's how it felt to me. Wish it didn't end that way as I really like the guy, but even fans I know of Blackburn and Coventry said, I did warm you when I'd mentioned my concerns. Like I say, I could be looking at it too simplistically, but it's just how I saw it play out.
Surely that part of the discussions when discuss his remit. To discuss and agree a common ground. KLD may well want us to be sustainable, but if that's not achievable short term then should let KS be arguing that point? Shouldn't there be compromise from ideals to reality
The owner is the man in charge and he appoints people to achieve his goals. KS might debate it with him but ultimately KLD makes the decision and KS just has to deliver. Same as every other job in the world in that sense. Also, you're saying it's not achievable short term but it is - what you're really saying is that it's not achievable whilst being competitive at the top end of the league. But the owner might be fine with a season or 2 in mid table whilst his sustainability goals are met.
Aye there's a fair bit of bluffing going on there. Which makes me worry that he'll be able to bluff his way through some difficult questions at the end of the season. We've all got one at work. The bloke who looks right, talks right but isn't half as good as he wants you to think he is.
I didn't say it wasn't achievable. Surely KLD takes advice from those he employs? What if he said he wants to spend 500 million, wouldn't you expect his trusted staff to advise there are other ways and maybe talk him round?
