Fair enough then I stand corrected. Not sure absolute possession football works in the championship without a Leicester/Burnley standard of player mind. Even Southampton haven't lived up to what they should've this season.
I don't disagree mate, I love a ruthless counter attack, but I'll settle for owt as long as we're winning.
I don't know anything about any of them beyond what I've read on here, and I don't intend to find out more until we announce the new bloke, because what's the point in researching and getting hyped about someone based on internet rumours when we quite possibly never even spoke to them in the first place. Still's form since January is crap and if it's because he's downed tools that's crap too. I doubt it is that because it sounds like he's been unhappy there for some time thanks to the owners but he's still done his best. I can't say I fancy him much, considering how crucial this appointment is.
I’ve read so much from and about the lad this weekend I can’t remember in exactly which piece I’ve read what but from the more recent stuff it’s evident that he’s not wedded to a RB style of play, he prefers a more patient, possession based style (unfortunately). Whilst he name checks a lot of people (including Russell Martin (at Swansea) and Kieran McKenna (in League 1)) as doing things he finds interesting, the only absolute commitment to a preferred style I’ve seen from him is saying that he likes the current (well, last season’s) Arsenal team. If I’m being honest, I don’t watch enough Premier League to really know what their style is, can anyone enlighten me? I know I enjoy watching them more than Man City when I have seen them. Edit: I’ve found the quotes to which I was referring (they’re actually from two months ago so more recent references to McKenna and Arsenal): “You have a lot of fantastic teams (in England). Obviously Manchester City are amazing. You have Liverpool, Inter with (Simone) Inzaghi, you have a lot of great teams in the Bundesliga in the top three. Brighton. If you go back to last season in the Championship, Swansea with Russell Martin, Burnley with Vincent (Kompany), they were really good to watch too. The last two seasons are a tremendous job by (Kieran) McKenna. But if you would ask me if I could wish for my team to play like one team, I might actually choose Arsenal, because that mixture of being able to play a specific style with the ball and against the ball, I think they just fulfil it. I think this is very attractive and not easy to create, it takes some time. I really enjoy watching them.”
Arsenal are the best team to watch in England imo. The difference is they also have a canny few world class players and a top top manager.
To be fair, he does mention a handful of clubs whose playing style he likes, and they’re all different, which is a good thing.
We've all heard rumours. The old lad who sits behind me at the match is adamant it's Steve Cooper coming in
Rumours are always with us mate,without them some would lose optimism and forums like ours would be much less interesting and thought provoking. Fleetwood Mac nailed it!
I do get excited by the thoughts of Meric or Still but my old head is a bit worried about whether these coaches can produce these complex tactics with championship players. These tactics could take half a season to bed in especially with a good few new players and not sure a lot of our fans have the patience, especially after the way this season has ended. I like the idea of these young tactical wizz kids and the idea of giving them time and to build a team for the future in the PL However perhaps Cooper would be better suited for intant success but what happens if similar to Mowbray but this time sneak promotion but what next the following season. I cannot make my mind up which is the better approach.
My initial concern (about Maric anyway) is the lack of experience. I've heard a lot of people talk about how we have inexperienced players who are being led by an inexperienced coach (Dodds). Is Maric any different in that respect?
This is my only concern with Maric vs Still. Still has plenty of first team management experience now. Maric doesn't. And with our young squad, its a risk. That said I'd be happy with either of them. And hopefully this window addresses the fact we have a young squad anyway (we can hope!)
I’d just be happy with our experienced players being fit to play. Replace Dack and Evans with the same experience and quality but readiness to play. Replace our premier league loan with a good one. We wouldn’t be far off with those changes alone.
Good post. Our dilemma is whether the young signings we've made can develop soon enough into the perfect Championship team,and then to have acquired the additional skills and know-how to hold us up in the PL? Can we appoint a head coach to work these players into this position? As I understand it,time is now an issue. We need to achieve all this next season...... the foundations have been set.....can we make the next,critical step?
Nail on head! If we got our injured players back,sign a cdm and a proper striker,with a coach who knows what he's doing,we have lots of talented players who,next season, can take this league by storm. The future's bright!
Can’t see Cooper getting it, I think his stock is higher than a (current) mid table championship side.
I know what you mean but I'm hoping for the complete opposite. I'd expect a good coach to simplify everything for the players so they all know their individual and collective roles. Football doesn't have to be complex ... ... just players in positions theyre good in, one way to play in possession and one out of possession plus the need to go for goals or defend a lead or whatever. These young lads have had so much information thrown at them, by so many managers, their heads must be spinning. In the Southampton game we had three different formations and having fought back to 2-2 abandoned all three and gave them two goals. It all needs to calm down, and I'm including the supporters in that. These endless calls to get rid of managers, coaches, staff, even the owner, are becoming ridiculous. Football is a team game from top to bottom ... ... I think it's time to remember that.
