I'd back the opposite team, to the one my mates on the auld get . Imo it's a decent position to be in, having to decide between those 2.
A season where our expectations and Speakman's unrealistic targets already had us set up for failure, but not many could have predicted our trajectory. It's been said before, thank you Tony Mowbray for doing what you could and giving us something to be proud of, even at the beginning of this season. There's no two ways to say it, but Jobe at 18 years old being our biggest influence signing this season is actually shocking given we all expected him to be in and out, not a constant fixture. TM was hamstrung with inefficient options. Our squad balance has been off all season, we've made it worse as the season has went on. Speakman had earned a great deal of many fans' respect last season. This despite the lack of striker or Evans replacement. We all knew what we needed, yet he defended himself from the criticism by claiming midfielders were strikers or claiming we had enough experience with O'Nien and Roberts. Which brings us on to losing a good core of lads over the year, Batth, Gooch, Stewart and then Pritch. Massive failure to replace these influences in the dressing room. It can work a treat sometimes, but scouting stats and seeing on the pitch attributes doesn't guarantee some things. Players with good temperament, enough experience and leadership to aid our very young side. I wonder how many of our young lads are captain material? I'd bet Neil and Rigg, that's about it. And they're bairns. Speakman's coffin was sealed with Beale. You could forgive many things, even the ignorance of signing Mayenda, Hemir and Rusyn in the same window. But the arrogance on the back of being linked with Beale...to then go and appoint him. Mind boggling. Unfortunately, the season didn't just end there and then, because we've all been stewing every week about the mishaps, the incredible turn of events. How did a side that grafted to 6th with no strikers or centre backs, go backwards? Essentially, we went against the old cliche, you cant stand still in football, because you get found out. Heres hoping KLD gets things spot on, he doesn't have my utmost faith but my huge hopes. Maybe time for a few to leave and I hope there's funds there to be used more wisely. The rumblings have been positive so far.
Absolutely, and I think its fair enough to say that Dodds, on the evidence that we have, hasn't got the full package of assets to be a Head Coach or a manager, at least not at the moment. I hate the way people speak about him, or anyone else who is in charge of our team, and are so negatively critical. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, anyone who tries to win games of football for SAFC deserves us to be behind them, no matter what we think of their abilities. Secondly, I've never coached (although I'd quite like to) but observe closely the coaches I work for in non-league and try to learn as much as I can. Not one of them has been unaware of what the problems have been when things have been going wrong and have had logical reasons for doing the things they have done, even if they haven't worked. It surprises me that people don't realise this. Calling coaches stupid, claiming they don't know what they're doing is both incorrect and grossly unfair. Thirdly, coaches/managers are human. Even if they can take it, the abuse isn't fair on their families. One of those coaches I observe closely is my father-in-law and my daughter and nephew always want to go to his games. It's been lovely on the (thankfully rare) occasions when people have been abusive towards him when the kids have been there. That's why I'll always defend whoever is our manager/Head Coach.
Every single coach has a reason for what they do. Easy to claim you know better as a fan, but walk in their shoes first is my advice. I particularly love the subs being called out. I would say a lot of fans, who stood in that little square on the touchline, would be lost and clueless. Just a theory. Plenty of fans know what they are looking at, and everyone on here gets it. Whether they could fix the problems or improve performances, who knows, but I think it is much harder than folk imagine.
Good words mate. People are unnecessarily abusive and personal sometimes. Dodds is trying his best but some have been totally over the top. Absolutely no need. Fair enough criticise his managerial ability but no need to be personal about it. Same happened with Beale, I wasn't a fan and he obviously wasn't capable enough, but some of the vitriol and personal abuse towards him was totally unnecessary. There's ways and means to be critical.
Strange one this. This guy said there had been no contact earlier in the week, and given that he seems to know Maric, it pointed towards Still being the choice. Now it looks like Maric is still in the frame (or this guy doesn't have a clue and is being silly with his career by getting involved in rumours). I'll be happy with either to be honest, they're the kind of coaches that I want to see us go for.
Either he's doing it because he's heard he's coming to us. Or using our fans as a revenue steam on his podcast. I'm pretty sure it'll be the latter
The hits on his Maric podcasts must've went through the roof this week. Hence why he's tagging it in his posts
100% this. A good few comments here about respect and decorum. That’s the thing that stands this board here out from the other place.
I certainly hope it's no more than 2 big exits, unless one of them is Patto, who may be easier to replace. As I've said, we need to be ruthless. We have a lot of good players in the squad, but we have a lot of average/below average players too, who need to be moved on to allow us to strengthen the squad as a whole. We also have some youngsters who need to be nurtured.
Irony, next week our should of been manager Eric his team play our probs next managers team. Brest v Reims Eric wins its Champions league lose or draw its Still Euro football,
Why would he leave European football to come here? Unless you mean we should have got him in before he was Brest’s manager?
My feeling is that this is a two horse race at the moment. I wonder if offered have been made and we are at the negotiations stage.
I’m guessing the negotiation is not just over the head coach but what the team and set up are in the context of the wider back room set up. Probably the same thing going on with a DOF to complicate things.
I'm happy with either but one thing you can guarantee is that the one who doesn't get will be a massive success at the club they go to it's the Sunderland way !
