With 9 games gone its no use pretending its not what we all want, including need it be said from the manager and players, so its best to focus on what happens from this point on. There are 29 games to go which equates to another 87 points. Thats a helluva lot of points to still play for and an endless amount of scenarios that can be debated. It seems that massive decisions are demanded on the back of every individual game or result at the minute and endless commentary made if we lose or draw a game. The problem is we don't have a win to discuss to put some balance into the argument and that's something that definitely needs addressing as this winless run is effecting any serious discussion now completely. I saw a far better performance yesterday than I have for 3 or 4 weeks and anyone who watched it and still says we didn't deserve something out of the game doesn't understand football. We had the majority of possession and had the ball in the opposition box for nearly the whole game but got caught on the break. We just can't buy a goal at the minute but the effort and commitment was there for all to see imo. I thought Cattermole was immense yesterday and on Tuesday tbh. What we lack, and it was there for all to see in the Villa team, was pace. Agbonlahor has it in droves and his pace made us look pedestrian imo at times. If we had a player with that pace in our midfield our whole game would change along with our fortunes. We are too laboured at times and make it easier for teams to defend against us, which in turn puts pressure on our attacking threat. Thats not a MoN made problem its a Steve Bruce one as he signed no pace in this team and MoN is trying to work with another mans tools at the minute. He is an experienced manager and will know this but he has effectively had one transfer window to properly operate in and has already shown he can pick a player. Fletcher and Johnson (he had a good game for me yesterday and is getting into the game much more imo) are good signings. Every club outside the top 4 (inc the craas before they hijack this thread again to say he is ****e) wanted him. He chose us and MoN was a massive part of that. He will already have 1 or 2 players in line for January and we will still be in good shape when he does. The league table doesn't lie but after 9 games it isn't over yet either. We need to come through this and get a couple of wins under our belt and things will look much more positive but I conceded that another couple of defeats and its not going to look very pretty. I look at our dressing room and see the likes of Sessegnon, Fletcher, Johnson, Larsson, McClean, Gardener, Cattermole, O'Shea, Mignolet and wonder why its just not happening but it isnt and it has to get better. I absolutely still 100% believe in the manger but its not, understandably, a universal stance and I can accept differences in opinion. However, all I ask the doubters and the ones who want MoN out this. Who would you have in his place? Curbishley? Redknapp? I even heard Benitez (I want £50m+ a year to spend Benitez) ffs. NONE of these would help our cause and neither would Martinez, Laudrup or any other of the names I have heard mentioned. The simple fact is not even Guardiola would be able to make a silk purse from the sows ear Bruce has left us. Its going to take Martin, or ANY other manager 2 or 3 transfer windows to right the wrongs and get the pace, skill and attacking threat we desperately need into the squad. I trust MoN to get it right and to ditch him 11 months into his management reign here would be foolish at best and downright suicidal insanity at worst. Unless we are very careful here the only manager we may be likely to attract (with our fickleness so proudly on show in some quarters) is the likes of Steve Kean and that would be one of the biggest backward cosmic leap since Neil Armstrongs. Be careful, very careful we don't throw away a massive chance to build a proper club here, under a manager who has done it with similar sized clubs and budgets in the past. O'Neill was the man 11 months ago and still is the man to lead us to better things and if we have sticky moments in between we have to pull together to get us through it. If in another 2 years he hasn't taken us on any further, then by all means shout for change but not right now. Its an embarrassment to hear it after such a short space of time and will not put the club in a very good light for attracting other managers in future times. KTF & FTM
we need to stick with MON, and we need to catch a break. he needs time to get it right, as do all managers who don't have an unlimited budget.
I too believe that we persevere with MON; however, I am not convinced over the premiership credentials of a number of players that you have mentioned. Bruce signed quantity rather than quality and lumbered us with average players some from relegated teams like Birmingham and Blackpool. That’s the salient problem. If it is possible a total overhaul is required and I expect to get some flack here but the likes of Campbell (headless chicken springs to mind), Sessegnon (vastly over rated) Mclean (one trick pony and now sussed by most Premiership teams), Lazy Larsson (too slow and not consistent, doesn’t contribute enough), Colback (average Championship player at best), Brown (crock before he was signed and still is an expensive one), Vaughan (average Championship player signed from a poor relegated Blackpool), Gardener (average squad player) Wickham (will never cut it as Premiership player) Bramble (lightening doesn’t strike twice should have been chased). Ji (joke) aren’t going to take SAFC to the next level. However, MON is not blameless and I expect more from him over the coming months. It’s imperative that he keep us out of the bottom three until the new transfer window comes around.
Great post Cest..agree 100% mate. Be mental to change things any time soon. This guy is a winner, he will get it right. I have full confidence in hm
I just feel blah about the whole thing at the minute. I've never felt so numb to it all, I left the ground walked over to the car and haven't really thought about it much since. 1 win in 17 is abysmal and if it wasn't MoN then wed all be screaming for his head, he is MoN though he is the man we made it known to Ellis Short that we wanted. We've been cack all year but still have double the points tally of 3 teams under us so he won't be getting the sack anytime soon and I can't see him resigning. If he did leave who the hell would we get? Im finding it harder to defend MoN but sacking him would see us relegated I think so we have no option to get behind him and the players. There is a cut off point though and a bad run of losses could force Short's hand. I really fear a drubbing at Everton and god knows what that could do to the morale. Its gonna be a long hard season that's for sure.
I agree if the losses keep coming and we slip then action will have to be taken but I genuinely feel he can turn this round whereas I never felt that Bruce could.
I don't agree at all Billy but some of the overreaction here is pretty ****. I do think that for sure. Just wait until Steve Kean rolls up to take over and then we will know what **** really is.
The biggest problem MON may have is the fixture list. Now, we all know that if we play well, attack, are unlucky and lose 1-0, we'll applaud the lads off, we've done it a zillion times, when we are pipe, we won't. Yesterday was better, but it was still appalling, overall. Sat 10 A Everton Sun 18 16:00 A Fulham Sat 24 12:45 H West Bromwich Albion Tue 27 19:45 H Queens Park Rangers December 2012 Sun 02 16:00 A Norwich City Sat 08 15:00 H Chelsea Tue 11 19:45 H Reading Sat 15 15:00 A Manchester United Sat 22 15:00 A Southampton Wed 26 15:00 H Manchester City Sat 29 12:45 H Tottenham Hotspur January 2013 Wed 02 19:45 A Liverpool Now, fortunately, in amonsgt that list there are also some 'should win' games, which are now 'must win'. Southampton, Reading & QPR must yield 9 points, Norwich we need to take at least a pint. Fulham becomes massive if we lose at Goodison, and WBA will outplay us (this is not an insult, they are now an excellent side) Awful run of games.
Like many on here, i'm not best pleased with performances this season and both Players and MON must take the blame for this. We've done our bit, we've pumped our hard earned into the club like Mr Quinn asked of us, so far this season i've not seen a decent performance by the team. I didn't see the game yesterday but i'm told we were better than anything previous, we still got beat though and came away with nothing but more frustration. While i'm not best pleased with MON right now, i'm not daft enough to want him sacked and replaced by god know's who, that would be suicidal if we did and a total over reaction by Mr Short. I honestly don't think he will be sacked, he's here for the long haul and will be given time to do it as well. My main worry right now is if the crowd turn against him and he takes a walk. He needs to turn things round pretty quickly, he needs to change, but calling for his head is madness. Give the bloke some time, he will get it right.
Me too mate, I'm struggling to open my left eye even now. Was on MOTD though, bonus! Ha ha. Hugo Boss will be on the blower anytime now like...
Nee MOTD where i am mate, it's all recorded for me for when i get back home though. If i catch that twat who stole my kneecaps last night he's getting it, he must have whacked me over the head as well cos that's throbbing as well.
Its funny how at the start of the season, we were all raving about how we have our best squad since Reidys glory days. Now suddenly our squad is **** bar 1 or 2 players. On paper we have a great squad, it's Mons job to get them to play like a team, the players need to take some responsibility as well of course.
