It's true lowering prices is never going to happen. Surely though if they're going to charge £35 plus for a ticket they need to match that by showing some ambition with the team, otherwise it's just a big **** you to the fans. What I appreciate about Mick is how he stabilised the team, created a team spirit again despite the loan players, freebies etc. Tactically maybe things could've been better at times but what manager doesn't get criticism for that. He deserves to be here because of last seasons achievements but many of us are getting tired of mediocrity now.
To his credit Mick played three up front last night trying to win the game, I believe it's the squad that's pretty much threadbare of genuine talent that leads to negative tactics in the hope of gaining points but we've been so injury hit we can't even scrape a draw.
Tooooo many people making excuses for MM imo, the bloke's a fecking liability and the sooner he is gone........ Thankfully, the anti Mick brigade is growing, long may it continue. The football is worse than it was under our 2 previous managers, it was results that were keeping the wolves from the door but now we are playing **** and losing....
Fieldmarshall, playing 3 up front is not necessarily a good thing, especially when your midfield cant create ****, you could play 10 up top but if you don't give them the ball.
OK how many want MM out? Who do they think would come to PR? Who do they think would have done a better job for us than Mick given the restrictions he's been working under? And would anyone even want to come here under those conditions?
Yes I know that Spanish that's what pisses me off more than anything, we've been crying out for quality mid fielders for years.
Weighty, **** off Thing is fieldmarshall, we got played off the park by Pompey twice this season and you aint telling me they have spent millions!! They have just been coached correctly, so its not all down to money and i would take most available managers over MM and would have since day one!! You may be surprised here but i am in the Mick out camp
Unless he turns things round quickly I expect us to finish outside the play offs ..and in that case I think he should go....As I've said before.
I've made it clear for quite sometime I want him out.Your point about Pompey,Spanish,sums it up completely.You don't need a team full of superstars just decent professionals coached to play as a team and pass the ball to each other. McCarthy's stupidity was summed up for me on Tuesday,when,with us 1-0 down,the ball went out for a Hull throw by the Town dugout.What does Mick do but get in the way of their player to aid their time wasting!TC to his credit scrambled after the ball to speed things up.
Boredom is setting in with me, I haven't even watched highlights lately so that tells me that unless things improve, and I don't mean league position, that I would also be in the out camp right now. I know the squad has been hampered with injuries to key players but that is still no excuse for not being able to coach a team to play football. I like Mick for the way he gave us something to be proud of again, and for creating a unified feel around the club but his continued use of players in the wrong way is really getting on my tits now. I'd personally have Smith at LCB over Berra at the minute and I'd play Sears through the middle. I think a different manager could do better with the players we have but then I always say that when things aren't going well.
I’ve had the hump for some time about the apparently complacent nature of the squad building policy (especially given the wild largesse available in the Prem from next season, even if you finish bottom with zero points) but was always in the “Mick in” contingent. Looking at the posts above perhaps I’m wrong. Having backups in the form of players that can’t get a game at Lg 1 Barnsley and free agents that couldn’t get offers from Shrewsbury is ok if Mick’s legendary ability to spot rough diamonds and get the best out of them (like Knightly et al at Wolves, Mings etc) is in full operation. If it isn’t and we’re playing garbage hoofball to boot (if you’ll pardon the expression), there doesn’t seem much point. As it is, we don’t know the wider financial situation within which ME is applying his logic, and what with Mick’s contract being recently extended there’s nay chance of Mick going anytime soon. I hope to see some sort of reaction come the May transfer window given the general uselessness of this season (subject to the usual tempering effect of the post-Keane/Jewell hangover) and give him next season before I bust out my supply of torches and pitchforks.
McCarthy isn't going anywhere soon. Evans and the board have shot themselves in the foot by giving him the length of contract they did and now complacency seems to have set in. It would cost us millions in compensation, if we actually fired McCarthy. Millions that, if the board are to be believed , we just don't have. So, will McCarthy walk? Highly unlikely. Say what you like about McCarthy, he inspires loyalty from that squad, so he isn't going to be losing that dressing room any time soon. And as Spanish and a few others have already pointed out, the man is stubborn. He'll run his contract down if needs be. There is a reason we haven't been promoted under Evans' regime, and it's because I think the problems we're experiencing at the club primarily stems from the top. The lack of investment, the lack of ambition, and the viewpoint that we, the supporters, are customers and not fans are all to blame for this stagnation, low crowds, and another transfer window passing by without any credible signings. I mean, we're not even bothered about chasing that Category 1 youth academy status anymore, despite the pledge that half our squad would be Academy-produced by 2017. It's pathetic. And another example of the board saying one thing and then doing the complete opposite. I'd like a younger, more progressive manager in charge, and one who advocates a more attractive playing style with more technically proficient players in the squad. Who wouldn't? But that requires us to spend money, and Evans' wallet is shut, and has been shut, for a few years now. We have to make with what we have. It almost worked last year, it doesn't look like it'll work this year. This is what we're being fed these days.
the next 7/8 games is hugely important to Micks future here, we now have a run of games up to the sheff wed game where we should be looking at getting something from to gain momentum to what would hopefully be a 6 pointer. Regarding the future, fans will continue to back a less pleasing style just as long as the wins are flowing at a regular rate, if over the next few games we don't get the results needed then I can see a dramatic turn in the mood. We also have to remember that we probably have had the worse season for injuries since Mick has been here, with 3 serious game changers (Bish, Didzy & Fraser) being out for a fair amount of time, you have to wonder how much better we would have been with those 3 tear championship defenders a new one. Is this micks fault? I don't think anybody can complain in the job he has done with the resources given to him, and I would seriously question if anybody else could have done better. I personally feel its time for Mick to be given some backing by ME to spend a little on good hungry prospects from the lower leagues to bolster the squad and hopefully improve the style. Do I want Mick to go? no, at this point but he needs help from ME sooner rather than later.
" Thankfully, the anti Mick brigade is growing, long may it continue." Spanish Mick or no Mick we're in a right mess mate that's not going to change either. We're boogered. Do I like the way McCarthy plays? No. I bloody hate it. More than it might appear due to supporting Mick. Do I like the way Mick builds a side, a bond, loyalty, and generally has made progress and got results during his time here and am I to some degree willing to overlook the absolute crap I watch? Providing we get results, you bet your ass I am. He's a damn good manager at this level. Managers like Mick / Bruce / etc are class at this level.
My response to this is Henshall, Maitland-Niles and to an extent Sears.When they first arrived all of them looked like they could really be the spark of creativity, ball carrying threat, which was really something we needed. All of them, some more dramatically than others, became less and less effective/used. It makes me wonder whether they were simply not good enough (Henshall), or the team around them hasn't supplied them with the same opportunities (Sears - The partnership with Murphy needs Murphs to be on Song too, which hasnt been the case), or whether Micks preffered method of play only really stifles the creativity. JET could also be used as an example, although he wasnt a Mick signing. Everything we saw and heard from Mick suggested JET was starting to pay attention and amend his attitude/approach to a game. McCarthy "rewarded" him by giving his nickname "back". Then he's put on the transfer list and shipped out. If I'm taking sides I'm still Mick In, mainly because i think earlier seasons have earned him the right to try and rectify this season and I don't really want us to become a sacking club. BUT I really am starting to lose patience. First half of the season I was excited that most of the games I could get to relatively easily (Brum, Bristol, Cardiff, Wolves, Derby) came closer to the business end of the season and was looking forward to them. Looking back on Bristol the part of the day I enjoyed most was exploring the Suspension Bridge and I'm questioning whether I have better things to spend my money on than tickets and travel.
Mike Henshall had a good half at Derby and by all accounts quite a poor attitude. He was never a stand out for the U21s, infact at the end he couldn't even break into the side. Good riddance to him watch him go L1 L2 and non-league. These players who get a move from Swindon in his case to a big club then have ego central deserve sod all. Niles started very well but isn't strong enough I don't think and his movement isn't especially intelligent. He excited me to start with but I cannot say I'm hugely bothered by him these days. He can do the odd thing but seems to hide and doesn't do enough. I remember watching him vs Brum on sky and his positional sense was absolutely horrific. Mick DOES give license to the front four if he's happy with the base. Sadly the base hasn't been firm enough this season. Anyway, as we all know, Mick has a new contract. Will he walk? No, because no manager would he'd forfeit his compensation package. Will we sack him? No, due to compensation package.
I was just about to post the same thing westie, As for JET well he was more concerned about being a rapper than a footballer, and it shows that other clubs have shown him the door. Fantastic footballer if his mind was right, but 1 game in 46 isn't enough. I think the reading game frightened Mick a bit, as early signs this season were good. I think ME needs to start backing him more if poss, if not I can just see us being a Playoff to mid table side for the foreseeable future.
Im with you on this Guru, JET has been moved on wherever hes been since he left us so that means its down to him and no one else, someone else posted that if we don't get into the play offs this season then they want MM out, can you even imagine saying such a thing a short while ago? Ipswich? play offs? you would have been laughed out of the place. Its all down to the comparitive success of last season when we gate crashed the rich boys annual party called the play offs and so that achievement has bred expectation which previously was unthinkable, and yes Im disappointed with our slump in form at the critical stage of the season, Im disappointed with the injury list taking so many of our players, Im hugely pissed off with our failure to sign anyone of note in January and last Summer, Im very pissed off with us signing nonentities who cant get into a lower league side. But our failure to sign players of quality at critical times is MEs fault not Micks and the disappointment I feel comes from the expectation put there by MM over the last 2 seasons whereas before all I could expect was overpriced, overpaid, overrated players signed on the recommendation of the bearded guttersnipe and the usual involvement in the lower reaches of the division. Theres only one person I want out if hes as uninterested as he seems and that's ME.
