Ha, ha, Musty, manager for a day? In my dreams.
Let's face it we are all keyboard managers but the real thing is far more difficult and, on the whole, Buck is doing a good job. He's made his mistakes because he's human and learning about the PL, as is the squad but the idea of getting rid is an absolute non starter.
We are not far off being a sound mid table team and the correct signings should ensure that. The trouble is that we are just as close to a relegation battle and the line is very fine. I have taken issue with Buck over some of his decisions because I believe he has been wrong but I am only stating my personal opinion and will concede that Buck is in a far better position to make a call on team matters than I am.
However, he does seem to be stubborn and have certain blind spots. He persistently swipes away advice/comments/constructive criticism from seasoned, experienced professionals and pundits whose experience far outweighs his own. It tends to smack of arrogance and were I in his shoes I would be sitting down and thinking very hard about what those people had to say. They have been there, seen it and done it. HE HAS NOT and his only success of any note has been with us. I would far sooner he kept his mouth shut and his eyes and ears open to take on board some of the things that have been said.
I respect that he wants to be his own man but he must also understand that there are many people out there whose knowledge and experience far surpasses his own. He is just a baby in PL terms and to see him being so dismissive of the observations made by these people is purely frustrating. I would guess that even Sir A F would quietly act on any advice that had obvious credibility. You are never too old or too good to learn.
One thing is glaring in terms of the team. We need a massive injection of pace and directness in our football. We know we can pass it at this level; we now have to translate this into pressure at the business end of the pitch. If our midfield refuse or cannot support the strikers, they are of no use to us. Far from scoring goals, it is rare to see them even getting off a shot. When they do, their efforts are so pitiful you have to ask yourself, how can professionals be so poor at what is a basic skill?
As for our game plan, Buck's stubborn persistence with Gower, who is having a bad patch, makes me wonder if he does have a Plan B. Dobbie is being frozen out. Why? His season has been disrupted with injury so his playing time has been stop start yet he has been putting in noteworthy, goalscoring performances in the reserves. He should surely expect a start or at least an appearance when not only Gower but Allen and Britton have been a bit "iffy" of late. So he doesn't hit the ground running, well neither did Gareth Bale for a long, long time and there are others like him. Some people just take a while to find their real form.
So, as far as I'm concerned, Buck moving on is a big no no. But I believe that he has to be more flexible in his thinking and I am wondering if he wouldn't benefit from having an experienced No 2 by his side with some solid PL experience.
