I know we're top. I know we were 12 games unbeaten. I know we were optomistic. I'm even pretty sure we're going to go up. BUT I still don't fancy Chrissy. I said this all last season. I didn't want him when Parky was shafted. I didn't want him when he turned us into an embarrassment. I didn't want him in pre-season. I still don't to be honest. I just can't warm to him as a manger, which sounds mental I know - I absobloodylutley loved him as a player, person and professional. There's just nothing about him that screams he's going to make it in management though. Substitutions. Squad Rotation. Man Management (ie dropping Hayes, Waggy, Solly). Motivating. Tactics. Post Match Comments. Take your pick. The Rob Elliott fiasco says it all for me. I know this isn't going to be well recieved, but he's now had 40 odd games in charge; longer than a lot of managerial appointments. I hope you are not thinking I've formed this decision solely on yesterday and that this is knee-jerk. I think I'm valid in forming this opinion. Yours Truly, Confused DA16
Amazing! I couldn't believe what I was reading. Forget last year, this year he has his own squad and what part of 'best start to a season since 1927' makes you think he's not cut out to be a manager. I agree that partnering Yann with BWP isn't working but now's the time to experiment with these things, not when it's a necessity. CP probably realises the error now and is making contingency plans. Better to find out now than on the run in. I think he's not going to be a good manager - he's going to be a GREAT manager.
Kish, I too have to question some of Powells decisions: Its not rocket science but can anyone tell me why: > Do we look a shadow of the team that started the season > Has he tinkered and upset the balance of the team > Has he changed a winning formula > Did he drop Solly to the bench - arguably our best and most improved player > Did he make Morrison play at RB where he looked every inch a CB out of position > Replace Waggy with Green who frankly has looked rubbish every time he has come on > Start Kermorgant and revert to hoofball, which Powell led us to believe was ditched > Hayes wont score many, but the first 10 games showed how well he links with BWP It is no coincidence that since he started tinkering for no reason we have looked rubbish. Just 3 games ago we won 2-0 at Sheff U. Since then we have had 3 different teams, have lost twice and probably should have lost vs Tranmere. Now we dont look like we could beat a pub team. WTF is he playing at?? Very worried at his lack of nous. And stop sounding like Parkinson !! That really grates.
I'm in a position where I get to see the manager close up, I've not fully read the posts above. But from what I've heard and seen from him I have full faith and lets not forget he is still relatively new to management. Remember we do not see everything that happens at the training ground. It's easy to question decisions with hindsight, but not starting with Solly does seem a weird choice but I'm sure he has his reasons. In Chris Powell I trust....
HAHAHAHA ****ing pathetic You want to know WHY we're in League One and WHY we've not already been promoted??? Its because when we lose ONE match muppets come out demanding the manager's head. Dont remember anyone moaning about Powell when we beat Sheffield United 2-0
For the record, I have always said Powell isn't up to it. I don't quite recall moaning about him after the Sheffield win no, but I do remember moaning about him when he nearly dragged us into a relegation scrap from a position of Play Off potential.
On the one hand it seems strange to drop Solly and pull Morrison out of the middle; but you have to give CP credit for being the first manager to actually have faith enough in Solly to give him a run. Also credit him for signing Morrison in the first place.
He has assembled a good crop of players on a shoe-string budget. His use of them is questionable, though. I think if our last three matches had been our first three matches, fans would have accepted that it takes time for a totally new team to gel and would have been sympathetic. The problem is that we seem to be going backwards and suffering teething trouble when we ought to be sorted. But it has only been for three matches (one of them the JPT fiasco). What we need is CP to come out and say (using the words of a very great manager) "from now on I am going to start playing my best team", revert to the usual squad against Carlisle, and get a comfortable win playing football on the floor (and after Sheff Utd only two weeks ago who can say that is not possible?). Then we can all calm down. Incidentally, my main reason for our decline lately is not much mentioned here. For me, Hollands is our most important player (except for the irreplaceable BWP). He is the heart of the engine-room but since his treble foray into fatherhood our heart is suffering a few murmurs. Until he sorts out his domestic regime, gets enough sleep and concentrates on the day job we may continue to stutter.
I rate powell as a player and as a person very highly,ive said that in my book-but questioning on tinkering a winning team,i know players are tired but in my view dont change a winning formula!especially at stevenage it was a big mistake dropping solly whos played his guts out in the team.Im prepared to overlook this game as looking at the form guide stevenage where unbeatable at home so were where likely not to be getting anything at their place.Stevenage play dirty tactics trying wind up opposition,this is why ive tipped them to go up at the end of the year with us and mk dons,i still think that.They are a very good side and will climb up the table in next few weeks just keep an eye on their progress.it might be worth putting a few quid on them quietly for promoation.cp will get it right this was a blip we bounce back im sure but whats worrying me nove we normally go on a poor run im not to sure what our next fixtures are so im hoping someone can put them up on here.keep the faith with cp but we need another striker and perhaps get llyod sam back
You make some good points Kish. Like any rookie manager, Powell will make mistakes. What we have to hope is that he learns PDQ from them, and that they don't cost us promotion. Perhaps I'm being unfair on Kermit here, but I really don't think he and BWP as a partnership works. For me Powell has to realise that, and bring back Hayes. Not playing Solly isn't the reason we lost yesterday, but hopefully he will be back straight away - for all his diminutive stature, strength has never been a problem, and his positional sense and composure normally compensates for his lack of brawn. Morrison has been top notch at CB, so moving him to RB yesterday when Cort was tired from internationals was bizarre, and should NEVER be repeated. We have to be careful not to cut Powell more slack than he deserves just because he is Chris Powell.
We have a 'rookie' manager. We have to decide whether we'll allow him the odd mistake, poor decision, strange substitution along the way. Whilst some of us may scratch our heads over some of his recent line ups (although there were many here who wanted Green and Kermo to be given a go) he has also surely gained some respect for the substitutions he has made during games (Sheff Utd away). None of us can predict how his tenure will turn out. He will get it right sometimes and wrong on other occasions. Look at the team Fergie put out yesterday and the stick he received for that. Ultimately he will be judged on his results, with the squad he has built this year. However, I do feel it a little odd that after one defeat in 13 we're having this discussion.
Let's be clear - no-one is calling for Powell's head. We are not alone in slipping up at Stevenage this season, as Sheffield Wednesday fans will tell you. Preston also lost yesterday. Expecting Powell to go through the season without a single tactical mistake was unrealistic. As sirjohn said, even Alex Ferguson still makes them, as shown yesterday by playing Phil Jones in midfield. The test of a good manager is how he reacts to setbacks, and if he can get the team playing well again. The next few weeks may be the acid test.
Powells interview on the OS is very strange. He says Solly is his number 1 RB He says Cort had only just returned from WC duty He says his decision was tactical. Yet we lost. Clearly the wrong tactical decisions. Admit it - dont excuse it.
I suppose this is where football management is unique in a way. Let's take Danny Wilson. Had Swindon almost promoted one season, then relegated the next. So he gets sacked. He then gets arguably one of the biggest jobs in this division in being appointed manager of Sheffield United. Now, is he 'cut out for management' or not? Is Martin Allen who is doing wonders at Notts County but has mucked up at other clubs? What about Pardew...we all hold him in different levels of disdain but he is clearly doing a decent job at Newcastle. Is he 'cut out for management? Would I rather have Allen or Wilson or Pardew? No. Would I be more confident in them getting us promoted than Powell? No. Does every manager in the game make decisions that fans will disapprove of or not agree with? Yes. Will fans dissect such decisions after a defeat and blame those decisions for the defeat? Yes. I think, and I may be totally wrong, that Powell will get us promoted. It won't be a nerveless journey. He will make decisions that will be classed as genius and he'll make decisions that will be considered clueless. As does every other manager in the world. Ultimately, though, he will be judged on getting more decisions right than wrong. I have my fingers crossed for him.
SJH, He will only be judged on getting us promoted. So said Mr Slater. Recent decisions make that look less likely. If we dont go up he will surely be sacked so he should be focussed
I'm about to lose your support Houndal I'm afraid... With the team we have, failure is not an option - we should walk it. As we should have last year. The solid fact remains that under Parky we consistently challenged. First season we were up on the last day at one point don't forget. Last season I believe we were on course for the play offs at least and honestly Chrissy should have done better. As I've previously said, this is no knee jerk reaction - My view on Powell is borne out of 40 odd games of confusion, mediocrity and bemusement.
