At the time I did just for stability Today I admit fully how wrong I was as the current side can beat anyone in this division and the weird thing is they are getting better every match I certainly stand corrected in my calibrated flip flops
I'd take him back, we could do with another season ticket holder or he could be our regular Jude the cat
I wouldn't have sacked him in the first place. SM has surely won over everyone, me included. I'm sure if we had a winless run of 8 games people would be demanding change though.
Even if we had a bit of a mare and got say 20 points from 20 games left I think he’s done enough to consider it a positive season overall. I’d guess we’ll finish on about 66 points which is way ahead of what I’d have predicted in July.
A point a game isn't really a disaster under most circumstances. Say 3 points from 10 games and we watch our playoff hopes slide out of sight. That would test our collective patience. Personally, I'm a bit torn - 7th to 10th position would be an amazing return although probably wouldn't be enough to keep Eze and Freeman and without them we're rank average at best (solid but no creative spark).
Don’t think any team in this league can afford to lose its two most creative players. Look at Villa without Grealish. I really feared the worst losing Smithies, Onuoha and Robinson at once but he’s put together a better back five on a shoestring.
We could not spend any cash so we needed a good coach put in place to get the best out of what we had . For all of mclarens faults as a manager he is a proven coach . The board should take credit for his appointment. Also the persistence of keeping Ramsey at the club has paid off also . We now have a great structure and now can move forwards.
For those with a much better eye for such things, please could you pinpoint for me where you believe McClaren’s coaching has contributed most to the on field results. Of course, the results have been good following the shaky start, plus the addition of Rangel, Hemed, Wells & Cameron has benefited the side, plus confidence breeds confidence, which in turn delivers a greater desire and refusal to be the one letting the team down, but where do you see the better coaching in particular? This isn’t supposed to be a stupid question, but by all means treat it as such. I’m genuinely interested because I seldom follow individual players or intentionally watch to see if the back four or two centre-halves are a cohesive unit etc, so what have the more knowledgeable and observant seen worth airing here, please?
Have a listen to what Bidwell said about the training they do for dead ball situations after he scored Saturday. Think it was on the Official though like a lot, I can't find it quickly now. I tried to find our results this season on there yesterday - gave up and found them on the BBC!
It’s a fair question and there are many on here who are more qualified to answer than me (where’s Bob gone?), but it was the switch from a possession based game which failed so spectacularly at the beginning of the season to a chasing and harrying game where every player has to fulfill a role, close down space, break fast and accurately etc which has the hallmark of coaching, at team level at least. What he has done for individuals I can’t say. I think BFG2 and Wells have been absolutely central to this approach.
Whilst I’m no expert either. One very obvious thing has been identifying players’ best positions and allowing them to play there. Although this is not true for all players, but McLaren has identified those that can adapt and do well e.g Wszolek
