Realistic Expectations and Objectives

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ChilcoSaint

ChilcoSaint

What a disgrace
Forum Moderator
Feb 8, 2011
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This is not intended to duplicate the “Who Next” thread. I would like to know what objectives people think the new manager might be tasked with, given our current squad and the prospect of some transfer activity in January.

I would like to think that we can at least start playing attractive but competitive football which, even if we still go down, stands us in good stead and builds momentum for next season. The club must surely also realise that the fans have had enough of us being a complete laughing stock and candidates for the worst ever Premier League team.
 
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ChilcoSaint said:
This is not intended to duplicate the “Who Next” thread. I would like to know what objectives people think the new manager might be tasked with, given our current squad and the prospect of some transfer activity in January.

I would like to think that we can at least start playing attractive but competitive football which, even if we still go down, stands us in good stead and builds momentum for next season. The club must surely also realise that the fans have had enough of us being a complete laughing stock and candidates for the worst ever Premier League team.
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Have to agree with being competitive and playing attractive football.
I want to watch a game where we are pushing the opposition back for long periods, camping in their half and creating plenty of goal mouth action that doesn’t include us faffing around in our own penalty area.
I want to feel proud of how we play and I would like to hear critics praising our attacking game rather than criticising our defensive shortcomings.
 
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ChilcoSaint said:
This is not intended to duplicate the “Who Next” thread. I would like to know what objectives people think the new manager might be tasked with, given our current squad and the prospect of some transfer activity in January.

I would like to think that we can at least start playing attractive but competitive football which, even if we still go down, stands us in good stead and builds momentum for next season. The club must surely also realise that the fans have had enough of us being a complete laughing stock and candidates for the worst ever Premier League team.
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This and getting the players to enjoy the game again and play their natural game
 
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  • Stop playing dumb passes across the back. We understand that's mistakes are going to happen, and sure, players going to be out-of-position from time to time, but it's the self-destructive nature of our defeats which really grinds the gears. It's hard to win many games when your attack is toothless and you consistently gift about three chances to the opposition strikers.
  • By all means play attractive football, but mix it up by having the occasional shot from distance too or put a speculative cross in to panic the defenders. Don't run all the way up the pitch and then let the opposition set up their defence. We should never be so predictable that the other side can take our tactics for granted.
  • Work hard on set-pieces. Yes, it might be a bit Stoke City, but a decent free kick, corner or throw that leads to an undeserved goal can turn a defeat into a draw or a draw into a win.
  • Avoid all the "worst of" records. (See Derby County Record thread) We've already got the 9-0 hanging round our heads. That's more than enough shame for any team to bear.
  • Start bringing some youngsters through the ranks for next year in the Championship.
 
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New contracts for Dibling & Sammy Amo

Play with more intensity and a little more directness

ironically not much, but too much for one man to grasp
 
I want, no more Referee / VAR errors. a new approach with attacking football, a loyal and effective squad, a winning mentalty and an intelligent, tactical system that gets results, and some good luck.

I expect, none of the above, but no harm in having a dream.
 
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Adapting in Match. I’m genuinely trying to think of the last manager we had where it wasn’t abundantly clear that if our system clearly wasn’t working in the first 20 minutes, we’re ****ed. Rarely if we go 2-0 down or even just 1 do I believe we’ll show a change in approach or tactics to get something out the game. It’s usually set up in minute one and continue the exact same **** till minute 90. Seeing our players pass it out from the back like it’s business as usual when we’re 4-0 down is soul destroying.

A change in Tempo. Aside from a few decent counter attack goals we play some of the most turgid and predictable football in the league. You know exactly where each pass is going to go, exactly what run the player will make off the ball and which player will inevitably **** it up. And if we all know, then every Prem manager is going to know. I’d like us to take games to teams again, no play one style at one speed.

Pick a Proper Captain and Balance. We are lacking level headed experience big time in the squad. Yes Bednerak and Stephens have years of experience but unfortunately for us it’s experience of being ****. After all the centre backs we’ve bought over the years somehow we’re STILL relying on the two centre backs who participated in both 9-0 losses. We need the next manager to pick someone who isn’t going to throw a Jack Stephens style wobbly when things get tough. And we’re far too young players focused right now. We desperately need some presence in our team, everyone looks like strangers.

Go for the ****ing win. This has been a pet peeve since the Ralph days. Attack is the best form of defence and we all watch football for goals. Yet unless we’re absolutely battering someone we seem to stick with the “get a goal and defend” approach. Hell recently it’s like we’ve just abandoned the get a goal approach entirely, now it’s just try and get to their box and have a shot is enough.

Set Pieces and Direct Play. Someone above mentioned set pieces and I couldn’t agree more. A big part of the game we’ve ignored for too long. I never get excited at corners or free kicks, we have as much bite as my nan eating soup. And we also seem compelled to use width and wing play when we have strikers who do not work with that at all. I can’t remember the last time we consistently create one on one opportunities. I’ve said for years we can watch other teams do in 4 passes what we struggle to do in 15 passes.
 
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Move the ball up the field fast enough for the opposition defenders to have to think about stopping us. It appears to me (but what do I know) that we never try to surprise the opposition, or make them feel anything but comfortable repelling our attempts to attack, or even cross the halfway line
 
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Get more than 15 points beating Derby's total

Get the team fit enough to compete for 90 minutes.

Play to strength of the squad and be willing to adapt to different teams.

Make us well organised in defence so we don't look vulnerable every time we lose the ball

Beat the Scousers tomorrow and then do the Spuds 9-0 on aggregate in the semis
 
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I’ve been thinking about this fitness issue a lot recently, and everyone seems to be mentioning it. It’s worth pointing out that the modern player is incomparably fitter than even a couple of decades ago, due to the intensive regime governing every aspect of a modern player’s life. So much so, that they’ve reached a level of fitness where they are actually at greater risk of serious injury than would otherwise be the case. There comes a point where demanding higher levels of fitness actually means higher levels of injury in training. So I’m not really sure getting fitter is going to help much - there’s no modern footballer with an ounce of fat anywhere on their bodies. Perhaps just let them eat sausage in batter and chips like LeTiss used to do, and lope around with a bit of a belly.
 
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