A good measured discussion above. SB is completely right, of course, about our direction and any goal/deliverables set out by the board for this season. We don’t know what has been discussed, and what their ambitions are for now - though I wouldn’t be surprised if they were looking more towards driving the financial stability of the club (not expecting promotion). With that MW is constrained and the focus continues to be recruitment towards development with financial possibilities when reselling. I think Les and Chris Ramsey are seen as central to that side because of their work at Spurs - and to be fair they haven’t done too bad in a volatile market. MW is a total mixed bag. Last year he did amazingly well and pushed us up to heady heights. This year the wheels have definitely fallen off - almost to the point that you feel it’s done on purpose it has been that bad. Whether he survives or not is yet to be seen. He may/may not have lost the dressing room, but he is definitely seems to be losing the fan base - and that rarely works out well for the manager. I’m not keen to see him leave, but I do agree he has made some very odd choices this year with wild swings in team line-ups and a seemingly total loss of team spirit which so characterized this team (the Austin moment when he sat alone in the stands could be seen as a turning point as I think he has influence in the dressing room - and he may have become a negative, which you could see various players sympathizing with as they get played/dropped/played/dropped). I guess it’s 50/50 if he’ll survive. What will be will be. But please think this through carefully board, find someone to follow on by getting the best out of the players we have - don’t throw out half the squad, chuck in new players, spend another season gelling, revolutionising everything. Keep on a strategy. We could do better with what we have. We could improve a few players. We could be more dynamic in the middle and get more ball for the forwards. Just improving each season would be good, that will undoubtedly put us on the play-offs eventually.
I suppose I'd contextualise my answer in two ways. Firstly, I don't think Warburton is perfect, and agree that he has made some apparently odd calls in the last few weeks. The examples you give are all good and fair, and I don't know why he made those calls - they seem odd to me too. Secondly, the broad consensus on this board in December 2020 was that Warburton was spent and we needed to get rid of him. We then went on to have an outstanding 2021, frustratingly bridging two seasons rather than all coming together across one season. If we fail to achieve last season's finishing position I will be disappointed, as I would image he would be. That's the test he set himself at the start of the season. If that is enough reason to sack him is a fair discussion, alongside some of the odd calls you've referenced. I have sympathy with him losing Dieng and Willock who are two extremely important players for us, and I do genuinely wonder if we'd still be in the playoff mix with those two fit and fighting. I know we may disagree on Dykes' ability, but I rate him as a player who can create space for those around him, and I think we've missed him a lot in the last few months too. I do think it's important to look at the longer-term trend, about where we were when Warburton took over and where we are now. And when one 'zooms out' that far, I think it's also fair to say that there are some clear positives we shouldn't forget about. The league positions have (to-date) improved year on year, and the playing budget has diminished year-on-year at the same time. The football has been - on the whole - entertaining, and we are developing (or developed) a number of younger players who are sellable assets - Eze, BOS, Willock, Chair, Dieng, Dickie, Dunne, Field, and maybe Dykes. I hope we'll add Dozzell and Thomas to that list at some point. Looking at that trend over four years, I think it would be extremely unfair to dismiss Warburton as a complete failure (not that you have). It's fair to ask if he's taken us as far as he can - or if short-term patience will bring longer-term success, as it did holding off from making a change in December 2020. Obviously the other key consideration is who would replace Warburton if he went. If we've got a coach that the Board & Ferdinand really believe can take us a step further, then I would understand them making the change. However, I'd be disappointed if they make a decision to get rid of Warburton based on short-term results and end up struggling to find a successor they really believe in longer-term.
I was one of those you referenced calling for him to go. Then he proved me wrong and I said as much, praising him and definitely wanting him to stay. I suppose I'm just desperately disappointed with these last couple of months. I do believe the problems set in long before we lost Willock though. Agree that Dieng is a big loss too. I just feel that promotion opportunities come along very rarely and I'm gutted at the way we've blown it. I blame Warburton because he has made so many baffling decisions and, in my opinion, relies far too heavily on the sports science and is obsessed with the number of fixtures. I know we'd almost certainly come straight back down, but the money would really set us up. Plus we'd get to see some of the best players in the world at Loftus Road. I'm gutted that seems to have disappeared.
I don't think you were alone - I think 90% wanted him to go. I remember saying that I wouldn't be sad if he went, but didn't quite call for him to go merely as we were a basket case and I couldn't see who would want to take the job! I completely understand your disappointment. I suppose I'm a little more sanguine and it's easier for me to look at the big picture, as I really am less fussed about promotion. I hated going to each PL game hoping we wouldn't get embarrassed, seeing 17th as a massive success, and all the games being on a Sunday at 12pm. I love the championship with all its unpredictability and being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. Fully appreciate I may be in a minority there (although I'd still love the PL money) but hope others at least understand why.
Trouble is the reality is we're becoming a minnow in the Championship, probably 5 or 6 clubs with lower resources than us...
I can't be arsed to read back more than a couple of pages so others may have mentioned it before but.,. I couldn't believe how disinterested Dykes looked last night. This, coupled with the mystery injury that kept him out for so long, makes me think that something is seriously amiss. And the most spineless performance across the entire squad I have witnessed in many years also makes me think the problem extends to the dressing room in general. For sure, I don't see the point in playing Hendrick again regardless of injuries - negative, blasé, and generally a poor influence IMO - and it's no coincidence that the arrival of him and Sanderson has coincided with our disastrous run. Oh, and did anyone else notice that the Blades seem to have taken ****housery to new levels with the ball boys wasting at least as much time as the actual players. Depressing.
I'm starting to think MW has taken us as far as he can. Even if he did get us in the playoffs and somehow miraculously got us promoted he wouldn't have the ability to function at the next level. This season will end up another mid-table finish and despite showing promise, it's going to end up another season with no progress. Let him see out this season and line up a replacement. For me it's time for the next chapter.
Nope. I think we should try to win everything we enter. I realise that sometimes a weakened team is necessary if a bigger prize is in sight.
The Club don't need to reveal anything,it's as plain as day..if you can't instill or bring in players with a winning mentality and a work ethic,then you get what we have right now. The ambition,or lack of it comes from the hierarchy and is contagious..the recruitment has been poor and Les needs to be held to account. MW contract ends in the summer and I'd wager we give him an extension,then sack him shortly after costing us £££££
I agree MaCallum should have started instead of Wallace, but not Thomas who might run a lot but doesn't finish, rarely gets in a decent cross, and doesn't tackle. Not Dozzell either for me yet. He makes some good passes but seems to lose concentration and didn't seem to try and get back after losing the ball last night, which very nearly lead to another goal.Hopefully he will improve. Albert didnt look at his best, couldn't beat his man, maybe not fully recovered from his stomach bug. I thought Hendrick played well in central midfield, neat and tidy, accurate passing, not as aggressive as Johansen at his best but better than how Stefan has been playing lately. We had more possession than them mainly due to Hendrick and Field but didn't use it. Nothing much movement in front of them, on either wing or from Chair and the front 2.
