Dear Graham, You are rightly a club legend as our greatest ever manager. You came back and worked the oracle and got us into League 1. But I now believe it is time for you to step down as manager while you can still go with dignity. You and the chairman have failed the supporters since we were promoted. You have failed to bring in quality permanent signings and tried to make do with an embarrassing revolving door policy of generally sub-standard and naïve young loan players. The football you are playing is negative and full of sideways or backwards passing (as typified by Wildig's dreadful performance at Walsall today). In the last two away games I have been to I have counted between them a total of two shots on goal and six other efforts on goal (mostly high,wide and handsome). This is simply not good enough and if it was any other manager but you the fans would be calling for the manager's head . I counted four players playing out of position today and to play John Taylor up front again when the poor lad simply has not got a clue where to position himself was a total embarrassment. Was it any surprise to you that he perked up when put back on the wing and provided us with our one shot of goal that was greeted with an ironic chorus of 'a shot on target'. Walsall are a similar size club to us. They stuck with their young manager when they had a lean spell at the start of last season. Despite losing their three best players from last season they play the ball forward at pace, put extreme pressure on the opposition full backs and create lots of chances. The negative , dreary football we have generally played this season will take us nowhere but League 2. Teams like Walsall are the future and we are looking increasingly like the dim and distant past. Please step down now so we can rebuild under a man who can bring new ideas and some attacking football to the table.
Bradshaw out and a promising non league prospect from Dover in, who seems to score in every round of the cup.
I am currently sitting on the fence, although am tilting slightly towards the need for a new management being brought in. Radio commentary sounded like a really bad game. I began thinking that our defense is a worry as seem too often caught out, yet we have a reasonably good GD. So is it then the attackers that are the problem? We don't have enough choice in this area and what we have are not big, fast or tough, shots on target are very limited. Hang on, they didn't actually get access to the ball today (and in many previous games) so is it the midfield that is the problem? Limited supply to the forwards and lack of defensive work to put pressure on our goal. Everyone seems to rate Summerfield and more recently Wildig. Reach is looking good, why did GT take him off? Parry should have started. We still need a few more players in the squad, definitely one or two in each area. Two seasons ago we had more players than now and at the end of that season GT admitted he could have done with more players, but we have less now... If we are heading towards a management change, I'd rather he was installed with enough time to get used to the squad before Januarys transfer window.
I will not it on the fence. with a budget like GT has, the owd lad works wonders, but not yesterday. at the risk of upsetting anyone on here, AJ says BOLLOCKS!, but floreat Salopia!
Matster, The complete inability of our forwards to pose any sort of threat or even to hold the ball up has been noted by all of our opponents who then push their midfield and full-backs up on us. Our midfield was also poor yesterday but only because of the selection of Wroe and Wildig who are very similar players (though Wroe is better IMO) who just get in each other's way. Wildig's performance is symptomatic of what is wrong with us - he strolls around trying to look like Xavi often a few yards from the centre backs and then passes backwards or sideways to another of our players with an average pass length of about four yards - I saw him trying to play a ball forwards through the middle once yesterday all game - he might as well not be on the pitch. I would not blame the defence too much - they were all under extreme pressure all match with Walsall's incisive passing and powerful running - yes, Winfield made a mistake for the first goal but the cross should never have come in as Reach will not put his foot into a tackle. Having said that Reach looked our best bet going forward so we were astonished to see him taken off and the second substitutions (Mcaliister on and Bradshaw off when we were chasing the game?) were even more mystifying. Think back to two years ago and our forward line then of Ainsworth, Collins, Morgan and Wright are vastly superior to our front four yesterday. That is why I have come to the conclusion (with a very heavy heart) that our management has little idea about what to do and I think it has been a season too far for GT. He is a very good manager but not a magician and he has not stood up to the chairman to insist we get enough decent players in to make a viable League 1 squad (though the team we fielded yesterday would struggle in League 2).
Could not disagree more about Wildig. Far, far better player than Wroe who has mobility and tenacity on his side and that's about it. Without Wildig, we struggle to retain the ball half as well and simply invite more pressure on our defence. I still believe that Turner is the right man. How many people wanted him gone a week ago? One result shouldn't change anyone's faith in the manager. I also can't see why he's supposed to stand up to the chairman. If the money isn't there, it isn't there. We aren't having money siphoned out, we're continuing our policy of living within our means which has been there ever since Turner returned. I certainly want more transparency from the club, but that's been the case for some time.
Totally agree about Wildig. The one creative player in our midfield who is often obliged to pass sideways or back in order to retain possession largely due to lack of good movement in front of him. If there is, he is the only one capable of a defence splitting pass. Also, this season he has won his fair share of tackles. Bradshaw, in most people's opinion, would have started the season as 3rd or 4th choice striker. Therefore, he has done reasonably well but still not up to standard. The failure to sign strikers is solely due down to the manager/chairman. I often wonder if GT's style of play puts prospective strikers off, knowing that they are not going to get many chances.
Football is a game of opinions and I respect both yours Lenny and KDS. I am not just talking about one game (though it was pretty appalling yesterday) I am talking about the long-term strategy and the whole of the season. Only three league wins (and three comprehensive cup defeats) by November is a record that would have the crowd calling for the head of anyone but GT. Many people I talk to at games are beginning to think the unthinkable and wonder whether a fresh approach under a new man is needed. The only way we are going at the moment is backwards and with our current 'strike force' I cannot see us winning enough games to stay up. As for standing up to the Chairman GT is in an unique position to do that. A mutual admiration society only leads to complacency and is not a good basis for going forward in any organisation.
[video=youtube;mV1WE2K514Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV1WE2K514Q#action=share[/video] Comments from GT regarding the match, board, players and fans.
a very telling interview. yes the club is fine, no the team isn't. it needs tweaking. twice graham referred to the state of neighbouring clubs. the board are giving hIm the support he needs. port fail, chester, Hereford, stockport, wrexham . 5 good reasons for how well our club Is doing, it is Grahams job to see the team catch up. onwards and upwards. Floreat Salopia!!
Atcham, Your loyalty to GT is very understandable but I for one am fed up with the same old platitudes and the continued defence of some of the rubbish we have been watching over the last season or so.
my confidence is waining and nothing less than 6 points will do in our next 2 home games, indeed if town are any lower in the league by 31.12.13, then a new direction may be required. it is possible this is gt's last season in management anyway. there are rumours circulating. replacement from within is unthinkable. has anyone considered the fault lies within the coaching staff for town's poor performances?
The coaching could well be an issue - I remember the positive impact Leroy Rosenoir had in his brief spell with us - but the coaches are appointed by the manager and the buck stops with him.
