I'm not saying Johnson hasn't made mistakes, he undoubtedly has. The main point I'm making goes back to the post in which I said that, at some point, we have to give a manager time. Much of what I've been arguing subsequently is because I find the concept of blaming the manager alone for poor results to be one dimensional and ill-thought-through. It might not be Johnson, but at some point a manager has to be given time and be allowed to make mistakes. I can't say I've seen anything that makes me concerned that Johnson can't do it, given time. Having said, I am inclined to take the manager's side as I've watched first hand someone take over a struggling side (albeit 4/5 divisions further down the pyramid) and turn it round. I learnt from that experience that what the fans see and what they think they know is very different to what is going on in the changing room and on the training pitch. So, admittedly, I'm willing to give Johnson much more benefit of the doubt.
So you think that decision was why we drew the game? Did his subs on Saturday not contribute to us winning? I could understand the Evans sub tbh as he wanted more control of game and o'Brien is ****e. Sometimes they work sometimes they dont
Up until that point I thought we had control of the game....he surrendered control with the sub. He moved two other players to different positions to accommodate the substitution, it disrupted us more than anything.
I don't know what the answer is and I am also sick of the manager merry-go-round over the last however many seasons but I can't say I have seen a single thing to suggest Johnson can turn this around. He refuses to change the formation despite injuries and the blatantly obvious fact that the current setup isn't working. Saturday's win was nothing more than pure luck, you could tell that from the fans reactions when leaving at full time. We have been hammered by decent teams recently and really struggled against lower teams. We don't score anywhere near enough goals and we can't defend. The fact we are still sixth after an awful few weeks shows both how inconsistent teams are in this league but also that the players we have are certainly good enough...if we are able to get a tune out of them. He certainly shouldn't be the only one blamed for this but he picks both the players and the tactics.
I’m not a sack the manager type and I think generally more patient than most, but I worry about Johnson. He’s trying to be too clever tactically for the level of player her has and I’m not sure the players even like and respect him. I’d be keen to know what the people connected to the players have heard but I doubt it ‘d be posted on a board. I know a few back room staff in Oldham think he’s a ****er, though many fans liked him as a manager.
You arent the only one, but we are a dwindling number with each performance that isnt up to scratch. I can understand that, just dont agree a change is the best choice right now.
I would love to know the answer to why all the players stopped playing for him in the Portsmouth game and haven’t started again since then, something must have been said for them to down tools all together. Personally can’t see him turning it round but it’s not down to us to get rid.
Totally agree we do have to give someone time to take it forward and let them make some mistakes and learn from them. LJ has made the same mistakes repeatedly though and I cant be onboard with that. Even the run at the start of the season he was intent on bringing a defender, usually Wright, on when winning to see the game out rather than go forward so be positive. Something we go away with then, but Tuesday he tries the same trick against 10 men and gets well and truly caught out. That's not someone learning its someone who is terrified of losing or who has no confidence in the players and therefor the club.
I can't say I saw it that way. As I understood it, he was replacing an underperforming O'Brien. Gooch would fill a similar role so he was moved up from right back, making the natural replacement for him Winchester. Evans was the only player on the bench that would perform a similar role to Winchester.
Why not go like for like with McGeady or Dajaku? Instead of trying to rearrange the team from his seat in the stands? We were playing against 10 men absolutely no reason to be that negative! As I say he's far too negative in them moments for me and I see no style of play being implemented I cant see how he takes it forward in anyway.
Your assumptions are wrong, few people believe changing managers every year is a good thing, or that simply making the change will lead to automatic promotion. I agree with you that squad is probably as good as the current league table suggests. The problem I have, is believing this coaches words when I observe his actions. Giving him two or three transfer windows on his performance so far would be a huge mistake imo , Unless he can turn full circle, I think we should give another coach, who can in fact coach, a chance .
Because Gooch and O'Brien do more work tracking back than Dajuku and that change, in itself, would have unbalanced the side less.
Totally disagree! Its hard enough to change the side from being on the touch line, to make that much of a change from the stand doesnt make any sense when IMO it wasnt needed. Against 10 men and a team bottom of the league the need for tracking back should have been limited, even though I do believe that both Dajaku and McGeady have that work ethic in them. We should have been looking to stretch the game instead of inviting pressure onto ourselves, bringing a runner on in Dajaku and getting there defence turned would have been a much more positive move.
As soon as it was clear what their intentions were in the second half, Dajaku should have been brought on for either Aob, Broadhead or even Stewart and given the role that Diamond actually should be getting here ie in a counter attacking role , Steve Cotteril completely outwitted this muppet and we were lucky to get a draw , a damming outcome even worse than the Portsmouth and Charlton fiascos considering were we were at half time.
LJs plan A looked very good, but once that was rumbled by other teams he seems to be struggling to find an alternative that can get us winning games on a regular basis. Lack of ability (or a willingness) to adapt now that sides know how to play against us. You have to be able to find different ways to play and be a threat, otherwise its all very predictable. We had a fantastic start, but in truth its slipped away a bit and I'm not sure I trust the manager to be able to rectify it. I'm sure this echoes how many feel on the matter.
Look up their defensive stats on whoscored.com. Disagree with that assessment totally. An out of form side looking to play their way back into form should show some caution against a team in the position Shrewsbury were in on Tuesday night. I agree that the introduction of Evans was the wrong call but there was nothing wrong with replacing O'Brien with Gooch.
I don't disagree with that but he was the only right winger in the matchday squad that does the defensive side of things.
