Monk - A Bigger Job Than We Realise?

In fairness to Monk I think that the size of the job in hand is actually far bigger than a lot of people have thought.


It seems to me that we're very much a side in transition. The mainstays over recent times such as Britton and Rangel are very sadly reaching the end of their careers and we've lost the likes of Michu, Bony, DeGuzman, Chico, Hernandez, Vorm, Davies (probably others), all of whom have been very important for us to some extent or another.

He's come in and he's basically got a rebuilding job on his hands. Siggy has been a great signing, as have Fabianski and Montero and I think Fernandez will be excellent given time. Got high hopes for Naughton too.

He clearly wanted a full back or two in the summer and probably a defensive midfielder but it didn't happen for whatever reason. RB is addressed now and hopefully the other positions will be soon.

As well as the turnover in players, I do feel that he's contending with a change in the expectations from the fanbase and beyond. We've gone from happy to be here ("Premier League and we're having a laugh") to scrutinising the side even in victory.

Whatever you say about discipline this season I do feel we have been unlucky. Some decisions have been downright wrong whilst others have been a bit unlucky/harsh - like the two today. Those same incidents would have been treated differently on different days with different refs but for some reason the luck has gone against us and continues to do so.

This has meant that we've barely managed to put together any kind of run of games where everyone has been available which hasn't helped.

We're also clearly at a cross roads in the board room with some looking to cash in/move the club forward (however they want to dress it up) and we're looking at the big steps of buying a stadium and increasing the capacity. Oh and our training and youth facilities need sorting out too as according to Garry, we're behind with that too.

All this boils down to us needing to sign premier league quality players of the right age who can fit into our team but possibly with one hand tied behind our backs due to the allocation of funds. Making life even harder is the increase in expectation.

I think that the real proof of Monk will come next season. Most probably felt we'd struggle this season and maybe we still will but IMO the team that starts next season will be pretty much Monk's. Other than one or two players there'll be very little hangover from previous managers which hasn't been the case for the last 10 or so years. Ash, Ki, one of the wingers (maybe) and IMO that'll be it. Quite a change in a relatively short space of time.

I'm disappointed by today. As for Monk, I do have some concerns but I do think it's a much harder job than a lot of people credit it. - by AngelRangelQS / Planetswans





Thought this was a good read so pinched it!................

 

'In fairness to Monk I think that the size of the job in hand is actually far bigger than a lot of people have thought.'

No, 'the size of the job in hand is actually far bigger than Monk thought.'
And his influence has made it even harder.

 

I still can't understand what has happened to dyer, routs, Rangel, Taylor and Shelvey. They have all proven they are more than capable at this level, but have all taken a giant leap backwards. Got to be down to the manager imo.

 

I couldn't disagree more. It's too one eyed for my palate,but I can see why you liked it.

 

and why did we lose the Spaniards?

 

Because of their disruptive influences.

 

Perhaps for reasons you are not aware of.

 

Shelvey is Shelvey. Taylor is getting better all the time. Rangel, fair do's has done amazing for us in the Premier league, but is just not good enough now. The other too, have reached their natural limit, Montero has really shown us that...

 

Well it looks a bit rose tinted, but I think it could well have a vein of truth. Plenty has happened in the last coupla seasons with big players coming and going.
Is it a bigger job that other managers have faced in recent years, maybe not.
Are our expectations higher, definitely.
Is Monk up to the job?
I still say it wouldn't be fair to say no.
Based on results, we're ahead of where we have been at this point in previous seasons.
Based on the FA cup, he's done as well as Morinho or Pelegrini.
Performances on the pitch have been poor at times.
If this is what he does with no experience, I say he should be given a chance to see if this is as good as he'll ever get or if he will improve (I hope getting worse isn't an option).

 

Well that's one view I suppose and it's not unreasonable because you can't deny that Siggy, Fab and others have been very good signings. But what's worrying to most of us is that players who have previously performed brilliantly for us have been on a dramatic downward spiral in the last few months. Dyer and Routledge can't beat a man any more and seem reluctant to try, Shelvey seems more erratic and lazy than ever whilst Rangel, well don't get me started.

Now a good manager should be addressing this dip in form by dropping players and using coaching techniques that get these guys back on track, but we're not seeing it, or at least very little of it.

A crucial few weeks for Monk I think. He'll either deal with these issues and prove his critics wrong or allow this to continue in which case he will (and probably should) follow Laudrup's path out the door.

This post has been approved by Mr Miggins.

 

Because they weren't in Garry & Ash's gang.

 

I really couldn't answer how big a job it is but I'm certain its too big for Monk. we know the board were split over his appointment so I can see the knives coming out soon. He's a goner I'm sure of it. Whether it will be during this season or at the end only time will tell. Once you lose the dressing room your dead in he water, and the players body language and performance yesterday makes me think that this is probably the case. Our performances generally have been on the wan for some time now.

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30860394

Listen to Mourhino's inteview after his match yesterday - see the link. Compare it to Monk's.

Mourhino's is a statment that includes expressions of shame, pragmatism, pure honesty about himself, his team and his work, and yet praise and recognition of his opponent's achievement.

Monk's statement is one of rejecting the reality he was a part of.

The gap between the two in term of character is enormous.

We replaced a man of great character and integrity in Laudrup with one totally lacking in those areas. Not just his comments in his post match interview yesterday, but Monk's statements about Sousa in his own book reveal the nature of the man. This is not a man with leadership skills. This is not a man that should be in charge of the players at any football club. IMO he is no the person to rebuild anything. His approach to the game is regressive not progressive as it was under our previous four managers - each embraced and built on the work of his predecessor. Monk chose to destroy and dismantle the work that he inherited.

The product we are now putting on the field is both regressive and has quality that is inferior to the product of the four previous managers. I am not talking in terms of results, but in terms of the performance of individual players and the cohesion of the players as a team, as a style and system of play. We have lost cohesion. We are no longer disciples of our "own" system. We have lost our way and are holding the map upside down.

 

Monk - A Bigger Job Than We Realise?

Nope, we all knew this would be a difficult season which would challenge our new squad, us fans and question Monks management credentials. Yet, with all the upheaval it has to be said,

SO FAR SO GOOD

My take on our poor form, with reasons to nourish debate , is that our smallish squad simply doesn't have the ballast to absorb the many many hits its taken through many injuries, a plethora of poor refereeing decisions verging on the bias but still resulting in ridiculous suspensions, international duty (Ki only Bony's gone). All of this has meant that of late we have had to constanlty tinker with and change parts in our most important engine, the midfield.

I doubt the recent Bony speculation and eventual departure or, Gomis showing his true face, has helped either. I've said it before, imo, Gomis is here to use us as his 'ride to the party'.

It may take a few games yet before we get back to 'our way', but the good news is that Monterro is fit again, Barrow is being fast tracked to cover the wings with Dyer and Routledge. We may have to wait until Ki returns before our midfield purrs again but I trust we have a good mix of youth and experience in the squad and management to ride our way out of this dip in form, which is all this is, a dip in form. Remember, we've played well far more than not and we continue to write our future in the premier league.

Taking up the point that some of the players who've graced us in the past but currently aren't performing.

Imo, I think its simply age creeping up. Rangel is well past his best and both Routledge and Dyer, in particular, have lost a step and more importantly pace. I don't think either have the quickness to skin a full-back anymore and lately Routledge's ball control seems to have left him too. Maybe his brain is beating his foot to the ball these days, but for me he loses it too much in contact lately.

Monk et al have noticed this hence Monterro starting, ahead of Dyer, and Barrow being fast tracked to cover Routledge now but to supersede him soon, imo. So, many of the issues we see are being addressed in the context of our squad.

Have to say, I have had it with Gomis. I don't think he's as good as he thinks he is and doubt we'd miss him if we dumped him to Palace. I honestly don't think he'd ever be influential for us. As a lone striker he can't hold up the ball or put it in the net. What I've noticed, but may be incorrect, is that he receives the majority of passes from our defence and whoever is acting DM with Siggy, Routs, Dyer apearing reluctant to give him the ball; maybe they, like me, are not confident he'll do anything positive with it.

Just had to say like but got to get off now. Back in a couple of months.

LOVE MY JACKS, C'MON YOU SWANS

 

Good points but Barrow is 22 (same age as Amat & Shelvey) and I have yet to see him beat a player and his passing is sloppy - he may come in time but we may bot be in the Premier League.
Montero is a hugely exciting player and I love watching him, but again his impact on games hasn't been fantastic and like make players with a hair trigger (Pablo) I suspect he will spend time on the treatment bench.
We needed a CDM at the end of the season before last and we still do, since Ben was transferred we've needed a left back. But most of all we need consistency. Since Monk has been in charge our side has chopped and changed from week to week - not good, we don't appear to have a plan - not good, Monk publicly criticises players and olds a grudge - not good.
It's not often I agree with Robbie Fowler but he was right when he stated, 'We talk about managers disrespecting the FA Cup and for me Garry Monk has disrespected the competition. '
Of our starting 11 was made up of four players who hadn't played for a number of weeks, two had only had a couple or three starts each and three have been in and out.
No one knows what they are supposed to be doing and even good players look poor when that is the case.

 

Monk IMO has regressed our playing style and football with the most expensively assembled group of players in the clubs History, thats quite some feat fair play.

The football is going backwards, his constant deflection of blame onto his own players is probably starting to make a few players question him, hence why we don't look like a team playing for him anymore.

So far it looks like the arrogance of monk is starting to have a negative effect.

The next few weeks will be interesting, i want to see the players show they are willing to play for him, they need to dig in for the manager, if they don't the bloke has had it. Take the first 3 gmes out of our season and we have been dog average, the football hs been regressing for a few months with the odd spurt of good football.

Since when have not been able to keep ball? we can't do it anymore.

How ironic that huw said our footballing principles were being eroded! the biggest erosion in our football hs been done in the last 2/3 months .

 

How goes it,Norway. Long time.

 

Hi Vetch, it's going good fella, it's also nice to have a read on here, been a while !!

 

Don't be a stranger.

 

Top half of the premiership all season makes some comments on here well over the top. We have a squad of players that are mediocre but for a couple and what i see is yes its a difficult job but is not every other job for every manager. Monk has been doing better than was expected and that's the reason he is praised by everyone in the football world. Some on here are expecting far too much from monk with the squad he inherited and Its about time fans get to realize that its going to take a few seasons to get it right as we just cant bring in players and expect to win every game. We have players playing who are just not good enough now but they are on contract and we cant afford to replace them yet but we will eventually, In the mean time monks job is to keep us in the premiership while building his own team and from what i can see with us on 30 points already he is doing that. the club knows that and that's why Monk will be here as predicted for a very long time.