How long do we give him ?

I think you're pretty much a lone voice KIO, but as the weeks go by without a win, it is looking inevitable that we will go down.

 

I would be proud of our board and club is we stuck by and backed a young British manager, instead of sacking him because it's easy. He's not cutting it at this level, but I knew we would be relegated this season anyway. I just thought AN would set us up to attack teams and have a go. That's been really upsetting, coz we've done did all. I think he'd take us back up. If we have a bad start next season in the championship then he's obviously lost the dressing room and I can't defend him any more.

 

Oh dear, with the greatest respect Dave I'm afraid you deserve one of these:

. ...

actually two of 'em

 

You would be proud of a board who kept faith with a manager who took us down with a whimper, with players who obviously have no confidence in his ability and a manager who has presided over ****ing NINE defeats in TEN ? Jesus fecking Christ I truly despair

 

The players are not good enough for this league either. Going to pay up all their contracts and start from scratch?

 

Sacking AN now, next week, last month, to bring in a quick fix solution would be mental in my view.
He's still learning about life at this level, he certainly ain't stupid and the way our board operates, there's no room for / point in 'knee jerk' reactions.
Apart from Nigel Pearson, who almost took LCFC down before a miraculous recovery late last season,
I can't think of anyone who could remotely be considered a stand out candidate?
Relegation, if it happens, wouldn't mean the end of NCFC or it's loyal, fantastic fans.
It's all a part of life's rich journey for a football club of our stature and financial clout, sadly.

 

I think he has to go and now, he's more or less admitted today that he doesn't know what's wrong or how to fix it. NOT what I wanted to hear!!!

 

So with nine matches left, the standout candidate to replace him is....?

 

Neil Adams! Sorry bit pissed.

 

Seriously now then.........Gary Monk, Brendan Rogers, someone who doesn't have the Scottish league mentality! I watched a different Norwich team last night, they were more organised, more comitted and far more motivated. Lafferty played had a good game looked the part but obviously is not liked by our current manager either as a player or person which if it's personal then it's entirely wrong. He now looks lost and out of his comfort zone. I don't trust him to save our season or get us out of the championship next season.

 

I was a tad concerned when I saw he was backing CJ to lead the line and I know others felt the same.
I must admit that I've been firmly behind AN, so far, but my 'blind faith' is wavering!!!

 

Exactly my feelings Braveheart, and with a user name like that I would suppose that you would support a Scot. But we have very recent history of this very situation re the appointment of NA two years ago. The positive aspect of relegation? The Murphy twins, Toffolo, Thompson, Madison et al, who would/will get a chance to show their potential in the championship. I still believe a massive mistake was made at the beginning of the season by not giving the LB berth to Toffolo.

 

One of several massive mistakes that have come back to haunt us, imo.
For example, deciding that Bassong, (injury prone) Ryan Bennett and Russell Martin would be 'sufficient' as centre backs was ludicrous in the extreme. Likewise, expecting Jerome to bang in goals for fun because he'd managed it in the championship was naive, wrong (he's scored 3!) and short sighted.
No point mentioning Bradley Johnson's exit, the 'invisible men' Lafferty and Hooper, as it's all been done to death already, but the net result of making no significant additions (Brady aside) in the summer has got us to where we are now.
One thing we do know, though it's cold comfort at the moment, AN and DM will have learned big time from these (perceived) shortcomings in adapting the squad properly for life in a higher division

 

Excellent replies from both GE and Cromer.
Our defence has been guilty of conceding simple goals for many seasons now and as you say to assume that our current mainstay defenders would be sufficient to ensure survival in the PL was ridiculous, as we had the highest number of goals conceded of the 3 promoted teams.
I don't see that there is much chance of us avoiding relegation and whether or not we stay with AN as manager is not the issue, but please, please, please - let's use that time in the championship to radically rebuild the squad/team.
I'd advocate keeping only a few of the first team squad (or those who want to stay).
I'll come back to this when I've had time to think about it, but would start with Martin, Whittaker and Bassong.

 

What, to keep hold of or ship out? Sorry if I'm being thick?

 

Sorry, to say which other players should go. My support for AN is rapidly being eroded and I'll make my mind up after the Toon game.
Just remembered, I'll add Olsson into the mix as tot who should go!!!

 

Also what happens if we do keep him and go down, then what if by some miracle he gets us back up first time of asking do we stick with him again when he's so clearly out of his depth at premier league level? Would you sack him then? Remember we only scrapped in last time through the back door!

 

I'd hope he would have learned a few harsh lessons from this season though, chippy, and will for sure be 'cannier' at this level next time around - if there is one
Don't forget he, too is still on a learning curve. I just wish he wouldn't ostracise certain players (Vadis, Lafferty for example) while blindly sticking by others, Martin, as a case in point - although he hasn't too many options in defence so is somewhat limited - but whose fault is that?)

 

I can't really think of a manager that I would like to replace AN that would come to us.

I like AN for what he did in the promotion season was excellent. This season he has been found out a bit and is changing things around now in desperation.

We don't really have the quality in team we need to stay up and for this AN and McNally have to take a slice of the responsibility.

The games that have really killed us is the Villa away and of course yesterday. I have excepted our fate now and think to a degree so has AN.

He doesn't know what to do to change it, openly admitted it. He is guessing and I don't think he has ever know his strongest 11. This has resulted in an unsettled team and disjointed performances.

If we do go down there has to be a rebuild next season. Defence is not fit for purpose and we need a quality striker next time we go up.

I'm sad about this season I really am as I thought we had enough to stay up. I think the team has been mismanaged by an inexperienced manager and we don't quite have the quality there that's needed to get away with that.

 

Don't forget the abject and clueless displays earlier in the season at Southampton, 3-0, Watford, 2-0 and Bournemouth, 3-0.
Maybe in the early part of the campaign (Saints?) the odd 'rabbit in the headlights' display was inevitable, but sadly the season has been littered with them, at regular intervals, suggesting Neil and/or the players - or both? are not learning anything from previous mistakes. Everyone has a blip, but to still be having them so late in the day suggests fundamental issues that still haven't been addressed?