I think it's pretty much nailed on he's going but these 9 points from a possible 9 (and any more we gather over the next few before it's done), means he hasn't failed entirely and has redeemed himself in some ways. Not popular,never is,I wish him well when he leaves.
City job came too soon for him. And we need to remember the had his hands tied and had one of the most dysfunctional clubs possible to helm.... He's earnt his stripes for me, albeit with frustrations alongside...
He certainly hasn't failed this season though so I don't really get that point. We've a bottom 2 budget yet at nearly the half way point we're 18th. Considering the injuries we've had and have, it's not bad at all. I don't think he'll stay long term but binning him to bring in an unknown foreign coach seems to be an unnecessary risk. We don't look like a relegation side, the players are working their bollocks off for him too. Plus his record with us in the transfer market, especially when spending fees is good
Not the best match to watch, hanging onto a one goal lead is always nerve racking. How we didn’t score a 2nd when Greaves headed it from the back post, was a really well worked move? Nevertheless, the midfield and defence worked their socks off, and apart from a flurry at the beginning of the 2nd half and at the end, we never looked like conceding. I hope Elder is okay, but is was great to see Tom H get a good 45 minutes, and do a good job at centre half. KLP is really finding his feet at this level, he always looks forward and gets things one the front foot. Unlike Wilks he is aware of what is about him, but not slow in getting back to help out defensively. A quick turn round to Saturday, let’s hope we are not too tired.
Ehab’s puppet!! Ah your supposition is fact ? So as an employee who is told he will have bugger all resources and budget he should argue like hell with his boss and volunteer to walk- he’s got a right to hold on to his job just like 99% of the workforce. I’ve tried not being my bosses puppet twice and lost out .
Funny old game... 3 games ago we had 9 points, and not for Derby we would be rock bottom nailed on to go down. McCant out. Allams out. UTT.
McCann is lucky that Derby and Reading have lost points - without that we'd be fourth off bottom only out of the relegation zone on goal difference - yes we've had three wins on the bounce on a system that he doesnt believe in but was forced on him - a new manager cant come soon enough - we have some good players who are giving everything, unfortunately we are under performing because one man refuses to admit he's wrong
Following promotion, and with the ridiculous self imposed spending restriction that actually weakened our squad, it left us with a very inexperienced squad. The fixture list was definitely against us, playing the bulk of the top 8 in the first quarter of the season. We also had our best player not available (Honeyman only just getting going) and now the ridiculous situation re having no defenders. For a young squad to be now out of the relegation zone, I think that is quite an achievement. Personally, I'm not convinced he is the long term answer (due to his inflexibility tactically), but if we can stay in that position until the transfer market reopens, I feel he has earnt the right to at least have an opportunity under a different owner. Looks like it aint going to happen but wouldnt be totally unhappy unless current form stops. I do still have concerns that we have hired someone with no experience of this league.
Wilkes. Watching him recently, his head is down, he looks like he's put a bit of weight on. I think he needs to be taken out of the firing line and helped to sort whatever is pulling him down. I don't think McCann fancies any of his striker options apart from klp and magennis. But that's what he's got. It seems smith is out of favour and eves isnt championship standard. But what about young hinds, I'd like to see him given a chance.
9 valuable points for sure ......but how many might we have had by now this season with a better manager? Someone who shows some flexibility and nous (and/or is their own man). Would we have a better balanced squad (with our mid table budget ). And would we even have been relegated season before last? We'll never know the answers but I suspect most of us know the likely alternative outcomes. The one thing i do give him credit for is the great team spirit & effort.
I’m pretty sure Ehab & the Brown Nosed Disciples spent the close season telling everyone we had a “lower” mid table budget?
Think it was around this time last year that we had a similar situation, we'd gone through a **** patch and then started to pick up points, starting with Ipswich away, and as I said then, if we continue to play well he has to stay, but if it goes to **** again he'll rightly go. The thing is, this uptick in form has coincided with what A LOT of us have been saying, that the formation and tactical approach needs changing, i'm over the moon with 9 from 9, but it makes you wonder why the **** we haven't been doing this since the Boro game when the formation worked so well then, it could be that with a takeover near he's no longer under duress from above to play 4-3-3, it could be that he's a stubborn fool, we'll never know, but for now he's got the job and at 6th bottom we're prob about where a team with our wage bill should be
Keeping up with the pack was all most of us could ask for 4 or 5 games ago,we were starting to fall off a cliff edge.I'm not too sure what a different manager would have found in terms of improvement given injuries but I've felt all season that a half decent Championship standard striker would have got us points. I've also said on numerous occasions that we have some decent players(particularly in midfield).Team spirit among this squad cannot be questioned,they've fought all season. The new owner has intimidated that a fresh face is coming in to manage(Arvaladze) and from what I can gather from a couple of posts a couple of weeks ago,McCann knows his fate.That's probably not the way I'd conduct my affairs but it's their decision as potential new owners. My point in short,is that whatever happens when we are taken over,If McCann has managed to dig us out of a relegation hole then he deserves some credit given where we were 4 games ago. Others would say he put us in the hole anyway.
We started this winning run before we had to change to 3-5-2. It was 4-3-3 at Barnsley and we were excellent. Let's not rewrite history to support the narrative we want.
Perhaps our 'lower league budget' was set on the back of the lower league attendances we are getting ?