Back to footballing matters. Col, you were peeved with Warburton after the Bristol City game. Now you've had a few days' to be less annoyed at us throwing it away again, still feel the same? Must confess I'm worried about who we'd bring in if he went, and he has credit in the bank for me from last season still.
Warburton out! No way. He's pulled 2 good teams together now on next to nothing. If we had had defenders last season, and the financial guts, kept players when football started up again, we could have come close to top 6. This season we've lost Eze, plus Wells, Hugill and others and are still playing some good football. If we could bring in a really good goal scorer, another CB, and a strong mobile defensive midfield player, reckon we could do very well, but probably finances will stop all of that, so I'll take the striker!.
Was I? I thought I was completely frustrated with our poor defending and finishing. I was full of praise for our first half football. I do think that Warburton struggles to find a plan B, especially when the opposition change tactics during a game. Also, he must take some responsibility for our terrible defending. However, I don't think we should replace him now. I wouldn't be adverse to a change in coach next season, unless he suddenly makes us a lot more secure in our league position. It's not his fault that we have very limited recources, meaning that we have average players in too many positions. No idea who could replace him with our limited budget anyway.
You did seem really peeved with him in one post but I may have misread it, or it was in the heat of a really annoying loss. In either case, I agree with you - too many average players which means any system is going to have weaknesses.
There is a vote on Warburton to stay or go on LFW put up 2 Dec, where over 100 people have voted. 75% voted must stay, 18% voted stay until his contract is up, then decide, only 2% (2 voters) have voted he needs to go.
Hmmmmmmm.... I personally think it's a combination of having a lot of players who are either under experienced or not so great, PLUS Warburton not being a very good coach. Don't get me wrong, we have a bunch of players who are good or at least have a lot of potential. And I'd rather not talk about the players who aren't doing so well, because they're paid to do a job and I have no doubt they're trying. But, for me, Warburton is not high level enough for this league/for managing this squad. I say this because there are lots of really basic and essential things that we are not getting right, even small things, but things you would expect from a more "professional coach." These aren't things beyond the ability of our players, because it's not so much about skill but about being well drilled. For example: better ideas about marking players and being more watchful/awake, not allowing teams to constantly do triangle passes around us as if we're a school playground team, being more disciplined, not allowing teams to use a set piece play to fool us for a whole 45+ minutes, not being able to adapt mid game or to go more direct when appropriate. I could go on. These types of things are literally about having the players well drilled, nothing more. And so why is Warburton not getting them well drilled? Why do we sometimes look unprofessional and semi-pro league at moments? But I'm also realistic... not many managers have wanted to touch us recently. It could be possible that Warburton gets enough out of this squad and brings some stability, so that a future manager may look upon the club and believe they can do something with what's available. Also, we have to acknowledge the financial restrictions we're under.
Possibly another of those posts that I didn't actually say? I have certainly criticised his past selections, but I thought the team against Bristol City was about right. Not his fault that Dickie played that awful pass or that we couldn't take our chances. Anyway, whatever.
Just looked back and I did say that I suspected that we may not improve much under this coach and would continue to flatter to deceive. I didn't call for him to go yet. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong, but I suspect that we'll continue to struggle to defend and score, whilst just about avoiding relegation.
I watched the Bristol game full 90 minutes last night, knowing what happened. Perhaps this lessened my anger, because it looked like a game we should have taken all the points from, we were very good. City were lucky, us not, but the main reason we lost was that we failed again to convert our chances, we made only 1 big defensive error in Dickie's poor pass for their winner that I remember, the first was mainly due the unlucky deflection. Can't Sir Les help with our finishing, for instance BOS's need to take extra touches and go near post at tightish angles, when far post is the better option with a bigger likelihood of scoring from a resultant block or palmed away save bang in front.
I was a bit frustrated with Warbs a few games back but I have since mellowed. It would be wrong to get rid now and would only disrupt our losing form. He needs to sort out the defence and coach players to know where the goal is. A bit more fitness would help because we do seem to tier quickly in the second half... then again when you play 30 games in 2 weeks what does one expect?
Agree Col, I think we was all frustrated at that result, played fantastic football in first half as as usual a couple slip ups cost us yet again, love the attacking side of our game but must really improve defensively if we are to improve & also play for 90mins which we are not doing, seem to drop our heads a bit when opponents score or go in front, no point getting rid of warbs yet but have a look at end of season & discuss
Just a quick one... Bristol's first goal... yes, there was an unkind deflection, but Wallace had totally lost his mark.
Still looks to me that without the deflection Wallace clears the cross and it goes nowhere near Naki..... fine margins
WE lost to Brizzle because BOS had 37 chances to score or set up another player to score, but ****ed it up 37 times.
Hmm. Lucky. I've thought for quite a few seasons that we've been 'unlucky' in games. However, it seems that teams with better players get more lucky. Even the deflection for Wells' goal, he has to be sharp and alert to tap in.