Next manager

That’s as maybe Jon but my point is about the ability within the squad if used properly.

 

Warnock without doubt !

 

Neither.

Evans would be too controversial a choice and would alienate too many fans. Imagine if we went on a poor run under him, it would become very toxic.

Warnock would be too much of a short term appointment and listening to some of his interviews this summer, he seems to have mellowed too much and I heard him praising his team in a jocular manner even in defeat in a couple of post match interviews.

 

Just playing devils advocate Idle! I dont think either would be shortlisted - for the reasons you mention! I was just interested to hear who we considered the lesser of two evils

 

Putting it like that, Warnock then.

I do actually like Warnock. He would be a very good Director of Football in my opinion for someone.

 

Sparks wouldn’t have him. He couldn’t cope with Adams. He would expose him.

 

All this talk of next manager is premature. Hughes remains in for me.

We absolutley progressed under him last season, and yes he did make mistakes which ultimately cost us. However, we were a much better team compared to previous seasons. We just need to take a step back and remember where we were pre Hughes and how far we have come since Hughes came in.

If you haven't read Width of the Post's latest write up I recommended you do. It captures much of my thinking. Sacking Hughes now is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction pandering to those fans who can't hold their nereve and miss the bigger picture.

I totally get the frustration, it's completely understandable when the football on offer is far from entertaining and we look poor going forward. But let's just pause there for a moment. Why is it we look poor from an attacking sense?

Change in formation and players not suited to it? Yes in part and that does fall on Hughes, but the biggest and most obvious reason is the constraints he's operating under.

Practically all his proven attacking options at this level are out through injury. Midfield and wide options in the case of Pattison and Chapman and even Odour to an extent. They are integral to linking midfield with attack, creating chances and popping up with goals themselves. A fully fit McDonald would also make things interesting - ousting Smallwood perhaps?

In term of the forward line, we've been missing Smith, but critically we have had no physical presence up top to hold the ball up and bring others into play. Both Oliver and Cook are being missed in this respect and of course they can score - Cook in particular.

Hughes has not had the full pack of cards to play with yet, so we don't know what his team is truly capable of. It's 10 competitive games into the season guys. Yes I concede the football has not been entertaining - yet - but we are into the 3rd round of the League Cup for the first time in ages and we have only lost 2 games despite being depleted from an attacking sense.

Whilst missing key players we have still shown resilience and solidity even though we haven't been at our best. A great foundation therefore to build from. Talk of sacking is premature.

You don't get rid of someone who has proven they can progress the club, just because we've hit a sticky patch - particularly when there are solid reasons why elements of our play is currently compromised due to key injuries.

Remeber this. Lawn and Rhodes showed belief and great confidence in Parkinson. When he hit sticky patches they stuck with him and worked through it - Lawns words. Parkinson hit a right rut only winning 1 in 21 games but because of the faith shown in him, he pulled it around and we finished strongly which laid the foundation for a play-off finish the following season. Some of the football at times under Parky was awful to watch but we saw it through and I suggest we do the same with Hughes.

Finally, what good has sacking managers left right and centre done for us in recent years? None whatsoever. Where is the continuity? It's rip it up and start again and hope somebody gets lucky.

That's not a strategy, that's clueless leadership.

 

Agree on Warnock. I'd take Evans and am convinced he'd nail it here but you have a very good point on how little wriggle room he'd get. Cowley brothers or Moore would be good choices.

 

Spot on mate.

 

There is no vacancy at the moment and nor should there be just yet. But if that should change the best way to save this season would be Warnock he gets into players quickly and gets results. On a short term contract that would give the club plenty of time to look for a permanent manager much lik Huddersfield have done

 

Top, top post.

Well done.

 

I probably agree with most of that (It might change after our next match though)except Hughes did have nearly a full set of cards at Morecambe in our two main missing players in Cook/Patison were there in the 3 - 0 hammering.I will give him the next 3 or 4 games but we must see a improvement in our play and results.

 

Warnock built his managerial career in the bottom tiers, granted a while ago, but has recent experience in getting promoted from league 1.
Warnock has everything on his CV that Hughes doesn't and has been in demand for decades.
Hughes has a crap CV when it comes to promotion, lower tier football and was in the footballing wilderness for years.
Comparing the 2 is disrespectful to Warnock.

 

That's a bit dishonest, Weasel.

 

Both! Warnock as DoF and Evans as manager, with their wages being covered by giving Sparks & Gent the bullet

Obviously a pipe dream that will never happen, but we can live in hope

 

Well, it wont be Darren Moore as he's joining Huddersfield.

 

so that's Moore, Wethers and Baldwin at the dog botherers.

 

I think the "missing key men" line is a tad misleading, as he has had the full squad for games this season and even when Cook and Pattison were playing we still looked slow and uninspiring on the field. Walker missed a game or two, Gilliead missed a few but he wasn't exactly starting at the time other than the LWB half which wasn't great. Oliver & Chapman are the only ones who have missed the full lot, well and Ash Taylor but let's be real. And it's not like Oliver could get a game last season anyway so you're looking at Chapman as the only full time absentee who'd be pushing to start every game since August. But over a season, how many times do you have your full deck to play with? Injuries and suspensions happen to every forward line and every midfield across the league, that's why you build a squad. And that's where we have failed as the drop off from Cook, Walker, Chapman to Afoka, Tulloch, Derbyshire is frightening.

Recruitment and injury/availability is one thing, but the worrying thing for most fans is what we show on the pitch. Last season, we weren't this free flowing team that you'd back most weeks but there was a purpose and some effort and we were a team that always looked to find a way. This season it's gone way slower and isn't pretty to see us get confused about where to put the ball 4 or 5 passes into possession. There isn't that progression through the defence or that killer probe from the midfield, it's lumbering and it's like we are waiting for a defence to give us the mistake.

I saw some comparing to Carlisles start as they were on the same points this stage last season. But Carlisle were still playing the same football they played all season long and it was taking its time to click. If you check their stats, they were having similar amounts of shots and possession as they were when they came good, but they were conceding at the start until they figured out the tactic. With us, it's not like we are unlucky in games, I cant think of a game this season where I thought "we deserved more in that one" barring Stockport. I don't think any change will happen soon, but if you get another month of this style of play even when Cook and Pattison are back, he's going to be struggling.

 

My reply is with regards the date I heard, I do agree and have never disagreed the players are capable of better, but it will need a change from Hughes.
If the rumour is true then it's down to Hughes even last season when we didn't entertain we accepted the situation as we believed it was all about getting promoted.
So if Hughes does not get the results he's a out and that still leaves the new man time to turn it around, as we have seen teams do it in the past why not Bradford City.