Hughes SACKED

Yes, that's not working with our current squad.

 

Clearly not. Too much shite and long contracts for the shite.

 

Why have we got 33 players? That's a joke.
No back up GK & we're totally reliant on one Centre Forward.
22 players of better quality is what is required.

 

Neither will Cowley's 442.

We have no proper wingers.

 

And yet we play with a centre forward who thrives on decent crosses.

 

It’s absolute madness. We need wingers that can cross the ball like Morais and Meredith. That way we focus on “feeding” Cook. We need strength in midfield tough no nonsense players who can get it out to the wingers.

 

Spot on, it’s was a universally liked appointment.

 

There is enough quality in this squad given the right (uncomplicated) tactics. I will agree we should have signed a backup keeper, Colin Doyle obviously isn't fit enough to play 90+ mins otherwise Harry Lewis would have been given a breather now and chance to clear his head. It will be interesting to see how Kevin McDonald sets us up for the Swindon game, I got at the impression watching him that he has been a bit frustrated with some players positioning and movement.

 

Yes I noticed at Newport that Andy Cook is carry some excess weight Fordy but I have to say that if he can (despite that weight and having missed several games)) in the 92 minute be in the right place to meet a cross like he did that day I will personally pay his weekly kebab bill and even pay for you to valet his car once a week.

 

The Cowley's play 4-4-2? Music to the ears of some on here.

 

With the points you mention it was a big decision to sack Hughes so early in the season. In an ideal world Hughes gets a chance make the jigsaw pieces fit like he probably thought would happen but I'm not sure I've seen such a haphazard pre season at the club, failing in the playoffs then completely changing your methods to a different mindset and recruiting accordingly. Then going back to exactly the same formation that saw you hit the playoffs but without really addressing the reasons as to why that method wasn't successful. All that in eleven games.
I know I read on here regularly trust in (insert manager) and that who are us mere fans to question a manager with such a record in football.
But jeez man Hughes just didn't help himself, I'm not sure he ever got to grips with the limitations a league 2 budget gives to a playing squad lower league football really ain't that complicated as Parky showed.

 

Don’t be so sure

Wilson was quite impressive on the right, Tulloch is promising too. Chapman to come in…perhaps better than we think?

 

Guys I thought Adams would have done us a job as well as Hughes. There is something we are fighting against evert week is big club mentality that other teams love playing against us...... Basically most teams are on a par but what gets you through is effort and enjoying the moment. Most teams love playing against us especially at home. Barrow year was a great example , they murdered us with effort and heart. No team at this level is going to let you play willingly to your strengths. (Cheers Newport.) You need to earn that. It's now the same for Wrexham everyone loves to beat them as with us. I think Wilson is a good player who will get better as a winger. Tulloch is being played out of position and on the wing he should be. Oyegoke is not midfielder it all passes him by. Oh playing out from the back only works now and again if they give you space with good players ... ,we haven't and most dont so dont do it

 

I actually don't think the level of football was the issue - supporters of Hughes' former clubs would share the exact same thoughts on his approach to things. I believe at Fulham his players openly ended up ignoring his instructions and reverted to the way they had been playing under their previous manager.

 

Absolutely right. However the nucleus is there imho . Remember MH has been using “square” players to fit in “round” holes …we have been saying it for weeks , “ he’s trying to make them fit” into “his” formation. What happens if a manager who wants to come in actually plays that “ square “ formation. They all “ fit” all of a sudden .?
Simplistic I know but it won’t be the first time an underperforming group of players suddenly “ click” under a new manager?

Then I woke up from the dream.

 

Which is one of the reasons why the only way we will succeed at this level is playing on the front foot, whatever the preferred formation.

 

Clearly a £3m budget is more than enough at this level. Even an idiot should be able to work out that the budget is enough but its how it was spent.

We have 33 players earning senior contracts. 18 can make the match day squad. Its a case of quantity over quality once again.

I didn't think Sparks would pull the trigger this quick but after his 'leaner and meaner' comments in July and then Hughes collecting players and building another huge squad, its clearly helped make his decision a little easier. The CEO cannot play football manager and its difficult to interfere, but he must be looking at the money wasted and hopefully shares these concerns with the next candidate.

For me, I think McDonald will be given a few games and if we see improvement will get it until the end of the season. Anyone coming in now has to work with a bloated squad, created to use a certain style of play/formation.

That said, I do think with the right person in charge this squad is good enough to challenge for promotion. Yes, a couple of exits/additions required in January but its not a bad squad by any means.