Next Permanent Manager (now with Poll amended to include Truemen/Sellars)

No idea but Grayson couldn't, nor Hopkins, nor Bowyer or McCall.

 

Wasn't Windass about a million quid or is my memory playing tricks on me?

I seek to recall that squad was put together for about £5m which at the time, laughably, was one of the more expensive squads in the Championship. Different times!

 

For those who are sceptical about giving Trueman & Sellers till the End of the season
Well give them till the new year then look at it again

 

Rankin 1.3m, Whalley 800k, Mills 1m, Todd 250k, Westwood 400k.

I think these were the purchases that summer, off the top of my head.

Windass joined mid season.

 

You’re right yes, still a bargain

 

Very difficult to call this without having listened to the interviews so will have to trust the right decision is made.
What I do know is is that delaying a decision to see how Trueman and Sellars fare is a bad decision.
Assuming its a straight shootout between Hurst and Trueman there's no reason not to make the decision immediately and then move on from there.

Gut feel is we should go with Hurst

 

If they bring Hurst in its win win in my opinion. Take trueman and cellers back to the academy with an extended contract. That way they can improve the kids and if needs be come back to the first team. I think it more as gaining two good management teams. Plus if another club wants them we will get compo.

 

Trueman talks well after the matches. Doesn't just give it the "eh listen", but actually talks tactics, in footballing language. Of course its very easy to talk after two wins and a draw, and it would be interesting to hear how he analyses a loss, but from what I hear from him, I like the way he's set up. Seems pretty grounded, and focused on what he is doing.

 

Let's make sure the youth team and the first team are linked up properly. This season, Stuart seemed to just randomly throw four or five kids into first team action, and I think all of them have struggled even though Staunton showed potential to possibly play at a higher level in the future.

If we do hire Hurst, a Head or Recruitment and a DoF should come in, and the team should work together to both identify new players and how best to incorporate the youth team in the first team.

Simply starting the season relying on these kids because Stuart didn't succeed in the transfer market isn't good enough. He played in one Trophy game last season, and suddenly he found himself playing week in, week out. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Now he has a long term injury. Well done, City.

 

But there is no hurry maybe we can attract better than Hurst in time . What these two have done is bought us some time.

 

I do think he got thrown in too quickly. I loved Stuart but it seems his style of play didnt suit the players we had. His dogmatic approach to a back 3 is what killed him off. What i will say is if a manager with no first team experience comes in and gets us unbeaten in 3, is it the players being used correctly or the manager being that good? I know which is more likely... So long and short is i expect Hurst to not lose 5 on bounce.

 

They are not youth team players though they are young professionals some of which were thrown in because of the injury list. Staunton excelled and the young full back is doing well to. If you are promoting young players they need to be given a chance

 

Whichever way this goes we need to be mindful that it doesn't increase the pressure on the guy with the job.

Say we go with Trueman and Hurst stays unemployed. We can't lose 2 games and then change direction.

Similarly if Hurst gets the gig we can't start calling for Trueman to come in if he doesn't get 7 points out of 9.

At the minute I'm 50/50 on which direction we should go in. Largely depends on how definite Sparks is about Hurst being the guy I suppose but it has to be a decision with the longer term in mind.

 

I think Stuart's expectations were far too high.

Stuart even came out at one point and publicly said he needed to simplify things as the players just weren't getting it. That statement alone was going to demoralise any player.

Macca did a good job in League One with top end League One players. He inherited well-drilled, competent lads from Parky, and players were added to the group that were able to carry out his tactics.

I don't get the feeling Stuart is a manager who coaches 'from scratch', I think he has high expectations and wants the team to play an expansive game and be able to do so without turning to utter crap. This lot lacked the experienced and the ability to take the game to the opposition, play out from the back, alternate formations, and a lot more besides.

I'm not convinced Stuart is a no-hoper, though he might well be finished reputationally. But at Motherwell and at Bradford City c. 2016-17, the players were miles better and more experienced than what we have now. They understood his vision, and were able to (crucially) actually carry it out.

This lot weren't, and have benefitted massively from a pair of proper grassroots coaches asking them to do the simple stuff - work hard, get in their faces, play a mixture of neat and direct football, and put their bodies on the line. Asking players like Paudie (a hard case in the making), a bunch of kids, youthful midfielders, and over-the-hill Clayton to naturally play to unfamiliar instructions was crazy in hindsight. What's more, players like Wood were suffering badly from playing out of position, wing back doesn't suit any of his strengths, gives him no cover, and doesn't allow him to cover other defenders, but Stuart pressed on with it.

The major question I have for Trueman and Sellars now is, they've got the team playing familiar roles and being asked to do the basics first and foremost - and it's working without a crowd and with no pressure. What happens when a disgruntled crowd starts moaning about errant long balls and an inability to retain possession like we saw in the second half? And what happens when the games are do-or-die? Is grassroots basics enough?

 

And the same questions will be asked from whoever takes charge. I know for a fact that if we appoint a new manager tomorrow and lose a very tough match on Saturday criticism will abound on here

 

They need to be blooded sensibly.

There was nothing sensible about how Staunton was treated.

Why was he not given game time last season if he was going to play game after game this season? He's now injured long term because of an over-reliance on him, and that's about the big picture as I said - failure to recruit, and failure to protect.

I'm pleased he played well, and he's got a future - same as with Cousin-Dawson - but look at how FCD has been treated by comparison. He's started five and been a sub twice in the league; that's been scaffolded by three games in the cups. He played twice in September, three times in October, twice in November, and now looks like he might play most games in December. That's a good, sensible introduction to the first team, and if he's jaded, French will step in.

I don't think there's anything good at all about the amount of game time Staunton suddenly had thrust upon him. Credit to the lad personally, but that's very poor management, and it's a result of more than just Stuart; it's indicative of a club that isn't functioning properly and doesn't have an experienced team of experts in place.

 

Experience has not served us well recently though has it. Hopkin, Grayson, Bowyer and McCall all failed.

It's a tough call now, if not already been made.

 

Roughly there but pretty sure Whalley and Westwood were more of a bargain at £550k for the pair.
Mills and Rankin both signed on the same day I think - with the record being broken twice whilst I was watching the test at Headingley - one of those remember where you were when big events happened things!

 

T&A reckoned £600k for Whally and £150k for Westwood

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8075100.whalley-joins-city/