New Manager

Probably true but we ain’t going to do that starting on Saturday

 

Not turning against Hughes just yet.
Some players aren't performing ATM.
Just refering to this post though, when we appointed Hughes my first thought was 'but he's never won a promotion '.
I stand by that today.
Managers like Paul Hurst, Jon Coleman, Neil Harris etc all know how to take teams from one division up to the next.
Hughes has never ever done anything like that.
Has Hodges??
As I alluded to after the Carlisle match last season, a first team player told me that they very rarely speak to Hughes.
Only see him around match days and parts of training etc.
Hodges on the other hand, always there.
Bit strange.

 

Just out of interest what points total in those 10 games would give you the confidence to say "let's carry on with MH"

 

What does self funding mean to you, and is it truly an accolade if its at odds with how everyone else operates?

People seem to see only 2 scenarios:
1. 'Self Sustaining'
2. Apocalyptic mismanagement and unserviceable debt leading to the clubs' demise.

What if 'self sustaining' is completely holding us back and should be equated to a lack of strategy, vision and ambition?

 

Very surprised the players are having the day off today. They seem to lack fitness already

 

We'd need at least 15 points from the first 30 to be acceptable, and even that would be disappointing for me.

We've played 4 games and got 4 points - with 6 games left before hitting the 10 game mark, that leaves us needing at least 11 more points, and again, that would be disappointing (but not worthy of the sack). So we probably need 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat from the next 6 games. Or 4 wins and up to really redeem ourselves.

Win all 4 home games against Crewe, Grimsby, Harrogate, and Walsall. Ideally progress in the EFL Cup. Mansfield away is a toughie, maybe we lose that, and draw at Newport.

If all of that comes together, and it's likely a little bit unlikely, then we obviously aren't going to sack Hughes.

What's more likely are 2 wins and 2 draws at home, 2 defeats away, and an exit from the cup.

At that point we'd have 12 points from the first 10, and that wouldn't be good enough for me.

 

No target just as long as we are in touch with the top seven clubs. Had we won Saturday we would be in the top seven depending on goal difference. Looking for a new manager if it’s done properly will take four or five weeks so we could be well behind with no transfer opportunities

 

That has surprised me,
Surely they can't be knackered after Saturday.
Most of them never even broke into a sweat.
If we concede the first goal against Crewe, the atmosphere will be toxic.

 

To add to this. People seem to find a sense of comfort, which I think is false comfort, in the notion of 'self sustaining'. As though its implicitly required to safeguard the future of the club. What I think of when I hear 'self sustaining'. is standing still. Operating within our means, and treading water. Its a cut-throat business, and as with most industries and businesses, those who succeed are those with a growth mindset. Those who have an ambitious strategy and create the means to fulfil that strategy rather than assume the limitations of your current means. And as with most businesses and industries, those who aim to stand still, go backwards. I'd say that's exactly what's happening with our club.

Debt isn't always a bad thing. In fact, with most businesses and with most people, unless you're incorporating a serviceable level of debt into how you run things, you're almost certainly selling yourself short. 'We've had zero owner funding'. Why? Is it because Rupp isn't interested, or because he hasn't received a credible plan to fund something? I work for a a business that's owned by a Private Equity firm. If I went with a business case for them to prop up inflated operating costs, I'd be sacked. But if I went with a business case to seek investment in something that had a demonstrable return on growing the value of the business, and my plan was well articulated, I'd be backed. I know this, because I've seen it, and I've seen similar in other businesses too. Rupp is a wealthy businessman - if he sees a credible plan to grow the value of his asset, why wouldn't he fund it? And if its genuinely a credible plan, get the funding elsewhere.

We look at a modest increase in commercial revenue - at a time when commercial revenue is going up across the board anyway - as some sort of endorsement of Sparks tenure. Where's the advancement at the club? What have we materially invested in that is or will grow the fortunes of the club?

 

Hope the club have a target a "blueprint" of how we are going to get promoted regardless of what the opposition does
Am not saying you are wrong to give him 10 games but as in most working environments targets have to be met or things have to change and am sure 4 points from 4 games is well behind any expected accumulative total

 

I don't think they lack fitness. I think they lack confidence, inspiration and belief. I'd hazard a guess that Hughes is scrambling to know how to sort it.

 

I disagree several players were out on their feet towards the end of the Colchester match and if you want to try and play a pressing game you need extra fitness. A lot of teams who employ that tactic train twice a day

 

He's even indicated in his post match interview that the reason for the day off being to allow players 'to clear their heads'.

 

Good response
You're saying 2w 2d 2l is more likely from the next 6 yet you still want him to stay

 

You missed out motivation

 

I would have had them in Sunday for that performance.

 

It really depends. If its just down to fitness or attitude, I'd agree. But I don't think it is. I think there's a real morale issue and I think the players are questioning Hughes approach on an increasing basis. Pushing harder against a 'broken' person/team can make things worse. Or maybe its the parenting equivalent of him saying 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed'.

 

I think that's probably the best we're looking at based on our poor start to the season.

If it gets to that after 10 games, I wouldn't object to Hughes retiring/being fired.

But if your question is would I give him those 6 games despite being pessimistic, well yes. Pessimistic football views don't always become reality.

Lose the next 2, though, and I think the axe will fall anyway.

 

Crewe at home is a very winnable game but that’s then followed with Wrexham and Mansfield away. I remember Bowyers team being 3-0 down at Mansfield and the atmosphere was very toxic, could be the end of Hughes after Mansfield.