Graham Alexander

How many signings has Sparkes signed off that have worked ? 30/40? The worst ceo we have ever had

 

Alexander will be gone by March. This feels like the league 1 relegation season all over again

 

That is the ultimate question. We might have to pay a number of players off will funds be found? Then replacing them with quality won’t be cheap either. Rupp doesn’t have a choice in my view.

 

GA may well quit before March.. There is no togetherness at the club. The chairman doen't even have time to say hello to the new manager over the phone.

 

I really like GA, his honesty shows in interviews, no umming and ahhing, just gets to the point

I know we are riding the crest of a mini-wave at present, but this is the man to take us up. Maybe not this season but he will eventually

 

Reminds me a lot of Parky.

 

I like how he comes across too, and I think there genuine areas of encouragement in how he wants to play. It would appear to be a much better fit for League 2, and hopefully he gets the chance to re-mould the squad in his image come January.

 

With 19 out of contract in the summer, you would hope it would be quite easy to move a few on by explaining that they're not going to play and they won't get a new contract for next season.

McDonald is on a longer deal but is desperate to play, which doesn't seem likely here.

 

I think I was talking about the January window.

 

Yes, we should be able to move them on in January. Encourage them to take an 18 month contract elsewhere as nothing from us in the summer. Most players will do that to avoid being on the scrapheap at the end of the season, with thousands of others.

 

But quite a few will take the chance. With the upturn in results comes an upturn in confidence and some of the players we're writing off just might surprise us. It's a fine line.

 

I'm sure GA will have a plan come January. Some may surprise us and some may be a victim of the 3-5-2 system he's stumbled upon.

 

I think stumbled upon it may be a bit unfair. But I was a bit concerned looking at the team and the bench. If for whatever reason in a game it wasn't working and we were behind and chasing the game, not sure what we could do other than bring Chapman on somewhere

 

It wasn't a criticism. I think they were his words after the Accrington game 'Let's not get carried away because we've stumbled across a formation that's helping us' or words to that affect.
He seems to like Odour as well as Chapman. They could provide the width if he wanted to go another way.
Oliver obviously is the other target man if we go even more direct late in games.

 

I thought that as well. Seems to be forging a good camaraderie with the players, but not too friendly (like McCall was) so they know where the line is drawn

 

Things I've noticed in the early days of Alexander's tenure. Quickly realised we didn't have the set up squad wise for 4-4-2 which he started in his first two games. Went to a 3 and didn't play Stubbs and Taylor together, instead opting for Kelly and Platt to partner Taylor.
Gone from starting off defending deep with little to no press. Now has them pushing from the off.
Noticed he gets his centre backs to go down the channels even if no one is there, gives Halliday and Richards chance to push up after into the opposition half rather than it look like we are defending with a 5 like it did under Hughes.
Dropping Walker into a deeper central midfield role is getting the best out of the fiery Scotsman. Was my motm last night, seems to revel in the extra space afforded being the extra man with Smallwood and Gilliead.
Small steps so far but the players seem happier than they have for some time. Their body language showing a distinct improvement under the hapless Hughes. A plus for me is I don't think we've played that well yet, just stuck to the basics showing league 2 football shouldn't be over complicated. Devise a plan, have the players on board and press players of limited ability straight from the opening minute.

 

I like. the sound of our new manager sounds switched on .....lets see

 

The shape just looks better. More coherent, shorter distances between the front men and more bodies in the box when we attack. Halliday looks well suited to a wing back role, not convinced at all by Richards but he's less of a liability there than as a left back and he does have good energy. Focus for January has to be on a centre back, centre mid and an alternative option up front.

 

Hughes has left a bloated squad with no balance, we have a fair few wide players who look surplus to requirements. We have the likes of Wilson who is ours so we can send a loan back in the same position. Alexander has a lot to sort out.

 

Richie Wellens confirms he got a phone call from us after MH left, asking him if he was interested.

(1) Richie Wellens - The Exclusive Interview - YouTube

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