Graham Alexander

Hughes was given a decent budget and backed by the club, he signed 19 players last season and had 35 senior pros on the books. He let himself down with his awful, negative football despite having one of the best keepers in the division and the divisons best striker. No excuse for the play off defeat against Carlisle - that was on him.

Its L2 eotd. You dont need an endless pot of money or need to sign every single target. Long term we have failed and probably let previous managers down but I cant help but feel Hughes failed and it was on him.

 

In a way I feel sorry for Alexander. His arrival at the club greeted with more of a sigh than a positive fanfare due to a recruitment process where it's clear he wasn't first choice. Add that to the general feeling of apathy around the club after yet another failed appointment in Hughes and it's clear a lot of the fan base simply have no faith in either Rupp or Sparks to get a manager appointment right. It's only fair GA gets time to turn this shitshow around, I'd argue it's gonna take him a while with the squad he's inherited.

 

At least in the summer he has 19 out of contract. That will give him every opportunity to shape his own squad.

 

Yet another rebuild. I've resigned myself that after this club has been so badly run for so long it's gonna take GA a while to get.the squad he needs. Might take till the last season of his contract. That would mean Sparks having to stop pressing the panic button.

 

Can’t disagree with you on any of that. All three you mention almost have the potential to be like three new signings with new management. That said I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the Young scenario will be as simple as you suggest, but let’s see.

All this said if Alexander works out it still papers over cracks higher up in the club where we need more ‘football’ experience helping steer the boat.

 

I dont disagree. But Young is our player and it didnt look like he was desperate to move. New regime now so maybe he can be persuaded. If he cant, just call him back anyway and force the issue. He signed a contract and is paid to play. Bin him off in the summer if it doesnt work out.

Id take an unhappy Jake Young over Afoka and Derbyshire.

 

Said exactly the same yesterday. I won’t personally judge him too harshly on the remainder of this season. But next 2023/24 I will. Those 18 out of contract don’t include Bobby so a deal has to be done soon, so in effect with those 18 he can build “ his” team. To me further explains why it’s a two season , plus half of this season deal. I can see that part of the negotiation being a pragmatic solution by the club , ie 2.5 seasons.

 

All complete conjecture.

You may well be 100% right but the reality is that you've no idea what Trueman has or hasn't given to previous managers.

 

Was Alexander at MK Dons when they allowed Kemp to go on a season long loan at Swindon, if not why not bring them both back a small fee for Kemp he has done well during both his loans at Hartlepool and Swindon.

 

Trueman is a coach. He'll be putting on sessions that the Manager wants.
He won't be deciding the style of play.

 

Just because it's a similar face won't mean the coaching is structured the same.It could be absolutely worlds apart.

At the end of the day, the coaches run drills and sessions based around the managers wishes, they don't just take carte blanche on what they fancy doing that particular morning.

 

A fair point but 6pts off the play offs. And despite how shite we have been, there aint alot of quality in this league apart from the obvious 3.

With the right management and tactics, plus a couple of additions this team can be competitive. Lewis refinds his form, Cook keeps chipping in, Pattison stays injury free alomg with Halliday, Stubbs, Walker who all showed us what they capable of when on it, we can be better. Smallwood has improved since Hughes went, time for him to step up. Oh and Bobby looks a gem.

Need Chapman and Oliver back as options too.

 

Start with the loan signings, there's not one that's contributing (unless Alexander changes that) so perhaps send them back to make room for other incomings.

 

Agreed. Id like to see the Yank at CB get a proper chance before we bin him off though. Rest are dross.

 

Unfortunately, Jake Youngs family member has left my workplace recently. Not seen them in the office for a while before going anyway, but the last catch up I had with them they said Jake, Mark Hughes and Swindon were happy with and confident the deal would be made permanent in January. Unless something was already agreed to be made perm on Jan 1st, I'd imagine Alexander would be jumping at the chance to bring him back in.

Very interested to see what Young, Odusina and East do in Jan. Obviously Young had that great start which has admittedly tailed off since (1 goal 1 assist in his last 7 starts and was dropped to the bench last week, only completing 90 minutes once). But he has been playing as a 2 man strike partnership which has been something Alexander uses in the past. Odusina was being used a bit like a utility man off the bench whilst Woking has some injury issues but is back to starting games at CB. East has been very impressive at Rochdale, their fans rave over him & Clayton in the middle. Caught a bit of their game on TNT the other week and he looked so confident.

GA used about 4 or 5 different tactics in Scotland, so seeing how we setup after a few games is probably going to be an indicator if we need any of these lads back. Given he's signed Josh Morris everywhere but MK, I'd be surprised if he doesn't come in for a look and seemingly plays CM or LM mainly these days.

 

Fair comment, I just seem some glaring weaknesses that have never been remedied. I'm not expecting too much too quickly from Alexander and I think he will be given time as Sparks is in the last chance saloon regarding his managerial appointments. He has to get this right for the sake of his CV, another failure would make grim reading.

 

A hell of a lot has changed since then and that’s not just our management situation. Swindon players weren’t paid on time and those fans who were at the Aldershot game said they looked like they downed tools, players are humans and despite his good start the last week or two may have put him off Swindon. Swindon are a club who always seem to enjoy Champagne diets on a buck fizz income.

 

Young is employed by us, so persuasion isn’t needed for him to return. If we remember his fall out was allegedly with MH, MH has now gone, therefore his reason for “ taking his ball home” has disappeared. On that basis Serge, no persuasion is required. If he refuses “any reasonable work request” , he is technically breaking his contract. The ball is in his court, but we hold all the aces.

 

Yes I believe so, for the Swindon deal for sure, although Kemp may not be all that enthusastic knowing that GA released him. We don’t want another Young scenario?