If Crowds Had Been There For T&S Tenure

$64,000 question. Thankfully, an answer is not becoming as I rather like the results under T&S.

 

On the other hand, the change in formation, organisation and attitude was blindingly obvious from the away draw at Crawley. So our crowd would likely have been supportive and roared them on at home against Cambridge and all subsequent matches.

 

I think standard indifference at the start, giving way to the realization that there was some shape, a game plan and that realization causing optimism. All this is based on comments on here from the Crawley match and the following ones at home to Cambridge and away to Grimsby. The performance at Crawley changed the narrative, the follow up at home would have got the fans on board.

 

When Stuart was sacked my only feelings were relief. That relief completely surpassed my hero worship developed in the 80's of Stuart the player. I'm not being a d!ck here when I say that most City fans could see the issues, the tactical failures, but Stuart never would have. He has never built a team for City that was any good, he inherited a good team in League one. They were already a unit, a team prepared to give their all, he didn't put them together. As soon as he was involved in recruitment we were looking at non league. I can honestly say that I think Stuart's idea of recruitment was right up there with Archie's.

 

Sutton, Watt, Cooke, Evans, Clarke, Hosannah. All signed under Stuart. Some really good recruitment there. Guthrie and DMH not so much, admittedly.

And, actually, half the team that got to the Wembey playoff final were recruited under SM.

For me, the tactical issues were the biggest problem - persisting with three at the back; tinkering formations every game; playing square pegs in round holes; picking players who clearly weren't up to it. T & S came in and got a tune out of the same players that Stuart had left confused and demoralised. They were helped by getting Clarke and Novak back from injury, but the way they so quickly drilled us to become hard to beat was mightily impressive.

 

Imagine what the away ends would be like at Harrogate, port vale and Morecambe if we keep our run going? feel robbed

 

Imagine what home and away sections would be like Mar 6, home to Bolton. One hell of an atmosphere.

 

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Morecambe away last game of season wow now that would be a good away day .

 

Wembley?

 

Still a huge effort to get to the play offs. One step at a time. My plan was minimum 9 points from next 5 games, including tonight. If, we get them, I'll reassess from there.

 

I'd take 4 from the next two and that should leave us in a strong enough position to have a free hit at Bolton who have got themselves on a good run aswell

 

I think, that's a fair logic. Grab a point from the Bolton game (or more) and the Newport game simply becomes a no lose game keeping the momentum going.

Like I said before elsewhere, 46-48 points with 14 to go would leave us needing 2 points from every 3 available.

Not a lot of margin for error or a dry period of results.

 

Such a good question and we'll never know. I voted slightly worse as i do think that the lack of fans eases the pressure for our young managers and also players. Also given that our form under their reign has been exceptional, I don't see how they could've realistically done even slightly better, never mind miles better!

 

I think it's a double edged sword, fans in attendance are great when you are doing well and sometimes a curse when you are doing badly. The managers are probably grateful that the stadium was empty when they first took charge, but I bet they would love to have 15,000 fans in Valley Parade for the rest of the season.

 

The crowd that would have made a noise when we were pushing on a bit would have been moaning like feck about the slow play first half on Tuesday night.

 

If we as rank and file fans could see where Stuart was going wrong it didn't take a genius to come and change it. We knew his achilles heel was his constant worrying and changing of formation the last times he was here and it was clear during his third tenure that hadn't changed.
Honestly, football isn't that complicated. The further down the league you drop the less complicated you want to make it. And this what the new managers have done. Work out what your strengths are available and play to them. Its the reason we have dome so well in 12 games. Same formation, bring in players that add to that formation, not bring in players and then have to change the formation to suit them.