New Coach - Michael Collins

Still cant be judged on 3 games can he?

Surely?

Not the most amazing of starts but if this was a name of a manager I'm sure we'd be saying give him some time

 

Yes he can be judged.

1 up front. Killa not playing. Out of the cup.

Looks clueless and way out of his depth.

 

I still also think people vastly underestimate how long it takes a squad of new signings to to be effective at the professional level.
If at work 15 new people all came in to a team new, how long would you give them to ‘gel’?

 

Possibly, but it hasn't hampered Peterborough who have signed 16 new players, won both their league games and scored 6 goals.

 

it's difficult for him, when he's been dictated to about who and how to play.

 

I think it’s fine for a bit of ‘toys out of the pram’ after a poor result. Early judgements, at least in part are fine too - as long as people are prepared to stand corrected and keep themselves honest. People like to vent.

But keeping it in wider context is important. We have a group of almost entirely new players and a new coach, who’s doing it for the first time. It was never going to be a flying start, mistakes are going to be made and we’re going to have to reserve at least some patience.

The first period of real reflection for me is somewhere around 10 games. At that point, theres been enough time to gauge whether there’s evidence of relationships and understanding developing on the field. Are we becoming more effective, are we showing an ability to learn from mistakes? That last one is key - mistakes will happen, through inexperience alone. And I actually don’t mind that - to a point. I’m tired of the same old managers being recycled through clubs. Something new and fresh might be a good thing. Take the article in the T&A yesterday morning, declaring that a loss would be unacceptable. I think that was exactly the right message in the dressing room, but in public...? He set himself up for a fall there. Will he learn from that? He needs to.

I’ve seen a mix in the first 3 games - some good, some bad, some ugly. Most of our new players show promise - I’m still concerned about some of our pre-existing players - I think we’ve got more attacking talent than recent years but I’m not convinced by a 3 at the back system. The bad stuff, for the most part, all looks to be stuff that can be resolved through coaching and training if it’s done well, but that takes time. One area where we’ve really shot ourselves in the foot is pre-season - we missed a trick by now having enough of the right games.

Unless we’re in real danger of going down going into the January window, then we need to give him some time to show whether he’s learning and improving as quickly as we need. It’s a balance - thinking longer term is fine but there’s a need to show something in the short term too, and we’re not an academy for coaches to blindly fail at the expense of the club.

 

Fair and valid point. Say whatever you like about Evans, he’s certainly a winner.

 

Shrewsbury have signed 16 new players, have a new manager and have lost all 3 games scoring 2 goals.

 

Rookie coach?

 

The lad is learning both sides of the game, I'd suggest he needs to think before making comments that he has done resently.
The media always like a quote lhis latest Macclesfield comment was uncalled for he will learn, just concentrate on the footballing side.

 

Exactly, it can work both ways. People can't use signing a number of new players as an excuse for a slow start, as if your manager knows what he's doing, he'll implement an identity and system from day one. Not mess about with about 5 different systems in the opening two games of the season after a non existent preseason.

 

Sorry, for me we are not a kindergarten for novice coaches. It's not Collins' fault, he has been promoted before getting the necessary grounding and experience. Just like a novice player who is loaned out for match experience, he should have done his training at a lower level, and if he was capable, worked his way up to managing us. We can all guess why he was appointed, and I don't blame him for accepting the job, but he is extremely naive in his comments. Allowing the players to decide who takes penalties because he trusts their decisions??? Also to publically state before kick off that it would be a disgrace to lose to Macclesfield??? He may as well of written their pre match pep talk for them.

 

On our Third kit man and two fitness coaches already have left the club and still not the end of August!! someone needs to learn stability is the key to success

 

Great points, and we can't ignore them.
However (And I know I'm not alone in thinking this), those same points reflect just how poor pre-season preparation was, and full of wasted opportunities.
You want your team to gel and hit the ground running ? Great !!
Then play as many as you can, as often as you can, and make those friendlies 'purposeful' !!
I'm all for blooding the kids - But as the minority, not the majority.

 

Blooding the kids will become a stock phrase on here very shortly
Thats what we are all about !!!!

 

Correct Petrov, but you can pluck whatever example you want to make to support your point of view - could equally the other way have pointed out Doncaster who have a new manager we looked at and they have won all 3 matches so far

 

Absolutely. The point I was trying to make in reply to the post about Peterborough is that it doesn't matter how another team with a similar number of new players and a new manager to us is doing. Some have started better than us, some worse - so what? It means nothing.

 

Fair point and I largely agree :thumbsup: but I think Michael could have helped himself if after Barnsley he hadnt said 'I know what we are doing, I knew exactly how Barnsley were going to play and I know this division' followed by 'losing is totally unacceptable' before Macc in the cup. He is being quite ballsy which I can understand with all the doubters but he paints a picture of his abilities that the fans cant quite see in focus yet!

 

There is a world of difference between coaching kids and being the head coach /manager of a professional football team.

However good a coach he is, Michael Collins is on an incredibly steep learning curve right now. Whatever he says will be picked apart and over analysed. Honesty and confidence is great , but right now sticking to bland statements allowing him to focus on the football side of things is preferable. The club should be supporting him on this.

 

The number of new faces is irrelevant.

What matters is we were a mite fortunate to win 1 0 at Shrewsbury, got out classed by Barnsley, and never even led against Macclesfield.

Two goals in three games...

We've played a team with zero points in League One, and zero points in League Two.

At best, we were competitive against these sides.