Most liked posts in thread: Slowly slipping away………

Adams keeps saying that league tables mean nothing at this stage of season. I strongly disagree, we could be 10 points or over adrift by Christmas and it would take a massive turn of fortunes to overcome that

 

Even the reintroduction of Sir Bobby Campbell in 83/84 could not force into what would have been the play offs in today's environment, despite was it winning 10 on the bounce.

January in my head, has to be about developing the squad ready for next season, both in terms of incomings and outgoings. The second half of the season has to be more of a platform for next season, showing more leadership, character and synergy.

We can't be leaving it all for the summer again hoping that it clicks instantaneously, as inevitably, they will be some high and lows with any signings.

 

It's good, but it's not The Jam.

 

Most new managers at other clubs are expected to work with what they inherit.

We employed Adams because he could work wonders with average players. He's already had one window yet, some fans are saying he needs another two or three, before we judge him!

Player's talk. Who's going to come to Valley Parade in January and risk suffering continual, career shortening hamstring injuries? Never a week goes by without someone out with one and four players can't make the trip to Exeter because of the same injury. The penny has just dropped with Adams that we're doing something wrong. A few of us on here have had our own theory for weeks!

18 winless games out of the last twenty, suggests we can't hang around waiting for two or three windows. At the current rate of failure, we'll probably be heading for the same league as Avenue and sharing Horsfall with them.

We've seen with covid what happens when the powers that be delay crucial decisions. I wish I could see just one chink of light to give me hope that the current management team can turn things around.

 

I don't think they would. These players are average at best. However, the day in day out same tactics used by Adams isn't helping much. Nor are the training sessions it seems. I'd give him til after January to see if "his" scouting system has brought any new players in. But as has been said, two wins in twenty is shocking however you look at it. If he was a Premiership manager, he'd already have been given his P45 weeks ago.

 

Same was said last season when Stuart was relieved of his duties (poor team, low morale average at best etc)
T&S took over and to some degree got a tune out of them very nearly to the play offs. Not for one minute suggesting we get T&S back but a change of management/style has worked before. We could have premier league ability scouts but they don't hold the purse strings, sadly we have to work with what we have which is supposedly Mr Adams strength so far he is not living up to his reputation
Can't see a P45 on the horizon Mr Sparks has staked his reputation on him
3 straight wins can lift the gloom (I live in hope) but that's what kills you

 

I thought for a minute you were saying Adams doesn't have a style of play and disagreed, but now I've read your comment properly I totally agree!

It's pretty embarrassing that we're in League Two without a basic plan or culture in place, hopping from one extreme to the other desperately hoping someone comes along and gets us promoted inside five months with minimum effort on behalf of the club!

And nope, I'm not expecting any sort of continuity when Adams does leave. No doubt it will be just any relatively successful-but-attainable manager hired with no sense of rhyme or reason beyond short term credentials.

 

The only answer, as far as I can see, is to return to the path we seemed to be heading for, but do it properly. That means that as far as the playing staff are concerned, recruitment and management must be separated, and the whole organisation must be (re)structured accordingly. Owner/board hires CEO/team president, who does the 'big picture' stuff and presides over the heads of the required departments: personnel, commercial activities, stadium operations, and so on. The personnel person, let's call him the DOF, or General Manager, hires the coach/manager for the team, develops the scouting network, negotiates with the players, and so on.

This way there will be continuity -- sure each of coach/manager, DOF/GM, and CEO can be replaced, but the latter two positions are far more permanent; much more and more prolonged failure is needed before they get canned. Their staffs will be club employees, and thus permanent.

I'd add that there should also be a proper reserve team, playing in a proper reserve league, with a coach/manager who is looked on as a potential first team coach/manager. The playing styles should correspond; indeed they should do so down all the age groups below the reserve team.

This will take money to set up and run, but the owner has to see it as a cost of doing business. It is the minimum needed to drag the club into the 20th century. (We can worry about the 21st later...)

RCB

 

What worries me, is that he must have been sold the club during his interview. I think that if he’s not supported in January, then he’ll walk. Strikes me as a rather bullish man, and rather than get stick for the results (which in his mind are nothing to do with his failings) he’ll leave the job and let Sparks and co deal with the outcome.

 

That's the pizza bill sorted then

 

Mike, it'll be a big job to identify suitable targets, but it'll be an even bigger job to persuade them to join.

 

Now that you're mine
We'll find a way
Of chasing the sun
Let me be the one who shines with you
In the morning we don't know what to do
Two of a kind
We'll find a way
To do what we've done
Let me be the one who shines with you
And we can slide away

 

I for one agree with your use of analytical data and don't understand why so many seem to think our performances are atrocious because I don't think they are at all we are just performing very averagely and lack quality in a couple of areas

Having said that I'm not sweating on my twenty quid @Bronco lol

 

Someone's going to crack on your dreams tonight

 

Made my mind up ages ago that we are destined to finish midtable ........... I know everyone is looking to the transfer window but just got a bad feeling that we will be well of by then you can’t beat the worst team in the league then don’t expect a lot going forward

6 games before the window got to be looking at 10 plus points to give us a shout but we sadly at the moment don’t look like winning games based on our last 3 league performances and if we do get chances we simply cannot convert them

 

“Day by day, there’s a man in a suit who’s gonna make you pay”
Rupp & Sparks out!

 

So what's the answer, sack Adams and basically rip it up and start again? We get another manager in who wants to adopt a certain style of play and doesn't feel the players we have are suitable so we waste more time getting out of this league. Another couple of transfer windows gone.

 

Absolutely we are a club without identity, without structure, completely devoid of any sort of plan going forward even a micro business has that,totally in my opinion due to the fact we don't have footballing men at senior level
A knowledgeable DOF is what is needed Mr Adams needs a boss who knows how to run a club and do what he is supposed to be good at !!!! maybe then the all important progress on the pitch will follow