Sparkie Out

Have to agree with you on this Fordy.

Just to add he recruited a manager from his spam folder, no real interview process and no real recruitment with a plan in mind. Did similar with Adams, it’s almost as if there is a theme here…

T & S got the gig on the back of a few good results. Trouble is Sparks has no football knowledge, he’s happy to get someone straight in without a thorough process. Same with the back room staff, we get a few bodies in but where’s the real plan and identity?

 

Well if Ryan has an itchy trigger finger with regards our season so far he's in the wrong position at our club we aren't half way through the season yet and still very capable of getting back into a play off place.

 

Have we failed ?.

 

This is my take on where we are as the midpoint of the season approaches.
Mark Hughes has so far failed to convince. He has adopted a style of football which has been pretty dire to watch and which the players seem to struggle with and, despite an encouraging away record, his stubborn refusal to change it doesn't seem to bode well.
His lack of experience at this level, together with his lack of success much higher up, doesn't inspire confidence for the future as things stand.
Our recruitment, which initially seemed impressive, is now open to considerable question. Why sign players (eg. Oliver, Harratt, Young) who don't suit the system you intend to play?
We have given 3 year contracts to players who are not first choice picks and who sometimes even fail to make the bench.
We are overstocked in wide players and lacking in midfield options.
So, in general, we look miles away from a promotion side.
Now, Mark either appreciates all this and does something to radically change things in the upcoming window, or he doesn't. He comes across as an urbane, polite, intelligent and civilised man, but, sadly, that doesn't make him a good manager. I said in an earlier post that I would wait to see what he can do in January before writing the season off, but I have to say I'm increasingly unsure that he's the right man for the rough and tumble of league 2.
We shall see.

 

Not yet. But the warning signs are blaring like the flood sirens at Todmorden in wet weather. Yesterday was on a par with the shite Bowyer served us up at the end of his spell, it was clueless, the players looked frightened at times and the body language of certain players suggested all was not right. I'll wait and see what Hughes does in January but its clear we need to move on half a dozen players already and bring new ones in. Sad indictment of a transfer policy giving the likes of Oliver and Young long term contracts but with no real idea how and where we are going to play them.
To be 11 points off the autos at this stage of the season should be question emphatically.

 

Think he'd be happy with "Captain Admin" back at the helm

 

Better explained than my effort. Completely agree with the whole synopsis.

 

Promotion is Hughes remit, autos would be nice but getting us out of this league is the priority, yesterday was poor there's no getting away from that but we're 21 games in to this season not 41.
A bit of positivity I took from Hughes in his post match interview was when he said he might have to change the system something he quoted he wouldn't do as long as he was the manager at Valley Parade.
With regards Oliver and Youngs 3 year deals I think Cook was not a part of the equation unfortunatly when call upon Cook delivered and Oliver has shown little to take the striker role.

 

was you moaning at his appointment at the time ???
Was you moaning as the squad was built ???

was you Fook you sit there praying for it all to go wrong so you can make out you know everything when you clearly don’t

 

I would go along with that if it looked like it was building into making it work ............. but it isn’t you seriously think that this style of play will get us out of this league ????? The players lack confidence because they are basically being asked to do something that there not capable of doing ..................we simply ain’t good enough to do what Hughes is expecting he did the same at higher levels because they could play that way ............ this bunch sadly can’t ............ honestly I would rather see the old hoof ball and us actually penning teams in rather than this tippy tappy going knowhere dross

 

How does he change it though? We can't go 4-4-2 because thats not Hughes mentality. And Oliver doesn't ever seem to fit anything when he comes on.. That was one of the worst games of footy i've seen for a fair while yesterday, he should have changed it before kick off if hes that concerned.

 

Just looked at the thread when Hughes was appointed and shock horror not one person having a go at Sparks for bringing him in ............maybe the folk having a go at Sparks now should have vent there frustrations back then one loon who thinks he knows everything thought that Hughes was the key to mass investment from an outsider

 

he’s got to do something because the season is on a knife edge now Thursday night could turn very toxic of it stays the same

 

He obviously thought we were capable of getting a result playing his formation, I was surprised when changes were made he actually kept Cook on with Oliver along side him.
If he was to go 4-4-2 I wouldn't have Oliver as Cook strike partner, even though he's not started for a while and wasn't even on the bench yesterday Angol would play for me with one out and out wideman and the likes of Walker taking up the Nicky Law/Gary Thompson role dropping back into midfield when required.
I don't believe Hughes is a fool something has to change and as manager he has to take responcability.

 

You and Fordy deserve each other Wilsden

 

Yesterday was like being stuck in a time warp !!!
I think it was 3 years ago to the day we played Carlisle on boxing day yet when I closed my eyes it was like being at the same game no effort no coordination captain running straight down the tunnel similarities are endless really, no matter how much money we have thrown at it or how many managers we have had we haven't improved
My point was very soon (hopefully) Mr Rupp will say enough is enough (and I don't blame him) and cut the purse strings and sell, maybe then we could get some "footballing" men at the very top
MH doesn't have a clue about L2 football how could he, I bet before he became our manager he had never seen a L2 (Div 4) game he is trying to play Premiership football with a L2 side IT DOESN'T WORK!!! and at the moment it looks like he doesn't have the knowledge to play any other way I do believe our players are good enough to get promoted but MH is trying to put square pegs in round holes with his formations he needs to quickly change and adapt to L2 football or he will become yet another managerial casualty

 

Thanks I guess

 

Have you been on the lash mate, what a horrible thought.

 

Have you changed your mind Jon? On another thread called Ryan Sparks that you posted just a little later you stated that you’ve never been less annoyed at how the club is being run, and this has easily been the best season in terms of the club feeling like they know what they’re doing. A bit of a contrast to your reply to myself.

 

Totally agree there is absolutely no blame on Sparks for this Hughes was seen as a real coup and he has been well backed. If we fail it’s down to the playing side of the club Hughes mainl