Next manager

If we ain't got the players to play like Man City/ Barcelona why does he continue to try and play that way ??????
Give him the next 8 games if you want and I would be all over it if there where signs of things improving but sadly there isn't .......... I hope folk on here are taking the pee out of me in 8 games time after we have gone a good run ,but I simply cannot see it changing and I honestly think we will still be rooted around midtable after the next 8 games

 

"All this possession based f#cking around at the back will not get us promoted"
- Ahar 9:64

 

I think in 8 games time we will be close to the relegation spots to b honest if nothing changes - especially tactics. You have to ask yourself - Rupp must know that the club is effectively worthless if we get relegated and lose payments from the EFL. Likely lose crowd numbers and sponsorship too.

Something tells me if we are not above mid table in 5 games Rupp will pull the plug on Hughes. Likely replace Sparks too. It wouldn't surprise me if discussions with consultants in Germany haven't already taken place nd an emergency plan isn't in place. Lets face it this club getting relegated will be a disaster.

 

Taken in isolation- eight league games in- talk of sacking Mark Hughes sounds unfair. However, looking at the bigger picture it's not quite so daft.

Last season, Andy Cook's goals deflected what would have been even greater criticism of a sleep inducing style of play and those goals provided a, somewhat, artificial league position.

Hughes has had 78 games and we don't seem much further forward, despite him being able to bring in a significant number of recruits in each of the three windows, so they're "his" players - not having to make do and mend with a squad of players he inherited.

As a person, I have no problem with Mark, unlike his predecessor! However, when you delve into the internet and read similar stories at his previous clubs of players being uncomfortable at the tactics being asked of them, his unease at openly dealing with players face to face or, indeed, addressing them as a group then some of the problems we've encountered become depressingly familiar.

I'd love him to succeed and bring some much needed stability to the club. I welcomed his arrival and, as fans, we were seduced by the star name who'd joined us. On reflection, it was a bad fit and trying to bring Premier League tactics to the blood and thunder of League 2 was unlikely to work.

It's not working and, given his stubborn trait, I can't see much change.

In any situation in life, if something's not working, and there's no indication it will, it's pointless delaying change.

 

As much as I am frustrated with Hughes and his negative tactics, we are still hard to beat, unbeaten in 5 games actually. So, don't think we have any worries about being involved in a relegation battle.

We just look a typical mid table side to me

 

With regards the 8 games I'm not saying I'd give him 8 games just what I'm hearing (lets say it could have been one of the reasons Rupp was here) but as with most things its only what I've heard quite possibly rumour lets wait and see, if the club get rid before you'll have your wish.
You say "I just see it as losing valuable points which could be crucial come the end of the season" that is of course if the new guy gets the new manager bounce if not were no better than we were before Hughes was relieved of his job.

 

We are playing same as last season really aren’t we, just not got Cooky’s solo goals to paper over the cracks again

 

@Bronco, it's easy for the likes of me saying make a change but I'm all too aware that a change may not turn out better, like all the recent appointments haven't.

That must be in the forefront of Rupp's mind so, looking at the other argument, he may well wish to defer a decision, in the hope things start to click and Hughes becomes more flexible. Particularly, as there don't appear to be too many alternatives for the job.

 

I've made this comment before with regards style of play and results, when Hughes came I believe we had 13 games left to the end of the season, results were hit and miss until he'd had a look at the squad he had, he then got a little run of 6 games without defeat playing some decent football.
I fully expected Hughes to bring in players that would improve the squad he had, although we lost Paudie Vernam and Watt three players who had big input into those last half a dozen games of that season, unfortunately for some reason he started playing possession football it certainly wasn't the stuff we'd seen during that short run the previous season, it wasn't great to watch which I passed comment on several times during last season, I wasn't a lover of his football but it got us to a semi final play off something we've not seen since the McCall days, I believe everyone wanted promotion it was quoted many times and yes I believe Hughes blew it.
I do believe the club will give him time to get players back and see if they can make any impression with regards results, but I do also believe even if results improve but the players are not entertaining us fans there may be a negative reaction from the stands.

 

Quite possibly things can change quickly in football.

 

Lets hope if your above is correct Rupp hasn't asked Julian for his advice.

 

I agree with your comments about the first end of season phase of Hughes' tenure. We were playing really well and getting results. But, tellingly, that was with a squad assembled by others. As soon as he brought in his own players any kind of entertainment disappeared and through further transfer windows the quality of signings has declined. The recruitment has been terrible, particularly the loans, and we've now got a significantly inferior squad to the one he inherited. He simply doesn't understand League 2 football and shows no sign of learning from his mistakes.

 

Can't disagree he was given the tools to bring players in that could improve us, and I and I assume every Bradford City fan thought we would play the sort of attacking football we saw for those last 6 or so games, unfortunately he discarded that and went down the route of making us a difficult team to beat as we saw when Lewis kept 19 clean sheets, but it got us to a semi final play off place, aso e probably though he made the right call.
I believed being so near he would strengthen certain areas and go again, oh no not Mr Hughes he rips that blue print up and gives us even less entertainment with his God awful possessions football, time is running out he either gets a tune out of the player and the injured players when they return and that doesn't mean hanging on for a 1 - 0 result, as I've posted above I think although it might get results the fans will not tolerate it and will make the opinions known, Ryan must know at the moment attending games at Valley Parade are very poor value even at our cheap season ticket prices.

 

Playing Devil’s advocate here………but If you had to take Neil Warnock or Steve Evans when Hughes gets the bullet, who would you pick?

 

What I don’t understand is why Hughes hasn’t come out fighting the criticism? Why hasn’t he made more effort to coach from the sidelines rather than just sit down all game? I say this because surely if he fails here, his career as a football manager is finished. Which I think would see him become a pundit for Sky most likely.

 

I’ve always fancied Warnock here but I feel he’s too old and too mellow now.

 

Those last six games were the ones that had me thinking it’ll be a great season to watch an attacking, fluid Mark Hughes side. Pierera and Walker linking up, Vernham and Watt in midfield with Cook up top. Unfortunately as mentioned above, these weren’t his players and the high anticipation of an exciting Bradford City season soon evaporated as the season unfolded. It was a free hit for him and we enjoyed it. Given time to put his stamp on it and he’s forgotten what entertainment should be. Gone are the keepy uppies and smiling faces, instead replaced by mind numbing, slow, non creative or inventive football. We can’t even score from set pieces. Difficult to beat we may be, exciting we are not. I think with the right attitude we can do both, but only if the Hughes from those early days comes back into the building.

 

I believe there is a team there capable of the play offs being held back by negative tactics formations they obviously can't play, playing with the handbrake on etc etc its all been posted on here
A new manager with fresh ideas moulding the players into systems formations they are comfortable with will make a massive difference may even have more than 1 shot per game, am sure the players aren't happy being forced to play the way they are doing and being booed off the pitch Morale has to be low not sure I agree he's lost the dressing room tho
We have nothing to lose in my view MH ain't going to change, the players aren't/won't be good enough to faff about at the back like instructed (mainly due to his favourites)
The teams a mess and has gone backwards from last season and the change needs to happen
Having said that I fully expect City to be City and bring 3 points home on Saturday

 

I actually think the next one in has a half decent squad to pick from. Certainly capable of the autos. But unless it happens, we’ll never know.

 

Not if we hire a direct-ball merchant because we're whinging about possession-based football.