Be flexible Tony & forget stubborn loyalty

[ted1965]

It’s 36 hours later and now we have slipped out of the top two and though I believe we can still go up automatically it’s going to take 4 straight wins to do it and there’s no evidence that we are capable of winning 4 games in a row right now. I will not give up until it’s mathematically impossible to do so, though realistically we’re looking to finally secure a play off place, that should require 4 points from 12.

I am still thoroughly disheartened by last nights team selections and by the way we went about the first half, by the time we started to play and have the players on the field to make some kind of difference it was already to late. It’s easy to say don’t blame the manager or the players are the ones out on the field, yes that is all true but it’s the manager who picks the side and sets out the formation. He is responsible for playing certain players who are clearly out of form or in the wrong positions. If he didn’t insist on playing square pegs in round holes or his own personal favourite players irrespective of form or ability, the argument about blaming the players rather than the manager.

We have a squad that now has some depth and flexibility and yet we continue to be inflexible in our selections. There needs to be more use made of the squad and the better players should now be playing, forget systems and just allow the best eleven on the park and play. What was the point in bringing Gallagher back to the club on loan, he has been given very little opportunity and therefore is simply a waste of wages, did we really need a player simply to sit in the reserves.

The manager can’t use excuses, not if he’s determined to play Griffin at right back, Mamma up front, Cresswell on the left side of midfield and Pugh at all. That’s 4 players out of eleven who are either not playing in their best positions or are not good enough for the position they hold it seems irrespective of how they play. If you handicap yourself in such a way then I am sorry you have little room for manoeuvre when it comes to excuses. If there were no other options I would say fine, can’t blame the manager and it’s not his fault if the players available aren’t good enough, though that isn’t the case, there are better options available and he should be using them.

The last four games are must win, there can be no room for safety first policy, there has to be a new thought process and we need to take teams on from the first whistle. We need to gather some momentum beginning with Coventry.

I know it’s been a better than expected season, when we started out we would have bitten anyone’s hand off for a play off place, though after being in the top two for so long and with on paper the easiest of the run ins it now feels somehow deflating to think we’re more than likely going to have to take this route. I know I don’t feel like it’s been a triumph should we end up in the play offs. We had this league at our mercy, if we had even picked up an extra 4 or 5 points we would be sitting pretty now. Though we have thrown away point after point over the last month and from almost certain automatic we’re not almost certain play off candidates and if Watford win tonight we’re 5th and falling just when we needed to be gaining momentum.

It’s pointless now holding an inquest into who’s to blame but for once Coates can’t be held accountable, he’s blameless in regard to giving the funds for new players and allowing the manager to bring expensive loan signings in to help push us on over the last few months, like I said why was Gallagher signed because he certainly hasn’t been utilized.

It’s now time for positive thinking and that has to begin with the manager and come through him to the players, we of course will feel more positive if you see a side that has players in the best positions and the best players in their right positions that will lift everyone and needs to be done from now on, even if we have to take the play offs now is the time to get momentum back and at least hit the play offs running if that’s out only route to the Premiership. If we fail and the manager continues to play certain players simply through a stubborn loyalty of belief irrespective of what form or results tell him then he will face the music at the end of May.

Keep the faith, keep believing but now we need positive leadership Tony it’s over to you.

[Deleted]

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, too many cooks spoil the broth as well.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Come on Tone.

[vestanpance]

That's a hell of a long way to write "stop picking Sidibe & Griffin you muppet"

Ted1965 ladies & gentlemen, the Leonid Tolstoy of the Oatcake messageboard

[mermaidsal]

The thing is, after his spell of being flexible in all the right ways (4-2 at Wolves in a game we could have lost was the high point of that time for me) and taking some very untypical risks, it seems to have gone to his head and playing people out of position has become inflexible to the point that he's hanging our bloody season with it if he's not careful. So while I agree with ted about leadership I'm reckon the best leadership right now (hope you're reading this, kinnell would be Waddo style - put 11 good players out there in their best positions, trust them to be quality, which our lads now are, and inspire them by trusting them to play their own games.