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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 27, 2017 19:24:04 GMT
It is feeling like that
We could be on to something or we could be thanking the last ten years
The club has finally committed to extra capacity - way too late in my opinion and probably in one of our rockiest times re form to do this
We have such an ageing squad who our manager appears to rely upon yet ignoring his own very expensive replacements
We still have no youth coming through who the management seems to trust
We have transformed from a good side back to a very dull side scared of their own shadow - I remember when Hughes first came in we still went for it when we were one up which felt alien to me and again when we were down we managed to have belief to get it back - all that seems to have gone
Regardless of our position, the entertainment is placid at best for the last 12 months
Walking hoof football is what we have on show right now and there is no need for it
There are so many players who need to move on and those who have not made it/cut short re ability too
Can he react to his own shortfalls?
This is now a 13 month view, not a last few games view
Wahtever, right now it is damn dull to watch and in the main a manager looking stunned like a mixlr rabbit in the headlights
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Post by dexta on Feb 27, 2017 19:27:53 GMT
Bin it admin
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Post by crouchpotato1 on Feb 27, 2017 19:28:40 GMT
Why?because he's telling it as it is😄 |
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Post by Davef on Feb 27, 2017 19:29:24 GMT
Or you could counter the argument? |
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 27, 2017 19:31:08 GMT
Please expand - not all is bad but there is a lot wrong |
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Post by Pugsley on Feb 27, 2017 19:31:47 GMT
It is feeling like that We could be on to something or we could be thanking the last ten years The club has finally committed to extra capacity - way too late in my opinion and probably in one of our rockiest times re form to do this We have such an ageing squad who our manager appears to rely upon yet ignoring his own very expensive replacements We still have no youth coming through who the management seems to trust We have transformed from a good side back to a very dull side scared of their own shadow - I remember when Hughes first came in we still went for it when we were one up which felt alien to me and again when we were down we managed to have belief to get it back - all that seems to have gone Regardless of our position, the entertainment is placid at best for the last 12 months Walking hoof football is what we have on show right now and there is no need for it There are so many players who need to move on and those who have not made it/cut short re ability too Can he react to his own shortfalls? This is now a 13 month view, not a last few games view Wahtever, right now it is damn dull to watch and in the main a manager looking stunned like a mixlr rabbit in the headlights I agree with some of that, some not so much. Thing is people are all for moaning their bags off but rarely offer a solution. I can tell you right now there is no way there will be massive squad overhauls - just won't happen under cautious Coates. That leaves the manager and whether he has to go. No problem for me but who is coming in? |
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 27, 2017 19:42:05 GMT
It is feeling like that We could be on to something or we could be thanking the last ten years The club has finally committed to extra capacity - way too late in my opinion and probably in one of our rockiest times re form to do this We have such an ageing squad who our manager appears to rely upon yet ignoring his own very expensive replacements We still have no youth coming through who the management seems to trust We have transformed from a good side back to a very dull side scared of their own shadow - I remember when Hughes first came in we still went for it when we were one up which felt alien to me and again when we were down we managed to have belief to get it back - all that seems to have gone Regardless of our position, the entertainment is placid at best for the last 12 months Walking hoof football is what we have on show right now and there is no need for it There are so many players who need to move on and those who have not made it/cut short re ability too Can he react to his own shortfalls? This is now a 13 month view, not a last few games view Wahtever, right now it is damn dull to watch and in the main a manager looking stunned like a mixlr rabbit in the headlights I agree with some of that, some not so much. Thing is people are all for moaning their bags off but rarely offer a solution. I can tell you right now there is no way there will be massive squad overhauls - just won't happen under cautious Coates. That leaves the manager and whether he has to go. No problem for me but who is coming in? I agree under our current Chairman to a point - but he is has shown he is prepared to make difficult calls However why do fans have to call for solutions? They can see what is happening and state that things need to change - that is their role - any my goodness our abject performance again yesterday does leave your scratching your head - why is it our role to find a solution? As I have said it is a waterdshed moment not a change now - but something has too for next season |
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Post by Pugsley on Feb 27, 2017 19:45:37 GMT
I agree with some of that, some not so much. Thing is people are all for moaning their bags off but rarely offer a solution. I can tell you right now there is no way there will be massive squad overhauls - just won't happen under cautious Coates. That leaves the manager and whether he has to go. No problem for me but who is coming in? I agree under our current Chairman to a point - but he is has shown he is prepared to make difficult calls However why do fans have to call for solutions? They can see what is happening and state that things need to change - that is their role - any my goodness our abject performance again yesterday does leave your scratching your head - why is it our role to find a solution? As I have said it is a waterdshed moment not a change now - but something has too for next season It's not our role but have a go rather than chubb all day. If Hughes goes I'd go for Rodgers. |
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Post by greystokie on Feb 27, 2017 19:52:38 GMT
For me the biggest problem has been the failure in recruitment. Too many of Hughes' signings have turned out to be duds. I'm sure, at the time of their signings, these players were seen as replacements for some of the old guard but the manager has now clearly lost faith in many of them and has been forced to revert to what is left. I'm not familiar with the extent of older player's contracts but it is reasonable to assume that most of them are not on other teams radar as they are still with us instead of being shipped out during on transfer window or another so I hope that there are a few who are out of contract in the summer and can be moved off the payroll. The big question, then, is can LMH find suitable replacements who make an impact or do we end up with yet more expensive players who make a minimal contribution. I suppose that will be the big dilemma that the chairman will be facing at the end of the season. For me, while acknowledging that some of our football has been dire over the last 12 months and a realisation that our manager has a number of shortcomings I think that his 3 successive ninth place finishes means he deserves some time to see if he can turn things around. But then again, it aint my money!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 19:57:20 GMT
It depends on where Hughes sees the team and squad going. He seems to be bombing out the fancy footed footballers and replacing them with old fashioned grit, or footballers that can handle themselves like Marko and Ramadan.
If he's going down that road it won't take that much to change it, which could see us back on some kind of track by next year, with this year a slight blot on the landscape.
I can't honestly say what he's doing or what the grand plan is. Only the people on the inside know that.
We'll find out in due course.
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Post by alster on Feb 27, 2017 20:15:18 GMT
For me the biggest problem has been the failure in recruitment. Too many of Hughes' signings have turned out to be duds. I'm sure, at the time of their signings, these players were seen as replacements for some of the old guard but the manager has now clearly lost faith in many of them and has been forced to revert to what is left. I'm not familiar with the extent of older player's contracts but it is reasonable to assume that most of them are not on other teams radar as they are still with us instead of being shipped out during on transfer window or another so I hope that there are a few who are out of contract in the summer and can be moved off the payroll. The big question, then, is can LMH find suitable replacements who make an impact or do we end up with yet more expensive players who make a minimal contribution. I suppose that will be the big dilemma that the chairman will be facing at the end of the season. For me, while acknowledging that some of our football has been dire over the last 12 months and a realisation that our manager has a number of shortcomings I think that his 3 successive ninth place finishes means he deserves some time to see if he can turn things around. But then again, it aint my money! I don't think his record is particularly poor in regard to the hit and miss ratio of his signings. There just hasn't been enough renewal and we're left with a slow old squad that is lacking pace and energy and that in turn has resulted in very poor fayre to watch. The worry is that nobody at the club seems to recognise this and these ageing players are being handed contract extension left right and centre, its all very disheartening. |
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Post by crapslinger on Feb 27, 2017 20:21:16 GMT
It depends on where Hughes sees the team and squad going. He seems to be bombing out the fancy footed footballers and replacing them with old fashioned grit, or footballers that can handle themselves like Marko and Ramadan. If he's going down that road it won't take that much to change it, which could see us back on some kind of track by next year, with this year a slight blot on the landscape. I can't honestly say what he's doing or what the grand plan is. Only the people on the inside know that. We'll find out in due course. So back to the future it is then !, why did we bother sacking Jurrasic Tone if this is the way we are looking to go FFS what a waste of time and resources. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 20:22:38 GMT
It depends on where Hughes sees the team and squad going. He seems to be bombing out the fancy footed footballers and replacing them with old fashioned grit, or footballers that can handle themselves like Marko and Ramadan. If he's going down that road it won't take that much to change it, which could see us back on some kind of track by next year, with this year a slight blot on the landscape. I can't honestly say what he's doing or what the grand plan is. Only the people on the inside know that. We'll find out in due course. So back to the future it is then !, why did we bother sacking Jurrasic Tone if this is the way we are looking to go FFS what a waste of time and resources. I'm not overly sure we are going down that road though. I'm just thinking out aloud. 2 + 2 = 5 |
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Feb 27, 2017 20:23:44 GMT
It is feeling like that We could be on to something or we could be thanking the last ten years The club has finally committed to extra capacity - way too late in my opinion and probably in one of our rockiest times re form to do this We have such an ageing squad who our manager appears to rely upon yet ignoring his own very expensive replacements We still have no youth coming through who the management seems to trust We have transformed from a good side back to a very dull side scared of their own shadow - I remember when Hughes first came in we still went for it when we were one up which felt alien to me and again when we were down we managed to have belief to get it back - all that seems to have gone Regardless of our position, the entertainment is placid at best for the last 12 months Walking hoof football is what we have on show right now and there is no need for it There are so many players who need to move on and those who have not made it/cut short re ability too Can he react to his own shortfalls? This is now a 13 month view, not a last few games view Wahtever, right now it is damn dull to watch and in the main a manager looking stunned like a mixlr rabbit in the headlights I'm still a Lezzer, and very much on the side of us being 'on to something'. True it's ageing squad, but apart perhaps from a defence re-inforcing it's the strongest and deepest squad we've had for a while, with players and quality youth also out on loan {who knows re recall}. I think we're seeing a process of wringing the last out of players like Johnson, Crouch, Whelan etc and by summer there'll be a process of natural wastage, replaced by youth. All part of Peter Coates' plan, if Hughes and co. don't grasp that nettle then no doubt there will be questions to be answered. That's the watershed in my opinion. In the meantime we've seen the introduction of Sobhi, integration of N'Goy, Verlinden when fit, there's good reports about Sweeney and the news from throughout the Academy is more positive than I can ever recall FA Youth Cup QF with free travel anyone? There is loads for the future to be interested in and positive about. And there's a waiting list to get into the ground, the football sevens in the Community is reaching out and working there are loads of local examples of blokes 40's etc who've recently started being dragged to the football by their lads {a few mums too} mainly because through the Hardman Centre etc they've done some training with/at Stoke and now go and are thinking of Early birding. {incl one Man U dad, one lapsed Stoke a Vale and several neutrals}. The Ground is full and expanding, hopefully that'll drive more infrastructure improvements too. I only travel away for cup matches on the whole {admire your commitment}, but rarely miss a match, a few local boozers have brilliant atmospheres for the away matches, full, thriving. Coach for home games has a waiting list now, couldn't fill it pre-Hughes. On the pitch I'm far less pessimist it has been a season marked by individual errors and poor finishing. I've shared my view that we're a better 'all round' team than previous seasons. {Yesterday was another shocker granted, I don't think it was necessarily symptomatic of a shit team, we were outplayed by better players, but again we went to play football not to be plucky underdogs and try to nick a set piece, it didn't work, it won't always, but it's what now gets us top ten}. I'm willing to remain patient and have high hopes for the remainder. Hughes is presiding over a footballing revolution at Stoke, not always pretty but still sprinkled with some great stuff. Our brightest stars {including Arnie} are yet to really shine and yet we're still bubbling under, pretty good run of league results post xmas. Still in the Imbula can come good gang too. Upwards and onwards to saturday. Still love the whole match day experience. Nowt to be too gloomy about in my book. |
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Post by crapslinger on Feb 27, 2017 20:24:01 GMT
For me the biggest problem has been the failure in recruitment. Too many of Hughes' signings have turned out to be duds. I'm sure, at the time of their signings, these players were seen as replacements for some of the old guard but the manager has now clearly lost faith in many of them and has been forced to revert to what is left. I'm not familiar with the extent of older player's contracts but it is reasonable to assume that most of them are not on other teams radar as they are still with us instead of being shipped out during on transfer window or another so I hope that there are a few who are out of contract in the summer and can be moved off the payroll. The big question, then, is can LMH find suitable replacements who make an impact or do we end up with yet more expensive players who make a minimal contribution. I suppose that will be the big dilemma that the chairman will be facing at the end of the season. For me, while acknowledging that some of our football has been dire over the last 12 months and a realisation that our manager has a number of shortcomings I think that his 3 successive ninth place finishes means he deserves some time to see if he can turn things around. But then again, it aint my money! I don't think his record is particularly poor in regard to the hit and miss ratio of his signings. There just hasn't been enough renewal and we're left with a slow old squad that is lacking pace and energy and that in turn has resulted in very poor fayre to watch. The worry is that nobody at the club seems to recognise this and these ageing players are being handed contract extension left right and centre, its all very disheartening. I agree with some of your points, who would you regard as successful transfers he has bought in since the end of 2015 ?, who would you regard as disappointing transfers since 2015 ? |
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Post by crapslinger on Feb 27, 2017 20:27:59 GMT
So back to the future it is then !, why did we bother sacking Jurrasic Tone if this is the way we are looking to go FFS what a waste of time and resources. I'm not overly sure we are going down that road though. I'm just thinking out aloud. 2 + 2 = 5 I honestly think your original assessment is where Hughes is taking us, hoof ball big target man two out and out wingers (which is not a bad thing), we just seem to have fucked about with systems that are not suited to the players he has bought in, I think this will be his final season with us let's hope the next manager can get the best out of this expensively assembled bunch of footballers. |
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Post by samba :) on Feb 27, 2017 20:31:13 GMT
You saying you hope its porn after the watershed and not violence?
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Post by alster on Feb 27, 2017 20:36:53 GMT
I don't think his record is particularly poor in regard to the hit and miss ratio of his signings. There just hasn't been enough renewal and we're left with a slow old squad that is lacking pace and energy and that in turn has resulted in very poor fayre to watch. The worry is that nobody at the club seems to recognise this and these ageing players are being handed contract extension left right and centre, its all very disheartening. I agree with some of your points, who would you regard as successful transfers he has bought in since the end of 2015 ?, who would you regard as disappointing transfers since 2015 ? I would rate as particularly disappointing Joselu, Imbula, Haugaard, Tex. I would argue that all the rest have enjoyed a degree of success. Thats not to say I have agreed with some of the rest despite their relative success I don't agree with the signing of old injury plagued players like Johnson Affelay and to a degree Ireland (more injury record than age when we signed him). The retention of the safety blankets that are Crouch, Walters, Whelan has imho led directly to the regressive nature of our play in the past year to 18 months. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 20:51:14 GMT
It has been an awful season. I don't feel at all happy at the moment. Dull as dishwater, comes to mind.
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Post by wuzza on Feb 27, 2017 20:52:19 GMT
Recruitment and youth development will be the making or breaking of the club.
The former needs to show much more imagination and certain folk need to start earning the big bucks they are undoubtedly paid.
The latter is beginning to show a few specks of light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the under 18 squad.
Both issues are going to require some strong and intelligent 'big picture' management - I think the current management set up might need some help.
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Post by Stretfordpotterer on Feb 27, 2017 21:18:14 GMT
Lot of people seem to be all up for throwing the baby out with the bath water, seems to be symptomatic of the world we live in right now.
If Hughes finishes 9th again, how the fuck could changing manager even be on the cards, there is a glass ceiling that is very difficult to break through whether we like it or not, it's a fact.
To me, and it's been the case for a few years we are a high quality defensive mid away from a good side, but they just don't drop off trees.
Biggest criticism to be levelled at Hughes is that he has failed to fill the three most difficult positions for a club like us. A 20 goal striker, a top quality DM and a young, top quality centre half. His attempts to fill those gaps have largely fallen flat but DM in particular there is a dearth of talent. You have to get lucky to a certain degree. Leicester plucked Kanye out of nowhere and romped the league, he left and they were fucked, it's an extreme example but that's the difference a world class signing in that position can make. Imbula just hasn't worked out and that's part of the issue, everyone can surely see why he was signed. That performance against Chelsea is evidence of that. Has Hughes got enough to get better out of him, well that depends as much on the player as Hughes.
It's not like he hasn't got the best out of difficult players, Arnie has come on loads.
Simply put we can't afford, or are unwilling to, guaranteed quality in the those position, we have to hope that we hit on one. A lot more of football is about hitting on three or four good signings at once than people care to admit.
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Post by crapslinger on Feb 27, 2017 22:02:29 GMT
Lot of people seem to be all up for throwing the baby out with the bath water, seems to be symptomatic of the world we live in right now. If Hughes finishes 9th again, how the fuck could changing manager even be on the cards, there is a glass ceiling that is very difficult to break through whether we like it or not, it's a fact. To me, and it's been the case for a few years we are a high quality defensive mid away from a good side, but they just don't drop off trees. Biggest criticism to be levelled at Hughes is that he has failed to fill the three most difficult positions for a club like us. A 20 goal striker, a top quality DM and a young, top quality centre half. His attempts to fill those gaps have largely fallen flat but DM in particular there is a dearth of talent. You have to get lucky to a certain degree. Leicester plucked Kanye out of nowhere and romped the league, he left and they were fucked, it's an extreme example but that's the difference a world class signing in that position can make. Imbula just hasn't worked out and that's part of the issue, everyone can surely see why he was signed. That performance against Chelsea is evidence of that. Has Hughes got enough to get better out of him, well that depends as much on the player as Hughes. It's not like he hasn't got the best out of difficult players, Arnie has come on loads. Simply put we can't afford, or are unwilling to, guaranteed quality in the those position, we have to hope that we hit on one. A lot more of football is about hitting on three or four good signings at once than people care to admit. Arnie has been his stand our signing even then he is a little hit and miss, not sure Hughes has got the best out of him tbh he truly has shown how good he can be not just in a handful of matches, Imbula however has flattered to deceive in over twelve months he has produced what he is paid for on a handful of times, he is now an outcast resigned to the bench at best the fact Cameron was brought on after long term injury before him highlights what Hughes thinks of him as a player, FFS he is our record signing £18 million is a huge investment for a club of our size, if he is not in the starting line up and performing well on a regular basis before the end of this season it should seal the fate of both him and Mark and his team, hiding him away is not going to protect either of them. |
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Post by mrcoke on Feb 28, 2017 0:20:57 GMT
>150 years history and February 2017 is a "watershed"? I don't think so.
The club is going through a sticky patch and is still sitting in 10th place in the toughest league in the world.
Hartson said we were stupid to let Pulis go with an aim to "move to the next level". He was wrong (surprise?) the club has edged a notch higher with 3 9th places
Stokalona hasn't worked out; tough, we'll get over it and move on. We've made some poor signings, every club does, look at Newcastle and Palace who signed players people on Oatcake were screaming we should be buying.
The manager publicly says he is aiming to get to 7th place and some fans think that is not ambitious enough; they need to wake up and realize how tough it is to compete in the Prem. The top 6 are the top 6 and will always be. The only clubs that have any chance of breaking into that elite group are Newcastle, Villa, Leeds, West Ham, and possibly Everton. Clubs like Stoke have no chance. We are very lucky to be where we are and not down with the likes of Forest, Derby, Birmingham, Sheffield Wed., Wolves, etc.
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Post by Gods on Feb 28, 2017 0:33:25 GMT
>150 years history and February 2017 is a "watershed"? I don't think so. The club is going through a sticky patch and is still sitting in 10th place in the toughest league in the world. Hartson said we were stupid to let Pulis go with an aim to "move to the next level". He was wrong (surprise?) the club has edged a notch higher with 3 9th places Stokalona hasn't worked out; tough, we'll get over it and move on. We've made some poor signings, every club does, look at Newcastle and Palace who signed players people on Oatcake were screaming we should be buying. The manager publicly says he is aiming to get to 7th place and some fans think that is not ambitious enough; they need to wake up and realize how tough it is to compete in the Prem. The top 6 are the top 6 and will always be. The only clubs that have any chance of breaking into that elite group are Newcastle, Villa, Leeds, West Ham, and possibly Everton. Clubs like Stoke have no chance. We are very lucky to be where we are and not down with the likes of Forest, Derby, Birmingham, Sheffield Wed., Wolves, etc. If he is really 'aiming for 7th' then he's having a laugh. We are 12 points off 7th and 2 points off 13th, I know which of those two possibilities is more likely. We're having a stinker of a season compounded by the debacle of the 2 cup competitions. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 2:49:29 GMT
Lot of people seem to be all up for throwing the baby out with the bath water, seems to be symptomatic of the world we live in right now. If Hughes finishes 9th again, how the fuck could changing manager even be on the cards, there is a glass ceiling that is very difficult to break through whether we like it or not, it's a fact. To me, and it's been the case for a few years we are a high quality defensive mid away from a good side, but they just don't drop off trees. Biggest criticism to be levelled at Hughes is that he has failed to fill the three most difficult positions for a club like us. A 20 goal striker, a top quality DM and a young, top quality centre half. His attempts to fill those gaps have largely fallen flat but DM in particular there is a dearth of talent. You have to get lucky to a certain degree. Leicester plucked Kanye out of nowhere and romped the league, he left and they were fucked, it's an extreme example but that's the difference a world class signing in that position can make. Imbula just hasn't worked out and that's part of the issue, everyone can surely see why he was signed. That performance against Chelsea is evidence of that. Has Hughes got enough to get better out of him, well that depends as much on the player as Hughes. It's not like he hasn't got the best out of difficult players, Arnie has come on loads. Simply put we can't afford, or are unwilling to, guaranteed quality in the those position, we have to hope that we hit on one. A lot more of football is about hitting on three or four good signings at once than people care to admit. But then we do buy some quality, and ship it out on loan, or play it out of position. The way I see it, hughes has scared himself into a corner with the 4-x results. Optimistically, there may be some player changes in summer and hughes could've just written this off as one of those seasons that we have to grind through. With the players we have, a starting lineup including Crouch, Adam, and Whelan is laughable. The shipping out of our only number 10 and one of our most creative players on loan, to be replaced by a workhorse defensive midfielder, and the apparent attempt to get rid of an 18million pound signing (presumably for a huge loss) after giving him less than a year to acclimatise to English football are almost unforgivable. |
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Post by malteser68 on Feb 28, 2017 6:39:49 GMT
The biggest problem is Imbula
Just what the hell do you do with him ?
No team anywhere will be prepared to match his wages; so if he decides to sit for the next 5 seasons we would have royally shafted ourselves.
There are only 2 solutions -:
1. Give it your very best go to see if he can fit in the squad;
2. If that fails ship him out on loan to a team in Italy or France and sponsor a good chunk of his wages, possibly getting some good player from such team in return. Imo Torino would have been a perfect fit and they have loads of players I'd love to get here.
But something HAS to be done re: imbula
We just can't throw away all those millions down the drain
Of course the squad has aged a lot and a massive regeneration is urgently needed
Crouch, whelan, Walters, Johnson
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Post by Gods on Feb 28, 2017 7:20:41 GMT
The biggest problem is Imbula Just what the hell do you do with him ? No team anywhere will be prepared to match his wages; so if he decides to sit for the next 5 seasons we would have royally shafted ourselves. There are only 2 solutions -: 1. Give it your very best go to see if he can fit in the squad; 2. If that fails ship him out on loan to a team in Italy or France and sponsor a good chunk of his wages, possibly getting some good player from such team in return. Imo Torino would have been a perfect fit and they have loads of players I'd love to get here. But something HAS to be done re: imbula We just can't throw away all those millions down the drain Of course the squad has aged a lot and a massive regeneration is urgently needed Crouch, whelan, Walters, Johnson I can only imagine the transfer team are itching to go to the Board and say 'please can we have some big money for a new, dynamic, young midfield player' but they can't since the answer will be 'what the heck happened to the £18.3 million player we spent last January for this exact purpose?'. It really is a problem with no good answer, not one that that doesn't have a very painful human side anyway. |
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Post by lordherefordsknob on Feb 28, 2017 8:11:58 GMT
Hughes era is beginning to remind me of the Mick Mills years.
Started off ok some really good results with a few bad ones. Soon the bad results took over and we could not win for toffee.
Can see this happening again with Hughes, if he's still here for next season I think we could be in trouble.
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Post by Onneravineet on Feb 28, 2017 8:12:59 GMT
It is feeling like that We could be on to something or we could be thanking the last ten years The club has finally committed to extra capacity - way too late in my opinion and probably in one of our rockiest times re form to do this We have such an ageing squad who our manager appears to rely upon yet ignoring his own very expensive replacements We still have no youth coming through who the management seems to trust We have transformed from a good side back to a very dull side scared of their own shadow - I remember when Hughes first came in we still went for it when we were one up which felt alien to me and again when we were down we managed to have belief to get it back - all that seems to have gone Regardless of our position, the entertainment is placid at best for the last 12 months Walking hoof football is what we have on show right now and there is no need for it There are so many players who need to move on and those who have not made it/cut short re ability too Can he react to his own shortfalls? This is now a 13 month view, not a last few games view Wahtever, right now it is damn dull to watch and in the main a manager looking stunned like a mixlr rabbit in the headlights I agree with every word Sufolk! With special attention to the Manager looking lost or bereft of ideas. Funnily enough, just like the Team! |
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Post by jeycov on Feb 28, 2017 8:15:50 GMT
Lot of people seem to be all up for throwing the baby out with the bath water, seems to be symptomatic of the world we live in right now. If Hughes finishes 9th again, how the fuck could changing manager even be on the cards, there is a glass ceiling that is very difficult to break through whether we like it or not, it's a fact. To me, and it's been the case for a few years we are a high quality defensive mid away from a good side, but they just don't drop off trees. Biggest criticism to be levelled at Hughes is that he has failed to fill the three most difficult positions for a club like us. A 20 goal striker, a top quality DM and a young, top quality centre half. His attempts to fill those gaps have largely fallen flat but DM in particular there is a dearth of talent. You have to get lucky to a certain degree. Leicester plucked Kanye out of nowhere and romped the league, he left and they were fucked, it's an extreme example but that's the difference a world class signing in that position can make. Imbula just hasn't worked out and that's part of the issue, everyone can surely see why he was signed. That performance against Chelsea is evidence of that. Has Hughes got enough to get better out of him, well that depends as much on the player as Hughes. It's not like he hasn't got the best out of difficult players, Arnie has come on loads. Simply put we can't afford, or are unwilling to, guaranteed quality in the those position, we have to hope that we hit on one. A lot more of football is about hitting on three or four good signings at once than people care to admit. Excellent post. We need to have realistic expectations |
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