I really thought NJ would do it

[crewkernepotter]

I thought NJ would build a side like TP did in 2008
I do not see anything like it no Lenny, Mama , DIcko, Wilko, Fuller, Delap and a young Ryan. I don’t see any of those players in this team. None of them were world beaters but they had that something.
I don’t know what it was but they wanted to win. This lot just seem to want to lose. The players I mentioned above I can still see from 11 years ago as I can from when I first watched Stoke with Greenhoff, Hudson , TC, Salmons, Mahoney
I think the difference is we had players that believed in the manager and wanted to play for the club. All we have now is players that want to pick up a good wage who don’t care.

[nott1]

I didn't!

[JoeinOz]

It seemed an impressive bold appointment at the time. Am ambitious young manager. It all seemed in place for him. And the fact he wanted to come added to it all. But look at it.

[Beloved Monkfish]

His inexperience and lack of conviction has really shown through. He has a strong philosophy and convinces himself that he's brave and bold but when push has come to shove, he's been shit scared of dropping underperforming big names, tried to shoehorn players into positions where they're not suited and gone completely against everything he said. TP was the master of square pegs in round holes but he had an unwavering confidence in what he was doing and had an incredibly distinctive (and largely boring) style of play. Jones thinks he has but he hasn't had the balls or ability to see it through.

[numpty40]

I also had great hopes for him when he was appointed and really wanted him to succeed.
The real concerns started this last transfer window with the absolute talentless dross he signed.

[philb]

Job ultimately too big for him. Should have stayed where he was. League One manager at best.

[Deleted]

Unfortunately for us he seems to be a one trick pony and has been found out. No manager can be considered a good manager if they are allowed to sign 11 players and manages to make the team worse/ fail to get anything out them.

[wearepremierleague]

Yesterday was a Rowett performance with a Rowett team and a Rowett formation. Absolutely garbage. He’s bottled what he believes in and tried to grind out a result playing workhorses, just like Mark Hughes did after the three years. Either go either with the Diamond, which is what you believe in, and make it work. Or give up altogether because that was fucking shite

[bornscfcdiescfc]

He has made us an absolute laughing stock...

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2019 9:06:03 GMT wearepremierleague said:

Yesterday was a Rowett performance with a Rowett team and a Rowett formation. Absolutely garbage. He’s bottled what he believes in and tried to grind out a result playing workhorses, just like Mark Hughes did after the three years. Either go either with the Diamond, which is what you believe in, and make it work. Or give up altogether because that was fucking shite

No mate, we actually managed to cling to a few impressive 0-1 wins away under Rowett. Bristol City and most impressively, would be champions Norwich spring to mind. Much better sides than the one we faced yesterday.

[bayernoatcake]

I liked the appointment.

I still like the bloke. But I think he’s miles out of his depth.

But all the signs of what he’s not very good at were there in the Shrewsbury cup game. It was his fault we lost that but we all swept it under the carpet like we had to. But from then on I was suspicious of him. He got so many basics wrong.

Nothing has changed. I struggle to comprehend how he achieved what he did with Luton after his time with us.

[UNKLE]

I was very happy to write last season off, to give Jones a full pre-season to create a team of players and individuals we’d be proud of, who would work and press and......

.....we got QPR at home. The complete antithesis of what he’d proclaimed.

Since, we’ve had horrendous missed chances and posts hit...all bad luck. But you make your own luck. The sloppy goals we’ve conceded, a minimum 2 a game are just unacceptable for a team wanting to survive in this league never mind promotion favourites.

We’re now adrift and what are waiting for, one, two, three more defeats before we make a change.

I give him two more games. 4pts the minimum, or he’s out.

I said on another thread that having watched Brentford yesterday they’ve got their mojo back. If we don’t win against Bristol City we’re going to be going to Griffin Park so low on confidence they are going to have a field day. Even without Maupay I can see them getting 5.

[rawli]

I think he'll be a success at a smaller club without the egos and politics that he's had to deal with here.

It's sad but I don't think he's a tenable option for us any more.

[cobhamstokey]

I was hoping he’d do well but ultimately he’s all talk and has made us into a worse side than we were before by making loads of cheap signings who he bigged up masively.
I thought he was a strong character but he’s another puppet and scapegoat for the board who I’m convinced made him a lot of promises which they couldn’t keep re his number one targets.
The truth will never come out but he isn’t solely responsible for this mess he’s just added to it.
3 bad appointments after Hughes
Numerous bad signings
Some awful contract renewals
No gameplan
A CEO who is never held to account
Complete shambles.

[ChrisKamarasPerm]

Sept 1, 2019 9:15:53 GMT bayernoatcake said:

I liked the appointment.

I still like the bloke. But I think he’s miles out of his depth.

But all the signs of what he’s not very good at were there in the Shrewsbury cup game. It was his fault we lost that but we all swept it under the carpet like we had to. But from then on I was suspicious of him. He got so many basics wrong.

Nothing has changed. I struggle to comprehend how he achieved what he did with Luton after his time with us.

I think it boils down to he just had far better players than the level they were playing at.

[generationex]

“Young, up-and-coming and hungry”. Tick.

It’ starting to feel like you almost shouldn’t run a football club on the basis of concourse cliches.

[silsdenstokie]

Yep could see the thinking behind the appointment even though it was a risk

Been an absolute disaster though

[Deleted]

Ultimately, and very unfortunately for us, Jones’ time here could turn out to be the greatest learning curve of his career. I’m sure that if he had his time again with his current knowledge he wouldn’t do so badly.

Still think he’ll be here a couple more games and praying he can turn it around but it will take a miraculous upswing to do so now. Prob a 1% shot or something grim.

[march4]

I think Jones is a decent chap with good ideas.

I feel he has tried to do too much too quickly and the players have been incapable of taking in so much change.

I think he can leave Stoke having learned this lesson and be successful elsewhere.

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2019 9:17:42 GMT rawli said:

I think he'll be a success at a smaller club without the egos and politics that he's had to deal with here.

It's sad but I don't think he's a tenable option for us any more.

Yeah there’s only really room for his ego with the size of it and best not to put himself amongst professional footballers who have all played successfully at a higher level as they may be too quick to realise he doesn’t have the first clue.

[Bojan Mackey]

Sept 1, 2019 10:22:03 GMT march4 said:

I think Jones is a decent chap with good ideas.

I feel he has tried to do too much too quickly and the players have been incapable of taking in so much change.

I think he can leave Stoke having learned this lesson and be successful elsewhere.

I never agree with March, but this is one of those rare occasions where I do.

[The Toxic Avenger]

Sept 1, 2019 9:41:03 GMT generationex said:

“Young, up-and-coming and hungry”. Tick.

It’ starting to feel like you almost shouldn’t run a football club on the basis of concourse cliches.

What do you think we should’ve done (as if we didn’t know)?

[crapslinger]

Sept 1, 2019 8:33:54 GMT JoeinOz said:

It seemed an impressive bold appointment at the time. Am ambitious young manager. It all seemed in place for him. And the fact he wanted to come added to it all. But look at it.

It looked like a cheap option at the time and has panned out as such, we needed a steady hand and head to get us back to basics we ended up with Nutty Nathan.

[gingerninja]

We really haven't got time on our side with him though. The board clearly want promotion again this season and if you say give him a month more & things don't improve then we really will be up shit creek...

[wuzza]

I was more convinced of Rowett’s chances.

[CBUFAWKIPWH]

Sept 1, 2019 9:06:03 GMT wearepremierleague said:

Yesterday was a Rowett performance with a Rowett team and a Rowett formation. Absolutely garbage. He’s bottled what he believes in and tried to grind out a result playing workhorses, just like Mark Hughes did after the three years. Either go either with the Diamond, which is what you believe in, and make it work. Or give up altogether because that was fucking shite

I didn't see the game and couldn't work out on paper what formation we were playing but if he gave up on the diamond I agree - he should at least stick to his principles. If he's flapping around changing things we're in big trouble - especially if he's let the fans clamouring to change shape on here get to him.

I said at the time appointing Jones was a massive gamble. I hoped it would come off - and still do - but its not looking good if he's lost faith in himself. The problem is if we sack him who in their right mind would come here? Any club who've seen off 4 managers in 2 year is in big trouble - and the situation has got worse with every appointment. The idea a fifth one will solve the problem is just wishful thinking. So basically we're screwed whatever we do - unless Jones gets his mojo back which isn't looking likely at the moment.

[shakermaker]

Sept 1, 2019 9:15:53 GMT bayernoatcake said:

I liked the appointment.

I still like the bloke. But I think he’s miles out of his depth.

But all the signs of what he’s not very good at were there in the Shrewsbury cup game. It was his fault we lost that but we all swept it under the carpet like we had to. But from then on I was suspicious of him. He got so many basics wrong.

Nothing has changed. I struggle to comprehend how he achieved what he did with Luton after his time with us.

It's because he had a half-decent Head of Recruitment at Luton in Mick Harford; someone who knew the club, had experience of playing at the highest level and an astute eye for the kind of players that would suit Nathan's philosophy.

Here at Stoke, NJ has had to rely on the keyboard jockey Cartwright and he's brought in absolute dross that I'm sure NJ knows he cannot work with.

But what's disappointed me most about Nathan is his inability to get the most out of what he has. As gash as we are, this squad (if managed and deployed better) should be a lot higher up the league than where we are now. He used other systems at Luton till he got the diamond right, but he's not doing that here. A 4-2-3-1 or defensive 4-3-3 would make a colossal difference, but NJ just won't have a look in.

One part of me says let's nail the appointment of a proper HoR, and see what NJ can do after January. But if NJ won't use other systems till then, he needs to go.

[Staffsoatcake]

I really thought he would make us a free scoring side,like He did with Luton,but for some reason,we are as far away from that as you could imagine.

Was it him,or was it His No.2 that got Luton playing the way they did.? If so, if he is staying,then get them both back together.

[OldStokie]

I was hoping he'd do it but I think his own players have contributed massively to his downfall. TC was right yesterday when he said at least 4 players never broke sweat. That isn't what Stoke is about. That's why TC was so angry. Half the buggers seem to be on monkey dust.

OS.

[Deleted]

It's all the chopping and changing of the starting 11 that has altered my mind about NJ. It's bloody ridiculous.

Choose who you think are your best players, play them consistently, choose a system to combat the opposition.

Managers are the difference, not the players. Look at Leeds ffs!