Have you taken to Steve Clarke yet?

[floyd__streete]

Yes he did. Reading 3-1 Newport County. Scunthorpe United 0-1 Reading.

[Ian Royal]

[Snowball]

I'd include cup games. Adkins didn't win a cup game at his entire time at the club.

Apart from Newport and Scunthorpe (tho' that was league cup)

[Snowball]

I maintain that it's perfectly reasonable to Not consider the Watford game as a measure of Clarke's ability.

I seem to remember a thread way back when many said it wasn't worth making any kind of judgement until after six games.

This was said after the Watford game

Westwood52

Clarke-too early yet for him to make his mark. But he must be worried about what he's taken on.

Winchester Royal

I saw plenty to suggest Clarke will be an excellent manager for us, and no blame lies with him for today IMO, but there is plenty to work on.

MmmMonsterMunch

Lets face it, you don't go from being as shit as we were to top 6 material when the manager has had 1-2 sessions with them & they are low on confidence.

Will95

Before I start, after so little time I didn't expect to see big changes from Clarke

Bobby1413

This was Steve Clarke's first game, 3 days into the job. It's a decent start in my opinion, and things don't happen overnight.

Lacoste

Tbh Clarke was completely the wrong appointment. He has no footballing philosophy, zero success as a boss and always looks like a no2 who doesn't quite believes what he's saying when talking. However, people who think that after only two days at the club he can change an awful lot and suddenly start producing excellent displays should quite frankly never be allowed inside a ground again.

[Pepe the Horseman]

In that case should we disregard the first five games?

[Ian Royal]

What's that I see? Snowball cherry picking data to support the conclusion he's reached?

Well I never.

[From Despair To Where?]

Interesting that in his post match interview after the Watford game, Clarke doesn't mention a lack of preparation time with the players as a factor in the defeat. He praises the work ethic and and attitude of the players but bemoans our wastefulness in front of goal. I think he would regard it as a defeat on his watch.

[TBM]

Another [home] defeat

[Royal Lady]

Ffs - sort it out Clarkey

[Ian Royal]

Snowball stat attacks how well we're doing and bigs up Clarke's record by ignoring the first loss and treating cup games like league ones.

We lose to the 23rd placed team in an abject performance.

[bobby1413]

There has at times under SC been a good intensity that NA's teams struggled to produce. There were also runs forward, chances made, shots on/off target, but at least something was happening.

From reading the BFTG thread it doesn't seem like any of this happened.

Pretty disappointing.

[bcubed]

Two mid week home games against pretty poor opposition and two losses
SC has to take the blame for strange selection and getting tactics all wrong

[Turns8]

I'm starting to wonder what tactics Clarke actually has in his locker...it seems the whole squad struggle with basic instructions...Clarke might as well be saying "just spread yourselves out across the pitch"...as that seems to be about the level of intellect the squad has...

Let's not forget that the Derby win was against 10men and even then they were happily playing the ball around us for fun...I am struggling to see how we have improved under Clarke...the defence is no more solid...the number of short passes at the back has started to creep up in the last few games...neither full back seems that confident...we are so narrow going forward it is unreal...

I feel sorry for the Pog...he seems to be putting in a shift but having to feed off scraps or come out wide to collect the ball because neither winger is ever out wide...why aren't they hugging the touchline? why don't they take players on? why do we not break with pace and direction anymore? It is so f***ing boring...and predictable...the moment we concede first that's it we are never getting anything out of the game...

[No Fixed Abode]

Two mid week home games against pretty poor opposition and two losses
SC has to take the blame for strange selection and getting tactics all wrong

LOL @ this.

Its the years of poor recruitment that are to blame. When you sign the likes of Nick Blackman and No Hope Akpan. The blame must lie with Hammond and the scouting team. Clarke needs time to get rid of a few players and bring technically better players into the club without interference from Chipmonk.

I told you all this was the case nearly two seasons ago now.

[leon]

I'm starting to wonder what tactics Clarke actually has in his locker...it seems the whole squad struggle with basic instructions...Clarke might as well be saying "just spread yourselves out across the pitch"...as that seems to be about the level of intellect the squad has...

Let's not forget that the Derby win was against 10men and even then they were happily playing the ball around us for fun...I am struggling to see how we have improved under Clarke...the defence is no more solid...the number of short passes at the back has started to creep up in the last few games...neither full back seems that confident...we are so narrow going forward it is unreal...

I feel sorry for the Pog...he seems to be putting in a shift but having to feed off scraps or come out wide to collect the ball because neither winger is ever out wide...why aren't they hugging the touchline? why don't they take players on? why do we not break with pace and direction anymore? It is so f***ing boring...and predictable...the moment we concede first that's it we are never getting anything out of the game...

We were looking much better until last Tuesday. However now we're looking worse. Worrying.

[leon]

:oops:

Two mid week home games against pretty poor opposition and two losses
SC has to take the blame for strange selection and getting tactics all wrong

LOL @ this.

Its the years of poor recruitment that are to blame. When you sign the likes of Nick Blackman and No Hope Akpan. The blame must lie with Hammond and the scouting team. Clarke needs time to get rid of a few players and bring technically better players into the club without interference from Chipmonk.

I told you all this was the case nearly two seasons ago now.

what like that kid from Chelsea?

Sweet jesus he's been shit

[harry]

Yes ........... (Leeds) No ... (Derby) Yes ... (Wigan) No

[Pepe the Horseman]

Very strange month. Three good wins and three shocking defeats.

[sandman]

:oops:

Two mid week home games against pretty poor opposition and two losses
SC has to take the blame for strange selection and getting tactics all wrong

He used play for Chelsea so leave him alone. Wah wah wah.

[Ian Royal]

Any manager who makes six changes after a win only to capitulate 0-3 has got some serious questions to answer. He's done a lot of good work here and the FA Cup run is great. But some of his recent decisions have been absolutely baffling and he seems intent on throwing all his good work in the bin every 2 - 4 games.

Continue like this and he's going to need to start next season rather well, or there's not going to be a lot of faith in him. I'm confident he'll avoid anything drastic this season, though.