Life after Brendan

[Wimb]

our new manager has yet to do anything that our old manager didn't do. Yes McD won 4 in a row but did Rodgers have such a kindly run of fixtures?.

Apart from collect points and win cup matches (9 points in first 10 matches Vs McD's 14)? That's the facts side of the argument. More subjectively, team morale is much improved and we actually look like a football club again, not an HND assignment.

I think this will be my last entry into this thread until the end of the season.

Thank God for that as the moment McD loses or draws a match you come back saying he's doing no better than Rodgers. It's tedious. As you say, why don't we just wait for the results to speak for themselves just like I suggested a few weeks ago when I proposed we review the first ten league matches (9 points Vs 14 by the way + cup wins). I also suggested that in 10 matches there will be enough to be representative (e.g. some "easier" ones, some "harder" ones but you don't seem to accept this when it doesn't suit you to).

Ugh if only to respond to this.....

Yes of course its fair to compare Brendans first 10 matches vs Brians.... what with the whole totally different squads and having played together etc that's a totally fair 'fact comparison' isn't it? Even so nowhere have I said it hasn't been a good start, as stated elsewhere in the thread you can only beat whats in front of you but for the final time of saying it Brian has not won games that Rodgers wasn't winning or at least deserved to win (see Scunny, Donny at home, perhaps even Cardiff too)

And how is it fair to say Brians won cup matches when Brendan didn't even have an FA Cup game. As far as I'm aware he won 1 out of 2 league cup games and that was playing an understrength side, not the full team we have seen in the FA Cup.

I've said all along I'm over the moon with the fact we're picking up points and I'm encouraged by the START we've made under our new manager. I have no idea who is the better boss and quite frankly its an impossible one to solve in given the timeframes involved. What is 'fact' (Rafa mode on) is that we're still just as capable of dour displays, (See Sheff United away, Plymouth away, Blackpool away, first half vs Forest) as we were under the previous manager.

Christ, to break this down into even simpler terms. Lets have a quick look at Rodgers final 10 league games

17 Oct West Brom A Championship 1-3
20 Oct QPR A Championship 1-4
26 Oct Leicester H Championship 0-1
31 Oct Coventry A Championship 3-1
7 Nov Ipswich H Championship 1-1
21 Nov Blackpool H Championship 2-1
28 Nov Derby A Championship 1-2
5 Dec Sheff Wed A Championship 2-0
8 Dec Crystal Palace H Championship 2-4
12 Dec Scunthorpe H Championship 1-1

P10, W3 D2 L5
Now compare that to the first 10 league games for Brian

19 Dec Bristol City A Championship 1-1
26 Dec Swansea H Championship 1-1
28 Dec Plymouth A Championship 1-4
16 Jan Nottm Forest A Championship 1-2
26 Jan Sheff Utd A Championship 0-3
30 Jan Barnsley H Championship 1-0
6 Feb Doncaster A Championship 2-1
9 Feb Plymouth H Championship 2-1
16 Feb Crystal Palace A Championship 3-1
20 Feb Blackpool A Championship 0-2

P10 W4 D2 L4

Suddenly it doesn't look quite the miracle recovery as some would have you believe does it? The only disrespectable results on Rodgers last 10 were the capitulation to a Moses led Palace and the humilation at QPR. We SHOULD have won the Leicester game if Chruch has finished his chances, and we would have beaten Scunny had the Sig buried one of 3 fantastic chances.

Compare that to Brians first 10 in the league, just 1 more win in that timeframe and equally inept performances at Blackpool, the Blades, and especially Plymouth.

Now don't get me wrong, the team does seem to have more confidence and belief now, but results wise it's not exactly been an amazing turnaround.

I didn't want to get into some 'which boss is better' deathmatch, I'd rather just point out the fact that A) Rodgers was seemingly beggining to turn it around before he got the boot if you apply the same criteria as you do with praising MaccyD and B) Brian still has to show he can cut out the limp pathetic displays that indeed also marked Rodgers tenure here.

[Dorset-Knob]

So, in order to boil it all down for the simple souls, in the real world of actual facts, are we better or worse off now, than during BR's tenure?

[Wimb]

So, in order to boil it all down for the simple souls, in the real world of actual facts, are we better or worse off now, than during BR's tenure?

according to the table 1 place higher so I suppose, yes yes we are

[rabidbee]

This whole thread demonstrates why counter-factual history is simply pointless.

[Franchise FC]

Suddenly it doesn't look quite the miracle recovery as some would have you believe does it? The only disrespectable results on Rodgers last 10 were the capitulation to a Moses led Palace and the humilation at QPR. We SHOULD have won the Leicester game if Chruch has finished his chances, and we would have beaten Scunny had the Sig buried one of 3 fantastic chances.

Compare that to Brians first 10 in the league, just 1 more win in that timeframe and equally inept performances at Blackpool, the Blades, and especially Plymouth.

Now don't get me wrong, the team does seem to have more confidence and belief now, but results wise it's not exactly been an amazing turnaround.

I didn't want to get into some 'which boss is better' deathmatch, I'd rather just point out the fact that A) Rodgers was seemingly beggining to turn it around before he got the boot if you apply the same criteria as you do with praising MaccyD and B) Brian still has to show he can cut out the limp pathetic displays that indeed also marked Rodgers tenure here.

However, that would conveniently forget the two missed penalties that might well have improved Fester's record still further.

Remind me - when did we win four in a row with BR ?
Also, why, when there's been a list of managerial casualties and subsequent jobs to fill, has he not been even mentioned as a possible ?

[floyd__streete]

Yes McD won 4 in a row but did Rodgers have such a kindly run of fixtures?

Well, you answered your own question with your 'stat pack' above. Derby A, Sheff Wed A, Palace H, Scunny H; BR's last four games in charge 3 of which were against teams down the bottom with us, 4 measly points . If that represents BR seemingly beggining (sic.) to turn it around than that just sums up how bloody terrible the start of the season was.

I didn't go yesterday, but BMc's team are beginning to play with better shape and organisation than I had seen in the first half of the season. Sadly, there will still be off days because frankly we don't have the greatest set of forward options in the division as we have been saying all season; we could still go down because we aren't clinical enough with our chances. That - like many other things - is a problem BMc inherited from his predecessor(s).

[rabidbee]

However, that would conveniently forget the two missed penalties that might well have improved Fester's record still further.

If all of the missed/saved shots under Rodgers had gone in, his record would have been better too.

[facaldaqui]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

[SLAMMED]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

Nothing will. The only way we would have known how well we would have done with Rodgers, is if he stayed as manager.

[floyd__streete]

The only way we would have known how well we would have done with Rodgers, is if he stayed as manager.

Wow, thanks for that SLAMMED.

[SLAMMED]

Just explaining it to the people who think they know how well Rodgers would have done if he stayed.

[Royal Lady]

And how is it fair to say Brians won cup matches when Brendan didn't even have an FA Cup game. As far as I'm aware he won 1 out of 2 league cup games and that was playing an understrength side, not the full team we have seen in the FA Cup.

ALOL at this!! Who decided to play "an understrength side" - with each progress we've made during the FA Cup, I've commented to Schards that we'd never be in this position or won these games under BR.

And inspite of all the stats people want to throw at it, all I know is that in the majority of games under McD I have enjoyed the games, the players have looked up for it, and everyone seems a lot happier - and that's enough for me.

[Ian Royal]

We don't play as nice stuff, but we look much more effective and confident. And in this league it's effectiveness and confidence that make the difference between play offs and relegation.

[Avon Royal]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

No, but it would prove that sacking Rodgers and hiring McDermott was the wrong decision.

[floyd__streete]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

No, but it would prove that sacking Rodgers and hiring McDermott was the wrong decision.

Yes, because we were home and hosed under Rodgers weren't we? Jesus wept.

[Sun Tzu]

And how is it fair to say Brians won cup matches when Brendan didn't even have an FA Cup game. As far as I'm aware he won 1 out of 2 league cup games and that was playing an understrength side, not the full team we have seen in the FA Cup.

ALOL at this!! Who decided to play "an understrength side" - with each progress we've made during the FA Cup, I've commented to Schards that we'd never be in this position or won these games under BR.

I don't think Rodgers would have used the FA cup in the same way he used the League cup though. He needed (chose) to give as many players as he could games early on and the league cup games gave him the chance to see more players in action. He didn;t play 'understrength' teams because he wanted to keep his 'first' team fresh. I think he woul dhave done much the same as McDermott and kept his selection fairly consistent (as consistent as it ever was anyway !)

Different times, different circumstances, different managers.

Agree that the feeling is more upbeat now. It woul dhave been if Rodgers had conjured up the wins of course, and we'll never know if he could have done.

[facaldaqui]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

No, but it would prove that sacking Rodgers and hiring McDermott was the wrong decision.

It would prove that hiring McDermott was the wrong decision. But getting relegated under Rodgers would have proved that keeping Rodgers was the wrong decision.

[Avon Royal]

If McDermott turns out to be no more successful than Rodgers, then we'll be relegated. But that won't prove we should have kept Rodgers, will it?

No, but it would prove that sacking Rodgers and hiring McDermott was the wrong decision.

Yes, because we were home and hosed under Rodgers weren't we? Jesus wept.

Where did I say that keeping Rodgers would have been the right decision? Jesus wept.

[facaldaqui]

If McDermott falters, then fans are entitled to get stuck into him, as started here after the Forest and Sheffield defeats. But that's a separate matter from how good Rodgers was. Rodgers was making no discernible progress.

[Avon Royal]

Rodgers was making no discernible progress.

I'm yet to be convinced that McDermott is.