by Wimb »
08 Jan 2010 18:26
PieEater I think Brendan is deluded. He failed in all measures of his job yet can't acknowledge it.
As a manager you must:
- get results
- know your best team
- have a squad to cover injuries in all positions
and arguably manage the messages to the press and fans.
In my mind he had all pre-season yet didn't have a clue about his best starting 11; formation or style of play. He then continued to tinker, bullshit and spin while failing to deliver results, as well as alienating most fans with his selections; tactics; and hyperbole. I certainly saw no real signs of improvement, and had no confidence he'd of turned it around.
I hate this 'he had pre season argument' its naive and just plain wrong
Brendan came in with several players waiting on moves out of the club, but until they were actually sold he couldn't being in his own players. Rasiak, Howard, Cummings, McAnuff were only really available after 6 or 7 games of the season so how could he test them out in pre season?
The same goes for having players to cover all positions. He had Rosie at RB with Gunnar and Jem able to fill in if needed and when Rosie went he brought in Cummings who had done well for RDM at MK Dons and WBA (both successful teams) He was then shell shocked and played shite when Jerome Thomas ripped him a new one at WBA and it was curtains for the time being. Bear in mind he had Julian Kelly waiting to come back from injury how could he bring in someone else just as 'cover' Similarly up front on paper he had Church, Hunt, Rasiak and Long, 4 INTERNATIONALS plus Bignall and Mooney on professional deals, so once again where is the scope in wages to bring others in? was he to know Long would lose his head at Derby, Church would get injured or the best of the lot NHhunt would be out for the season?
He then tinkered as he went along because he had too, as players came and went and got injured etc. Sometimes he was FORCED into changes and sometimes also chose to change systems as he tried to find a formula that would work long term with the calibre of players at his disposal. As I've said elsewhere, given the fact he was expected to build a side for long term success I don't see to many problems with trying out various systems.
The man then even admitted he had to go back to basics as he realised he didn't quite have the players he wanted. In the final days he was again handicapped by the suspension and injuries to Church, Long and Howard so again changed to a system he thought could win those games.
Does this excuse the stupidity of leaving 2 slow CB's in the team, or playing Gunnar and Cisse in the same midfield? no it doesn't but it does help to explain why we weren't higher in the table.