How Long Will BM Last at this rate?????

[melonhead]

....cant see any other manager who could keep this squad up.(perhaps curbs-who would fit the bill, though hes been out of the game a long time, and i doubt hed come to a team in such a crisis, and im not sure he could do more than is being done)
and if we do go down theres no other manager id want to take us through the next season in the championship than brian.

I'm no fan of sacking managers, but the idea that there isn't a manager out there that could do better is an odd one. I don't know who the club might be considering (if they are) or who they would but suffice to say I'd never heard of Wenger before he was appointed and I'd trust the club to make a considered appointment if McDermott did leave.

If we have money and a Premier League future to play for I'm sure we could still attract a good level of manager and sometimes change is just what a group needs to start afresh and rebuild that fragile confidence that Snowball alluded to earlier.

Perhaps Zingaravich might be able to get someone like Solskjaer in to use us as his stepping stone to the Man Utd job? Who knows, the list of potential managers is endless if you're open to going outside the normal tried and tested (and failed?) names.

agreed- there are plenty out there who could. theyre all in jobs at equal or better clubs, paying more money, giving them more to spend.
if we could attractone, to a club with a premiere league budget of 10 million quid, thenyay, i agree, it may work


im at a total loss why anyone would want a totally unproven ex united player as manager. brings nothing other than profile.
although i agree that no one had heard of wenger, or mcdermott either- there is a school of thought that in genral gr8 players who achieve alot in the game arent really gr8 managers-which would therefore explain the potential difference between a solskaer and a wenger

[melonhead]

Stat on Sky today that showed ALF touches the ball (minutes per touch) the 5th least in the Prem.

We know he gets goals (well one in open play) but sounds like he doesn't do a lot otherwise

Still think it's better to start with Roberts and Pog or Roberts and Hunt

Roberts and Hunt would give us more possession

That can't be right as I was told his performances have been really good on the thread all about him proving the doubters wrong!

He's a good poacher, but I just don't think he consistently makes enough of good opportunities for this level (it's a massive jump from where he was 12 months ago so may do in the long term as he adjusts).

wanted nhunt on from the start from before the game for that very reason
defo one of the mistakes brian made last night imo

[Still Hate Futcher!]

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

Of course we have a very good Championship squad! That's no guarentee we'd bounce straight back (if/when we go down) and no doubt we'd lose a few players, but to suggest a team that won the title and has since added proven Championship players like Mariappa, Gunter and Mcleary is not a very good squad at that level is nonsense.

[RoyalBlue]

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

Of course we have a very good Championship squad! That's no guarentee we'd bounce straight back (if/when we go down) and no doubt we'd lose a few players, but to suggest a team that won the title and has since added proven Championship players like Mariappa, Gunter and Mcleary is not a very good squad at that level is nonsense.

We will lose our best players once again if we go down. Their heads will be turned by PL teams offering that level football and big money.

[Royal Rother]

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

[SPARTA]

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

Of course we have a very good Championship squad! That's no guarentee we'd bounce straight back (if/when we go down) and no doubt we'd lose a few players, but to suggest a team that won the title and has since added proven Championship players like Mariappa, Gunter and Mcleary is not a very good squad at that level is nonsense.

We will lose our best players once again if we go down. Their heads will be turned by PL teams offering that level football and big money.

To be fair, not many of our players will be wanted by PL teams.

[akranes]

[Hoop Blah]

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

Of course we have a very good Championship squad! That's no guarentee we'd bounce straight back (if/when we go down) and no doubt we'd lose a few players, but to suggest a team that won the title and has since added proven Championship players like Mariappa, Gunter and Mcleary is not a very good squad at that level is nonsense.

As we all know though, the team last year over performed (to an extent) and won the league thanks to a freak run of excellent results. That success was built on a resilience and team spirit that relegation will probably destroy because they've had a year of being beaten and had the confidence and belief knocked out of them. They'll also have achieved the goal that drove them on to win the league (ie promotion and the chance to play in the Premier League) and that, combined with the passing of time, will take a lot of the edge of this group of players.

We'd also lose the better, younger, players and be left with a lesser squad. I don't think that's a 'very good' one at all.

[winchester_royal]

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

Of course we have a very good Championship squad! That's no guarentee we'd bounce straight back (if/when we go down) and no doubt we'd lose a few players, but to suggest a team that won the title and has since added proven Championship players like Mariappa, Gunter and Mcleary is not a very good squad at that level is nonsense.

As we all know though, the team last year over performed (to an extent) and won the league thanks to a freak run of excellent results. That success was built on a resilience and team spirit that relegation will probably destroy because they've had a year of being beaten and had the confidence and belief knocked out of them. They'll also have achieved the goal that drove them on to win the league (ie promotion and the chance to play in the Premier League) and that, combined with the passing of time, will take a lot of the edge of this group of players.

We'd also lose the better, younger, players and be left with a lesser squad. I don't think that's a 'very good' one at all.

'Greed, and players like Harte/Gorkss/Shorey/Roberts will all be on the decline.

Revolution is needed this summer, regardless of what league we find ourselves in.

[Hoop Blah]

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

From the current squad?

Pearce, Federici, McCarthy and Karacan will probably have a few Premier League suitors. Morrison, Guthrie and Pogbregnyak will most likely have some interest in them that could see them leave.

[RoyalBlue]

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

All the best ones for starters.

So how about: Morrison, McCarthy, Pearce, Karacan, Pogs and Guthrie (even though McDermott doesn't seem to rate them). Cummings and McCleary possibly and...... wait for it, possibly even Feds (although his merry band of haters will vehemently disagree). Then there may others like Mariappa.

Come to think of it we have quite a number of good players, so perhaps the manager just can't get the best out of them!

[akranes]

4 points adrift now.

(as it stands)

[Hoop Blah]

4 points adrift now.

(as it stands)

Or, to look at it another way, we need 50% more points than we have after the first 13 games to be out of the relegation zone!

At least we've got an easy run of games coming up to close the gap a bit.

[akranes]

4 points adrift now.

(as it stands)

Or, to look at it another way, we need 50% more points than we have after the first 13 games to be out of the relegation zone!

At least we've got an easy run of games coming up to close the gap a bit.

We're doomed. If we lose the next four, we're out....

Sack McD if we fail to pick up 3 points in the next 3.

[Royal Rother]

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

All the best ones for starters.

So how about: Morrison, McCarthy, Pearce, Karacan, Pogs and Guthrie (even though McDermott doesn't seem to rate them). Cummings and McCleary possibly and...... wait for it, possibly even Feds (although his merry band of haters will vehemently disagree). Then there may others like Mariappa.

Come to think of it we have quite a number of good players, so perhaps the manager just can't get the best out of them!

You are misreading / over-rating by a mile, the latter of which is very out of character for you. Just shows that even you can be forced into a positive assessment. Granted, it's only when looking for a different kind of negative but it was a decent effort.

Who left last time we went down?

[SCIAG]

I hate the constant belittling of our previous achievements. We have a very good Championship squad who played to their best and won the promotion their ability deserved, particularly after Roberts came in.

Leigertwood, for example, who gets caught in possession in the PL, was the envy of every team in the league last season.

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

All the best ones for starters.

So how about: Morrison, McCarthy, Pearce, Karacan, Pogs and Guthrie (even though McDermott doesn't seem to rate them). Cummings and McCleary possibly and...... wait for it, possibly even Feds (although his merry band of haters will vehemently disagree). Then there may others like Mariappa.

Come to think of it we have quite a number of good players, so perhaps the manager just can't get the best out of them!

You are misreading / over-rating by a mile, the latter of which is very out of character for you. Just shows that even you can be forced into a positive assessment. Granted, it's only when looking for a different kind of negative but it was a decent effort.

Who left last time we went down?

Kitson, Shorey, Little and Sonko, and we released a few others like De La Cruz.

I seriously doubt we'll have teams coming in for Karacan or Cummings, because they simply aren't good enough to improve any PL side and Cummings in particular doesn't have a reputation. McCleary will be seen as having failed at this level unless he establishes himself in the team. Pearce will suffer from being out of the side. Even McCarthy and Morrison will probably only be able to get a move to sit on the bench for a few years. Pog and Guthrie will probably go, and someone might gamble on McAnuff or Kebe, and some of the youngsters might get moves that will ruin their careers.

[Hoop Blah]

Nobody is going to come in for McAnuff (too old and too average) or Kebe (too expensive on the wages for an injury prone inconsistent winger who's struggled in the Premier).

Karacan's energy and work rate and energy might, if he has a decent patch later in the year, make him an attractive purchase as a squad player for a lower half side. I think we've missed him since his injury.

Federici, and more so McCarthy, will attract bids from sides who want a second keeper. I could see Rodgers coming in for either if we went down.

Young players who have a good few months in a poor side that goes down will attract attention and bids, even if it's just from teams coming up. I don't think we'll see the demand for players as we did last time, because this lot aren't as good, but I'd expect to lose 2 or 3 of our better younger players.

[SLAMMED]

[grey_squirrel]

Unlike the last time we went down, isn't it more the case of how disappointed we would be whoever we are left with?!

I mean lets be honest whatever league we are in next season, you can count on one hand who we would really want to keep.

McCarthy, Morrison, um....... at a generous push *maybe* Mapps, McLeary, ALF. Guthrie will be off, Pearce has his head in the clouds, Karacan is like Andy Hughes, the rest are already past it/showed they are absolutely shlt.

There my friends is the issue.

Oh f/ck. We trully are.

[RoyalBlue]

Oh right. And just who do you have in mind?

All the best ones for starters.

So how about: Morrison, McCarthy, Pearce, Karacan, Pogs and Guthrie (even though McDermott doesn't seem to rate them). Cummings and McCleary possibly and...... wait for it, possibly even Feds (although his merry band of haters will vehemently disagree). Then there may others like Mariappa.

Come to think of it we have quite a number of good players, so perhaps the manager just can't get the best out of them!

You are misreading / over-rating by a mile, the latter of which is very out of character for you. Just shows that even you can be forced into a positive assessment. Granted, it's only when looking for a different kind of negative but it was a decent effort.

Who left last time we went down?

Completely disagree with you but no change there. Cummings is going to continue to improve at a fast rate and would have been a lot better already if McDermott hadn't bizarrely dropped him for Gunter. Morrison and McCarthy are definite quality and will move onto bigger and better things. Pog and Guthrie are far better than McDermott now appears to think. I don't think the rumours about Pearce are without foundation and so on.

We do have some quality (not enough though) in the squad and McDermott is failing to fully exploit it.