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

[Lacoste]

A heroic defeat will not change my opinion.

Ahead twice and nothing was changed.

Go now.

[Royalwaster]

No manager would have got more out of that group of players today. For fcuking sake we gave one of the best teams in the world a very close run. Back the boys, back the manager. Today was a great performance!!

The problem was that I do believe other teams - e.g. Norwich - would have managed to put up a better fight at defending a one goal lead for more than 5 minutes on two occasions. We were very good going forward but just didn't track back to defend our lead - as others have pointed out I don't think Cummings was at fault for the goals coming down his side but instead Morrison and in particular Robson Kanu who was great going forward but very lazy tracking back.

[Extended-Phenotype]

For a decent stab at 4-5-1 he's going to need Guthrie or Jem back in the mix.

His subs were not inspiring, but not sure who else he could have brought on? Roberts needed refreshing - Pog seemed the obvious choice, but was hardly involved. The wings had been flat out, seemed standard to replace them.

Limited by injury and his Guthrie freeze-out, not sure McD could have made better subs at that stage, though I'd have at least looked at moving Jobi inside and bringing on McCleary when we'd taken the lead; however - goals were flying in thick and fast, would be a touch harsh to slate him for not making a split second decision.

[maffff]

If McD had been managing Man U would have have madea tactical change in bringing Rafael off that early on? I doubt it. That change pretty much won them the game.

[Extended-Phenotype]

But Man U have players on the bench who can come on and be of equal quality.

Who should McD have taken off early, and who should he have been replaced by?

I don't think you can really make the comparison with a manager who has such a wealth of backups at his disposal.

[maffff]

Hence the 'If McDermott had been the manager of Man U...'

It's just not his style. He's been making subs 15-20 minutes too late most of this season it feels. Waits until momentum is lost / we've gone behind. Very much reactionary as opposed to trying to seize the initative.

[noelgallagher]

If McD had been managing Man U would have have madea tactical change in bringing Rafael off that early on? I doubt it. That change pretty much won them the game.

Fair enough point. Would be nice, but on the flip side we don't have the kind of replacements Ferguson has to make an impact by making a like for like switch. But would McD have made the change with that kind of ammunition on the bench? I don't think any of us really can answer that.

With that said, I do feel McD makes substitutions way too late to make a real impact and I've rarely seen a tactical switch via him which has turned a game this season. I'm talking of formation or style of play. Which makes me think there is only plan A and very little else. The squad isn't adaptable to have a plan B or even a plan C. Not the players fault. They're only hired to do what's asked of them, so in this case you'd have to question the pre-season planning and the purchases that were made.

Still not over by a long shot though. A win changes everything in the bottom half.

[M Brook]

If McD had been managing Man U would have have madea tactical change in bringing Rafael off that early on? I doubt it. That change pretty much won them the game.

He brought him off before he got sent off!

[maffff]

If McD had been managing Man U would have have madea tactical change in bringing Rafael off that early on? I doubt it. That change pretty much won them the game.

He brought him off before he got sent off!

By the end of the United game I was wondering if McD would do the same for Tabb... on a yellow, still clattering into players.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Just not sure anyone can say McD wouldn't have done the same, considering none of us have ever seen McD manage United.

Our experience of his subbing ability has come from Reading and Reading alone. Considering substitutions rely heavily on what subs you do have to use, (seems ridiculous even needing to say that) it's impossible to say whether McD would be as ruthless, given the chance.

[winchester_royal]

Substitutions also rely on the quality of players you're taking off though.

Yes United have better subs, but they have better players on the pitch to start with too.

I'm with Maffff, there's no way Mcd would ever haul a player off like that.

[Lacoste]

A beating against Southampton and he'll be gone? Maybe Southampton and Sunderland.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Substitutions also rely on the quality of players you're taking off though.

Yes United have better subs, but they have better players on the pitch to start with too.

I'm with Maffff, there's no way Mcd would ever haul a player off like that.

How do you know, though?

Lacking any kind of evidence (i.e. Brian being in a similar situation) I don't understand what the speculation is based on. It's like saying a vegitarian wouldn't like the taste of bacon.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Substitutions also rely on the quality of players you're taking off though.

Yes United have better subs, but they have better players on the pitch to start with too.

I'm with Maffff, there's no way Mcd would ever haul a player off like that.

I'm not given a) Rafael was a walking red card the way Jobi was going at him b) our dominance in the air at set pieces.

Given those 2 factors it was a fairly obvious decision to get him off given that Fergie had Smalling and Jones on the bench. Once Smalling came on that tightened up their right hand side and also gave them another centreback to defend corners. The injury to Andersen was also good* for them as it meant they could bring on Jones (another centreback) which shored them up even more.

Personally, for us, I thought the change to make was to take Tabb off around the 60 minute mark, not only as he was looking very tired by then but also to give whoever came on a chance to get into the game, preferably for Guthrie, but if not then McCleary with Jobi going in the centre. I was surprised when they held Jobi's number up.

*If an injury can ever be good

[cmonurz]

Hence the 'If McDermott had been the manager of Man U...'

It's just not his style. He's been making subs 15-20 minutes too late most of this season it feels. Waits until momentum is lost / we've gone behind. Very much reactionary as opposed to trying to seize the initative.

In general I'd agree although iirc he made a double change (Pog and Alf) after 60 minutes against Norwich.

[winchester_royal]

Substitutions also rely on the quality of players you're taking off though.

Yes United have better subs, but they have better players on the pitch to start with too.

I'm with Maffff, there's no way Mcd would ever haul a player off like that.

How do you know, though?

Lacking any kind of evidence (i.e. Brian being in a similar situation) I don't understand what the speculation is based on. It's like saying a vegitarian wouldn't like the taste of bacon.

I don't think we lack evidence at all.

A number of times players have had shockers in the first half, or have picked up early bookings, or the system's looked wrong..and no early change has taken place.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Substitutions also rely on the quality of players you're taking off though.

Yes United have better subs, but they have better players on the pitch to start with too.

I'm with Maffff, there's no way Mcd would ever haul a player off like that.

How do you know, though?

Lacking any kind of evidence (i.e. Brian being in a similar situation) I don't understand what the speculation is based on. It's like saying a vegitarian wouldn't like the taste of bacon.

I don't think we lack evidence at all.

A number of times players have had shockers in the first half, or have picked up early bookings, or the system's looked wrong..and no early change has taken place.

The situation we were talking about was Fergie subbing off Rafael early. You said McD would never do something like that, but given that McD has never been manager of team with such luxury in depth to be able to make such a substitution, I don’t understand where your evidence is for that assessment.

Failing to make a sub early with what Reading have on the bench doesn’t compare in my opinion; in which case, managing Man U, would he have made the same decision as Fergie? No idea.

Having said that, I do agree he makes subs rather late and sticks to ‘the plan’ with perhaps a little too much rigidity. But perhaps that is a trait fitting his predicament, i.e. managing Reading, rather than his managerial ability.

[melonhead]

i can say with some certainty that brian would have taken off a full back if hed been booked and was being roasted time and again by a winger, no matter when in the game

[akranes]

i can say with some certainty that brian would have taken off a full back if hed been booked and was being roasted time and again by a winger, no matter when in the game

lol

i doubt that

[Royal Rother]

Any manager worth his salt would do, and surely BM has done enough in the last 3 years to indicate he is worth his salt?