Brian: The right decision?

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Isn't Poyet off to fill the Everton vacancy?

[Woodcote Royal]

probably the right decision, possibly should have been made sooner even

Can't say I didn't try to tell you..........

Yep, one win against a Fulham team already on the beach justifies McDermott's sacking...........................there's so much sh*t in this thread it should be able to sink by sheer weight alone.

[windermere_royal]

probably the right decision, possibly should have been made sooner even

Can't say I didn't try to tell you..........

there's so much sh*t in this thread it should be able to sink by sheer weight alone.

well stop shovelling even more in then.

[Davezk]

In the long term Adkins will be the right man. If we can play like Southampton do now, that would be a really big step forward. It's about time we became a more modern attractive footballing team rather than what we saw under Brian.

Admittedly Brian's one dimensional football style won the Championship, but a lot of luck was on our side e.g. Brighton away, Southampton away

[HoneyRoastHoax]

I don't know where to put this nugget of information, not going to start a new thread but I am claiming ITK

Heres the source, friend of mine does work for someone high up at Brighton.

So the story goes, Poyet and the board had/have massively fallen out (hence his rash comments after the palarse game) the board had been slowly taking away his powers and rendering his position to be one of a coach and not much more.

He was obviously not happy with this and its caused great friction. Brighton can't afford to buy him out and the fans will react badly to his sacking but the club is losing money even with the Amex full. Poyet wants to spend more and quiet rightly. Poyets ambitions don't match those of the clubs at this stage.

So when dear old Brian was let go Brighton approached Reading for us to take Poyet knowing their was previous links. The rest is history but if true (and I have no reason to doubt its not) Adkins was always in our sites and isn't second choice but when Brighton asked we did have a look at Poyet.

Take it or leave it but thats what I was told.

I believe that actually - Poyet & his staff now suspended.

The local paper down here reckons he was suspended for failing to deal with players out of contract and on loan.

Sounds like he was being a stubborn bastard, won't leave without the right club or a big pay out so hes staying put and not dealing with the players.

Im having at least 1 ITK point for this.

[creative_username_1]

This is probably a question better suited for AE but what is a 'good decision'? You take a view about a future outcome based on the information you have at the time then a number of random unforeseen events happen. Is the best decision maker

a. the survivor - the changes worked in his favor (i.e. FA bring in a rule that you can only lump it long, McD's laughing Adkins can't adapt)
b. the guy that chose the 'right' path that would have worked 'if only' some unforeseen change hadn't happened

[Elm Park Kid]

If we don't get anything on Sunday then,

Points per game:

McDermott - 0.79

Adkins - 0.56

I know that's not a fair comparison but I think it goes to show that McDermott got as much as he could out of the team.

[AirRaidSiren]

I know that's not a fair comparison

You're right

[HoneyRoastHoax]

If we don't get anything on Sunday then,

Points per game:

McDermott - 0.79

Adkins - 0.56

I know that's not a fair comparison but I think it goes to show that McDermott got as much as he could out of the team.

Minus Kebetron though

[melonhead]

If we don't get anything on Sunday then,

Points per game:

McDermott - 0.79

Adkins - 0.56

I know that's not a fair comparison but I think it goes to show that McDermott got as much as he could out of the team.

and why he didnt try to continue down the passing route with this set of players

[Avon Royal]

You mean the set of players that HE assembled?

Any perceived lack of talent in the team can't be used as a defence for Brian - he put that team together and he wasted the money in the summer.

[West Stand Man]

You mean the set of players that HE assembled?

Any perceived lack of talent in the team can't be used as a defence for Brian - he put that team together and he wasted the money in the summer.

Yes, here is the nub of the issue. If you go out and buy/ acquire a handful of players who are custom made for a team that keeps possession by passing why would you then drop them because they don't play your way (which is the antithesis of that style). It is a question that BMcD never really answered.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

You mean the set of players that HE assembled?

Any perceived lack of talent in the team can't be used as a defence for Brian - he put that team together and he wasted the money in the summer.

And how much did we spend relative to the other promoted clubs?

Crystal Palace and Huddersfield would/will go up with Championship teams and come straight back down through little fault of their managers as well.

[P!ssed Off]

You mean the set of players that HE assembled?

Any perceived lack of talent in the team can't be used as a defence for Brian - he put that team together and he wasted the money in the summer.

And how much did we spend relative to the other promoted clubs?

Crystal Palace and Huddersfield would/will go up with Championship teams and come straight back down through little fault of their managers as well.

Huddersfield? I take it you've not be following the Championship too closely this season.

[Ian Royal]

If we don't get anything on Sunday then,

Points per game:

McDermott - 0.79

Adkins - 0.56

I know that's not a fair comparison but I think it goes to show that McDermott got as much as he could out of the team.

Although it would be reasonable to exclude the Arsenal result, seeing as Adkins took over two days before it, so will have had at most one day of training with the team. In which case it's 0.79 vs 0.71, so even if we lose to West Ham, Adkins has got basically the same performance out of the side, despite it being thoroughly demoralised, stuck in a losing rut and in no way his bunch of players.

[Eaststandman]

Not sure there can ever be a like for like comparison then, but perhaps it shows right now at least, that both managers are about equal in their ability in terms of obtaining performances from the same squad?

Not too surprising given that they were neck and neck in the championship, where BM just edged it!

The future squad will presumably be quite different, which will defy direct comparison and thus negate any of the 'who's best/worst of them debates' which in turn are a waste of breath given the reality of the situation.

I guess if we look pretty, but ineffectual, people will long for the return of BM's methods, whoever is at the helm.

[winchester_royal]

Given that Adkins was brought in primarily on the remit of changing our style of play so we're more successful in the long run, judging him over a 8-game period, or indeed using that period in any comparison, is ridiculous and statistically just plain wrong.

[Vic_Flange]

For the love of God, not this again. Why not have a discussion on exhuming the body of Maurice Evans? too? Mcdermott has gone; his real test wil be at Leeds next year and the scumbag supporters who follow them if Mcdermott has a string of bad results (sleeping giants my arse, they are no one these days) Adkins has to assemble his, oh you know what, I really can't be bothered with this irrelevent thread any longer...I strongly suggest you good people move on as well.

[Eaststandman]

For the love of God, not this again. Why not have a discussion on exhuming the body of Maurice Evans? too? Mcdermott has gone; his real test wil be at Leeds next year and the scumbag supporters who follow them if Mcdermott has a string of bad results (sleeping giants my arse, they are no one these days) Adkins has to assemble his, oh you know what, I really can't be bothered with this irrelevent thread any longer...I strongly suggest you good people move on as well.

I kinda think that's what I just said!

[CountryRoyal]

Anyone that is bored of this topic of conversation look away now

I initially voted "no" when this poll went up. Whilst I attributed a huge amount of blame on him for the success (or lack thereof) this season, I felt he deserved until Dec next season, for constantly over achieving as a manager for the previous few seasons and also being a general nice guy (im not a completely uncompassionate twat I know football is "be all and end all" to a lot, but at the end of the day he i still a human being and imho a throughout respectable one). I was also thoroughly underwhelmed at the prospect of signing Adkins - Ill admit it.


Now I would still answer no. However because if he was to be sacked it should have been a lot earlier. As much as it hurts me to say it I'm a bit pissed off with McD because Adkins has showed us in a short amount of time how to be playing. Don't get me wrong, we are FAR from the finished article but the improvement has been massive. It makes me a bit bitter to think that McD had this at his disposable yet we were still playing the unwatachble hoofball bollocks for so long, its not as if it was even succesfull as it was in the champ and this for me really highlighted McDermotts managerial inferiorities.

Im actually really coming around to Adkins (who always striked me as a smug bastard). Yes he says a lot of cliche cheese but cant blame him. Hes not pep guardiola but his footballing principles and desire to play it out from the back (combined with his succesfull CV at League level) is great cause for optimism.

I know he has had it pretty smooth sailing since hes taken over as was realistically under little pressure but Im confident in him.