Hugely improved

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yes of course

The FA Cup semi final obviously counted for nothing.

This is the 2015/2016 squad,

I'm with Woodcote on this one.....two games in.....we are virtually starting from ground zero....watch and wait, jumping in with the scorn at this stage, is quite frankly, embarressing

[Ian Royal]

Yes of course

The FA Cup semi final obviously counted for nothing.

This is the 2015/2016 squad,

I'm with Woodcote on this one.....two games in.....we are virtually starting from ground zero....watch and wait, jumping in with the scorn at this stage, is quite frankly, embarressing

We're just discussing the manager's overall performance record whilst waiting for enough new data to judge this season.
And I think the FA cup was the only thing preventing widespread calls for Clarke's head.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Thanks for that clarification

[WestRoyal]

Good post. I agree

Fact is, our players aren't bad at all and a better manager would get the best out of them a lot quicker. Yes we've been unlucky with our wingers being out, but we had wingers last season and our results were just poor. Even with our wingers out, a decent manager would still find a way to win games with the players at our disposal.

How so many make excuses for him I don't know. If he was disliked like Adkins was, people would be calling for his head.

His results have been poor.

You really are gunning for Clarke to get the chop
Who would you want in if he goes by the international break as I assume you have given that some thought?

[sandman]

Good post. I agree

Fact is, our players aren't bad at all and a better manager would get the best out of them a lot quicker. Yes we've been unlucky with our wingers being out, but we had wingers last season and our results were just poor. Even with our wingers out, a decent manager would still find a way to win games with the players at our disposal.

How so many make excuses for him I don't know. If he was disliked like Adkins was, people would be calling for his head.

His results have been poor.

You really are gunning for Clarke to get the chop
Who would you want in if he goes by the international break as I assume you have given that some thought?

Thinking never seems to be high on Lacoste's priority list.

[Lacoste]

He has signed 2 shit keepers.

He has 2 points from the first 9.

He has a worse points ratio than Nigel

He will fail here.

[sandman]

Only major problem I have with Clarke so far is that he has significantly weakened the goalkeeping department both on and off the pitch.

A minor one also being that although far more honest than the previous manager he uses the P word just a bit too much.

[JIM]

rubbish result again.

[Ian Royal]

Good post. I agree

Fact is, our players aren't bad at all and a better manager would get the best out of them a lot quicker. Yes we've been unlucky with our wingers being out, but we had wingers last season and our results were just poor. Even with our wingers out, a decent manager would still find a way to win games with the players at our disposal.

How so many make excuses for him I don't know. If he was disliked like Adkins was, people would be calling for his head.

His results have been poor.

You really are gunning for Clarke to get the chop
Who would you want in if he goes by the international break as I assume you have given that some thought?

My pick'd be Dolan and hopefully he'll have made a full recovery and be back at work in October, in time for the earliest Clarke could realistically be sacked. Obviously it'd be better if Clarke was a success.

[Nameless]

I've read some crazy stuff but suggesting a guy just starting chemo for a second bout of cancer is a credible candidate to become manager in a month and a half takes the biscuit.
Especially when he's not been a candidate when we've recruited managers in the last couple of years.

[paultheroyal]

Fernandez, Hurtado, Mccleary - a new striker...

Add that to the mix on top of the performances we have seen already really excites me. That alone will be a very strong looking bench when these players start.

Seconds away from top 10 - some posts on here are just embarrassing.

Give the team and manager a chance FFS.

[RG30]

Seem to remember everyone last season clamming for the return for the likes of McCleary and he hardly pulled up any trees. No point making any judgements until after 12 league matches but on what looked a relatively easy start on paper has seen us pick up just 2 points.

[leon]

Fernandez, Hurtado, Mccleary - a new striker...

Add that to the mix on top of the performances we have seen already really excites me. That alone will be a very strong looking bench when these players start.

Seconds away from top 10 - some posts on here are just embarrassing.

Give the team and manager a chance FFS.

End of September. Let's see where we are then. At the current rate of progress based on Clarkes performance at RFC so far we'll be in the shit. However I'm hoping I'm wrong.

[genome]

Fact is if Bond had not made that individual error, we would've won the game and none of you would be harping on about Clarke.

It doesn't quite add up.

[genome]

Add to that the fact we have several signings yet to bed in (who, by all accounts are looking sharper by the game) then the knee-jerk reactions are ridiculous.

If the results are still poor after 10 games then I will start thinking about Clarke. But I don't think they will be.

[PeterReadingborn59]

Fernandez, Hurtado, Mccleary - a new striker...

Add that to the mix on top of the performances we have seen already really excites me. That alone will be a very strong looking bench when these players start.
Seconds away from top 10 - some posts on here are just embarrassing.
Give the team and manager a chance FFS.

End of September. Let's see where we are then. At the current rate of progress based on Clarkes performance at RFC so far we'll be in the shit. However I'm hoping I'm wrong.

Like most I hope the signings do come good and we have a good season but it will need players to convert more shots than they are currently doing, at the moment two points won and three lost.

[loyalroyal4life]

Fact is if Bond had not made that individual error, we would've won the game and none of you would be harping on about Clarke.

It doesn't quite add up.

Fact is, he did make that mistake, costing us 2 points and resulting in the comments about Clarke as ultimately it is his team

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Fact is that the thread was started prior to the mistake.
So the facts are that with four games played so far the team has two points from 3 league games, and an extra time 1-0 win at a team from a lower league.
What seems to be missing are the flair players that are due to come in.
Ferdinand is finally earning his money, and McShane seems to be a good signing. Hector has lost his starting place, but is still involved.
Once the two new guys are in, and hopefully a striker, then the squad should look well balanced again.

[genome]

Fact is if Bond had not made that individual error, we would've won the game and none of you would be harping on about Clarke.

It doesn't quite add up.

Fact is, he did make that mistake, costing us 2 points and resulting in the comments about Clarke as ultimately it is his team

But how can Clarke legisl8 for individual errors?

The team otherwise looked organised and good, and fully deserved to win the match.

[strap]

After we hit the bar 3? times, miss a penalty and they win by the odd goal.

This thread is a waste of bandwidth

Yes that old chestnut! Tell me again how many points we get for hitting the woodwork? And how many for missing a penalty? And how many for losing by 1 goal?

FWIW Floyd makes a good point.

Others are saying give Clarke until the end of Sept, give him 10 games etc etc. Well I recall doing a piece a few years ago looking at a team's finishing position in the league after 6, 8 and 10 games (I think). The upshot was that after 10 games, most teams finish no more than 5 places above or below where they were after 10 games.

So yes, let's give Clarke 10 games and see where we are in the league. That will give us a very good indicator of how the seaosn will pan out. I would suggest that we won't be 10th - and by implication we will be very unlikely to finish in the play-off positions - both his and the Owners' stated aim this season.

But then once our "wonder signings" are "fit, have work permits, have some game time under their belts", then just watch us fly!

Lord save us from this bullsh!t.