smiller14

The thing with individual errors is that better managers see less of them. It isn't 'luck' of misfortune. Allardyce came in after Ince and the stupid errors reduced considerably. And yes, I fully agree. Creating the square root of fuck all against a team as defensively poor as Wednesday really isn't a good sign. Yesterday felt a bit like that Forest game in 99.

Being pessimistic, WBA could be all but assured of a play off spot by then and Millwall also have nothing to play for. Hopefully West Brom really want 5th! Birmingham playing a Norwich team last who could be sure of their play off spot is also a concern, especially given their manager's track record.

To compound it, he stuck with 5 at the back until Wharton was injured. There was no indication he planned on a change of shape beforehand and was happy for us to stick with 5 at the back at 3-1 down. Conscious of goal difference perhaps? Piss poor either way. We were 3-1 down at home to a team in 23rd! I know the bench is crap, but he then waited until the 85th minute to make a treble sub. He had watched Wednesday control the game for 40 minutes that half with us barely laying a glove on them and did nothing. We may and should see a different approach next year, but right now he isn't filling me with confidence. We don't even know what league we will be playing in! The odd solid performance but 2 stinkers in 3 games when the pressure's on isn't a glowing endorsement of his managerial ability, although our soft bunch of players are no doubt huge contributory factors as well. I was extremely complimentary after Leeds and other games, but Bristol City/Wednesday are both borderline unforgivable. Even he-who-shall-not-be-named got a win at Old Trafford and I dearly hope this isn't his equivalent. One thing I will say - we seem to play better against better teams. That is the only thing giving me hope that there is some element of tactical nous or acumen there. And given we will probably be the worst team in the league next year (if we stay up) then it might bode well.... I think I'll be switching off his interviews now though, even by football manager's standards his last one was absolutely infuriating. Those grins will come back to haunt him if we go down.

Yep, no idea why next season is being discussed when we don't even know what league we're in yet! You'd expect our tactical approach to be different if we are playing Sheffield United compared to bloody Shrewsbury for starters. I know half the players are on the beach already but I don't even want to think about next year, we have 2 games to save our skin. I can't wait for this season to be over.

He looked proud as punch in his interview. I know it's just an interview, but it really concerns me about how he interacts with players - it can't be all back pats and smiles, there needs to be some harsh truths. My biggest concern though is he (and many players) don't seem to understand the gravity of the situation they find themselves in. Very little acknowledgement we could go down. Positivity is one thing but there seems to be no urgency and it'll probably only dawn on them when we are sat in 22nd with 5 minutes left at Leicester.

It felt negative given we had 1, maybe 2 shots on target. 5 at the back is much more suited to when we expect to surrender possession, but yesterday played perfectly into their hands.

Draw at best. I really can't see us winning - let's not forget we've won 2 in 15, 1 of which was a hugely impressive smash and grab but with plenty of good fortune to help us out. We are yet to win at home under the current gaffer, but the only sprinkling of hope is that our better home performances have come against teams in the top half - Southampton, Ipswich and Norwich. I also have no idea what formation he will play. 5 at the back suits games like Leeds away, but is it good enough at home when we need to be on the front foot? Perhaps Coventry are a better side and being more cautious will help us. What a depressing thought! I must admit I am flittering between caring and not caring. The club has beaten any hope out of me, and staying up this season may just delay the inevitable. No doubt we'd get relegated at Turf Moor just to cap off the shit show that is our club at the moment. I expect a defeat and Eustace to be smiling in his presser talking about togetherness.

Didn't realise you basically posted the same! Apologies.

I'm guessing his answer is 'no', but I'd also wager he doesn't have thousands of people cheering him on at his workplace every week. Unless he's a lucky man I'd also wager he doesn't get paid tens of thousands per week for the privilege only to put in substandard effort.

How many tickets have we sold?

We did lose a lot of players in summer, but is it as bad as people make out? Kaminski - preferred Pears Diaz - fair enough, big miss for us Dack - didn't really fancy him Morton - a godsend as it meant we picked Wharton Ayala - permanently injured The complete lack of striker has been a real pain point, but the regression has been absolutely alarming. And whilst JDT hasn't been backed, didn't we spend nigh on £4m for Szmodics and Hyam combined? Absolutely great buys for the money but a decent fighting fund compared to anything since 2019 (which is a comment in itself). So whilst he didn't get to blow £6m on Gally, it was actually the most we had spent in a summer for 3 years. It possibly underlines how good a job he did last year after losing Nyambe, Rothwell and Lenihan as well, but I think some of the talk about losing players has ignored the fact it's been par for the course with these idiot owners for years now. I am Mowbray's fiercest critic but he didn't have it that easy himself either - he was just less good at communicating it and keeping fans updated.

Weirdly enough, the 'lion's den' of Millwall (and against cup minnows) was the exception!

100% this. I don't dislike him, but ever since that cup quarter final at Sheffield United we've been well and truly found out. For all the pretty football, we were one dimensional and even inexperienced managers were out-manouvering him (some with worse squads - see Huddersfield, Sheff Wed and then QPR). I think his brave and appreciated calling out of the hierarchy has pulled the wool over some people's eyes over how bad this season truly has been - and yes, we lost 4 players (3 of which were either perennially injured or not in the manager's plans). Edit - that being said, last year was good overall league position wise and we played some fantastic stuff. The way we threw it all away still hurts, and I'm still not over the Turf Moor surrender. He will probably do well somewhere but his heart hasn't been in it for some time imo.

I respect him calling out the idiots upstairs, but results and performances have been truly dire. He's been dealt a crap hand, but it hasn't been working for a long time. Played some of the best football in years in his tenure. Also played some of the worst, particularly away from home last season. Credit goes for last year's 7th placed finish, our cup runs and some inspired football. As well as calling out those tossers at the club. Negatives have to be recent results, the debacle at Turf Moor, some horror shows vs Preston and the inability to ever crack winning points from losing positions. He's been undermined at every turn, but there's not much defending our form this season and the refusal to adapt to repetitive patterns and adopt some sort of plan B. He may well go on to do well somewhere - he has potential to excel but not sure he's the man when the going gets tough. Seems an alright bloke, mind. Some of his interviews have come across as incredibly smug/arrogant, but he also speaks well on behalf of the fans.

Hope he doesn't sign the NDA

All those staying it has been twice in 2 January windows are also forgetting we did the same to Brierley. Even more pathetically, it meant he couldn't play for his club - relegation stricken Rochdale. We then, despite promises of a pre-contract, pulled out of that deal too. Bad faith. No chance we sign McGuire if this paltry 'appeal' doesn't succeed.

I have just seen someone praise Rovers for offering clarity and not shying away from the McGuire situation. The mind genuinely boggles. This is a fella we announced officially 5 days ago with not a word mentioned in the meantime.

JDT is proving to be an awful, awful manager for us this season. The owners might be worse, but the results aren't even approaching good enough and even this squad is better than results would suggest. Hope he walks and shines a light on the owners, but if he doesn't he should be receiving his p45 asap.

JDT, Waggott and Venkys out

Is he even aware that Mcguire is currently sat in a Sheffield hotel reception?

It's alright though, the money earmarked for McGuire will be spent in summer.... (tongue firmly in cheek)

Why would a potential snag (which has proven not to be material) in the Wharton deal lead to us panicking and cancelling MID-FLIGHT? Meaning it is now totally unsalvagable? It's like worrying your bus might be late so cancelling the event you were planning to attend, only for the bus to turn up and find you have nowhere to go. A lazy metaphor but it's just gross incompetence. There surely has to be more at play than that?

If it all goes as it appears it's heading, there can be no illusions or people convincing themselves otherwise - it has to be full steam ahead in getting these parasites out of our club. The usual dirge about 'they keep us afloat' and 'respect them' will all be moot points as they further ruin our reputation, operate in complete bad faith and continue to worsen our playing squad.

Palace also play youth, vastly increasing the chance of a future sell on clause when Chelsea or someone of that ilk spend the big bucks on him. If we sold to a bigger club now, he would probably end up out on loan - Palace is a decent springboard for a big move in 2 years. Realistically, are Chelsea going to come in and spend £10m more than Palace? Doesn't appear likely. It doesn't appear as if any other club put in a formal offer, either. If they go down though it may end up as an own goal for all involved.

The real problem is upstairs, but I'm growing more and more convinced we would benefit from JDT walking, at least in the short term. The players don't seem to be playing for him, the heads are down, the atmosphere poor. I'm glad he tried to change shape today which at least indicated some sort of care and wish to address the issues, but the same issues persist. We are wide open and it was another very poor result. He will do well somewhere, but overall I'm pretty disenchanted with him. A good league finish last year, but there have been many issues. Late throwaways, the surrender at Turf Moor, inability to react to going behind and this season's absolute kamikaze football. He's been dealt an absolutely crap hand but we look completely bereft of ideas and confidence. This defence was much better last year but we have completely departed from it this year.