Rousseau

We can keep naming names but we have a new manager until the end of the season.

But I want a new manager!

Garry Monk is an interesting option.

Ironically, the team his former team beat at the weekend (Sheffield Wed) have just sacked Carlos Carvalhal. I thought he was a good manager the last couple of years.

Just saying.

That is an embarrassing read.

 

Robertson and Allen are useless.

I think the board look useless, but Allen is doing his job.

I think we'd have been better off under PC, but not much. I think we'd have won against the diddy teams, and maybe a good away record too, but lost to the 'better' teams, and we'd still have a underwhelming home record. PC has more experience, though.

What's Allen done wrong? He's here to implement a whole new scouting and analysis infrastructure, which he's doing. The manager situation I could perhaps blame him for, in part, but it's not solely down to him.

(Mulumbu's an average player that is strong and can tackle, nothing more; it's not hard to out-muscle Holt! The only reason they signed him was because Clarke has worked with him before. We criticised the last manager to bring in players he had a personal connection to (MW), and we've moved on so we don't need to really on the personal contacts of a manager with the DoF appointment.)

We're just looking to criticise anyone.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I expected nothing, the way we've been playing, and I'm still disappointed.

I think the board have been deceived by a couple of good results. performances, on the whole, have been crap under Murty. I guess his grace period lasted a match, if that... Oh well.

Collum is at his usual worst. But don't expect anything else. Quick yellow for Tav, then not handing him or Dicker another for clearer offenses. Mulumbu can virtually bully anyone. 5 secs of extra time, not that bad.

 

I think we should remove Tav, as rumoured target Jordan Jones is all over him. Hodson over there, John into defence and Pena through the middle. We play far too many long balls which are instantly returned and cause trouble. But why we let Bates and Wilson do all the passes and long balls is beyond me. Same goes for the "play-the-ball-no-matter-what" stuff, especially amongst the defenders. If I have 10 m clear in front of me, I do not pass it sideways to someone who's got an opponent chasing down his back. Only ends in bother.

I agree about Tavernier, but Hodson on Jones terrifies me! I'd rather see McCrorie out there.

The only real positive is that we're "in it", whatever that means. Too often we capitulate when we aren't playing well. Hopefully we see a bit of back-bone.

Mulumbu has been an average player everywhere he's been; tough tackler, nothing more; solid, but average. These "pundits" make him seem like a superstar up here. Hilarious. Sums our game up.

Referee has been poor. Expected.

I think the flat 4-4-2 was to match up against their's; their wide players are dangerous, as we've seen. However, it has come at the expense of our play; we're outnumbered in midfield.

Jones looks dangerous, but just reminds of Walker: quick, tricky, likes to attack, solid at getting back. Average players. I'd take him as a squad player.

The pitch is abysmal, I don't how it is allowed. The ball doesn't run true. There was a long ball that almost played Morelos in one-on-one, which shouldn't have, but it then bounces and misses him and almost the Killie player. Mental conditions.

#GoingFor55

Just about to leave! It is today right...........?

Yes, it's today Coop.

These type of games really annoy me: there's just no control in it.

Liverpool really have to replace their entire back line. Arsenal similar.

I am still of thought that I would try MOH at right back. He is fast and can tackle the only thing I would like to see is if he switches off as most forwards do.

MOH at Right-back?

Mine are more exciting

Murty has lost 2 out of 5, and let's not forget it took a late winner against Ross County.

 

the football we play is OK against teams that are open against us but he shows a tactical naivety against teams that try and hit us on the counter.

Hamilton and St Johnstone.

I stand corrected.

It seems I had blanked them...

Opinions young man.

I forgot to add... IMO.

At least mine are based on fact...

I guess we're going to drop a load of points at home for the rest of the season.

That was Caixinha's record -- exceptional away, shite at home. Murty has only lost one (?) at home, so far. We'd need to wait and see.

Don't agree with the signing decisions, especially if the rumours about Allen are true.

 

Both Allen and Murty might not be in their positions next season.

I wouldn't base my opinions on a rumour.

Even if they are to "not be in their positions next season", there should still be a blueprint for another DoF to take over, a database of player profiles that suit the club going forward. If it was just a caretaker alone -- like the old style of process -- that made the transfer decisions then I'd have a problem. There is no issue here, except the one you're making up.

I'm curious to know what the "additional support" is. Walter... ?

I wonder if Halliday has scope in his loan deal to come back in January? I think we could do with him as an option, even if he's not a first pick.

There was an image on Twitter showing Halliday in an airport -- not sure of the veracity of the source.

Decent loan signing, and deserves a permanent deal. He's still young, but I hope going forward that he becomes a squad player.

This is mental. We're basically giving up on the season! Second is there for the taking, but Murty -- I hate to say -- won't get us there, unfortunately.

Murty having say on signings in January is fine, because we have a DoF. There's continuity there; the DoF will not scout players that don't suit us long-term. The criticism there is unfounded.

I'm not sure where you get 3 years from? He's been in almost constant employment since leaving Twente in 2010 after winning the league, a tremendous achievement and one he deserves a lot of credit for. But he then managed Wolfsburg, Forest, Twente again, Derby, Newcastle and Derby again without any significant success. His first spell at Derby went okay, they lost in the play-offs, but the following season didn't go as well. All the other spells ended in failure too.

 

This isn't so much what I think as how I'd think if I was a director of the club and putting my own personal money up to pay for the new manager. Wright (and McInnes) would cost less, know the league well, have had some success in it and are almost guaranteed to improve the side based on what they've done on less resources elsewhere. Neither is going to turn us into a European power, but then we're miles from that point anyway. McClaren would command a big salary and his recent record provides little evidence he could do any better than Wright or McInnes.

You said he's had a "seven year losing streak", but it's not as bad as that. After Twente (1st spell) he had 1 year, albeit at Wolfsburg and Forest, where he failed completely. He returned to Twente and did 'OK', signing good players, consolidating their position etc., but was sacked -- so, failed! -- after a run of 7 games without a win. His Derby career was terrific. Play-off final, only losing out in the last second of the game, then second season he had them top for most of the season until injuries (his excuse) and Newcastle speculation (press), spoiled their run-in. He completely failed at Newcastle. And failed at Derby (2nd spell). For me, that's only 3 years of failures, possibly 4. It's not as bad as it's perceived to be -- some of it's even understandable (Forest and Newcastle!).

He would certainly cost more, but I think he'd guarantee us 2nd. I also think he's a much better coach, so there's value there in the sense he'd be able to develop our players and team. Moreover, he can build and develop our squad towards European objectives. It may be too much money, but there's so much more value there than a McInnes or, heaven forbid, a Wright appointment. I can see why Allen would recommend him.