Match Thread [FT] Nice 1 - 4 Rangers (Cerny 35'; Diomande 38'; Igamane 45+3', 54')

[buster. 5,208]

1 minute ago, Rousseau said:

There's a lot still to clear, I agree. 

Instead of a bulldozer, we have a plastic hammer and a pet groundhog.

[Gribz 860]

7 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Lampard has been appointed Coventry manager so we're free of that scenario for the time being.

Just posted that in the football thread - I restrained from your bold bit 😀

[Frankie 8,582]

16 minutes ago, buster. said:

In a 'normal' set of circumstances surrounding the club, Clement would be on the brink.

 

He might be anyway, but given what the board said about patience, circumstances and a look at the accounts. I think we need to try and ride out the storm.

 

I think we'll finish second with or without Clement. So far, we've done ok in Europe and I think we'll do better in the League Cup Final than the scudding that most are talking about.

 

A new manager may bring a bounce but he won't be able to bring in much quality players and we'll still be behind Celtic.

 

To address the challenge of becoming real rivals to Celtic again for more than an occasional season, it is about laying sustainable foundations.

I have some sympathy with the board as I genuinely don't know the best strategy to deliver improvement.

 

What I do know is the number of times we have to make subs at half-time shows the manager can't successfully pick or motivate the team. It's not all on him (some of our players are a disgrace and we've discussed injuries) but without obvious improvement he's ultimately responsible. However it does go deeper than Clement and my sympathy for a failing board only goes so far.

I think we give him the next two months. There's no winter break so that's two months of a solid run of fixtures where he can work with every player, get various players back fully fit/contributing whilst hopefully find some momentum and consistency that gives us a platform for the rest of the season and beyond. Recent performances may suggest that's a folly but, like you, I'm unconvinced a new manager is the right call either.

 

The one main flaw of doing this is that it means it's a window where a failing manager and one that could leave any time is doing business (in and out) any new person may not want.

[compo 7,062]

South of France the weather might be pleasant even taps aff for some fans who gulp down the local plonk 

[Rousseau 10,673]

11 minutes ago, buster. said:

Instead of a bulldozer, we have a plastic hammer and a pet groundhog.

Patience... 

 

[Rousseau 10,673]

10 minutes ago, Frankie said:

The one main flaw of doing this is that it means it's a window where a failing manager and one that could leave any time is doing business (in and out) any new person may not want.

I think we need to move on from the mindset of having to 'rebuild' with every manager.

 

We have a Director of Recruitment (and a Sporting Director, hopefully) and must let him do his job. It is his job - with the manager's input - to build the squad.

 

Any new manager will need to be the best fit for that structure.  

[Frankie 8,582]

3 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I think we need to move on from the mindset of having to 'rebuild' with every manager.

 

We have a Director of Recruitment (and a Sporting Director, hopefully) and must let him do his job. It is his job - with the manager's input - to build the squad.

 

Any new manager will need to be the best fit for that structure.  

Yes, you would think that's what should be happening but this board seem to chop and change their mind as to who is responsible for what so I have minimal faith in the DoF model we pick up and drop from window to window.

[buster. 5,208]

9 minutes ago, Frankie said:

I have some sympathy with the board as I genuinely don't know the best strategy to deliver improvement.

 

What I do know is the number of times we have to make subs at half-time shows the manager can't successfully pick or motivate the team. It's not all on him (some of our players are a disgrace and we've discussed injuries) but without obvious improvement he's ultimately responsible. However it does go deeper than Clement and my sympathy for a failing board only goes so far.

I think we give him the next two months. There's no winter break so that's two months of a solid run of fixtures where he can work with every player, get various players back fully fit/contributing whilst hopefully find some momentum and consistency that gives us a platform for the rest of the season and beyond. Recent performances may suggest that's a folly but, like you, I'm unconvinced a new manager is the right call either.

 

The one main flaw of doing this is that it means it's a window where a failing manager and one that could leave any time is doing business (in and out) any new person may not want.

There is no easy route out of this and to address the underlying issues will take time.

 

Our 'hurry', based on unrealistic short term expectations will only trip us up wrt addressing the underlying issues. 

 

Lets see what Patrick Stewart has to say about a way forward in a couple of weeks.

Someone tell him not to give out 4 year contracts to managers.

 

I'm not at all optimistic short to medium term. As it stands, our biggest hope is that Celtic hit a cyclical trough.

 

 

[Frankie 8,582]

9 minutes ago, buster. said:

 

As it stands, our biggest hope is that Celtic hit a cyclical trough.

 

That tells us everything we need to know about where our club stands right now.

[Sutton_blows_goats 5,357]

7 hours ago, Rousseau said:

We've still to build something. 

Understatement right there