fev123
Groupie
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2016
- Messages
- 323
- Reaction score
- 383
My thoughts in general.....
1. Chinese Arrogance. To think it's so easy as to walk into a club and change everything wholesale and expect magical results. I do think if everybody involved was pulling in the same direction that may work but in our case there were many factions who barely knew each other (managers, coaches, players, board).
2. Who's actually signing players? There seems to be a totally shambolic approach to signing players, with certain players never even getting a game. I get the sense (and who knows) some decisions were made by Thelwell, Mendes, Zenga, Lambert, Shi. You end up with this ridiculous smorgasbord of players who don't complement each other, know each other, fit a clear pattern of play. This also means there are a number of players arriving that the manager doesn't know a lot about so you had Zenga having to give players games just to have a look at them and find out if they had it. How on earth can you build a winning team working that way?
3. Lack of REAL investment. Fosun have singularly failed to splash the cash on any players that are the proven article.
4. Sacking too early. The club should have learned from the Dean Saunders Debacle that there is no magic pill unless there is a TOP TOP manager available. If we'd got big Sam all well and good but PL is not that big a step up from Zenga.
5. Square pegs in round holes. Even managing a kids team I'll look at a player and decide his strengths and say you're a finisher, you're a workhorse, you're creating etc. For too long we're playing players out of position and losing our balance. For me its simple, we need a left footed left back if you want to play a right footed winger; one can cut inside and one can cross from the byline. Against Birmingham we've no width with Costa suddenly playing on the left and Doherty uncomfortable going outside him. Add to this Coady at right back, Edwards at DM, Weimann at right wing its a mess. Bodvarson and Dicko are both grafters but it's plain to see since Afobe left we've not got a finisher. Just have a pattern of play and play players in their natural position.
6. No balance from either manager. In Zenga's case there was a lack of understanding how to keep the defence tight but at least we attacked. In Lamberts case its too cautious (see below).
7. Lambert reminds me more and more of Mick. Its not enough "PUTTING A SHIFT IN" and packing the team with workhorses and grafters. Alf Ramsey took Nobby Styles and Alan Ball to a park and showed them a dog fetching a stick, he told them they are the dogs and the ball is the stick. Your job is to get the ball and give it Bobby Charlton because he's a better player than you. That's what you need, a balance between graft and creativity. We seem to have slacked off all of our creative players except Costa and then wonder why we can't break teams down, the other team just boots Costa every time and we're out of ideas.
Everybody at the club needs to get on the same page, because when I think of above its a lack of leadership at the very very top thats the problem. Fosun/Shi need to have a clear idea and put good people working together in key areas of the club. Just spouting on all the time that we deserve better isnt going to cut it.
1. Chinese Arrogance. To think it's so easy as to walk into a club and change everything wholesale and expect magical results. I do think if everybody involved was pulling in the same direction that may work but in our case there were many factions who barely knew each other (managers, coaches, players, board).
2. Who's actually signing players? There seems to be a totally shambolic approach to signing players, with certain players never even getting a game. I get the sense (and who knows) some decisions were made by Thelwell, Mendes, Zenga, Lambert, Shi. You end up with this ridiculous smorgasbord of players who don't complement each other, know each other, fit a clear pattern of play. This also means there are a number of players arriving that the manager doesn't know a lot about so you had Zenga having to give players games just to have a look at them and find out if they had it. How on earth can you build a winning team working that way?
3. Lack of REAL investment. Fosun have singularly failed to splash the cash on any players that are the proven article.
4. Sacking too early. The club should have learned from the Dean Saunders Debacle that there is no magic pill unless there is a TOP TOP manager available. If we'd got big Sam all well and good but PL is not that big a step up from Zenga.
5. Square pegs in round holes. Even managing a kids team I'll look at a player and decide his strengths and say you're a finisher, you're a workhorse, you're creating etc. For too long we're playing players out of position and losing our balance. For me its simple, we need a left footed left back if you want to play a right footed winger; one can cut inside and one can cross from the byline. Against Birmingham we've no width with Costa suddenly playing on the left and Doherty uncomfortable going outside him. Add to this Coady at right back, Edwards at DM, Weimann at right wing its a mess. Bodvarson and Dicko are both grafters but it's plain to see since Afobe left we've not got a finisher. Just have a pattern of play and play players in their natural position.
6. No balance from either manager. In Zenga's case there was a lack of understanding how to keep the defence tight but at least we attacked. In Lamberts case its too cautious (see below).
7. Lambert reminds me more and more of Mick. Its not enough "PUTTING A SHIFT IN" and packing the team with workhorses and grafters. Alf Ramsey took Nobby Styles and Alan Ball to a park and showed them a dog fetching a stick, he told them they are the dogs and the ball is the stick. Your job is to get the ball and give it Bobby Charlton because he's a better player than you. That's what you need, a balance between graft and creativity. We seem to have slacked off all of our creative players except Costa and then wonder why we can't break teams down, the other team just boots Costa every time and we're out of ideas.
Everybody at the club needs to get on the same page, because when I think of above its a lack of leadership at the very very top thats the problem. Fosun/Shi need to have a clear idea and put good people working together in key areas of the club. Just spouting on all the time that we deserve better isnt going to cut it.
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