03 Apr 2024 01:11:44
Automatic promotion was never on the cards for me. I mentioned the manager/team was never enough to get us there on first try. However I do think playoffs is the best option overall.

If by some miracle we got automatic promotion we would have seen a false confidence, no only from the board but also and more importantly.the fans. I've always stated that fans need a reality check. Hopefully now as a collective we can all see ourselves for what we are a decent promotion chasing team .rather than this automatic/deserved to be in the premier league team.

No one deserves anything. You get what you get on merit. Look at Ipswich, sure they're possibly be straight back down again next season but it where they are right now is where they deserve to be and likewise so are we.

So, hopefully for us going up the more painful way (if we manage promotion) will humble everyone and show there's still a hell a lot more work to be done.

On that note I'm not totally against RM, I know he isn't a premier league manager for sure but wether it's by luck or not he has kept us up and towards the top of the league all of the season. If we don't go up I'd probably give him another season. Why? Because of stability.I'd rather the board take Thier time and find the right man (even if that means replacing RM at a time when the team is at its best) rather then knee jerk decisions. Knee jerk decisions are only ever a gamble and we could find ourselves tumbling down the league, least for now if we have to have another year in the championship we know with RM were at least be up and near the top.

The one thing I would change overall though is Bazuna. I'm sorry dude but youve had 2 full seasons for progress with us, one of which is dropping down a league but you aren't getting where you need to be. he's very athletic and would arguably be a great sweeper keeper except for one vital part .He NEVER saves anything?! He ways gets down low and dives where he needs to be but never gets the ball. We need a SOLID keeper who makes one or two decent saves a match, one that dives and pushes away/stops the ball, not a keeper who is essentially just another defender.

1.) 03 Apr 2024
03 Apr 2024 08:06:42
lesleee A very constructive, sensible and well thought out post—well done!

2.) 04 Apr 2024
04 Apr 2024 16:08:13
I agree, very thoughtful post. but I do disagree, in that I think we should be getting automatic promotion.
Firstly our goalkeeper - quite simply not good enough, way too many goals conceded which could or should have been saved.
I agree totally that RM is not an EPL manager.
I also think that RM is hugely responsible for our league position. His insistence on playing Stephens, breaking up the hugely successful partnership of Bednerek and Harwood-Bellis, has completely destabilised our defence. Not only were we scoring goals, we were conceding little. Stephens may work hard, wear the badge with pride, but he pulls others players out of position with his poor positional play.

Dropping KWP against Ipswich? He’s messed around with KWP so much this season, Left back, right back, right midfield/wing .

His substitutions have been late, wrong players, wrong tactics .

Picking players out of form, dropping players in form .

3.) 05 Apr 2024
05 Apr 2024 02:33:34
I'm not disagreeing on RMs faults . He's a stubborn bastard. What I am saying though is that if we don't get promotion this year and the fans call for his head then anyone who comes in HAS to get promotion, because anything short of that and we may as well stick with RM. I can't think of anyone willing to join us who will guarantee us promotion.

For all his faults RM this season would have done everything but get us promotion, meaning anyone else who takes his place would be no better unless promotion is guaranteed with them. All in all i'd rather someone who knows the team/players have another crack at it then gambling on the unknown because with RM you know that we're going to be competing again whereas with an unknown sure they might be awesome but there's also a very real chance than when you roll that dice that new manager ends up sinking the ship and sends us down the league.

I'd rather take the RM gamble for another season then the unknown gamble as we've had some real dodgy managers in recent times. Better the devil you know.

4.) 05 Apr 2024
05 Apr 2024 03:30:57
south hants rich Agree totally with all of your observations but would add that in order to prevent chaotic destabilisation RM remains in place until the absolute right Manager becomes available ( dependent whether or not we qualify for EPL next season and whether or not the Board have the Balls to carry it out.! Furthermore an ideal opportunity would be an appointment in conjunction with a newDirector of Football ( apparently according to reports) to foster a harmonious working relationship.