So if it worked(which it did),why would you come in and, with largely the same group of players change back to a style that was proven not to be suitable? That's the main reason I think he should go. He failed to spot the obvious signals that we still had a young, inexperienced team, that wasn't suited to the slick passing style, and that for me is a key skill we need in a manager(as he will always be working with a developing squad).
Totally agree that he's been let down by poor recruitment, yet again in a period when Conway was acting CEO. However, if we believe the model, then he will have had a say in who's ultimately brought in, other than for Cole. However, despite the injuries reducing the available options he's still failed to establish any semblence of a settled side/squad and seems to be randomly marginalising players for no obvious reason (Cole frozen out until today, Hondermarck used for 2 games then disappears, Vita still to be seen, Gomes seemingly less worthy of a place in midfield than Jasper Moon, to name just a few). He's shown no sign of having any coherent strategy as to how to improve things. If anything, the performances are getting worse.
How come they were up to this level last season? Well we had a manager who looked at his players and had the intelligence to play a system which terrified most of the league.
Yes, such bad football we finished 6th…. I’d rather watch that style than today’s shambles anyway day.
In all fairness lack of fitness in highly paid (for what they do) PROFESSIONAL sportsmen and women is down to THEM. A manager can motivate and coaches can coach technique and skills but in the final analysis it is down to players who cannot be arsed to give 100% on the training ground and over a full match in which case they do not deserve the respect of fans who pay good money to watch them. IF they were simply incapable of playing at a high level of fitness then fair enough but having proved last season they can (albeit the 5 substitution system helped) then there is little excuse for lack of fitness so early in the season. Add to that, Woodrow, if the reports if him throwing a hissy fit against the fans is true, is turning into a 'Billy big ********'. Admittedly I am not a fan of his given his scoring record flatters to deceive as most of his goal tally comes either from penalties and7or dates back to 2 -3 seasons ago. He has not exactly been prolific in the last two seasons and this season thus far, a,part from a penalty and, admittedly a great dead ball strike, is not heading the charge up front and certainly not leading by example and encouraging the younger players as a captain like Redfearn would have done. The manager may or may not be clueless - and evidence so far suggests the former, but lack of fitness is down to individuals and lack of professionalism in their mindset. Beckham became a dead ball delivery 'great' as he spent hours after the group training sessions practising crosses on his own. Its called dedication and commitment and something half this team seem to lack based on recent results and energy levels.
I do understand what you're saying here, and on the whole I agree. But the context I was using "unfit" this time, was compared to a pro-sportsman. I bet the least fit member of the squad would destroy most of us in a test. But last season the fitness level's of the squad were exceptional. Even fans of other clubs used to comment on it(Super-mega-men Springs to mind). So logic suggests the last regime were doing something right to get them to that level. This season, that all seems to be gone and you have to wonder why?
The bulk of this squad was two games away from the Play Off Final. Many of them are more than capable. Schopp is clueless. If we play a settled team with a clear plan, we don’t lose to crap teams. The buck stops with the manager.
Hi Euroman I do not have a Phd in Sports science but I am a retired nurse, so understand a little about physical conditioning and preparing for sports activities. It has been a theme since pre season that the players are not fit. During pre season at Loughborough university, the new Head of Sports science, said it was his responsibility to prepare the players to play. So my answer to the original question, was that responsibility lay with him and not with Markus Schopp. I hope that clears that up for you, I wasn't trying to claim equality of knowledge or skill,just clarify something that some were saying.
That’s all relative to the style. I didn’t see last season’s team as one of the fittest we’ve ever had. It’s easier to manage energy levels when the ball is pinging over your head, back and forth, like it did in a lot of games when the opposition didn’t want to be pressed.
I'm surprised and concerned about the levels of fitness too. Jordan Williams had cramp after 60 minutes on Wednesday, Iseka today. We're a quarter way into the season, I don't think they should be cramping up now. I know they haven't had loads of game time but even then - they're training every day, playing in practice matches etc.
schopps last public words before the millwall match was [put shortly] due to injuries it will be the same team as forest match, this was just hours before millwall match, but yet by 3 o clock there was 3 changes. the man does not know what himself is doing, so the team has no chance. sack him
Do you have a link to that mate? Also, there’s enough to beat him with at the moment without picking things that aren’t really an issue. If I was a manager I’d say all sorts of random stuff before the official teams were announced to try and throw the opposition off. He’s hardly going to say the team out loud is he? No manager does. I also thought he said same squad minus Josh rather than same team, that’s why I’m keen to read what you saw/heard.
Exactly. It seems to me that it really is as simple as that. Even with the current injuries, any halfway competent manager would surely have us in mid-table.
i was in somebody elses car going to the match and it was on his radio, so i am taking that it would have been one of the local stations. but it was him and he deffo said due to injuries it would be the same team, but what i am getting at is he just changes players willy nilly with no real idea what he is doing, he is bluffing his way through, and makes a change here and there to make the fans think he knows what he is doing. it is no good us fans falling out there is only one culprit, well maybe 2 if you count Conway
Not sure on this one though. Three changes, two of which were up front, which makes total sense when we’re struggling to score and create. If he’d picked the exact same team that would have been a bit more bonkers. Like I said, there’s enough wrong at the minute that we don’t need to create issues that aren’t really there. Other than Gomes for Palmer I didn’t have an issue with the team that started yesterday - when you consider Ben Williams played alright.
I think you're referring to his pre-match presser. He said that he had the same group to choose from, not that the team would be unchanged.
Utter bilge. The squad is strong enough not to be struggling in bottom 3, injury to Morris has hurt us but the blatant stand out problem is we have easily the worst manager in the Championship, no style philosophy strategy tactic or personality he's a wet fart and I truly hope the owners and CEO are searching for a replacement as I type this.