A straightforward post seeking opinions of others on progress so far under Duff. My view is that to date he has done a great job in restoring some confidence into the squad, being clear to the players as to what they need to do in training to get game time, having a clue about how to play the game, and most importantly tackling the two vital elements of mentality and graft. I think we will make good progress this season, even without many additions. I particularly like Duff's approach to the importance of grinding out results in the marginal games where mentality and graft will be key. As a bonus, he comes across well in media and speaks in down to earth way. I think we've made a great appointment here. On a good day we'll be competitive against any team in this league.
Big fan of Duff says it how it is,knew the problems facing the club on and off the field and embraced the challange. After the window shuts I expect us to make a steady move up the table and you never know where it will lead us.
breath of fresh air listening to his views on the game. too early for me to make an assessment though. still too many moving parts for me. probably need another dozen games. still think he's probably the best appointment we could have hoped for, but like every manager, ultimately he'll be judged on results and performances, not for what he says
Glad you put this, as that’s exactly where I’m at. Like what I see and hear from him, but in terms of the football the jury is still out for me, we’ve seen some promising stuff but also a lot of disappointing stuff.
He speaks very well. He's matter of fact, eloquent and usually gets directly to the point. He acknowledges both the strengths and weaknesses of the team and our performances, and I haven't heard him attempt to shift blame. A lot of football fans find that appealing, myself included. As for his skills as a manager, I really don't know, it's too early to tell. What makes it even more difficult to judge is that I don't believe we have a lot of quality in the squad, so even if he is a very good manager that could be hidden by the mediocrity of the players. I don't believe any manager could turn this squad of players into Champions of this league. And there's no money for improvements. We'll see...
This gets said abart every manager/coach we get at the start of their time here, but talking a good game doesn`t put points on the board. If he gets us mid table this season then that`ll do me.
Personally, I think Michael Duff is an excellent appointment. The club needed a steadying influence after the disgraceful campaign of 2021/22, when standards at the club fell so far. I think it'll be a slow road back. Duff will probably need more than one transfer season to bring in the players he feels he needs, with the squad taking time to take on board his ideas on a regular basis. As the saying goes, evolution rather than revolution. I believe we will improve with him at the helm, but success won't return overnight, it will take time. If Duff is allowed that time, the improvement will, hopefully, be longer lasting. Whether he will get the time, who knows? This is just an opinion, not a statement of fact. Other viewpoints are available.
**** manager. Doesn't have a clue what he's doing. His win record his appalling and he doesn't know his best side. Just getting that in early so I look like a genius if it turns out to be true Seems ok to me. Had a nightmare against Wycombe but excellent tactics against Bristol. Seen far more good than bad under him so far and he talks a very good game unlike recent managers
Seems like he's the right man for the job . Not got the right tools as yet. He's probably the best option we could get due the terrible state of the club . Will he get us up ? I doubt it. Not because of him, because of the owners and present board. We are now at our level. Mid table .
Too early to tell. Still needs a few more players. Needs time to get to know his best team. Still trying to implement his ideas. At the minute, I'm still convinced we got the right man in.
Right man. The board should back him. If they back him they'll accrue money quicker than sacking him and paying him off.
I'm just so thankful to see us playing attacking football and actually scoring some goals after last season!
No problems with Duff i like him. A few things i dont think he has got right. Cant seem to chose if McCarthy or Cundy is his first choice which in turn changes where Anderson plays. Styles is clearly better at lwb than CM but he persists in playing him CM when he can. Aitchison isnt a CF and should play deeper behind a front 2 or wide of a front 3. Games when Connell has been dropped means weve played with no defensive midfielder which leaves us open through the middle. He needs to pick a starting front 2 and give them a run to form a partnership. Plenty he has got right though.
I think he's talked a lot of sense. The fact we are lacking up top & on the right is obvious. Let's see how we are going at the end of September. 6 points so far with what we have isn't too bad. Wycombe was a massive disappointment & he faced that head on. Decent performance vs Leeds. A lot of Leeds fans said we played some good football. I was only listening on iPlayer, so hard to judge. Very hard away game today. A result would be great, but we at least need a performance. That means fight, organisation & if necessary a bit of gamesmanship, like Wycombe served up to us in the first half, before overpowering us.
Work in progress but obviously knows how to gel a winning team and steer them to promotion and ride the pressure . The telling factor will be if he can work in the clubs transfer regime but as a coach imo he’s well aware and prepared . Think he’ll need a couple of seasons to build imo and hopefully if players aren’t fulfilling their potential he will be ruthless .
I'd keep him on even if the unthinkable happened. We can't keep getting rid of managers. He reminds me of Paul Warne the way he speaks. Fair enough Rotherham have been a yoyo team but he's learnt from their trials and tribulations. It's a bit like Megson and Mowbray were at West Brom. Stability isn't just League position. It's how you do things and Duff is a true gentlemen and does things to a tee. Lucky to have him.
This - but we won’t go down. Unless we’re decimated with long term injuries. Even with the squad we have now there’s no way we won’t finish above at least six or seven other sides. And I expect a player or two to be added this week.
I'm confident of a better season than the last one, I don't see another relegation and we will win at least as many as we lose. I renewed my iFollow on that belief . I have confidence in our Manager to get the best out of the players we have and may get in the next week and hopefully build for a better future.