Is Clarke a poor manager?

Or is the poor quality of the overall squad the issue, effectively undermining anything the coach tries to implement?
Would Pep, Klopp or Slot do better or would things be worse?
I tend to think Clarke is mediocre at best but the players are generally poor and so I wouldn't sack the manager even if we weren't in the play offs. I can't 100% make my mind up though. What do others think?
Sorry if this has been addressed elsewhere. I just can't decide.

 

I'd let him start next season with a better, more balanced squad. See if he can get a tune.

I'm not his biggest fan but that's the fairest option given the hand he's been dealt.

 

He's not very good, his man management and his game management is very poor to say the least, there are of course the people above him that are also poor at their jobs and so we endure until something gives.

 

The only thing is we may not have a better, more balanced squad. Same Sporting Director still making the signings...

 

The squad Duff had to pick from was light years above what Clarke has. Hopefully the summer comes we can get shut of the deadwood. Benson, Cosgrove pines etc and recruit abit better and have a real go at it next season when we're not up against the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham and Huddersfield spending millions.

 

There’ll be the likes of Luton, Plymouth and Derby instead. Plus there’ll still be most of Wrexham, Bolton, Charlton, Wycombe and Huddersfield. Only another 2 can go up with Birmingham. L1 won’t get any easier any time soon.

 

We are not a quality team, we have a fair few decent individuals, an a few that think they are better than they actually are, a good Manager could, should an would be able to get the best out of the players, and at least get em to play as a team, an he's not, overall 5 /10

 

He's a limited manager.

 

Oooooh, can't wait, where's that coming from then?

 

I'm still not a huge fan and have been openly critical of him on here and other platforms recently. But he has shown in spells he can get some form out of what he has.

The injuries/absences yesterday cost us more than Clarke imo as the bench was so weak with young lads on bench who usually wouldn't be near the side. Really limited his options, and the January window was awful bar Farrugia who is the only slight positive from the month.

I still think Clarke has A LOT of improvement to do around the style etc. and he's failed to get the best out of many players we have. But he's turned things around in the last week after several rubbish results so can't sack him right now on back of the 3 wins in a row.

But I'm still struggling to see his high energy and front footed football.

 

Took Derby 3 seasons to go back up last time they went down. Luton would do well with 2nd season of parachute payments. No one would spend like Birmingham have done. Still be tough though not sure Clarke is the man to get the best out of the players he has.

 

Ligue deux

 

I was critical of the man after a dismal first half at Stockport and even more so after the second half against Huddersfield.Since then the work rate has been upped and most supporters want to see hard work rate as a bare minimum.I believe this squad to be a top 6 squad but it can only be achieved by 100% comittment for every minute of every game not 45 minutes here and there.Thats down to the coaches but also the players.

 

He's doing an average job with a very average squad.

 

Irrelevant of the better or not squad argument I’d let him start next season, he has always said himself he needs 3 transfer windows so once the Summer is over there is no hiding place.

 

He's got a chance of getting us promoted with our worst squad since Danny Wilson was here second time around.

 

Like you I’m not sure about Clarke yet. But I am sure about this squad. Dreadful. He’s been dealt a terrible hand, or two terrible hands (start of season and Jan window).

The fact we’re comfortably mid table and even have some fans who think we might get promoted is indicative of the Division - not the team’s brilliance. I can’t remember a time I’ve seen so many poor sides in one season. The ones who are succeeding this year (Birmingham apart) are just well organised, well motivated teams.

 

I think it's impossible to say at this point. Fair to say that he likes his subs, but "threadbare" would be massively overstating the state of our bench this season.

He's definitely done enough to deserve the summer and a fresh start next season for me. Not saying that I'll necessarily still be watching though!

 

yep, it's that last sentence - the least he should be doing is having them fit, pressing and always looking to be going forward and take players on. If they're not good enough, OK, but I don't see the evidence they're even trying to take that approach.

 

I reckon most would agree that this - listed below - would be the best combined matchday squad from these three L1 seasons:

Collins (GK), Williams, B.Thomas, Andersen, Kitching, Cadden, Connell, Phillips, Kane, Cole, DKD.

Subs: L.Roberts (GK), O’Keeffe, M.Roberts, Russell, L.Thomas, McAtee, Norwood.

I think it’s clear that the quality of the squad has decreased each window since the playoff final defeat in 2023. And so it’s no surprise that last season we weren’t as good as the year before, just as this season we look to have also regressed.

I said 6th would be the peak ability of this squad, when asked in the summer. I said we’d finish no lower than 12th. Darrell has it somewhere in between. I don’t think he’s a genius at all, but I think he’d have fared better with such as Cole up front, or Kitching at the back, Williams at wing back etc.

I don’t think he’s a poor manager, no.