I’ve a couple of thoughts on it. I think him at the side of two dominating centre backs like Helik & Anderson works fine as you can use his pace & ball carrying ability & aren’t reliant on him at set pieces. In terms of our current set up I think it’s needs must. McCarthy & Shepherd are nowhere near the required standard currently & Lopata & Cundy have been injured. I don’t think you could play a back 4 with Cadden at left back & De Gevigney & McCart at centre back together either as I think it takes away all of Cadden’s attributes & the other two would struggle badly. I think we might see Williams moved to wing back now Lopata’s back fit which is a big upgrade at wing back but I think it leaves more vulnerability to pace at centre back. I just think it’s a massive downgrade to go from Thomas, Mads & Kitching to whichever 3 we put out. It’s not just ability it’s physical attributes. Collectively we’ve lost about half a foot of height & a lot of pace.
I disagree. Their goals came from individual errors & ours came from good play. The set up was spot on today. You can’t go all out attack with this side & the players he’s had available to him up to now. You can’t open the game up when you’ve had Russell at centre mid & a new defence with so little pace & aerial ability. It’d be suicidal. I think he’s trying to cover up our vulnerability by retaining possession. The other issue is that for whatever reason Cosgrove hasn’t been involved & we’ve got no one who can hold the ball up. Last season you could get it into Norwood or Tedic for a 50-50 & there’s some confidence they can win it. This season there isn’t that with any of Cole, Watters or McAtee. When people talk about ‘passing it about at the back’ they don’t talk about this issue. You can’t just force it & turn one of them three into a player that can hold the ball up. There was a lot ranting on here after the Derby game & I asked them to break down how we should be setting up & what Collins should’ve been doing differently & as expected didn’t get a reply. On here there doesn’t seem to be any tactics other than ‘press more’. None of us are happy when we aren’t winning games but I think to be in touch with the upheaval we’ve had is perfectly fine at this stage. Now Connell’s fit & Cosgrove’s involved I think expectations will rise & we’ll have to improve & I think we will. I think it’s way too soon for over reactions. I only call for managers to go if I think there’s clearly other ways of playing that he’s ignoring which was the case with Flitcroft, Johnson & Morais.
I don't want him to go. I want him to realise: 3-5-2 is not a formation that suits this squad, Cotter is a great forward threat that needs to not have defensive responsibilities. McAtee is a number 10, not a striker. Cosgrove & Cole up front. If Cole goes in January, then Jalo starts. Play to your strengths, don't fit a team into a format that does not fit the team. We have enough decent players to be top 6.
Didn't want to start a new thread going over old ground. But sacking him is surely madness. I can appreciate that performances haven't been outstanding, but we've taken 7 points from the last 9 and are just 5 points from automatic promotion. We've got games in hand on two of the sides in the playoffs, and we've still joint second top scorers in the division. I want us to improve, but I don't want him sacked.
At 1-0 down today I was pretty much in the sack him camp after being in the opposite camp up to that point. But the team came out in the 2nd half after seemingly finding their bottle. It’s a massive reprieve for him & bides him more time. Hopefully the board can back him in January & get that defence sorted out.
So basically you have boiled down whether we sack the manager to each goal that goes in. I shall rely upon your long term thinking from now on.
Still think he's out of his depth. Chuffed to bits we got three points, but again felt it was despite him.....the result of players going off-script and just giving it a crack. It's not even so much his selections - we've only a small pool to pick from - but the demoralising, confidence-sapping approach he seems to send them out with. That first half against Wycombe, the whole 90 at Bradford....just abysmal.
Well at 1-0 down after 5 minutes & the shoddy performance by all accounts, with the terrible record before today gaining points from a losing position, the result seemed like a forgone conclusion, but then we got back in it, & obviously went in at the break & found some bollo**s!
I've been extremely negative towards Collins due to our underwhelming, boring play at times this season but that was mostly reactionary stuff coming straight after a game where emotions were heightened. If I take a step back, see how the squads been decimated this summer and had no reinvestment, and how despite largely below par performances we have picked up 7 from the last 9 points and all it takes is a small good run of wins to see us deep in the play offs and into the fight for top 2. If we have a problem at the club it's not the manager, its some of the players who don't want to be here and its the lack of investment from above. We should give Collins AT least until the end of the season.
I shall take that post as an admission that you struggle with the concept of football being a game of a full 90 mins (plus add ons).
Often is, yes, in my opinion. We've looked our best this season when the players seem to just take matters into their own hands and break out of the stultifying, dull stuff that he's trying to drill into them. As I say, just my observation.