Refreshing seeing a fan backing an under pressure manager , judge him when he’s got a full fit squad

Did you watch the game?

comment by The slot machine (U13373)
posted 4 minutes ago
Refreshing seeing a fan backing an under pressure manager , judge him when he’s got a full fit squad
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To be honest I have always backed him.

I wouldn't be surprised if we lose against Leicester at the weekend but I will still back him, the players are on their knees at the moment.

I was Ange Out after Everton. Part of that was emotion talking because it was such a diabolical performance in a game we should never have been losing like that in.

I gave Ange a minimum target of getting 8 points from Everton, Hoffenheim, Leicester and Elfsborg with the caveat that if he were to lose one in that good set of fixtures, he should lose his job. So while I'm still more or less Ange out, if he manages to get 9 points out of these and then build on that further, I guess I could reevaluate where I am with him. One thing is for sure, if he stays for the remainder of the season there HAS to be a turnaround in form in the league for me for him to keep his job past that.

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 6 seconds ago
I was Ange Out after Everton. Part of that was emotion talking because it was such a diabolical performance in a game we should never have been losing like that in.

I gave Ange a minimum target of getting 8 points from Everton, Hoffenheim, Leicester and Elfsborg with the caveat that if he were to lose one in that good set of fixtures, he should lose his job. So while I'm still more or less Ange out, if he manages to get 9 points out of these and then build on that further, I guess I could reevaluate where I am with him. One thing is for sure, if he stays for the remainder of the season there HAS to be a turnaround in form in the league for me for him to keep his job past that.
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Once we start to get players back we will definitely improve, however I fear it might get worse before it gets better results wise.

comment by burghandy (U10383)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 6 seconds ago
I was Ange Out after Everton. Part of that was emotion talking because it was such a diabolical performance in a game we should never have been losing like that in.

I gave Ange a minimum target of getting 8 points from Everton, Hoffenheim, Leicester and Elfsborg with the caveat that if he were to lose one in that good set of fixtures, he should lose his job. So while I'm still more or less Ange out, if he manages to get 9 points out of these and then build on that further, I guess I could reevaluate where I am with him. One thing is for sure, if he stays for the remainder of the season there HAS to be a turnaround in form in the league for me for him to keep his job past that.
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Once we start to get players back we will definitely improve, however I fear it might get worse before it gets better results wise.
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It might improve in the way the form before the injuries was an improvement on what it is now, but that won't be enough because that should have been better. Needs to be more consistent than it was at the start of the season.

What I will say for Ange, is that he seems a good fit for us off the pitch. Not a grovelling simp who'll let himself get walked over but won't peddle Levy's bullchit either. Here's hoping he can turn the results around

Matter of time - might be the end of the season, might be Monday if we lose to Leicester.

They’re not backing him with signings are they - that’s the biggest clue.

This run of 4 games was by far our easiest stretch of the season - 2 teams below us in the league, which is some going given we’re 15th, a relegation hit German side that won’t get through the Europa group stage and a Swedish side on their season break. We got humped at Everton and we’re clinging on tonight, this manager doesn’t have a clue

I don’t think getting players back will change the fact that we need to score at least 3 goals a game to get 3 points and ultimately that’s the stat that will get him fired. He doesn’t hold scandalous defending to account. Porro’s performance defensively tonight made me scream at the tv. He’s woeful. Yet Ange is so focused on what he does going forward, he’s overlooking the need to hold him account for defensive frailties. It’s just not good enough and that has absolutely nothing to do with injuries. We were like that before.

We weren't that bad before. It's there in numbers and by eyeballs

comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 6 minutes ago
I don’t think getting players back will change the fact that we need to score at least 3 goals a game to get 3 points and ultimately that’s the stat that will get him fired. He doesn’t hold scandalous defending to account. Porro’s performance defensively tonight made me scream at the tv. He’s woeful. Yet Ange is so focused on what he does going forward, he’s overlooking the need to hold him account for defensive frailties. It’s just not good enough and that has absolutely nothing to do with injuries. We were like that before.
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I think it has a lot to do with injuries.

Like a lot of our players Porro has been playing every game. He is knackered and needs a rest. Of course his performance will be be affected, can’t believe people don’t realise this.

These players are not robots.

Pretty much the difference between now and before is that the players are a bit more tired, the CBs are a bit less competent, and VDV isn't around to use his pace to get back and defy as many counter attacks. Many of the wins were just catching teams at a good time in poor form anyway.

comment by Striketeam7 - staying humble (U18109)
posted 27 minutes ago
Matter of time - might be the end of the season, might be Monday if we lose to Leicester.

They’re not backing him with signings are they - that’s the biggest clue.

This run of 4 games was by far our easiest stretch of the season - 2 teams below us in the league, which is some going given we’re 15th, a relegation hit German side that won’t get through the Europa group stage and a Swedish side on their season break. We got humped at Everton and we’re clinging on tonight, this manager doesn’t have a clue
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Maybe they'll wait to see if we can beat Leicester first to sign some players for him. Or if we don't win perhaps that will be the straw that breaks the camel's back and he'll be sacked. I mean they say they want to help him out but if he's close to the sack in their eyes, you wouldn't exactly want to give a man near the end new signings.

A loss or draw against Leicester should be beyond the realm of injury excuses and maybe they'll finally see it that way too.

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 14 minutes ago
Pretty much the difference between now and before is that the players are a bit more tired, the CBs are a bit less competent, and VDV isn't around to use his pace to get back and defy as many counter attacks. Many of the wins were just catching teams at a good time in poor form anyway.
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That's a good summary of why we were better with a full squad, yes

comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 14 minutes ago
Pretty much the difference between now and before is that the players are a bit more tired, the CBs are a bit less competent, and VDV isn't around to use his pace to get back and defy as many counter attacks. Many of the wins were just catching teams at a good time in poor form anyway.
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That's a good summary of why we were better with a full squad, yes
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When people say full strength team they should mainly mean VDV being available, cause he would make more of a difference than anyone else.

Agreed. Though generally, having players on the bench that have played senior first team football is helpful for the entire squad's fitness and energy etc. Also tactical flexibility

comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 6 minutes ago
Agreed. Though generally, having players on the bench that have played senior first team football is helpful for the entire squad's fitness and energy etc. Also tactical flexibility
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It would help but Ange can always help himself more by giving some of these bench players more time. Hard to know how much he's causing these injury problems in the first place of course through his training and his style of play.

If we see Romero starting straight away on his return only to get injured again then I think we'll know for sure it's one that could have been avoided and will throw even more blame at Ange's feet regarding injuries.

Well for one, he's not making that decision on his own. Yeah he's responsible for picking the player but I don't think he'd put him out there unless he was told he's fit.

For two, what if it's an entirely separate injury? Like he came back from a broken toe for the Chelsea game and got a different injury. Not anyone's fault, just chit luck. Seems like you're determined to find reasons to have a go at the manager

VdV against Chelsea was definitely a bad decision. He'd already done his hamstring earlier in the season. He should've been eased back in much more slowly

Since Nov 23rd, Man City away, we have played every 3 or 4 days since. Our longest break was at the turn of year, 5 or 6 days before Newcastle.

Second half today we were flat again. The schedule with injuries have taken it toll. It's not hard to work out but blame everything on Ange. Easy.

Matter of time - might be the end of the season, might be Monday if we lose to Leicester.

💉

I think people get too focused on the stats. Yes, our defensive record in terms of goals conceded was relatively good at the start of the year but that belied the performances. You could see time and time again, once they’d beaten the press, opposition teams were through and it usually took some last ditch sprint or a world save from Vic to save us, or even woeful opposition finishing. The chances were there though. The fact that we didn’t concede doesn’t stop the need to defend better. I just don’t think it’s sustainable, even with first choice back line, let alone a makeshift one.

It’s all a game of opinions but personally I don’t think you can be successful without being proper stingy at the back. That’s the one common denominator the best always have, in any era.

I’m not saying those tactics can’t be successful but you have to have the very best players to do it, like City. He won’t get that with Levy so I think we’ll probably be better off with a manager that recognises the defensive stability required in order to win games without a bunch of galacticos. Like I said last week. Ange IS cheque book manager but I don’t think he knows it. He needs the best to do his thing and he’ll never get that here.

comment by Luka Bosh Brasi (U22178)
posted 12 minutes ago
Since Nov 23rd, Man City away, we have played every 3 or 4 days since. Our longest break was at the turn of year, 5 or 6 days before Newcastle.

Second half today we were flat again. The schedule with injuries have taken it toll. It's not hard to work out but blame everything on Ange. Easy.
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Well that’s on the club for not supporting him. You have to ask yourself why they’re not supporting him. They’ve probably lost faith and are reluctant to blow a load on a manager they don’t believe in.

Essentially Levy AND Ange are the problem. It can still be both.

comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 28 seconds ago
comment by Luka Bosh Brasi (U22178)
posted 12 minutes ago
Since Nov 23rd, Man City away, we have played every 3 or 4 days since. Our longest break was at the turn of year, 5 or 6 days before Newcastle.

Second half today we were flat again. The schedule with injuries have taken it toll. It's not hard to work out but blame everything on Ange. Easy.
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Well that’s on the club for not supporting him. You have to ask yourself why they’re not supporting him. They’ve probably lost faith and are reluctant to blow a load on a manager they don’t believe in.

Essentially Levy AND Ange are the problem. It can still be both.
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And some of the players tbf. Calling it in when it gets hard/turning up for a nice goal then doing fack all for half a dozen games.

Also Levy and co have plenty of track record of being sheit at backing managers or doing such a half-assed job of it it's an insult.

You could say they never gave him the tools at the start of the season. Which is what I have been saying all season.