There have been many 'bring back Billy comments' there are 'SO'D out' campaigners.
For me I will say now that I thought sacking Billy was a huge mistake but with hindsight it might have been the best thing we ever did - before I get lambasted let me explain.
Had Billy not been given the sack he would have spent a similar amount of cash as McClaren and the same players who left that summer would have probably gone. I don't think he'd have bought as badly as McClaren but with the players leaving and the amount of money he'd have spent I doubt we'd have got to the play-offs. I also think that much of the anger vented against Nigel Doughty was down to the poor manager therefore he probably would not have put the club up for sale when he did. I honestly think that the Hasawis have been looking for a while for an English club and we would have been monitoring our situation to see what league we'd be in this season before making a move,
We will never know whether events at the CG had anything to with Nigel's untimely death but the best case scenario last summer would have been Forest in the Championship with Nigel still being in charge. This would have been the end of Billy's contract and with us still cost cutting for FFP I don't think Billy would have stayed. Without the promise of significant investment for this season and the departure of Gunter, McCleary etc we'd struggle to attract any decent manager.
The worst case would have been Nigel dying when he did, with no plans to in place to sell the club. We'd have missed out on the Hasawis, Billy would have walked and we'd have had to let the same players go. This would have meant us to try to a attract a manger to a club with a threadbare squad, no owners and no money, heaven knows where we'd be now but I doubt we'd be tenth and four points off the playoffs.
As for the sack SO'D campaign well, at the moment, that is crazy he has only had what five months to build a team from scratch. We have been unlucky with injuries, I thought that the Collins Ayala partnership were getting a good understanding and were looking fairly solid. I think one of the problems was the form of Cohen. Before he came back the midfield of Pep, Reid and Lewis (and later Raddi) was fluent and passing teams to death, Cohen's addition seems to have changed the dynamic and whilst we've had some good results since he got in the team the actual performances on the whole have not been so good. I'd like to see us go back the the the old formation because I feel that Reid, McGugan, Pep, Lansbury and Raddi and Jenas could all interchange quite comfortably in this. I'm not sure about Coppinger but Cohen could maybe fit in but not at the same time as Reid as both widish men being left footed leaves us unballanced. I also think he could play the Gillett role as he has pace, can tackle and can pass the ball.
People sometimes forget that it took Billy about three months to find his best formations and it wasn't until this sort of time of the year before we broke into the play-off places. Both those seasons we fell away, having looked good for automatic promotion, after January due to not bringing in new faces. If we can get our best formation and players on the pitch we could quickly move up the league and with the investment I'm sure we will get in January there is still a lot to play for.
My twopennath worth
posted on 4/12/12
backing*
posted on 4/12/12
The owners went on a great charm offensive when they came over. Nice,smiley, genial fellows that want what's best for the club. I'm not saying they aren't nice or don't want what's best. But underneath it they're billionaire buisness men and they're hard as nails.
They didn't come here to make up numbers and they will protect their investment. Fair enough they might not expect promotion this year. I'm not saying I do. But they'll want too see we're close.
Because of the public image they've portrayed I think some are forgetting who they actually are and why they've come here. There's no prestige or kudos for them back home for owning a NPC club and failure makes them look bad. It's all about respect and face. They'll want EPL football and when it comes down to it won't give a monkeys about SoD.
posted on 4/12/12
Al-Hasawi first press conference stated:
Business plan:
* Currently reviewing a 3 to 5 year business plan to take the club back where it belongs in the Premier League.
* Main focus is to develop the clubs back bone.
* Also looking at other developments elsewhere including raising revenue off field.
* They will practice what they achieved at previous club. This was a smaller plan which took 2 or 3 seasons to set up the team.
* Acknowledge the investment in the academy has been excellent and want to continue this.
* One day would like to be with Manchester City and United in the top flight.
* If investment was unsuccessful, they will stay at the club as their ownership is about passion, not profit.
That's a snippet. I don't think SOD is under any pressure at the moment. We all know that the above, which was said at their first press meeting, could easily be changed to suit. For example they stated that they would bring Arab based footballers over but had their plans scuppered.
Hopefully, a few good results against some of the better teams coming up will change people's minds with regards to getting rid.
posted on 4/12/12
Sounds great Webbo. But it goes back to what I said about a charm offensive. That's what we all want to hear. Not sure I believe it or at least all of it.
They told Cotterill he'd be staying on then got rid. To me the numbers don't add up.
I don't think many are for getting rid. In not. All I'm saying is I believe things are more urgent than others think. And I'm concerned about the lack of improvement on the pitch over the last couple of months.
At this rate the owners will either have to scale back investment in the next few season in this league and brake a team up to cut the wage bill. Or put crazy money in.
posted on 4/12/12
I think the lack of a regular back 4 hasn't helped. I would expect them to back him again in January. I do hope though that we purchase (note purchase an out and out winger) Sharp is crying out for service. His frustration on the pitch will rub off onto others.
Collins needs either Ayala back or another partner and I still feel that there are better left backs out there.
Losing Gunter hasn't helped either and the only player, apart from Hutchinson, that I feel we have capable of playing right back is Maloney and although I've been impressed, I think there is better out there even in our own division.
I agree with you we need to play entertaining football.
I also believe that this team can produce it. We should stop worrying about how the opposition will play and worry about how we will beat them. Home or Away!
posted on 4/12/12
I agree with most of the above Webbo.
I haven't been overly impressed with any of our defenders to be honest. Hutchinsons looked good when he's played which is hardly at all. Ayalas good on the ball but not great defensibly imo and Collins is ok. But i suppose defenders often only look as good as the unit they're part of and the players around them.
And the stuff about not worrying about the opposition is spot on. We should have enough attacking talent in our squad to face anyone in this league home or away and fancy ourselves. This is probably the main reason SoD has come in for so much stick this week.
After the investment and with the players at our disposal fans see us as one of the leagues top sides and they expect teams like Hull to be coming to the City Ground worrying about us. Not the other way round.
At the end of the day if you win the game fans forget about it. I thought we were worse against Wednesday than against Hull. But the performance largely went unnoticed because the result.
posted on 4/12/12
I don't think they meant 3-5 years for promotion, I think they meant 3 -5 years to establish the club in the PL.
I would expect promotion next season or the one after, if we are still where we are now in twelve months time then I think that is the time to change the manager. In other words I would hope that SOD is given another two windows to put together a promotion winning squad.
posted on 4/12/12
For me the back four / five is the most important thing in any team. If our wingers are constantly having to track back this curbs the attacking threat we have. If both wide midfield men are helping out the defence along with the holding midfielder that effective leads us to having seven outfield players at the back. When we do break with only three or four players up field we will always be outnumbered. It's ok if you have pace players to get up field quickly but if not the opposition have time to get numbers back.
posted on 4/12/12
Spot on Jacko. A good fullback rarely needs support from his winger. A good fullback is an attacking threat too so tends to force the opposition winger to help out his own fullback. I don't remember Ian Woan having to help out Psycho do you??
posted on 5/12/12
Gunter is having a mare at Reading by all accounts .. maybe they'd loan/sell him back to us??