This week we were crowned Champions of the football league in the same week that Manchester United dispensed with the services of their manager after less than a year in charge. This, and Dunge’s thread about season defining moments, got me thinking.
It is part of established folklore that Sir Alex Ferguson, after a pretty poor start, was quite close to being shown the door at Old Trafford and that he was saved by an FA Cup goal from Mark Robins.
This from Wikipedia:
“However, it was an earlier goal that secured Robins a vital part in the history of the club. United were playing away from home against cup specialists Nottingham Forest on 7 January 1990, in a third round FA Cup tie. It was widely speculated in the media (but perennially denied by then-Chairman Martin Edwards) that under-pressure United manager Alex Ferguson would have been sacked had United lost and gone out of the Cup, as they were 15th in the league by this stage and had already been eliminated from the Football League Cup. Instead, Robins came off the bench late into the game and scored the winning goal from a Mark Hughes cross. That goal was a turning point in the history of the football club — Ferguson would keep his job and go on to achieve an unmatched run of success at the club."
We could speculate that the minimum requirement from us last season was a finish in the Championship play-offs. This is pure speculation, of course, as I don’t know whether our owners would have tolerated a finish outside the play-offs. As it was we achieved a play off finish albeit with virtually the last kick of the very last match. What followed, we now know, was dramatic failure at Watford and record breaking success this season.
But what if Knocky hadn’t scored that last minute goal?
Would the owners still have kept faith with NP? Would we still have had the springboard to success we have enjoyed this season? Would the players have bonded with a renewed determination to succeed? Would we still have been promoted? What will promotion lead to?
Rather than a season defining moment could Knocky’s goal, away at Forest, in the last game of last season become a history defining moment?
I wonder .....
History defining moment?
posted on 23/4/14
Funnily enough, the events at Watford changed the mood completely. From being incredibly lucky to reach the playoffs in the first place - if Bolton had been losing rather than drawing against Blackpool then Forest could have shut up shop and taken a draw, hence they needed to attack and got caught on the counter - all of a sudden the mood would have been one of misfortune, that they'd had their place at Wembley snatched from them in the last minute.
Ultimately it might not seem much of a difference, but the change would have been not that they shouldn't have got what they did (playoffs) but that they should have got more than they did (playoff final) and that it was a missed opportunity. That attitude, and the belief that they were better than they eventually got, could well have contributed to this season's events.
As for whether Pearson would have kept his job had he not reached the playoffs, that remains an interesting question but one that will never be answered. Certainly it gave the Thais that bit extra excuse to keep him if they needed one, and keep the John Gee-shaped wolves from the door.
posted on 23/4/14
I believe the person who will get and has got the best out of this group of players is Pearson. He bought most of them in and they all seem to respond and want to win for him.
That being said while we are looking at what ifs perhaps if he had have been sacked during last seasons dreadful run whose to say we wouldn't have won the play offs (new manager syndrome and all that). Who knows- we may have even been sitting quite comfortably in the Prem now!
I think doing things this way, with the stability a long(ish) serving manager at the helm, surely stands us with the best chance of a successful future.
posted on 23/4/14
Must admit at the end of last season, my support of the manager staying for this season was in a 50/50 mindset. We had been very inconsistent, NP sometimes way too gruff in his interviews and the team was very very lucky to have scraped into the play-offs. It just felt we didn't deserve promotion last year but that's only a personal viewpoint.
Credit however, to the owners for deciding to see out the 3 year contract with NP through, their faith rewarded, giving us fans a season of 29 wins so far, that none probably imagined or would have seen coming. I'm pleased we lost at Watford now and to beat them easily this season showed real progress.
As a result of that extra year, we do seem better prepared for the future, even NP is better at interviews. The foundations of the squad are in place and contract offers, key purchases and one replacement are no doubt pending in the pipeline.
Not sure about history defining moment Joby, but a good debating article as always. For once, I joined in. Thanks
posted on 23/4/14
Great Article Joby - it seems very appropriate that our last 2 games are against teams managed by Leicester City "Old Boys" in Mark Robbins & Paul Dickov.
No room for sentiment though - 6 points please!
posted on 24/4/14
Really interesting Joby and I think you're probably right. Whilst the owners will never admit it, I reckon they would have pulled the trigger had we not made the play-offs.
As well as this, what I actually believe saved Pearson (and cost Moyes) is that he maintained the backing of the players which is fundamental in the modern game if you wan to keep your job.
Player power is massive now and as soon as the dressing room begins to show unrest owners invariably react because they know that the players are the fundamental short/medium term assets of the business (rightly or wrongly (wrongly in my opinion)).
Despite those who believed Pearson ruled through fear (totally disproven) he clearly kept the support and belief in his methods from the players. If they had rated him gone, he would be.
My personal view is that Lloyd Dyer, DD and Jamie Vardy's form this year is of course down to them, but a huge amount of the credit should go to Pearson and his staff.
Whether there was a specific incident that stopped Pearson from going we'll never know, but let's just hope that he goes on to have as much relative success at Leicester that Ferguson did at Utd!!!
Whatever happens next year, however we start, middle or finish, I think Pearson should stay. Let's not fall in to the trap that Fulham, Sunderland et al have in dispensing of a good manager due to short term form.
Exiting isn't it?
posted on 24/4/14
Merseyside, I think a lot of that is bang on.