but if we're getting Dave Jones then I'm happy with the change. I really liked Megson's passion for the club, instillation of respect for the shirt amongst the players and thought he always spoke very well in interviews but I disagreed with most of the decisions he's made in terms of team selection and signings since he came to the club.
Hopefully now we can actually build a coherent team based predominantly on footballing ability as opposed to commitment and size and have some consistency of selection instead of the knee-jerk dropping of players that weren't Gary's favourites.
Thanks for getting us to the play-offs Gary but the facts are you sold the best centre-half in the division to one of our rivals, spent £350k on a non-goal scoring striker instead of buying Le Fondre, alienated promising, possibly valuable younger players like Reynolds and Beevers in favour of 30-something journeymen and have relied mostly on players Irvine brought to the club and loans to get us to the top 6.
Would like to see this team on Saturday:
Bywater
Buxton
Beevers
R Johnson
Reynolds
M Jones
Lines
Semedo
Antonio
Madine
Lowe
Batth
Weaver
O'Grady
Bostock
Prutton
Feel Sorry for Megson
posted on 1/3/12
If Mandaric's next choice of manager gets us up a division - we'll soon forget about Gary. Don't understand why he chose him in the first place - he knew what he was getting. A few more disappointing losses or last gasp draws - and we would have called the taxi for Gary.
Well who will it be then - Jones, McCarthy or Clark. As long as its not a short term fix - and somebody with credentials - I'm fine with it. Would love it to be Mick - but sure it won't be.
posted on 1/3/12
space... the megson kind of footy has made you a very good outfit this season. its not the type of league to place on the floor passing stuff. and you need a team that bully and dominate the other team in the physical department which u do in abundance.
posted on 1/3/12
At least under meggy we didn't have a paper thin mid field like under Laws and Father Ted. I think it was the loss to chezzy that cost him his job, realistically we should have frapped them.
posted on 1/3/12
I feel sorry for Meggo too.
One the one hand he's taken the club from being very mid-table last season to challening for automatic promotion this season. No mean feat - he hasn't spent a fortune and is competing with clubs whose squads probably cost more and which have more Championship-experienced players.
On the flip side, we've had a bad Dec/Jan/Feb where we've lost 10 points on Charlton and gone from being 4 points above the Blades to potentially 8 behind.
What I don't get is the timing. Presumably MM decided he was going to get rid after the Exeter game but didn't want to do it the week before the derby? Or he's been getting a replacement lined up (note there's been no announcement about a caretaker for Saturday...)?
For me it's a shame, Megson was taking the club forward, and it's a long time since we've had a group who have seemed so 'together' as these - look at the reaction when we scored un Sunday. Either MM wants results i.e. automatic promotion quicker than Megson was likely to deliver it (although anybody with half a brain knows how hard this league is to get out of, look at Leeds, Forest, Huddersfield etc), or they've fallen out on a personal level. we know from the court case that MM and 'Arry fell out at one point and there was only one winner.....
posted on 1/3/12
Anybody who'd pick Beevers over Batth needs their bumps feeling!
posted on 1/3/12
Rich Owl
Timing is strange, I agree. Especially when you consider we're playing Rochdale on Saturday and thus have a good chance of another win.
Can only assume they fell out or the decision had already been made and Mandaric has someone else in mind.
posted on 1/3/12
Anybody who'd pick Beevers over Batth needs their bumps feeling!
Well bringing Reynolds back won't happen and probably can't anyway so let's have Reda at left-back and Batth can play. Clinton on the bench. MM should give me the job.
posted on 1/3/12
Tez4life, I doff my cap, agree with you about League 1. Good point
posted on 1/3/12
The only way to soften the blow for me would be for Mandy to appoint...............................................Di Matteo
posted on 1/3/12
'and you need a team that bully and dominate the other team in the physical department which u do in abundance.'
Agree with this to an extent but if you can build a good footballing, that's better. Just look at Southampton and Brighton last season..
Also, I don't think we bullied teams as much as people seem to think. We have been a soft touch at times this season and let in plenty of goals.