Ange in or out?

[Mikey10]

It's not poor squad building, for the first time in a while we are building a squad. The problem is the squad is being built for 2-3 years time and fans don't have the patience for 2-3 games nevermind 2-3 years.

Well, I would suggest it is poor squad building if you are so focused on building for the future and at the same time are failing to appreciate what needs to be done right now.

I do not blame Ange, but ownership needs to take responsibility

The problem for me with the ‘squad building’ argument is that it seems to ignore the here and now too much - and, as we are seeing, a club does that at their peril.

Do we think that Romero will stick around for another 2-3 years to see how the squad evolves? Will Porro? Will Dragusin’s agent allow him to? If we can’t hang on to these players then they have to be replaced and ‘the project’ cycle continues…

This time 2 or 3 years ago we were being told that Parrott, Edwards and others were the future, similar to what we are hearing about Bergvall, Gray and Lankshear now. Statistics suggest that if one of those present three come through as a regular and reliable first team starter we’ll be doing well.

By all means build quietly for the future, but there only really is the here and now if you are going to survive in the PL, as Ange is discovering. He’s spoken about a culture of ‘excuses’ at the club this week; ‘the project’ seems probably the biggest one of all to me.

 

[glasgowspur]

The squad hasn't been built with the target of being mid table until the youngsters come through - we're underperforming currently but there is time to turn it around

In regards of points collected how many other teams are under performing?
Liverpool have dropped 9 points
Chelsea 14
Arsenal 15 (almost a point a game)
City 18
Villa 20
Feels like quite a few, with forest and Bournemouth making the most of it.

 

[johnola]

The problem for me with the ‘squad building’ argument is that it seems to ignore the here and now too much - and, as we are seeing, a club does that at their peril.

Do we think that Romero will stick around for another 2-3 years to see how the squad evolves? Will Porro? Will Dragusin’s agent allow him to? If we can’t hang on to these players then they have to be replaced and ‘the project’ cycle continues…

This time 2 or 3 years ago we were being told that Parrott, Edwards and others were the future, similar to what we are hearing about Bergvall, Gray and Lankshear now. Statistics suggest that if one of those present three come through as a regular and reliable first team starter we’ll be doing well.

By all means build quietly for the future, but there only really is the here and now if you are going to survive in the PL, as Ange is discovering. He’s spoken about a culture of ‘excuses’ at the club this week; ‘the project’ seems probably the biggest one of all to me.

We are definitely going to survive in this league! The reason some people are fed up is because of the inconsistency not because we are crap.

 

[monkeybarry]

We are definitely going to survive in this league! The reason some people are fed up is because of the inconsistency not because we are crap.

That was the case.
Now it's because we are crap. One win in nine!

 

[Baleforce]

We are definitely going to survive in this league! The reason some people are fed up is because of the inconsistency not because we are crap.

I’m fed up with the crap defending.

 

[lurker of old]

I'm just fed up with dreading our games rather than looking forward to them... I'm hoping we manage to beat United next week, but as for tonight? GHod knows. Ange says he loves being at the center of the storm, but he must be the only person who is.

 

[Bullet]

Re: the Man United game on Thursday in the EFL QF.
Don't forget the other quarter finals are likely to be won by Arse, Pool and Newcash.
So even if we beat MNU, it is still unlikely we would beat those teams.

 

[Bullet]

Re: Ange, all of these things are true simultaneously:

1) Results and performances are not good
2) Injuries are stacking up, meaning players are knackered
3) Squad depth was not used when we had chance, subs and youth under-utilised
4) Ange has a strong philosophy which MIGHT come good
5) We definitely could switch manager and wait 18 months to see if that manager comes good
6) If we have to wait 18 months anyway, let's stick with Ange and see what happens
7) A lucky deflection, a red card, a set piece might decide his fate

 

[thfcsteff]

I know.

But you also mentioned patience from the fans and lack of.

As i stated, Ange is his own worse enemy. It's okay to build a team for 2/3 years time.

But at the same time you can't go around showing yourself to be a blithering idiot, repeatedly showing yourself making awful choices and decisions.

Fans don't have to be patient for the sake of being patient. You still need to be showing nuggets that it means something, but Ange just isn't showing that.

Yes, i believe in the project and projects take time, but i also believe in having the right man for project too. Ange isn't him.

He is just not nuanced enough and far too stubborn in his approach. I can count the number of times on one hand, the number of times we have actually seen Ange ball... Even then I doubt it really was.

OK
What would you do right now with the players available?

 

[Baleforce]

Re: the Man United game on Thursday in the EFL QF.
Don't forget the other quarter finals are likely to be won by Arse, Pool and Newcash.
So even if we beat MNU, it is still unlikely we would beat those teams.

With our precarious league situation we need to prioritise games that reward with points imo.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

This squad is fully capable of picking up plenty of points if used correctly.

Our squad is simply not as good as we think it is. Let's look at some of our senior players for instance:

Son: has been a brilliant player for us over the best part of a decade. Now while I am not writing him off, the simple fact is that his powers appear to be on the decline.

Maddison: He looked a magnificent player last season until he got injured in the Chelsea match. Over the last year he has looked a shadow of that player which is why he does not start as regularly as he thinks he should.

Bissouma: He loses concentration to often and makes mistakes, and picks up too many unnecessary cards.

Richie: It is hard to fully judge because he is so injury prone

Werner: Patently not good enough

Davies: A reliable hard worker, but no one sees him more than "backup".

Nope, definitely not good enough.

Sure we have teenagers with potential, but they are nothing more than that at this stage.

I am happy to give Ange more time, at the very least until the end of this season

 

[afsoc4life]

I'm just fed up with dreading our games rather than looking forward to them... I'm hoping we manage to beat United next week, but as for tonight? GHod knows. Ange says he loves being at the center of the storm, but he must be the only person who is.

That is a subjective view ..

 

[billyiddo]

That is a subjective view ..

It's a subjective discussion...

 

[lurker of old]

the other quarter finals are likely to be won by Arse, Pool and Newcash.
Easy route to the final then..........

 

[SkipRat]

OK
What would you do right now with the players available?

Not ignore Djed.

Put more faith in the youth... Rather than trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

 

[thfcsteff]

Not ignore Djed.

Put more faith in the youth... Rather than trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

He has had to PROTECT the kids from the seething froth of knee-jerking tossers that seem to populate these days.
Agreed on Spence, I think he should’ve been playing him more, I assume there has been a reason but frankly no reason any more, the guy has been tremendous today. Let’s see how many he bloods second-half. I’d expect to see a few on the 60th minute. BTW, square-pegs round holes…we’ve seen less of that than usual because most of our players are multi-positional and we play in a way which allows them to adapt. Gray and Bergvall are two examples.

 

[Bullet]

He has had to PROTECT the kids from the seething froth of knee-jerking tossers that seem to populate these days.

Disagree; fans will give the kids a break as they are still young.
Ange has had loads of chances to give the kids some game time, rather than running 6 or 7 players into the ground.

As for Djed, I am delighted to be proven right today; Djed should have had a LOT of game time this year; Porro is at the red line and making silly decisions.

 

[glasgowspur]

Disagree; fans will give the kids a break as they are still young.
Ange has had loads of chances to give the kids some game time, rather than running 6 or 7 players into the ground.

As for Djed, I am delighted to be proven right today; Djed should have had a LOT of game time this year; Porro is at the red line and making silly decisions.

I take it you haven't read the omt and the critical comments on a teenager making his first PL start when are 0-5 up?

 

[Bullet]

I take it you haven't read the omt and the critical comments on a teenager making his first PL start when are 0-5 up?

That was only one person wasn't it? Spoonman I think? EDIT - It was ErikTheViking.

Daisuk wanted Bergvall to step up and show his class
SeasideSpur wanted him subbed as he was gassed, which is fair

 

[glasgowspur]

That was only one person wasn't it? Spoonman I think?

A couple of them.