Quite right. There are obviously several posters who were (and a couple remain) vocal in their opposition to AVB's dismissal. We're a broad church here, if you look hard enough you'll find every conceivable opinion on the issue expressed by someone. I think - as forum readers - we just tend to notice the posts we disagree with a lot more than the ones that we agree with or are neutral about.
At the time AVB left, I'd say this place was roughly evenly divided on the issue with perhaps a slim majority in favour of him going (though most would have chosen a different replacement). But that's clearly grown to a substantial majority over time. Back in December I was firmly in the "give AVB until the end of the season" camp - but I've since modified that view... if even half the rumours are true (and we don't know if they are) about AVB's attitude to the job and the total breakdown in the relationship between various parties at the club, then - reluctantly - I would accept it was probably the right thing to part company with him.
I understood Levy's decision to employ Sherwood as a "Caretaker in all but name" as there was literally no decent long-term replacement available at the time. Yeah, I would probably have chosen Hoddle as Caretaker (and made it abundantly clear that he was in fact just the caretaker) for sentimental reasons, but I understood Levy deciding to promote from within and fill the gap with a familiar (to him) face. Some here hated Sherwood from Day One; I had no strong feelings one way or the other. It was his job to keep the ship steady for a few months while we waited for AVB's replacement.
Which is why I don't really understand some of the more aggressive criticism coming his way. He's made some mistakes, sure, and he's failed to perform the sort of miracle that might have convinced Levy to give him a full season. But at the same time he's kept us roughly where we were when he took over. Which - realistically - isn't a terrible performance from a rookie manager in the premiership.
I do think his media management leaves a lot to be desired. And his inexperience has really shown at times. But I don't think he's doing the club any long term damage (if Sandro or Lamela or any other player can't put their issues with an interim manager behind them when the new guy takes over, then that'll be unfortunate but it says a lot more about them than it does about Sherwood) and he has probably done enough to earn the club six or seven million when the next guy decides to sell Bentaleb and Kane ;-)
