Has Clarke got a clue how to make the team click

Has Clarke got a clue how to make the team click

 

We have had some good team performances H v Rotherham and Lincoln so he can do it. Sadly not often enough

 

Sadly, "the computer says no".

 

I'm disappointed because he came across really well early doors, promised the right kind of football and then...not much. He may be better with different group of players but this lot are taking us nowhere with the combination of head coach, coaches and playing staff. I'll leave my DoF views out of it.

 

Our "good" performances are few and far between unfortunately. Reminds me of the phrase;

"Even a broken clock gives the right time twice a day".

Clarke, whilst a trier I'm sure, just doesn't have the chops or the nous to get a team firing at the top end of League 1 in my opinion.

Now I'm thinking about it, it makes sense. Think of the language he's used, even when we were sat in much healthier positions in the table. Not verbatim, but phrases such as;

1. Siege mentality
2. Fortress
3. Everybody in the trenches

This is the phraseology of managers whose teams are staving off relegation, not of teams hoping to play attractive, attacking football.

We set up negatively in my opinion. Never going out there and letting the opposition worry about us and our threat(s), and I think that's bled into the squad... It's certainly bled into the stands.

Again, just my opinion.

 

The alarm bells started very early for me with a handful of comments and the opening 15 minutes against Mansfield.

The comments related to him leaving coaching to his other coaches and in particular, that the best team and style/approach would present itself.

That’s not how we operate.

If there were signs of a pattern, of structure, of something robust, fine, give him more time. But he’s not remotely close to what I’d expect of a league one coach, let alone one we’d like to manage us in the championship.

 

Is it an oversimplification to say that the fundamental problem is that way, way too many times when our players find themselves in attacking positions they turn backwards? Any forward momentum is lost and the opposition is able to regroup and bar a worldie, or Messi like dribble, any goal threat is nullified.

If my instinct is correct, it should be easy for the manager to encourage the players to be more positive.

I therefore conclude that the management is *****

 

I don't mind it when he has a go at the players, when its after another appalling inept performance.
Because what he says is the truth, hes definitely not just making it up.
However, its not the professional thing to do of course. And maybe they genuinely don't want to put in the effort for him anymore.
And it comes across more now, that he might also be doing it to avoid any blame on himself!.

 

It feels like he's still trying to figure out our best tactics and starting 11 with 3/4 of the season gone.

He's been hung out to dry by the recruitment, but much of our shortcomings are down to him this season. No sign of players being developed or improving, no clear identity, no leadership on the pitch, bizarre substitutions, one of the worst 2nd half records in the league, an atrocious home record, and a tendency to throw players under the bus.

He's out of his depth and, sadly, he's regressing as the scrutiny on him has intensified.

 

I reckon we do. Left wing back is the only position up for grabs if everyone’s fit in my opinion.

Gauci
MVG Roberts Earl
O’Keefe Russell Connell Gent / Farrugia
Phillips DKD
Watters

 

Other people (including the quote above) have said it far better than I can but it's a no for me.

We were promised front foot attacking football. It hasn't materialised. No matter what the issues around recruitment, he hasn't played particularly attacking football. We're passing aimlessly before launching hopeful balls forward. Yes, there have been games where we've had lots of shots but even in those games I wouldn't say we played all that attacking football. We never build a head of steam and put the opponent under pressure. Everything is too laboured and predictable.

The players don't seem motivated. They don't appear to want to bust a gut to create or finish a chance, or throw their body in front of the ball to block a chance etc.

I saw Clarke speak at an event not long after he was appointed. I thought we'd got the right man based on things he said and how he acted. I no longer think that.

 

A lack of foresight on a few counts. We have/had more players out on loan than I can ever remember. Yet we were only able to recall the lads from the academy.
Dallas gone - Rodriguez in
Shaw gone - lewis in.
Shephard - unable to recall
Lopata - unable to recall.
I get the fact they are getting game time. But they would have, here. after the January window.
Who that's down to I haven't a clue. Sporting director. CEO. Head coach or Tea lady. If a cost cutting exercise its backfired.
It amazes me In today's non contact game that we get so many injuries. Yet yesteryear, injuries were a lot fewer. In a much more physical game.
I do feel for Clarke to a degree. We have. at times shown up. Played some good stuff but still lost games.
Bristol twice
Wrexham away.
Teams have easily worked our players out. (Even though some are indeed decent on their day) Closing us down, hitting us on the break in numbers with ours in some cases ambling back. If we can see that. Why can't the coaches, they have to be answerable, to such schoolboy errors. Our man marking is pathetic. Ball watching. So disorganised at the mo it's unbelievable. If the sporting director is instilling a programme throughout the entire club. Then who on earth, with a decent track record would entertain us. More chance of me than Macca.

 

Yes, he definitely talked about front foot attacking football and 'bums off seats'. He is definitely following through on the latter over time.

 

I completely agree. The squad is definitely unbalanced but some of the talent in there is still top-notch for this level. No way that a decent coach can't get a combination Robbo, Earl, MDG and Pines organised into a halfway effective defensive unit.

 

I kind of worried about him when we named that line up we did at old Trafford and allowed us to get absolutely pumped by a terrible united team.

 

I doubt he could make a pod of dolphins click.

 

He took that game as a day out at a big stadium. There was no attempt to make a decent fist of it against possibly the worst United side in living memory. I'm not suggesting they were there for the taking but we went there with no intention to offer any fight.

I genuinely wanted him to succeed. I genuinely thought he was the right guy even though he clearly wasn't the board's first option. I've genuinely tried to support him and see what his gameplan is, what he's trying to achieve. I no longer feel that way. I can no longer defend him or think that this is the game where he turns it round. I can no longer justify the weird substitutions and team selections. I don't like sacking managers but I can no longer see how he takes us into next season.

 

I was same months ago.

Said in the past on here that it was the most I wanted a manager to succeed for an awful long time as those early interviews etc. gave such a positive impression and even were a big part in me opting for a season ticket this year for the first time in around 7 years.

But he's been such a let down and change is needed.