...do you still think he should be sacked? Be nice to hear some logical explanations or some acceptance that pre-January calls for sacking are ludicrously premature and knee-jerk. Imo the guy should be listened to and trusted in January.Then he should be trusted and listened to in the summer. The football is (usually) better than Collins offerings and the squad is, arguably, not as strong, especially up top. So, come along....
Quitet tonight but this board will be in overdrive wanting him out if ( when lol we are at home) to Wrexham.
It's the throwing the players under a bus that grinds my gears. A few times when we've won he moans publicly about how they aren't performing to his level. Which is all fair, albeit for the fact that his game management isn't always on point. His man management skills aren't great. The last 2 wins have been a brilliant response to the Orient debacle, but the Wrexham game will show us what he's made of now. These home matches are vital to get fans back onside
Could easily lose. Could win. Performance will be key whatever happens. Clarke should be backed at the moment though in my opinion, whatever happens and however delighted/deflated we may be. And that includes the following few games. Give the guy (and the board) the January window. Judge them by their actions and let's see if there's some gradual improvement. If we fail to make the play offs I can live with that if the foundations are there for next season. Some people seem to have no patience and don't see the long term. Clarke can't be judged yet.
I agree with the fact we need to win home games to get fans onside. I’m not sure I agree with the Wrexham game showing us what he’s made of. Surely the last two away games following the Orient game debacle showed that? Anyway. I think he’s an okay manager. I struggle to see who we could get who is better and also even if I was less pleased with him what we need more than anything I think is stability of manager.
I would say the last two wins have been mainly down to his man management skills. Almost impossible at this time of year to make changes on the training pitch with games coming thick and fast. To pick them up after the Orient debacle he's due some credit I would say.
Needs a couple more transfer windows at the very least. Overall I'm pleased with where we are, given the quality of recruitment. Whatever happens this season I think I'd be happy to see him still in the job come August - we could do with a bit of stability.
I think Clarke has passion for the job and should be listened to by the board for the next 2 transfer windows, we can then fully judge them all after 15-20 games next season.
Weirdly i watched this video this morning and Duff refers to having to rebuild the relationship with the fans. Would be interesting to see what that entailed and if we are still doing those same things. one little thing I have noticed at Oakwell is when our team gets read out there’s zero reaction to the names yet most teams the home fans will cheer each name which I always must think must be a big confidence boost and make you go out and put in that little 1% extra. Oakwell and its fans are in a real chicken or egg scenerio but right now we are in that definition of madness of trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result - Wrexham fans will be loud - we need to be even more so on Weds!
Yeah the ridiculous comments about Clarke will be back again soon you can bet. One minute its a good away win that, well done to him and the team etc. Then in the very next game, its another pathetic home defeat, he's clueless and hes crap etc, sack him now before its too late. It grinds you down to be honest.
A couple of wins in isolation changes nothing much. Just the same as a few losses doesn’t. Personally I think unless the home form changes then there will be pressure. Many more games like Orient and that pressure will intensify. What we need to see is players improving gradually and a distinct playing style developing at home as we cannot persist with trying to counter attack teams who don’t attack us. So for me I’m still firmly on the fence.
People should be honest enough to own what they post. If people think Clarke is kak then they should stick to their guns regardless of results or other fans/posters' pressure. If they change their minds they should say so. People hide too much after knee jerk comments in my opinion. Its been a good few days to be sure (and I'm not a stereotyipical Irishman) and it might be a bad few days soon. So what? Its football, we're not Liverpool so why expect Liverpool results all the time? Progression is key. Is there some development /progression happening over time? Cut the guy some slack for now.
I was really annoyed with him after the Orient game, but got over it by the end of the weekend and realised it was way too early to talk about sacking a manager. He's gone on to show why my reactionary thoughts were out of line, as I think his team selections and subs in these last 2 games have been bang on, and if he'd gone with the players that the BBS reckoned we should pick, we would have probably lost. I think we'll make the play-offs, I don't believe the terrible home form will continue, and I think Clarke is learning from his mistakes, trusting himself more, and having the courage in his convictions. Orient game aside, he's learnt to go with the plan, to not react too early, to let the team that he thinks is best continue to play, even if there's a set-back. That will serve him well.
Opinions innit? Its long-termism for me. Are the board learning? Are things more joined up. Is the manager up to it? Is he having an impact on the current players? On the last two I think he needs cutting some slack and if the board think they've got the right guy he needs support. He should have another year at least from what I can see. If the team is kak this time next year after support and managerial tactics have been implemented I'd almost certainly get shut.
I am happy to give him time and a couple of windows, unless we go on a catastrophically bad run, then that may change. However, I do have some issues: Starting Eleven - I realize there is not much strength-in-depth, but he does seem to have his favorites (despite form) and ignores others (despite form). Substitutions - They are improving over time, but I still think he could make better use of the little he has, including who comes on, who goes off and timing (too often, too late).
He should just be allowed to get on job till end of season, have benefit of January transfer window, end of season there should be an assessment of how he’s done and take it from there, can’t see problem with that......
Yeah, perhaps youre right. I'd give him both windows if the board trust him. I think I'm saying its partly down to the board as well. Sacking the guy is too short term whatever one's views. I suppose if we signed Messi, Stones and Kane in Jan and got relegated we could all say the manager was the key error. So, perhaps you're right. I'm not sure