Fuber

Bugger. A tiny pessimistic part of me wanted him to remain a free agent in case the worst happens with Manning. Hopefully we pick up League form sooner rather than later.

Appointed Wealdstone boss in the National league. Moving up from St Albans the division below. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68098601 Missed this happening at the time a couple of weeks ago.

Wept that's a bit of a drop. Always felt he was going to end up in League One Luton with the timber he'd put on, but that's a bit worse than I expected.

Always sad to read a fellow red fighting the long fight with cancer and losing. However, equally enriching to read of the spirit he fought tooth and nail with on a well documented basis. Sleep well fellow Red. Sorry for your loss Russell.

This is bait.

From what I recall Pearsons point was more communication than the lack of deal, the whole 'ask the people upstairs' presser springs to mind.

Not joking, it's reminding me of the kind of signings that Ipswich made under Hurst in their rebuild with their 'stable'cost-cutting owner Evans. Now where did they finish again? Oh.

I mean, sure. Doesn't address the return versus players available element and my main point, but sure.

*with a (near) fully fit squad. Not an injury crisis.

Not sure why people are facepalming this - this division is unpredictable.

Really? Because the message from our board is otherwise.

Caused by the board deciding to change leadership structure after Gould left, resultant in Alexander being sacked only months into his position, then Pearson as a consequence as they had to deal with a more 'honest' individual directly. The instability came from above NP. I'd have preferred it if Alexander was kept in post rather than the inexperienced front we have now - as would've meant less turnover. But we're here now, so... For the second part in bold - stability matters naught without some ability.

I mean. If you still can't see the results in the accounts in context of the league position(s) at this stage with the clarity of hindsight. Then sure, OK. Others, myself included, saw a manager who got results while under severe cost cutting restrictions lowering the wage bill by 30% and sorting perhaps the most toxic playing staff culture the club has had - in a long time. This a forum, can agree to disagree. Alternatively, if you want to see where we could have ended up without Pearson, look at QPR the last 15 months. Huddersfield. Blackburn. Swansea. Cutting costs and falling down the league season after season. No momentum nor culture. Gist of it. We were stable. I prefer underpromising and overachieving. No we've lined up four signings (Mebude, Murphy, Stokes, Bird) for next season in what looks to be a changing of the guard, TGH clause activated. Twine TBD No money remember, but if sources are correct, between the first five of the above, we're talking £3m+ spent. Just grates of what could have been, this season. Now we have to see for next, instead, outside of something utterly remarkable and out of nowhere.

He's also pointed out that even Manning doesn't really do 'Formations' to be fair. More akin to systems.

Think it comes down to squad balance. As a whole we don't have a creative enough squad - that applies to all of Williams, James, Mehmet, Bell, among others. Namely because we, under NP, were more interested in focusing transitions and counter attacks. Don't need creativity if the opposition are over committed. None of them consistently have the vision or ability to thread thirty yard through ball or beat a man. We have five players out of contract out of season allowing some changing of the guard. It's then that Tinns will need to earn his keep. Based on the evidence this window - that's not something I have any faith is going to happen. Yet.

Agree with this... up to the last 20-30 yards. The one element Manning needs to solve is patterns to use in the final third to break down defences and try to eliminate some of our poorer decision making - something NP didn't have to worry about with his transitory style when we played on the break (and part of the reason he used it). We're still three scored in seven. We need to turn some of this momentum into more chance creation.

Need a Target Man, but with enough pace to be deployed as a pressing forward while giving us an extra option in the box. We have good patterns of play, but too often it ends up down the defenders throut from a recycle of possession leading to a cross. Someone in the mould of Ragner Ache at Kaiserslautern (I watch a lot of Bundesliga/2), an aerial option.

100% - was more being vague as I was aware of the fact that Cotts was also sacked due to his own lack of adaptability or willingness to change his setup/tactics.

I don't trust them with decision making Yet here we are. It was the wrong time to sack him by every metric especially after throwing him under the bus with the Scott sale. We had, considering the injury crisis in spite of the loss to Cardiff, a relatively strong position. NPs only mistake was thinking he could speak his mind or preceding that, that our incompetent leadership would listen. It's literally Cotts into LJ all over again. Can't deal with being told their errors by an experienced manager, not actioning said coach's requested recruitment scenarios (Pilling's interference), said experienced coach is sacked after a poor run, then replaced by a malleable younger fashionable 'coach' to do what he's told while having money chucked at the problem so that it looks like such a great idea and that we have such progressive leadership at the club. This. Board. Doesn't. Learn. It's like watching someone trying to paint a wall with a spoon. Twice. I need a drink.

Think it's more the fact that we're more open where playing the central pair (James and Williams yesterday) higher up the pitch - compare that to NPs system which typically used James as a sitting DM allowing the likes of Williams and especially Knight more freedom. Problem is that if we get turned on transition - like Williams was multiple times the first 25 - it leaves Tanner, Vyner, and Dickie incredibly exposed in a 3v3. So overall I would disagree. Tactically the passing angles weren't there which made it much harder for them to play their game - tactical from Ismael with the early pressing to try and kill momentum - Manning didn't adjust or change the system until around the 65th minute when he bought TGH and Bell on.

I'm actually going against the grain here and agreeing. For our supposed shots - Watford were poor, but for the majority we were too slow in possession. 2nd half much better than 1st. But still poor in transition and across the midfield.

This is they key thing for me. Before tonight I thought his legs were gone, but in the last few weeks he's found that missing yard of pace - turns out it may have been match sharpness.

I'd also say Fabianski, running to get the ball - body language was good, but age has just caught up with him and he's never been good with his feet.

Almost strikes me as, if they go ahead for £5m that it's a bit of a panic signing. I like Twine, but he's not worth £3m with his record at this level, let alone £5m. Just worries me - don't want us going down the LJ path again backing the wrong horse. We just need comprehensive scouting and to be sensible. Doesn't strike me as the latter.

When you consider that Knight has (actually) played at this level and been fairly successful? Yes. Twine hasnt proven himself at this level yet - even in a very good Burnley side.