First I absolutely do not condone the abuse AS got as he made his way to the tunnel at the end, that was terrible.
But on the basis of that, whatever he knows, whatever he thinks he needs to do to get us into a team that can compete in this league, he needs to rip it all up & give Warnock a ring tonight!
Barnsley are clearly full of beans at the minute, they were tough at the back (albeit us largely doing everything obvious in front of them), but going forward they attacked with bodies, intent & pace and what's more - they mixed things up, tried a reverse ball or a trick, and from about the 10th minute on 9/10 attacks they ripped through our statue defence. While we clearly have trouble defending, the whole issue starts when we have the ball. I lost count how many times our pretty passing got intercepted and in particularly 40 yards from our own goal, and bang we're nearly conceded again. This is instruction from the manager, but also what comes from the manager is we are forced into sideways passing as there is absolutely nothing, and I mean no out ball at any time. Its basic level 2 coaching stuff (I know cos I am one), and it really is that which worries me the most. To not be telling Brown to get his ass in the box (playing on the left of the 3 behind Ward) when Taylor has the ball on the opposite flank is coaching naivety at its very worse. I think Warnock would have these players as a mid table team, but everything is wrong and it's got nothing to do with 'gelling'.
I really think the next 5 games will define Stubbs, he'll either stop what he's doing and get it right, or persist and it will only mean one thing. Brown and Taylor where the only ones to come out with any ounce of credibility today, but the square pegs, round holes is a bigger problem right now.
I said it after the Brighton game, this has all the hallmarks of a Redfearn side. You could see the heads drop after the first goal went in and the second, we might as well have thrown in the towel because there is no way any of those players have any fight to get us back in to a game. The players Stubbs has brought in are awful or lightweight, not what you need when you know you will be in a relegation scrap and he leaves experienced campaigners like Smallwood and Mattock on the bench and Halford at home. If Taylor is a half million pound player then I'm getting my ******* boots back out - he cant't beat a man, he can't cross a ball and his corners invariably don't beat the first man. Forster-Caskey looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than in Rotherham. Allen is lightweight and Wilson is perhaps the worst centre back I have ever seen. After last weeks false dawn, unless we get some serious quality in before Wednesday I'm afraid we will be down with the Christmas trimmings.
First of all, it's nonsense to talk about getting rid of a manager after a handful of games. Secondly, we were terrible today and we folded which is never excusable and there is no glossing over that. Thirdly, no matter how terrible we were there is no justification at all for the vile abuse directed at Stubbs and the players. The 'you pay your money so you are entitled to behave how you like' thing doesn't excuse it. You could see that all of the staff were absolutely gutted at how it went. Anybody who thinks giving them dogs abuse helps in any way at all is deluded. It was an embarrassing performance from the team and an embarrassing performance by some supporters. On to the game. We simply didn't do the basics right or work hard enough. We didn't work hard enough to close them down early or stop crosses coming in, and when we had the ball we didn't work hard enough to move it quickly and move off the ball. Very very poor. The three in midfield should have been able to dominate possession as they had the numerical advantage but they never imposed themselves on the game at all. Lots of work to do.
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 27th of August 2016 07:45:10 PM
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 27th of August 2016 07:48:06 PM
The writing was on the wall for Redfern very early and it was outside of reasonable doubt many games before TS acted. Ive changed my perception considerably about managers. Its one thing being Manchester United where I could keep em up , but another thing entirely at RUFC.
Its not difficult to predict the fortunes of a team and manager even after a few games as there are very few exceptions to the general law of relativity (none in fact) . Redfern and Stubbs are managers that try to build the Hadron Collider of football when a straight up general theory will do.
Its reasonable to give people a chance even when the evidence points elsewhere but despite that its ethically and technically wrong to get rid of a manager so quickly, but it has to be kept at the front of the mind at all times...bar the miracle of last year TS did leave it far to long and I dont want to see that again. No, I am not advocating getting rid of stubbs merely pointing out what the long term historical evidence is and he is repeating it here. It does not take much to notice patterns. so, I agree with those who say he had better have 1-2 very good players to bring in because if he hasnt I see half a season of little progression until he realises he cant do it his preferred way in such a short time.
Redfern made the mistake of changing too much too soon and stubbs has done the same. He has had little or no trust in many who have been here and he let go some that the coaching staff should have been telling him to keep hold of at least until January. He is also guilty of being too naive when he has never managed at this level before. He has really got to make some brave decisions and take a step back from his philosophy and go slow.
Sure, there was some very bizarre and disgraceful behaviour today and me and my 8 year old had run past some fighting in the town too...However, stubbs cant come out like Redfern and start slating players off. Its very weak and disappointing to do that and does not fill me with pride or hope. Redfern ended up looking very weak and I couldnt help remembering the mad Italians words when he called Redfern weak and a coward...I dont agree with that but its unacceptable to call out players when you have bloody bought them and trained them and put them together.
They other thing that eats at all of us is why we havent brought in a striker. Yes, we know we lost out but thats not an excuse. You have to have a target and thats up to the manager to identify those we can afford. Im worried hes the type thats going to start blaming repeatedly and TS will not put up with that. Make no mistake, TS is one hell of a proud man and he wont put up with weakness or excuses.
Its only a few games in but we fans know its this serious which is why we are being so heartfelt and doing so much soul searching. Exeter was right about the set up. It was so incredibly bad its was hardly believable. This is a championship team but it looked way beyond amateur to be honest in that second half.
On the plus side I am not as down as some (are you kidding you sound suicidal) about the quality of the players. I think there are some good ones but he isnt making it happen on the pitch. He is constraining them and putting them under so much pressure that messi would have been embarrassed at times in that second half as he looked hopelessly for support.
lastly, it seems to me that we are only ever going to win games if the the opposition are so bad they miss a multitude of chances. Even at home stubbs is very conservative, nay negative and the team is so slow a wheelchair basket ball team could take us apart (to be fair they do whizz about a bit).
oh **** it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed: TS should not be hiring managers. He's hopeless.
-- Edited by ian on Sunday 28th of August 2016 12:12:36 PM
Two things worry me immensely. The majority of our spend on incoming players has been on midfielders. Our current midfield lacks pace, skill, strength and passion. Most go missing in action when the going gets tough - conclusion, poor judgement and good money wasted. Secondly, and more worrying, after today's performance, will any player of decent quality want to come and join us before Wednesday's deadline!? We're in a hole and it's about to get a lot deeper! Unforgivable gutless second half performance today in front of such a fabulous away following.
We shall wait till Wednesday midnight-the bewitching hour.
There is a little light peeking through but it will have to be the perfect 2 signings to drag this team up from its soulless and gutless death bed.
Huge, huge pressure to get these last signings in. It is awesomely naive to wait till the 11th hour for a striker. ..imagine if it doesn't happen at all!!!!!!
I expect he's looking for 2 strikers and another midfielder or a striker who can work back . We also need another left back and CB
If it's just 2 then a striker and left back.
