TDR V2 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 2 hours ago, jimmygreaves said: Nope.... I'm simply trying to be pragmatic. Gerrard's done well in a 2 team league. For contrast Alex McCleish, remember him, won the lot with Rangers. Moved down to England and all but guaranteed relegation to any team he looked after. People talk about Gerrard being a winner and demanding high levels from his players. In which case why didn't we appoint, say, Roy Keane. He's won more as a player and surely wouldn't settle for second best from his squad. Dare I suggest, he'd win leagues and cups in Scotland with his eyes shut. Look, I get it, Gerrard's a big name. I hope he develops into the next Ferguson, Clough, Wenger, etc... and we reap the benefits of an era of cup wins and challenging in the league. For me, he's still very much an unknown entity as a premier league manager. It could go either way. I hope the appointment is a massive success, but I have reservations. It's a risky appointment. For the record, I like many others, couldn't give a toss if he's from Liverpool, Birmingham City or Jupiter FC, if it gives us success all the better. We shall see won't we. Aaaahhhh Jupiter FC, now they were on a different planet. Gerrard needs time, the players need time. It's the not knowing that makes it exciting for me. Performance was ok yesterday, probably the best we could have hoped for, the result and clean sheet was the important thing. I dont care where he's from or who he played for, if he gets this squad performing then I'll be happy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 1 minute ago, tom_avfc said: He got a win based on the improvements made to our defence. In reality a lot of our success last year was due to the defence being tight. If we keep a clean sheet we’ll win most games as it’s rare that the attacking talent we have won’t get a goal against most teams in the league. Makes the decision to mess around with a back 3 and to drop Mings seem all the more bizarre. Our regular back 5 from last season is up there with the best in the league and if we can build from that then I don’t think we’ll go far wrong. They were indeed - as a unit, taken individually, I hope we improve enough to feel we can step up another level and to upgrade some of them as we go along. The contribution and the effect Emi Martinez had on our defence cannot be understated, he is the key and is irreplaceable, the rest need to up it and be on it every minute of every game. Yesterday was a very good start for the defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 He's only had a week and tbh, we know that the players can play like that because we'd seen it last season when we played well. The real plus is that the players were switched on and fighting again - whether that was down to being shocked into reality by the Smith sacking or the work that Gerrard and his team have done already remains to be seen. It's too early to judge right now, either way, but the signs are positive and if he channels the new manager bounce in the right way, we'll be fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dont_do_it_doug. Posted November 21, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted November 21, 2021 I said before the game all I wanted from yesterday was a clean sheet. I didn't expect them to add anything really other than a little bit more organisation off the ball and to give them a kick up the arse, and they duly delivered on all of these things, with a cheeky bonus at the other end, so I could not be happier. One thing I was not necessarily expecting to see was their masterful in-game management winning us the match. Both tactically and personnel wise they got it absolutely spot on and it turned an otherwise drab, but welcome, clean sheet into 3 points. Very bright start. We also saw clear signs of how they want to play in terms of shape, with the midfield 3 shuffling from side to side providing more width in order to cover the marauding full backs, allowing the front three to act as more of a barrier between the opposition midfield and their defence, surrounding them and removing that easy out ball. Of course Brighton as so good at keeping possession we perhaps didn't see much joy from it and it is incredibly early days, but it was noteworthy progress nonetheless. It's still very early days, but I am enthused. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwi1890 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 19 minutes ago, tom_avfc said: He got a win based on the improvements made to our defence. In reality a lot of our success last year was due to the defence being tight. If we keep a clean sheet we’ll win most games as it’s rare that the attacking talent we have won’t get a goal against most teams in the league. Makes the decision to mess around with a back 3 and to drop Mings seem all the more bizarre. Our regular back 5 from last season is up there with the best in the league and if we can build from that then I don’t think we’ll go far wrong. It sound very cliche and basic but it was fundamental basic that we were missing if you can stay in a game and keep a clean sheet then you have a chance, we have platform to build on the coming weeks from here now, again it sounds like a post match interview saying the same thing as everyone else but it is actually the case in our scenario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 15 minutes ago, lexicon said: He's only had a week and tbh, we know that the players can play like that because we'd seen it last season when we played well. The real plus is that the players were switched on and fighting again - whether that was down to being shocked into reality by the Smith sacking or the work that Gerrard and his team have done already remains to be seen. It's too early to judge right now, either way, but the signs are positive and if he channels the new manager bounce in the right way, we'll be fine. We have a good squad personality. They'll put it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Anyone else glad we didn't go for Potter now? I wanted us to go for him but yesterday was pretty boring. They were excellent at times in terms of organisation, discipline and the ability to win the ball back - but there was very little creativity or magic in that side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Wouldn't have minded Potter, I think he could do some amazing things with better players. But there would be a greater chance of us going down IMO. Gerrard has said we're going to tighten it up first thing, that's what we needed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villabromsgrove Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I was encouraged by the way he gave regular reminders about shape and positioning throughout the game. His vocal coaching and hand gestures were a definite plus, as was his energetic body language on the touchline which must have lifted players as they started to tire. A few hard weeks of physical conditioning and embedding more tactical fluidity at BMH will pay dividends. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom13 Posted November 21, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, Peter Griffin said: None of us know how high his ceiling is but all the signs suggest it could be very high. Unless someone gets round his house with a tape measure we'll never know. Edited November 21, 2021 by Tom13 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I'm loving everything I've seen and heard so far, and think this could just be the appointment we needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Griffin Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, Tom13 said: I'm loving everything I've seen and heard so far, and think this could just be the appointment we needed. Yep, I am with you on that. Really looking forward to the Palace game now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Have to say prior to the appointment I was guilty of basing my opinion of him as a manager on his reputation as a player. I assumed he was just a shallow Lampard-type but he doesn't come across that way at all. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 37 minutes ago, lexicon said: Anyone else glad we didn't go for Potter now? I wanted us to go for him but yesterday was pretty boring. They were excellent at times in terms of organisation, discipline and the ability to win the ball back - but there was very little creativity or magic in that side. A million times yes. Goal scoring for them has been a problem for about 3 seasons. And you can see why. That slow ponderous build up - sideways passing uggggh. Might get lots of plaudits - but entertainment it isn't. Without exception the only time they caused any problems was when they injected a bit of pace. Stevie G has a way to go for me personally. But have to say I was pleasantly surprised yesterday. Subs won us the game - and his post match summary was spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's Your Round Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Talldarkandransome said: Aaaahhhh Jupiter FC, now they were on a different planet. Indeed, a much better outfit than Uranus City.. too many arseholes there. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wezbid Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Time to invest in a cardboard cut-out I think. I'm sure the Mrs would love it. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indigo Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Sparing a thought for those who hoped we'd "lose our next five games". 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 8 minutes ago, Indigo said: Sparing a thought for those who hoped we'd "lose our next five games". Who are these people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indigo Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, Davkaus said: Who are these people? I'd do well to find specific examples given this thread has 153 pages, but there's one or two of them in there as I'm sure folk will remember that were literally worded more or less as that. I was/am skeptical of the appointment myself but there was some next level stuff going on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntrimBlack Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 1 minute ago, Indigo said: I'd do well to find specific examples given this thread has 153 pages, but there's one or two of them in there as I'm sure folk will remember that were literally worded more or less as that. I was/am skeptical of the appointment myself but there was some next level stuff going on. If you cannot give us examples, then they don't exist. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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