Where are we Heading?

[old sage]

At the start of the season the Club followed the latest 'fashion' of believing that a foreign manager would help us move forward. For instance I would be amazed if Bruno hadn't been influenced by his close friend Jose Mourinho who it was I heard was the man who recommended him to our owner as the answer to our Managerial vacancy. I can understand Norman's excitement at the prospect of acquiring a man that had been recommended so highly by the 'Special One'.

Surely the idea of bringing in a few 'budding stars' from the Man United Youth Academy was a major attraction but at the present time none have arrived and it looks highly unlikely that they are going to do anytime soon. This begs the question would Bruno have been employed if Norman had realised that this would prove to be the case?

Unfortunately I have learned that in reality it should have been a case of 'horses for courses' and that we should have looked for a proven manager who has been successful in the lower leagues. For instance a bloke like John Coleman who has worked wonders at Accy on a real shoestring budget.

 

I recently heard Ryan Giggs say that he would only be interested in taking over at a club from the top two divisions and after initially thinking what a big headed so and so I started to understand what he was saying.

In fact I think that the bloke believed that he would prove to be a big failure in the lower levels of the football pyramid, why? Simply because he would be out of his comfort zone and so out of his depth. To explain my thoughts I consider that to succeed at any level you need someone who has either played or managed at that level.

 

In simple terms for Bruno to attempt to copy Mourinho's 'Blue Print' would be a massive mistake. This is because zonal marking, playing out from the back and having one man up front will only work if you have the players able to cope with these tactics and unfortunately Smurf hasn't got pockets deep enough to back such tactics or ideals because these players would cost big wages. Without trying to be patronising players with less ability need to be played in a simplified system that they are used to and will then be able to cope with comfortably.

 

Norman has a few massive headaches to solve. If he sacks Bruno, what happens to the players that he has recently brought in many of these on two year contracts. Perhaps a few of these will be able to adapt but a new boss will wish to bring in a few of his own players and will Smurf agree to bring these new faces into the Club?

 

Would giving the likes of 'Browny' the job be the correct thing or would it simply be a case of 'passing the buck?'. If the latter is the truth then I fear that we are on a very rocky road which could end up in us being heaven forbid getting relegated.

 

Whatever Mr Smurthwaite does I hope that it proves to be a wise decision because currently a six point cushion above the bottom four is too close for comfort when you consider how poor our performances and current form is.

[Jinkin John Jeffers]

You love speech marks nearly as much as you love Popey!

[old sage]

You love speech marks nearly as much as you love Popey!

If that is your only comment then I wouldn't have bothered.

[valeparklife]

I completely agree. Yesterday was a perfect example of this. It's naive to think we're going to turn up at Bolton away and play like Spain. Bruno is a fantasist. The amount of time we have played our way into trouble this season is unreal. It's suicide.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

You love speech marks nearly as much as you love Popey!

 

[Bald Eagle]

So Jose and Klopp have played at Premier League level then? That Eddie Howe ain't doing to bad, and Karl Robinson has played only non league, yet has done well and will come again. In fact, he might be an English version of what Smurf is trying to achieve, a manager who can keep the club stable/moving forward whilst producing players he can sell for a profit

[old sage]

So Jose and Klopp have played at Premier League level then? That Eddie Howe ain't doing to bad, and Karl Robinson has played only non league, yet has done well and will come again. In fact, he might be an English version of what Smurf is trying to achieve, a manager who can keep the club stable/moving forward whilst producing players he can sell for a profit

Are you saying that the present set up is stable and likely to bring in players likely to make a profit? Please don't state Smith as he has been here for quite a while now and I doubt whether Bruno had anything to do with loaning Jones who is still a Brum player at the moment.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Are you saying that the present set up is stable and likely to bring in players likely to make a profit? Please don't state Smith as he has been here for quite a while now and I doubt whether Bruno had anything to do with loaning Jones who is still a Brum player at the moment.

 

Bruno trusted Smith, Page trusted his mates (who weren't good enough for the Cobblers).

[Santa]

This scattergraph shows a lot of our problems very simply. We don't create anywhere near enough meaningful chances.

 

[gavcradd]

That's proper statistics porn Santa, well done :-)

 

Are we really that far behind on average shots per game, over 2 shots per game less than anyone else and only half the number of the top teams? Amazing.

 

I honestly don't believe that the players we bought in have been scouted and targeted specifically, either by Smurf or by Bruno. What I think has happened is that canny agents have sent in DVDs and Smurf / Bruno have rushed to recruit. We've ended up, again, with quantity over quality and no decent forward.

 

Not sure what's happened to Tavares, first few times I saw him this season I thought he looked quality. Amoros and De Freitas impressed me too, but no one else. Cicilia and Mmbamba are not cut out for League One football. Knopps is at fault far too many times (you watch the goals from the past few weeks and see how many times it's him that's outjumped, or his man free to slot it in).

 

Pattinson is the ultimate lazy option signing, local lad who wanted a game when we were short on strikers. Reminds me of Dean Glover's "can't travel past Crewe" recruitment strategy.

 

Not sure what good sacking Bruno would do as Brown would still have the same group of players, no money and no strikers.

[PVTony]

Pretty,tiptap,possession football is O.K.for top wealthy clubs.It may come off against some L1 teams and especially on good playing surfaces but generally L1 requires fast direct football which gives the strikers a chance to shoot before the opposing teams players can race back to pack tne defence. One striker upfront running around the apposing teams area like a headless chicken, without hardly ever getting a chance to shoot virtually reduces a team to ten men.

[TheSage]

I don't think the stats are surprising at all. Even at home, let alone away games, we have often strolled through the first 45 minutes and barely made the opposition 'keeper make a save. It happens game after game after game. Our 'efforts on target' column is invariably a lot worse than every team we play.

 

We masked these problems early on because the defence and midfield was solid and both Smith and Streete were playing really well, meaning that we weren't conceding - so it didn't matter if we weren't creating a lot because the odd goal would do it.

 

I can honestly only recall 2 or 3 occasions in 3 months - and for 30 minutes only - when we've had a grip on the game and put sustained pressure on our opponents, controlling the midfield and pushing them back. We don't win games comfortably by 3-4 clear goals, ever. It's all a very hard struggle and unless all our better players are playing and on form we're not good enough.

 

Surely the manager and coaches can see what is going on. They have all the stats and videos and facts and figures. The way we are set-up is no longer working - if it ever was.

[SFBT]

Those stats say it all.

[Santa]

I didn't put a link with the picture I posted (although it does say in the bottom corner) so it's only fair I post it here.

 

https://experimental361.com

[Rampant Zebra]

I think we are heading for difficult times. Mr Smurthwaite must have realised by now that plan A isn't working so he will be looking for someone to take the blame. If I was Bruno I would be worried. Likewise Andy Smith. We had a good up and coming manager but Mr "I know best" wouldn't admit it and we are now reaping the benefits. And so are Northampton Town...