Piccadilly Day Tripper
Well-known member
I think it was obvious that this wasn't going to work however much Woodgate believed it would. Lots of refreshing talk at the start of the season but he was delusional along with Keane to be talking about pushing for promotion. Whoever takes this on long term, if we stay up, has at least a three season job ahead of them.
The Blackburn away game was one of the few matches I've been to this season and any early season promise was snuffed out then. He had no ideas against organised teams and it was alarming that he stood on the touchline doing nothing to change the shape or the tactics. If you're going to put in young players you've got to be on their shoulder guiding them through the game.
Our more experienced players haven't covered themselves in glory this year - none of them have really grabbed the season by the scruff of the neck, and no-one has shown enough leadership on the pitch consistently enough. We've imploded too many times (sending offs against Hull at home and 2 vs Swansea away) and I said it at the end of the last season, we have too many players hanging around from the last successful period to kickstart anything new. Nothing against any of them - they've been great for us, but its diminishing returns and you have to be ruthless and move players on, not try and remould them.
When it has worked, during the one purple patch we had, we've seen sparks of a good side that needs whipping into shape that could be the way forward.
Woodgate had an unprecedented opportunity in these last three months, despite the difficulties, a chance to take stock, work out a plan for 9 remaining games and show he could learn. For us to be 3-0 down at home in 35 mins against a decent but not world-beating side, with 11 players looking like they never seen each other before. It wasn't going to work out. He looked out of his depth with dealing with players not sure if they want to play or move on once contracts expired.
Gibson has put himself under a lot of pressure now. He has to get the next appointment right and he needs to stick with the blueprint that's been set out - pacy football with players found within our means either from the academy or good picks from other set ups. He's going to have to bite the bullet and put a number of senior people at the club under review (Bausor, Gill, coaching teams, finance depts) and shake up the club from the top down. another coach plopped in alone won't make any difference in the long run.
I could see a Nigel Adkins or Nigel Clough being brought in but they will want at least two seasons to get things as they want them, and I don't know if there's the patience for that.
What I don't want to see is any more PR and marketing trumpeting a new era before a ball has been kicked. Just appoint the person, let him make the changes he needs to make our model work and let him get on with it.
The Blackburn away game was one of the few matches I've been to this season and any early season promise was snuffed out then. He had no ideas against organised teams and it was alarming that he stood on the touchline doing nothing to change the shape or the tactics. If you're going to put in young players you've got to be on their shoulder guiding them through the game.
Our more experienced players haven't covered themselves in glory this year - none of them have really grabbed the season by the scruff of the neck, and no-one has shown enough leadership on the pitch consistently enough. We've imploded too many times (sending offs against Hull at home and 2 vs Swansea away) and I said it at the end of the last season, we have too many players hanging around from the last successful period to kickstart anything new. Nothing against any of them - they've been great for us, but its diminishing returns and you have to be ruthless and move players on, not try and remould them.
When it has worked, during the one purple patch we had, we've seen sparks of a good side that needs whipping into shape that could be the way forward.
Woodgate had an unprecedented opportunity in these last three months, despite the difficulties, a chance to take stock, work out a plan for 9 remaining games and show he could learn. For us to be 3-0 down at home in 35 mins against a decent but not world-beating side, with 11 players looking like they never seen each other before. It wasn't going to work out. He looked out of his depth with dealing with players not sure if they want to play or move on once contracts expired.
Gibson has put himself under a lot of pressure now. He has to get the next appointment right and he needs to stick with the blueprint that's been set out - pacy football with players found within our means either from the academy or good picks from other set ups. He's going to have to bite the bullet and put a number of senior people at the club under review (Bausor, Gill, coaching teams, finance depts) and shake up the club from the top down. another coach plopped in alone won't make any difference in the long run.
I could see a Nigel Adkins or Nigel Clough being brought in but they will want at least two seasons to get things as they want them, and I don't know if there's the patience for that.
What I don't want to see is any more PR and marketing trumpeting a new era before a ball has been kicked. Just appoint the person, let him make the changes he needs to make our model work and let him get on with it.
