Toby Carvery wrote:
Filthier wrote:
Why are people expecting a complete transformation so quickly?
Fucking hell, think back to how poor we were under Tisdale 18 months ago with players like Bowery, Harley and Boateng - players who wouldn't even make the bench now. We were playing a dull style of football under a clueless manager.
Russ, in his first managerial appointment has built arguably one of our best ever squads in just over a year, and that's after losing our top scorer and two time player of the year in the summer. The improvement from the start of the season is considerable, and we've just had probably our best ever January transfer window. We play an entertaining style of football, the polar opposite to Neilson or Tisdale, and for much of the season had the most possession in Europe. Today we may have broken the English record for the most passes leading up to a goal.
Are we perfect? Ofcourse not, but the improvements are there for all to see. Russ and Luke aren't stupid, they'll know we're leaking goals and conceding silly, avoidable ones, but we dominate the ball and score lots of goals too - that's the trade off. Remember when we'd gone over a year without an away win? Now we've won 6 away this season including against top teams like Hull, Sunderland and Charlton.
We're mid-table at the moment, but that's a damn sight better than the relegation zone we were in under Tisdale. We'll finish mid-table and in the summer we can build and further improve. Yes we might lose a key player or two, but all of the replacements brought in recently have been better than or on par with their predecessors, and the amount of talent we seem to be able to attract with Russ/Luke is unbelievable. Would Jerome, Fraser, McEachran, O'Riley, Surman, Keogh etc have signed for Neilson or Tisdale? No way.
People are expecting miracles and giant steps. Realistically how could we go from being a relegation zone calibre team under Tisdale to promotion candidates under a rookie manager in 18 months? Sounds ridiculous, it was never going to happen. But the progress is good enough and next season looks extremely promising. I can't think of any other manager we could attract at our level who could bring in the same or better calibre of players AND improve our league position.
Yes it's frustrating, yes things could be better and we're shite defensively, but it'll be worked on and they deserve all the time in the world. All of the above and I haven't even mentioned how 'together' the squad appears, the genuine connection between fans and Russ/the squad and how enthusiastic the players are about playing this way.
We're in safe hands, just be bloody patient.
Phwoar, this post is a bit of me.
This. Post of the Season.
By his own admission, tonight, on another thread, BCS is emotionally incontinent. A lovely guy, good for the forum, but apt to let his heart rule his head.
As for Plan B - two commentators who rarely see us play spotted Russ's switch to Plan B in the second half. Plan B does not have to be 4-4-2 and hoof it to the big lad up top.
BTW I'm loving this thread. I'm genuinely laughing out loud. Not LOL. Proper laughter.
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