In a BBC article published just after KR was sacked, Winkie said..
Quote:
"..where we cannot be is 19th in League One. It's the lowest position we've been in since this stadium. We're going backwards, not forwards."
MK Dons under Robinson last seasonRobinson was sacked after 15 games, when we were 19th on 16 points and a goal difference of -4. We had won 4, drawn 4 and lost 7, 1 point off the relegation zone. 7 points off the playoffs.
MK Dons under Neilson this seasonAfter 16 games this season, we are 16th, but only on 19 points and have a worse goal difference of -7. We have won 5, drawn 4 and lost 7. 4 points off the relegation zone. 6 points off the playoffs.
Very similar, and certainly not good enough to justify Neilson staying on if we were happy to get rid of KR with such a similar start to the season, and especially since Neilson's new squad that he engineered through summer transfers is actually performing worse than the squad he butchered. I have real questions now over Neilson's judgement over signings and mentality towards football.
Also...On searching for a new manager, in an article published on the club site a couple of weeks later, Winkie said..
Quote:
“It needs to be somebody who is going to excite us, excite our support,”
Quote:
"We are MK Dons and we have a different style and a different way of being. Ideally, I’d like a manager who fits with that philosophy"
Think it's pretty unanimous now that Neilson's management style on and off the pitch contradicts both of those points. The football is dull, defensive, one-dimensional, uninspired and lacking any creativity whatsoever.
Bottom line..If Neilson's time isn't up, then it should be very soon if Winkie is consistent and a man of his words.
Don't know how we can justify keeping Neilson on, hoping things improve when we sacked a long-serving manager who got us promoted and two playoff finishes with a similar start to a season.
Get rid now, get a new manager in with time to assess and make changes in January.
Even if results improve under Neilson, the football is absolutely awful and not entertaining in the slightest. Average attendances are down considerably both at home and away compared to last season in the same period and will continue to drop if things stay like this.