It's not Sherwood!

[ChicagoLion]

I agree with ads, anybody who went to the Hull game last season would have left as we did, certain that not only would we be relegated but that we would finish rock bottom of the table. What Tim Sherwood deserves is our heartfelt thanks not forensic not picking based on the cockney stereotyping.

He deserves thanks for last season, but he also should be subjected to legitimate scrutiny where necessary, and there are definitely aspects of his managerial abilities that need to be addressed if we are to be more than a team that just happens to avoid relegation year on year. That said, completely dismissing him as a redknapp type figure isn't right either.

Maybe, but at the same time passing judgement on his abilities so far this season when he's got 10 new players to gel
into a team is a bit harsh. He has overhauled the squad, which was completely necessary and we've won one and lost a close game to Man Utd. He's not doing too badly.

The thing is, I'm seeing the same limitations from sherwood as I did last season, a complete inability (or unwillingness?) to change things mid-game. When he gets the tactics right, it can often work out well, but when he doesn't we're left floundering somewhat, and I really don't think that's got anything to do with bedding in the new players.

agree with this, the cup final and yesterday are examples of this.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Also, to follow on from Ads and Brian, the question we had coming away from Hull was not if we go down, but when.

A real low point that. Sherwood maybe be learning some things on the job but his gradual clawing us back to life last season was one hell of an achievement. We were going down without him, no doubt in my mind.

[Ger Regan]

I agree with ads, anybody who went to the Hull game last season would have left as we did, certain that not only would we be relegated but that we would finish rock bottom of the table. What Tim Sherwood deserves is our heartfelt thanks not forensic not picking based on the cockney stereotyping.

He deserves thanks for last season, but he also should be subjected to legitimate scrutiny where necessary, and there are definitely aspects of his managerial abilities that need to be addressed if we are to be more than a team that just happens to avoid relegation year on year. That said, completely dismissing him as a redknapp type figure isn't right either.

Maybe, but at the same time passing judgement on his abilities so far this season when he's got 10 new players to gel
into a team is a bit harsh. He has overhauled the squad, which was completely necessary and we've won one and lost a close game to Man Utd. He's not doing too badly.

The thing is, I'm seeing the same limitations from sherwood as I did last season, a complete inability (or unwillingness?) to change things mid-game. When he gets the tactics right, it can often work out well, but when he doesn't we're left floundering somewhat, and I really don't think that's got anything to do with bedding in the new players.

agree with this, the cup final and yesterday are examples of this.

The Southampton game was a real eye opener for me. It was clear that our game plan was going to pieces, but it still took him until well into the second half to make any sort of change. Even then it was essentially a like-for-like substitution of gabby for n'zogbia.

As I said before, he deserves credit for keeping us up last year, but he shouldn't be immune to any criticism either.

[itbrvilla]

I agree with ads, anybody who went to the Hull game last season would have left as we did, certain that not only would we be relegated but that we would finish rock bottom of the table. What Tim Sherwood deserves is our heartfelt thanks not forensic not picking based on the cockney stereotyping.

He deserves thanks for last season, but he also should be subjected to legitimate scrutiny where necessary, and there are definitely aspects of his managerial abilities that need to be addressed if we are to be more than a team that just happens to avoid relegation year on year. That said, completely dismissing him as a redknapp type figure isn't right either.

Maybe, but at the same time passing judgement on his abilities so far this season when he's got 10 new players to gel
into a team is a bit harsh. He has overhauled the squad, which was completely necessary and we've won one and lost a close game to Man Utd. He's not doing too badly.

The thing is, I'm seeing the same limitations from sherwood as I did last season, a complete inability (or unwillingness?) to change things mid-game. When he gets the tactics right, it can often work out well, but when he doesn't we're left floundering somewhat, and I really don't think that's got anything to do with bedding in the new players.

agree with this, the cup final and yesterday are examples of this.

The Southampton game was a real eye opener for me. It was clear that our game plan was going to pieces, but it still took him until well into the second half to make any sort of change. Even then it was essentially a like-for-like substitution of gabby for n'zogbia.

As I said before, he deserves credit for keeping us up last year, but he shouldn't be immune to any criticism either.

9 goals conceded at Saints and the final. Not a great spell was it.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm with Ger on this. I really like Sherwood, and have been impressed with his demeanour, and his signings (although I think others also deserve credit for those).

But he hasn't really done anything to dispel the nagging doubts I had about his tactical acumen when he first arrived. Last season we tailed off once the initial new manager bounce had worn off and the contagious enthusiasm ebbed a bit. And though he has had fitness issues and injuries to contend with, in the first two games this season, we've had one very visible tactic, which is to work hard to win it back and look to hit the front men as quickly as possible. The problem with that is, when the quick direct ball isn't on, we don't have much of a plan B.

Hopefully he's evolving towards something different.

[ciggiesnbeer]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

[Monty]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

Well, yeah, but that's a bit like asking if he's got more hair than Kojak.

[Clampy]

I do like that some posters are excited about the new signings but some are questioning the manager who has just signed them.

[Villa in Denmark]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

He definitely has a more positive approach.

But the question is to mix a whole load of metaphors, has he got more than one string to his bow?

McLeish had one that was tuned to E_b.

Lambert had one that was tuned to E_b that snapped.

Sherwood has one that sounds like A#, but easily sounds off key. It would be nice if he could find some strings tuned to B and Cm so we could start playing some basic chords and make it all a bit more interesting.

If you've not already guessed I possess no musical ability whatsoever and the above guff is just some BS for illustrative purposes

[Ger Regan]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

Well, yeah, but that's a bit like asking if he's got more hair than Kojak.

I'm not particularly interested in any comparisons between sherwood and previous incumbents, mind. I'm interested in whether sherwood can get the best out of the very promising signings he's made to date, and unfortunately I'm not convinced that he'll be able to.

[ChicagoLion]

I do like that some posters are excited about the new signings but some are questioning the manager who has just signed them.

The last Manager made some decent signings, so good manager and decent signings are not mutually exclusive.

[Toronto Villa]

I think in some ways he's going through the same thing Lambert did. That is trying to figure out balance between playing attacking, very open, defensively naive football to finding a balance where we are still an attacking force but defensively a lot more responsible. We do look better at the back but we look lost in the final third. It will be intersecting to see his approach once Traore, Gil and Jack are all fit again. Also whether he is going to persist long term with Gabby, but of one thing is clear so far that isn't exactly working. Or at least the current configuration isn't and Gabby's limitations aren't helping.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Good posts. Interesting food for thought.

[Dante Lavelli]

My mild criticism is that Sherwood has yet to develop a recognisable brand of football.  We seem to constantly swap between tactics whereas I'd prefer it we/he had a clearer idea of what our game plan and formation will be.  When there are so many new players, some with limited english, I think we would be better served having one system which is thoroughly practiced rather than swapping about too often.

I also have a hunch that the moniker Tactic Tim bothers him a bit and he tries to be too clever or at least feels he has to change things too often.

[ChicagoLion]

I agree with ads, anybody who went to the Hull game last season would have left as we did, certain that not only would we be relegated but that we would finish rock bottom of the table. What Tim Sherwood deserves is our heartfelt thanks not forensic not picking based on the cockney stereotyping.

He deserves thanks for last season, but he also should be subjected to legitimate scrutiny where necessary, and there are definitely aspects of his managerial abilities that need to be addressed if we are to be more than a team that just happens to avoid relegation year on year. That said, completely dismissing him as a redknapp type figure isn't right either.

Maybe, but at the same time passing judgement on his abilities so far this season when he's got 10 new players to gel
into a team is a bit harsh. He has overhauled the squad, which was completely necessary and we've won one and lost a close game to Man Utd. He's not doing too badly.

The thing is, I'm seeing the same limitations from sherwood as I did last season, a complete inability (or unwillingness?) to change things mid-game. When he gets the tactics right, it can often work out well, but when he doesn't we're left floundering somewhat, and I really don't think that's got anything to do with bedding in the new players.

agree with this, the cup final and yesterday are examples of this.

The Southampton game was a real eye opener for me. It was clear that our game plan was going to pieces, but it still took him until well into the second half to make any sort of change. Even then it was essentially a like-for-like substitution of gabby for n'zogbia.

As I said before, he deserves credit for keeping us up last year, but he shouldn't be immune to any criticism either.

This where the Nagging Doubt comes in, at our worst under TS we seem to surrender the Middle of the Park but do nothing tactically or player wise to change it.