Poll - Sherwood - got rid

[SamTheMouse]

Stoke is massive.

I think you'll find that's jungle.

[Des Little]

For real, for real

[Big Dick Edwards]

Those with short memories have forgotten that when Sherwood took over a little over six months ago we were on a runaway train towards relegation. Not only did he arrest that slide, he also got us to the FA Cup Final. He's since shipped out a lot of inadequacy and brought in a lot of new players in a very short timespan. These players need time to settle and gel.
I think the guy has some credit in the bank.

[KRS]

Centre half - Richards, Clark, Lescott - Lescott has been a disaster but Richards positionally is all over the place when it comes to the offside line, all three have been at fault for goals conceded in the air and on the ground. Need to give the Richards/Clark partnership more time but one of them needs to take ownership of organising the back four

Would it be fair to say that Richards looks worse when Lescott is in the team? I've noticed that Lescott is often the last man, literally yards behind the line at times as if he's playing a completely different game, and often gets caught out of position if he strolls forward with the ball. Its been previously mentioned that he played well for Baggies but they played so far back in their own half most of the time that it wasn't possible to tell that he was so far off the pace of the game. I sincerely hope the Liverpool lineup and tactics werent anything to do with accommodating Lescott in the back four.

[ChicagoLion]

Those with short memories have forgotten that when Sherwood took over a little over six months ago we were on a runaway train towards relegation. Not only did he arrest that slide, he also got us to the FA Cup Final. He's since shipped out a lot of inadequacy and brought in a lot of new players in a very short timespan. These players need time to settle and gel.
I think the guy has some credit in the bank.

I think that credit is running out fast, we are averaging under half a point a game.

[brontebilly]

Centre half - Richards, Clark, Lescott - Lescott has been a disaster but Richards positionally is all over the place when it comes to the offside line, all three have been at fault for goals conceded in the air and on the ground. Need to give the Richards/Clark partnership more time but one of them needs to take ownership of organising the back four

Would it be fair to say that Richards looks worse when Lescott is in the team? I've noticed that Lescott is often the last man, literally yards behind the line at times as if he's playing a completely different game, and often gets caught out of position if he strolls forward with the ball. Its been previously mentioned that he played well for Baggies but they played so far back in their own half most of the time that it wasn't possible to tell that he was so far off the pace of the game. I sincerely hope the Liverpool lineup and tactics werent anything to do with accommodating Lescott in the back four.

The Richards/Clark partnership didnt really settle either but showed promising signs admittedly against a very limited Blues side in the second half. Think Sherwood panicked after Clark's poor showing against Sunderland. Lescott to my eyes is finished in the top division but I suspect Richards is as much at fault. Watch how often he goes walkabout ahead of his defensive line, like he is drawn to the ball with no awareness of whats going on around him. As captain he should be the ones ordering the three other defenders out with him but that has never been his game. Gary Neville went through Richards game for a short cut earlier in the season and I dont think he is improving. Hutton too has always had a similar weakness in his game letting players behind him.

Clayton Donaldson made Lescott look Monty Burns esque in the first half that night. Lescott is so slow there is no chance of us ever playing a defensive line higher up than the 18 yard box when he is in the side. He might be better than Clark in the air but that is debatable enough too on the evidence of the Birmingham game. Clark is much the better player and should have started against Liverpool.

Im looking forward to Okore getting back fit. As much as Richards wants to play centre half, I think we might have a decision to make to shift him to right back. Okore/Clark was a solid partnership for a good part of last season, far more solid than anything Ive witnessed from us this season anyway

[brontebilly]

we have not had a defensive minded midfield player since Petrov and NRC, it has been a problem for a while now and it is pretty obvious that none of the player Sherwood has bought in fullfill this function.
Our defense is exposed every game and is why we concede so easily.

I wouldn't be against 5 at the back short term to try and shore things up with Lescott playing as a sweeper.
-----------Guzan -----------
--           Lescott.          --
Hutton  Richards Clark Amavi

Bloody hell! A sweeper! I thought that role was only saved for fat Sunday footballer fat guy who can lump the ball 50 yards forward pretty accurately.

Sounds like an accurate description for Lescott

[AVH87]

Those with short memories have forgotten that when Sherwood took over a little over six months ago we were on a runaway train towards relegation. Not only did he arrest that slide, he also got us to the FA Cup Final. He's since shipped out a lot of inadequacy and brought in a lot of new players in a very short timespan. These players need time to settle and gel.
I think the guy has some credit in the bank.

I think that credit is running out fast, we are averaging under half a point a game.

Not quite got that bad yet, but if we lose to Stoke we'll be averaging half a point a game.

[DB]

So after saying last season we won't be in this position again, he then in Sept, writes off this season. Quality.

[Clampy]

So after saying last season we won't be in this position again, he then in Sept, writes off this season. Quality.

He hasn't written the season off. He did say at the start of the season we need to get through this season unscathed and we could progress from there and he was right. We may well finish mid-table, no-one's knows yet.

[DB]

So after saying last season we won't be in this position again, he then in Sept, writes off this season. Quality.

He hasn't written the season off. He did say at the start of the season we need to get through this season unscathed and we could progress from there and he was right. We may well finish mid-table, no-one's knows yet.

He said we won't be in this position again, but no evidence so far that won't be the case. Yes, it's early days, but signs are not good. Of course no-one knows, but on his record at the club so far and what we have seen, where is your money currently? Plus the guy has no past experience / record at any other club.

[aj2k77]

Well it's time for him to cut the bullshit and start delivering on the pitch this season. No excuses, we don't have loads of injuries, aren't playing a top side, aren't tired. If we can't cobble together a 90 minute performance against Stoke City with almost a full squad then what are we waiting for?

[Risso]

It's crucial that he beats Stoke, both because of our respective positions in the table and also to give us a lift. Lose, and then the expected loss against Chelsea and I think we'll be gonners.

[rob_bridge]

Well it's time for him to cut the bullshit and start delivering on the pitch this season. No excuses, we don't have loads of injuries, aren't playing a top side, aren't tired. If we can't cobble together a 90 minute performance against Stoke City with almost a full squad then what are we waiting for?

We've had 7 winnable games this season. We haven't played anyone who were battering teams out of sight and played ManU at the best possible time.

I'd have expected maybe 2-3 wins, 2-3 draws and a couple of losses all things being equal.

So 10 points would not have been an unreasonable return. We have 4.

[andyh]

I think one concern Sherwood will have is a lack of allies if things continue to go tits up.
Lambert was on 6 foot of concrete because he was a Lerner appointment, and there was obviously some kind of 'bond' between them and (the contract renewal proved) there was a tremendous amount of loyalty between them.
Fox was obviously able to change and influence that when we were in the pits of despair in February, and force his Lamberts removal.

Sherwood is a Fox appointment, albeit sanctioned by Lerner.
I would guess the same levels of loyalty and friendship do not exist between Lerner and Sherwood and so if/when Fox decides to be ruthless, I think it will be a lot sooner than if it was Lerners decision.