Remi Garde - Departs Aston Villa

[Toronto Villa]

Remi has made mistakes, no getting away from that. But considering the fucking mess he inherited and the desperate mental and physical state of the squad it's not like he was going to just come in and fix it. I'm sure he would have loved to have won a game or two by now but we are starting to see the plan come together a bit at a time. The fact that Gestede is his best forward option tells you everything you need to know about his options. That and Guzan in goal, Bacuna at LB , Lescott and Westwood in the middle of their parts of the pitch.

But today was a step forward albeit a small one. Win at Norwich and we will be 6 back of safety and the picture a little rosier.

[MattW]

The Garde appointment makes sense if the board have already accepted that we are down. Which is forward thinking of a kind.

I agree. Garde noted that relegation was discussed in negotiations and assurances made, which suggests they were sufficiently realistic and forward thinking.

Relegation is Plan B and obviously far more unpalatable than Plan A, but at least there's a plan, which there hasn't been for some time.

Garde is smart, disciplined and pragmatic. The team is more spirited and play is much improved. I suspect it would have been difficult to manage better.

In the BBC interview, he was asked whether he felt better than a few weeks ago, given the team is playing better. His facial expression suggested he expected the improved performance and rued not picking up more points.

[Pat McMahon]

A Garde-style appointment would have been ideal after GH. Our stock was still relatively high, and you could give a manager like that two to three seasons to build and really make his mark on the club. The calibre of players open to us would have been better then, too.

Ironically, a McLeish, style appointment (ie, Allardyce or Pulis) was what we needed now. What we have, we hold. Dull, unimaginative, but capable of grinding out the required 9-10 wins over the course of a season.

Yeah, Allardyce grinding out a 4-1 defeat to Man City or a defeat to Southampton was far better than what Garde managed.

By my reckoning they have vaguely similar records. We have 4 points from 7 games under Garde, and I think Allardyce has won 3 games since he joined.

Just checked, he has 3 wins from 10 so 30% of points won. Remi is on 19%. Both are relegation form.

[ozzjim]

Basically Garde is a win off Sams record? Fingers crossed the next 2 games we play as well and get a bit of luck. Imagine we won the next 2. Confidence would rocket.

[footyskillz]

Big Sam made six changes against man city hoping to get right balance. Was 2/3 down within firsthalf minutes of the match. Some of the defending looked hope less and seemed a real lack of desire. I think Sunderland didn't think could get anything from get go and saving themselves for tv game against Liverpool.

Garde is cautious amidst an urgency amongst points. We have to trust him and his selections. The performances at times cud do with substitution happening earlier but Garde knows his stuff so have to be patient. I think he's no fool and tactically understands. The debacle at Everton was quite something and feel he's learnt more and more. Here's hoping against weaker opposition Garde shows us his magic

[pauliewalnuts]

I honestly think I'd rather get relegated with Garde than stay up with Allardyce

I have had enough of British managers stuck in the past.

What would be the point? Yet another season of clinging on, fighting relegation? Except this time with an anti football shithouse like Allardyce here for a few years?

It is just so depressing.

I'd rather stay up under Garde, of course, but the last few years we have been amongst the least loved clubs in the league, and for good reason. We need to break this cycle, and appointing Allardyce would just make it worse in the long run.

[ozzjim]

Agree Paulie. Even a conservative Garde has got us playing decent football in parts. I just want him to get time. The only unexpectedly poor result he has had really was the loss to Watford which we didn't deserve. I felt sorry for him yesterday because he got the tactics right just not the breaks in front of goal.

[Lastfootstamper]

Thirded, Paulie.

[Rigadon]

I honestly think I'd rather get relegated with Garde than stay up with Allardyce

I have had enough of British managers stuck in the past.

What would be the point? Yet another season of clinging on, fighting relegation? Except this time with an anti football shithouse like Allardyce here for a few years?

It is just so depressing.

I'd rather stay up under Garde, of course, but the last few years we have been amongst the least loved clubs in the league, and for good reason. We need to break this cycle, and appointing Allardyce would just make it worse in the long run.

I know what you mean and I kind of agree.  But the point, as unpalatable as it would've ben to watch, would theoretically have been staying in the league and having another close season to flog to a 'better' owner.  All massive pie in the sky of course. 

The thing I most worry about is who might be suddenly be able to afford the club while we;re skulking about in division 2? 

 

[damon loves JT]

I honestly think I'd rather get relegated with Garde than stay up with Allardyce

I have had enough of British managers stuck in the past.

What would be the point? Yet another season of clinging on, fighting relegation? Except this time with an anti football shithouse like Allardyce here for a few years?

It is just so depressing.

I'd rather stay up under Garde, of course, but the last few years we have been amongst the least loved clubs in the league, and for good reason. We need to break this cycle, and appointing Allardyce would just make it worse in the long run.

I enjoyed yesterday's game. I can think of barely a handful of games at VP that I've actively enjoyed in the last few seasons. And there are plenty of dull and unpleasant things that we have to endure between Monday and Friday, without adding to them on a Saturday afternoon. It's supposed to be entertainment.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

I agree with Paulie too. We've already had enough fun sucked out of going to the match in recent years. Might as well try something different.

What winds me up are pundits in the press thinking on behalf of fans and telling us that staying up is all that matters. Twice recently I've heard radio pundits (including Collymore yesterday) criticise Albion fans for daring to question Pulis, telling them that he'll keep them up and that's what it's all about.

Don't get me wrong I hate the Albion but surely their fans should be able to moan about the shite they endure without being patronised by the Pulis-loving media.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree Paulie I think the time has come for a bit of a long term plan and if it means we have to get relegated in the mean time then so be it.

[Mister E]

Remi has made mistakes, no getting away from that. But considering the fucking mess he inherited and the desperate mental and physical state of the squad it's not like he was going to just come in and fix it. I'm sure he would have loved to have won a game or two by now but we are starting to see the plan come together a bit at a time. The fact that Gestede is his best forward option tells you everything you need to know about his options. That and Guzan in goal, Bacuna at LB , Lescott and Westwood in the middle of their parts of the pitch.

But today was a step forward albeit a small one. Win at Norwich and we will be 6 back of safety and the picture a little rosier.

I would think that Garde is looking to bring in another GK and central striker - after all, Gestede missed chances yesterday that a decent striker would have buried - and in doing so not only give the team a better chance at both ends of the pitch but also raise general confidence levels within the squad.
With even just these two changes, it would enable him to be a little more expansive in team selection: not having to play 3-4 across the middle to bolster the defence and knowing that creative okay will result in goals. Who might come in? - no idea!

[Toronto Villa]

I know this sounds emotional and knee jerk, but I have seen nothing at all so far in Garde to suggest he is the answer long term. We've merely shown glimpses of ability and little else. It's very, very poor. And I honestly say that reservedly because of the situation he found himself in. But some of the decisions have been terrible and had he been TSM or Sherwood he'd be getting far more criticism. We all hope that at some point it will click and maybe with a few new players it will, but at this moment I simply cannot see it.

Our continuing malaise will also make player recruitment that much more difficult, and I am thoroughly pessimistic heading into the January window.

[PaulWinch again]

I shalln't be judging Garde yet, because we lost today due to terrible defensive errors. Once he has the chance to rid us of Hutton, Richardson, Clark, Gabby, Westwood, Bacuna etc then we'll see.