Eric Black

[in exile]

Eric old boy, I agree with your wife. You shouldn't have taken the job.
She was joking apparently. I mean it

[West Derby Villan]

Eric, you chose to do the job, you get paid, shut the fuck up

[ciggiesnbeer]

More and more negative by the week.

I cant believe I am calling for the head of an interim manager but christ this guy is worse than Carver was for Newcastle, at least he LIKED the club he worked for. Eric just cant stand us.

Get positive or get out Eric.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

When I think of Eric 'Ray of fucking sunshine' Black, I think of this:

[chrisw1]

He had an impossible job.  He has taken over a dysfunctional squad, team in feefall and fans in revolt.  He can do no more than damage limitation. 

He has put Gabby on a fitness programme - as many here would have wanted him too.  He has decided not to accept dissent from Okore.  People talk time and again about the squad being too powerful and taking the piss out of the manager, yet you would want him to roll over to a player who refused to be on the bench?  That is double standards, whatever your thoughts about the respective merits of the available players.  Surely he should be applauded for taking a tough stance with these players which is exactly what people have been calling for.

Yes the performances have been poor and the selections un-inspiring.  However, I think not chucking in the kids for the relegation game was a valid decision.  Being cautious about putting kids into the curreent toxic atmosphere is also a rational decision whether you agree with it or not.  Even so, he has played Lyden and Toner and others may get a chance before the end of the season.

We have pretty much the worst team in living memory, a squad in disarray, boardroom in turmoil and a fan revolt.  Just what on earth did you expect Eric Black to do to turn all that round?  And don't just say play the kids - that may be your personal view, but there are valid reasons for not doing so.  He probably isn't allowed to play Traore for contractual reasons.

In my view he has had an impossible job.  The best he can do is conduct himself with dignity and steer us home.  I'm not saying he is a good manager or coach, but the judgments passed on him for what he has done are remarkably unfair.

Edit - furthermore, Garde always gets a lot of sympathy, decent man, dealt a bad hand, will go on to better things etc etc.  He had far more opportunity to turn things round and failed.  Picked similarly poor teams and presided over equally poor performances.  Yet, because he sounds intelligent so people give him slack.  That's fair enough - I agree his hands were tied and it was a difficult job.  But why all the venom for Black who had a harder job and has done no worse? 

[paul_e]

He had an impossible job.  He has taken over a dysfunctional squad, team in feefall and fans in revolt.  He can do no more than damage limitation. 

He has put Gabby on a fitness programme - as many here would have wanted him too.  He has decided not to accept dissent from Okore.  People talk time and again about the squad being too powerful and taking the piss out of the manager, yet you would want him to roll over to a player who refused to be on the bench?  That is double standards, whatever your thoughts about the respective merits of the available players.  Surely he should be applauded for taking a tough stance with these players which is exactly what people have been calling for.

Yes the performances have been poor and the selections un-inspiring.  However, I think not chucking in the kids for the relegation game was a valid decision.  Being cautious about putting kids into the curreent toxic atmosphere is also a rational decision whether you agree with it or not.  Even so, he has played Lyden and Toner and others may get a chance before the end of the season.

We have pretty much the worst team in living memory, a squad in disarray, boardroom in turmoil and a fan revolt.  Just what on earth did you expect Eric Black to do to turn all that round?  And don't just say play the kids - that may be your personal view, but there are valid reasons for not doing so.  He probably isn't allowed to play Traore for contractual reasons.

In my view he has had an impossible job.  The best he can do is conduct himself with dignity and steer us home.  I'm not saying he is a good manager or coach, but the judgments passed on him for what he has done are remarkably unfair.

You've misunderstood the problem in your very first line, I've highlighted the important bits.  He can't help with the squad, that's true, and he can't suddenly make us a good team but he can avoid pissing the fans off even more and yet he's seemingly gone out of his way to do just that. Bacuna and Lescott are openly being booed by their own fans and yet he refuses to take either out of the team, Ayew is the one player that most fans believe has given a decent account of himself so in the last game when he was looking easily our best player he subs him off after an hour.  No one expects him to turn it around but he doesn't have to come out with shit about ignoring fans because his 35 years in the game means he knows better than them.  He seems to have decided that antagonising the fans is something he can and should do.

[HolmesyVilla]

I think it's a tough one regarding his team selection, it does piss me off that the players we blame are still getting picked,  but at the same time if he doesn't pick them, (except that oaf richardson) we are 100% stuck with them, so what should he do?
Weigh it up I say he's gotta play these buffoons to lower our chances of having to keep them here next season, and possibly beyond.

He's doing alright for me.

[Hookeysmith]

He had an impossible job.  He has taken over a dysfunctional squad, team in feefall and fans in revolt.  He can do no more than damage limitation. 

He has put Gabby on a fitness programme - as many here would have wanted him too.  He has decided not to accept dissent from Okore.  People talk time and again about the squad being too powerful and taking the piss out of the manager, yet you would want him to roll over to a player who refused to be on the bench?  That is double standards, whatever your thoughts about the respective merits of the available players.  Surely he should be applauded for taking a tough stance with these players which is exactly what people have been calling for.

Yes the performances have been poor and the selections un-inspiring.  However, I think not chucking in the kids for the relegation game was a valid decision.  Being cautious about putting kids into the curreent toxic atmosphere is also a rational decision whether you agree with it or not.  Even so, he has played Lyden and Toner and others may get a chance before the end of the season.

We have pretty much the worst team in living memory, a squad in disarray, boardroom in turmoil and a fan revolt.  Just what on earth did you expect Eric Black to do to turn all that round?  And don't just say play the kids - that may be your personal view, but there are valid reasons for not doing so.  He probably isn't allowed to play Traore for contractual reasons.

In my view he has had an impossible job.  The best he can do is conduct himself with dignity and steer us home.  I'm not saying he is a good manager or coach, but the judgments passed on him for what he has done are remarkably unfair.

You've misunderstood the problem in your very first line, I've highlighted the important bits.  He can't help with the squad, that's true, and he can't suddenly make us a good team but he can avoid pissing the fans off even more and yet he's seemingly gone out of his way to do just that. Bacuna and Lescott are openly being booed by their own fans and yet he refuses to take either out of the team, Ayew is the one player that most fans believe has given a decent account of himself so in the last game when he was looking easily our best player he subs him off after an hour.  No one expects him to turn it around but he doesn't have to come out with shit about ignoring fans because his 35 years in the game means he knows better than them.  He seems to have decided that antagonising the fans is something he can and should do.

Would he not also be chastised if he were seen to "pander" the terraces and pick a unrecognisable, inexperienced team. He obviously has some ambition himself so would want to pick what he thought was the strongest team.

A fuller assessment will be made in pre season once the Manager (whoever that is) knows which players are to be off loaded or stay (Whoever that is) and sees the budget to buy new (Whatever that is). He then can assess the younger players to see if they are ready to step up

A complete fresh slate is required - that cannot happen until the end of the season

Just want this shit over now so we can look forward

[VILLA MOLE]

not totally sure why he is talking about Toner in terms of playing for Man u ??

He really knows how to charm the natives   

[dave shelley]

not totally sure why he is talking about Toner in terms of playing for Man u ??

He really knows how to charm the natives   

When did he say that?  He's probably assuming that because the lad is Irish he falls into the stereotypical Irish football fan being a Manure supporter with aspirations to play for them.

[VILLA MOLE]

not totally sure why he is talking about Toner in terms of playing for Man u ??

He really knows how to charm the natives   

When did he say that?  He's probably assuming that because the lad is Irish he falls into the stereotypical Irish football fan being a Manure supporter with aspirations to play for them.

In his press conference , when asked about the career of Toner , He thinks he will have a good career, but not sure he will play for Man United.  It was a throw away comment but it doesnt help him or us 

[peter w]

He had an impossible job.  He has taken over a dysfunctional squad, team in feefall and fans in revolt.  He can do no more than damage limitation. 

He has put Gabby on a fitness programme - as many here would have wanted him too.  He has decided not to accept dissent from Okore.  People talk time and again about the squad being too powerful and taking the piss out of the manager, yet you would want him to roll over to a player who refused to be on the bench?  That is double standards, whatever your thoughts about the respective merits of the available players.  Surely he should be applauded for taking a tough stance with these players which is exactly what people have been calling for.

Yes the performances have been poor and the selections un-inspiring.  However, I think not chucking in the kids for the relegation game was a valid decision.  Being cautious about putting kids into the curreent toxic atmosphere is also a rational decision whether you agree with it or not.  Even so, he has played Lyden and Toner and others may get a chance before the end of the season.

We have pretty much the worst team in living memory, a squad in disarray, boardroom in turmoil and a fan revolt.  Just what on earth did you expect Eric Black to do to turn all that round?  And don't just say play the kids - that may be your personal view, but there are valid reasons for not doing so.  He probably isn't allowed to play Traore for contractual reasons.

In my view he has had an impossible job.  The best he can do is conduct himself with dignity and steer us home.  I'm not saying he is a good manager or coach, but the judgments passed on him for what he has done are remarkably unfair.

You've misunderstood the problem in your very first line, I've highlighted the important bits.  He can't help with the squad, that's true, and he can't suddenly make us a good team but he can avoid pissing the fans off even more and yet he's seemingly gone out of his way to do just that. Bacuna and Lescott are openly being booed by their own fans and yet he refuses to take either out of the team, Ayew is the one player that most fans believe has given a decent account of himself so in the last game when he was looking easily our best player he subs him off after an hour.  No one expects him to turn it around but he doesn't have to come out with shit about ignoring fans because his 35 years in the game means he knows better than them.  He seems to have decided that antagonising the fans is something he can and should do.

So, again, drop Lescott for who? No point saying okore because he wasn't available. And Bacuna, yes arguably drop him, but for who? What is the sytem, how do you know how the players are going in training? Adama gets back to fitness and so fqar this season then gets crocked again. Why risk him now? Give him some time, yes, build up his stamina through training and then throw him in if need be. He may be due a start, depends how he's performing in training. But if he's not playing well then who does he replace him with? Replace Adama with Bacuna - that's go down well. With Gil? He's no better. The fans can't dictate selection policy.

As for the Ayew substitution, yes on the face of it it looked strange but there clearly was a reason behind it. it is utterly bizarre and nonsensical to suggest he's doing it to antagonise fans. That's almost Newcastle fan type conspiracy delusion.

[aj2k77]

I'll sum him up. He's like the shit supply teacher who comes in to an unruly class and they couldn't give two fucks about anything he says, completely pointless and waste of time, just filling a gap.

[chrisw1]

not totally sure why he is talking about Toner in terms of playing for Man u ??

He really knows how to charm the natives   

When did he say that?  He's probably assuming that because the lad is Irish he falls into the stereotypical Irish football fan being a Manure supporter with aspirations to play for them.

In his press conference , when asked about the career of Toner , He thinks he will have a good career, but not sure he will play for Man United.  It was a throw away comment but it doesnt help him or us 

It was a kind of, I'm pretty sure he will have a career in football but I don't know if he will be good enough to play for the likes of...  Pretty innocuous stuff unless you're looking for stuff to pick on.

[tomd2103]

He had an impossible job. 

Disagree.  He came in for a few games in a no pressure situation.  He could have chosen to tray and give the whole place a lift, but instead went safety first and made some bizarre and infuriating team selections.