RDM Poll time at 10 played!

[Clampy]

The most critical thing for success imo is a settled side and the  main reason he has failed. Maybe its all too much too soon and he has too many options but pick a bloody formation and style of play you want and damn well stick to it. Pick your best 11 players in their best positions and back them, even after a bad game. If someone comes on as a sub and does really well or does great in training, they come into your thinking but dont shoe horn them in because someone else had a bad game. 3 or 4 games playing badly and then maybe a spell on the sidelines but how can any of them get momentum built up they way things are?

Jack has played number 10, wing and wide forward. Kodjia has played central striker on his own, part of a two, wide forward and winger. Adomah has only played twice and has played winger and bloody wing back. Dont even get me started on Bacuna who everytime he shows some promise he starts next week on a different corner of the pitch. The defence are going from a back 3 to 4 to 5 week in week out - its ludicrous and will cost him his job if he doesnt stop playing championship manager every week

This.
It's all a bit Sherwood.

I don't agree with this to be honest. He hasn't changed it from 5 to 4 at the back week in week out at all, he's played 5 at the back twice in ten games, it's hardly every week, although at home it wasn't necessary. As for the formations, he's tried different things like most managers would. As for Bacuna comment, he's mainly played either right back or right midfield this season, So I don't get that either.

So you dont agree by agreeing with me? He has had a long preseason and supposedly bought players in to suit a formation/style of play and yet 10 games in has already played 442, 352, 343 and 351. You dont think that is ridiculous? how can we possibly get any cohesion?

As well as RM and FB, Bacuna has also played RWB and and Right sided wide attacker, so in 8 games he has had 4 different roles covering defence, midfield, attack and attacking defender. We will not progress whilst he keeps trying to stumble upon a magic formula - like cd said, it reminds me of sherwood and his formation dartboard again. I watched Jurgen Klopp on MNF saying how he wouldnt experiment with something like that (3/4/5 at the back) as it is too fundamental a change to try and implement during a season.

Not saying that injuries and opposition shouldnt dictate minor tweaking (Cissokho and Amavi with defensive and offensive traits is a great example) but like i said, imo this is why he is failing

I haven't got too much of a problem with him trying different formations to see if something clicks. Managers do stumble across systems that they hadn't originally planned which have ended up working. Besides, people were saying we were playing too many strikers, then it was not enough midfielders and some did suggest going 5 at the back before he did away at Ipswich and that was wrong as well.

As for Bacuna, the way you said that he ends up on a 'different corner of the pitch' did exaggerate the point a little. He only moved when De Laet came in and he's been one of our better players this season which is why he's not been left out too many times.

[aj2k77]

I think we'd be ok playing 5-5-3.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I want him gone ASAP, nice bloke but not up to the job.

I was really enthusiastic at the start of the season, and think the transfer business overall was good (Got rid of the drek and got proven players in). That squad should be in the top 2-3 all season long. the fact it isn't is down to poor fitness (RDM responsibility), poor tactics (RDM responsibility), poor substitutions (RDM responsibility), and poor motivation (RDM responsibility).

Despite it's weak points (goalkeeper and midfield) I would not swap our squad for any other in the league (even Newcastle), so for it to be doing so badly RDM has to be at fault.

Hughton would be a good shout and him, Warburton or Rowett would be my first choices.

I also agree that Warnock would be a very good manager for us at this level, and would have us right up the league. I heard an interview with him a while back when he left Rotherham, and he is well aware that the Championship is his domain rather than the Premier league so I think we woul have no problem hiring him on a 'get us up and we get someone else in' basis. Bruce is another that would do well but need moving on when up and one that would want to stay, so would avoid him on that basis.

If Eddie Howe would do what Taylor did (leave a small over-performing top flight club for a much bigger job a divison down at the Villa) then he is another I would like to see rock up at Villa park.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Definitely deserves 15 games, but he doesn't need to win all 5 to be kept for me. If things are looking up after 15 that's fine by me. I've gone into this season thinking play offs are the achievable aim, and as it stands i think we're currently 5 off them without ever looking like we're going to get battered by anyone.

Yes, some of his decisions have baffled me, and continue to do so. But if he's getting flak then so must the players who aren't doing their jobs either. Two stand out examples being the so called 'leaders' Elphick and Jedinak. If those pair played anywhere near to what their capble of it'd be a start and i'm not blaming RDM for their lack of quality.

[mattjpa]

The most critical thing for success imo is a settled side and the  main reason he has failed. Maybe its all too much too soon and he has too many options but pick a bloody formation and style of play you want and damn well stick to it. Pick your best 11 players in their best positions and back them, even after a bad game. If someone comes on as a sub and does really well or does great in training, they come into your thinking but dont shoe horn them in because someone else had a bad game. 3 or 4 games playing badly and then maybe a spell on the sidelines but how can any of them get momentum built up they way things are?

Jack has played number 10, wing and wide forward. Kodjia has played central striker on his own, part of a two, wide forward and winger. Adomah has only played twice and has played winger and bloody wing back. Dont even get me started on Bacuna who everytime he shows some promise he starts next week on a different corner of the pitch. The defence are going from a back 3 to 4 to 5 week in week out - its ludicrous and will cost him his job if he doesnt stop playing championship manager every week

This.
It's all a bit Sherwood.

I don't agree with this to be honest. He hasn't changed it from 5 to 4 at the back week in week out at all, he's played 5 at the back twice in ten games, it's hardly every week, although at home it wasn't necessary. As for the formations, he's tried different things like most managers would. As for Bacuna comment, he's mainly played either right back or right midfield this season, So I don't get that either.

So you dont agree by agreeing with me? He has had a long preseason and supposedly bought players in to suit a formation/style of play and yet 10 games in has already played 442, 352, 343 and 351. You dont think that is ridiculous? how can we possibly get any cohesion?

As well as RM and FB, Bacuna has also played RWB and and Right sided wide attacker, so in 8 games he has had 4 different roles covering defence, midfield, attack and attacking defender. We will not progress whilst he keeps trying to stumble upon a magic formula - like cd said, it reminds me of sherwood and his formation dartboard again. I watched Jurgen Klopp on MNF saying how he wouldnt experiment with something like that (3/4/5 at the back) as it is too fundamental a change to try and implement during a season.

Not saying that injuries and opposition shouldnt dictate minor tweaking (Cissokho and Amavi with defensive and offensive traits is a great example) but like i said, imo this is why he is failing

I haven't got too much of a problem with him trying different formations to see if something clicks. Managers do stumble across systems that they hadn't originally planned which have ended up working. Besides, people were saying we were playing too many strikers, then it was not enough midfielders and some did suggest going 5 at the back before he did away at Ipswich and that was wrong as well.

As for Bacuna, the way you said that he ends up on a 'different corner of the pitch' did exaggerate the point a little. He only moved when De Laet came in and he's been one of our better players this season which is why he's not been left out too many times.

People have different opinions on why things are going well/badly in football which is what makes it so great for debating. But "people" arent being paid handsomly and given multi-millions to get this squad out of this division, RDM, Clarke and their team are. Do you think, after a full preseason and 12 competitive games that he knows his preferred formation and starting line up? I dont think he does and believe thats the reason we're in a pickle. May be wrong, its only my opinion

[ChicagoLion]

Preston is must win or he will be sacked.

[Richard E]

When was the last time we actually won a "must win" match?

[tomd2103]

Preston is must win or he will be sacked.

Beginning to think that as well, as timing aspects seem to be falling into line (international break coming up, credible replacements out of work).  It would be harsh, but it depends on Xia's mindset really.  If promotion this season is the be all and end all, then I don't think he has much time to wait for results to change.  If the mutterings over the summer about promotion in two seasons are true, then RDM might be afforded a little more time.   

[ChicagoLion]

When was the last time we actually won a "must win" match?

I mean must win for him, agree.
Which means he will be sacked

[Fred]

i think this Saturday and then home to Wolves will be the two games that decides his fate. another draw and a loss at home and i think he would go.

[Lobsterboy]

I am firmly of the opinion that he doesn't know what he's doing - get rid

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I am firmly of the opinion that he doesn't know what he's doing - get rid

To be fair to RDM, he's never previously had to build a team. All his successes have been based around inheriting a decent side to begin with and that even includes the Bitters. Whether he has the capacity or will be given the time is something Xia must be pondering.

[Ads]

We have 36 games to get another 75 points- never going to happen, so wave goodbye to even a slim shout of the automatic spots.

We need another 60 points to squeak into 6th, so we need more than 2 points a game which looks massively unlikely as well.

So with the chances of enjoying a second season in this shit heap of a league, its a question of whether we will pick up the necessary points to stay up.On the current ratio, its a maybe.

[Hookeysmith]

The most critical thing for success imo is a settled side and the  main reason he has failed. Maybe its all too much too soon and he has too many options but pick a bloody formation and style of play you want and damn well stick to it. Pick your best 11 players in their best positions and back them, even after a bad game. If someone comes on as a sub and does really well or does great in training, they come into your thinking but dont shoe horn them in because someone else had a bad game. 3 or 4 games playing badly and then maybe a spell on the sidelines but how can any of them get momentum built up they way things are?

Jack has played number 10, wing and wide forward. Kodjia has played central striker on his own, part of a two, wide forward and winger. Adomah has only played twice and has played winger and bloody wing back. Dont even get me started on Bacuna who everytime he shows some promise he starts next week on a different corner of the pitch. The defence are going from a back 3 to 4 to 5 week in week out - its ludicrous and will cost him his job if he doesnt stop playing championship manager every week

100% this

[brian green]

Agree Ads.  This season is already a write off as far as promotion is concerned.  The issue is very much can we improve enough to avoid back to back relegations.