I'm not sure but think he's got a good shout as the best in that time if you look at it beyond where people finished in the league.Little overall did a better job but 25 years means you have to take out the cup win and just go on his last season and a bit.After that every manager had problems:Gregory - boring football and left us with a squad that was a mess.Taylor - inherited said mess and didn't have the time to fix it.DOL - was a wankerMoN - got handed a golden ticket but hit a brick wall at 6th and then left us with a messHoullier - took completely the wrong approach to fixing the mess in first half of the seasonMcLeish - worst manager we'd ever had up to that pointLambert - started badly, stumbled on to a decent formula for half a season and then fell to pieces - lasted at least a year longer han he deserved toSherwood - replaced McLeish as the worst ever left us with a squad so badly fractured that we were doomedGarde - Wrong man, wrong time and got fucked over by everyone at the clubRDM - kid in a sweetshop in the summer and forgot that he needed to actually form all the signings into a teamBruce - been done to death but I'm not a fan, underachieved in his 2nd season and left us with a unbalanced joke of a squad despite having plenty of money and quality to work with.A few of them had higher highs than Smith has managed but he's not had any lows so far and, importantly, if he left this year I think he'd be leaving a squad that his replacement wouldn't need to do loads to fix, something none of the managers above ever really did. There are things about Smith that I find really frustrating but his squad building and player development has been superb and he deserves massive credit for that.
Quote from: SoccerHQ on September 18, 2021, 10:41:15 PMPersonally I'd have started Bailey today although of course it was better he was used the way he was tonight rather than go off after 20 minutes.He's obviously going to start next weekend. Interested what else happens. Axel can't play for a start so assume we'll go back to back 4 and guess SJM is ruled out with concussion if rules are followed.Did think Buendia would drop into midfield but could easily be what played the first half.Nakamba in for Axel Bailey in for McGinn and play Bailey and Watkins either side of Ings. It's a game we expect nothing from so fuck it lets go for it make them scared of letting us in behind. Bailey's goal today will have a few teams worrying about a high press and/or high defensive line against us he has pace on a par with the very quickest in the league.
Personally I'd have started Bailey today although of course it was better he was used the way he was tonight rather than go off after 20 minutes.He's obviously going to start next weekend. Interested what else happens. Axel can't play for a start so assume we'll go back to back 4 and guess SJM is ruled out with concussion if rules are followed.Did think Buendia would drop into midfield but could easily be what played the first half.
No Deeboy1, absolutely not. Why change the back three, we are not Gareth Southgate. Stick with Konsa, Tuanzebe and Mings unless we go to four at the back. I cannot see Targett being a left centre back when we have Hause and Mings ready for that role.
Quote from: paul_e on September 17, 2021, 12:54:40 PMI'm not sure but think he's got a good shout as the best in that time if you look at it beyond where people finished in the league.Little overall did a better job but 25 years means you have to take out the cup win and just go on his last season and a bit.After that every manager had problems:Gregory - boring football and left us with a squad that was a mess.Taylor - inherited said mess and didn't have the time to fix it.DOL - was a wankerMoN - got handed a golden ticket but hit a brick wall at 6th and then left us with a messHoullier - took completely the wrong approach to fixing the mess in first half of the seasonMcLeish - worst manager we'd ever had up to that pointLambert - started badly, stumbled on to a decent formula for half a season and then fell to pieces - lasted at least a year longer han he deserved toSherwood - replaced McLeish as the worst ever left us with a squad so badly fractured that we were doomedGarde - Wrong man, wrong time and got fucked over by everyone at the clubRDM - kid in a sweetshop in the summer and forgot that he needed to actually form all the signings into a teamBruce - been done to death but I'm not a fan, underachieved in his 2nd season and left us with a unbalanced joke of a squad despite having plenty of money and quality to work with.A few of them had higher highs than Smith has managed but he's not had any lows so far and, importantly, if he left this year I think he'd be leaving a squad that his replacement wouldn't need to do loads to fix, something none of the managers above ever really did. There are things about Smith that I find really frustrating but his squad building and player development has been superb and he deserves massive credit for that.Spot on, until Deano hit's his brick wall, I'm happy with the continual progression; as intimated above, keep the lows less than the highs.PS: I'm also hopeful that he will not hit a brick wall, would love to see this guy lift some more Silverware
Quote from: Steve67 on September 19, 2021, 03:14:53 PMNo Deeboy1, absolutely not. Why change the back three, we are not Gareth Southgate. Stick with Konsa, Tuanzebe and Mings unless we go to four at the back. I cannot see Targett being a left centre back when we have Hause and Mings ready for that role. Was only because Axel can’t play. I guess Hause is the safer option but the more I see Targett the less I’m convinced he’s a creative wing back without that Man City player in front of him.
I don't like Luiz and McGinn sat in front of the back four Steve. They're both useless at it, and look far more effective in a midfield 3. If that means it has to be a 5-3-2 then so be it, but I'd rather go 4-3-3.