[Albion] Time for Hughton to Step Up

A mex eyecan said:

and you’re not wrong here either, but it’s backs to the wall for the next few vital games. I feel it’s too late to make any change, so if our C.H. is struggling to boost the team then we all need to help him do so.

please don’t think i’m suggesting you aren’t,

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SollysLeftFoot said:

It's too late, absolutely. I have said in another thread, my ideal situation would be stay up and mutually agree to part ways.

I wouldn't want him to be sacked, rather he was able to walk away rather than being booted. He doesn't deserve to be dumped in such a way Norwich did

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Kosh said:

Hmmm Chris has said, post today, we need to get back to being hard to beat. 0-0 at best on Tuesday is then, another ultra defensive display awaits. Jesus, it’s going to be long night.

We might get lucky, then again...

It’s too much to take, playing for a draw at home against Cardiff, but that’s how far we’ve regressed this time around.

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portlock seagull said:

This! Was my immediate thought too. If (IF!!) we 'get back' it's only going to be 'hard to beat' which even newly arrived Aliens know means a nil-nil bore draw at most...against Cardiff. That'll keep us up won't it...! Zzzzzzzzzz

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southstandandy said:

I will not say a bad word about Chris as a person. He conducts himself with great credit and is always composed in his reactions (in public anyway).

BUT - the biggest concern for me today was not the size of the defeat but the way the players appeared to down tools and almost give up. Does Chris really have the ability to lift this squad of players for what is as we all know a massive game on Tuesday? From what I saw today I really fear that we have very few ideas of how to get the best from what I accept is a pretty limited squad, and I'm not convinced they will be able to lift themselves for Tuesday. Warnock will have his side right up for this as this may be their last chance to save themselves, and I worry that if we concede the first goal it will all go tits up again. If it does then I think relegation is highly likely as I couldn't then see us getting anything from our remaining games.

If we survive then a major analysis needs to be undertaken as to whether Chris is the long term answer as manager - has he taken us as far as we can go? and also recruitment needs to be reviewed as really hardly any of of the players signed since we've been in the Premier League have made much of an impact. Yes, a few have done ok, and I still hold out hope for Bissouma and Bernardo to be good long term signings but can we continue to chance our arm from lesser European leagues? or do we try to strengthen and take chances with Championship players and hope they can make the step up?

Having calmed down after today's shambles I will be giving it my all in the stands on Tuesday as I know will all decent Albion fans to push us to that crucial win that will hopefully take us just about to safety. Then the hard work will really have to begin.

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The Complete Badger said:

Hughton talking up Bournemouth needs to be called out for this bullshit it is. Bournemouth’s recent away results are:

L v Leicester
W v Huddersfield
L v Arsenal
L v Liverpool
L v Cardiff
L v Everton
L v Man Utd
L v Spurs
L v Chelsea
L v Wolves
L v Man City
L v Newcastle

So that’s three points from 12 games and those all came against the second worst team to ever play Premier League football.

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Kosh said:

I know, he seemed way too comfortable in his post match interview... all shoulder shrugging, all what can you do against world beaters like Bournemouth?.. FFS Chris! that performance was shocking... shocking... and then we get the, lets get back to basics, let’s be hard to beat... against Cardiff!?! I mean, roll on the championship.

Let’s be positive, let’s talk about attacking intent, scoring goals and bloody winning.

It’s too negative, too dour and the results are following suit.

Where do we go from here?

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portlock seagull said:

I get frustrated by calling something out for what it is and then being labelled a doom-monger: there's a hell of a difference between being negative and having a better grasp on reality.

Proverbially though, I think way too many Albion fans aren't tough enough to survive in the PL. It's unforgiving and ruthless. If you hide from that then it tends to chew you up and spit you out. Which is what's about to happen to us. Because we're a nice club, forgiving, patient, a lovely family outing, that doesn't sack managers and provides every ex player with a lounge to chair on match days. As long as we're winning best programme and pie, have the best training ground and seemingly employing everyone under 23 that can kick a ball then everyone's happy. More's the fool if you are. That's all peripheral. The core of our club is and always will be the quality of the 1st 11 (mens) and it's been weak for 2 seasons. There were so many things alarming many of us back in Nov/Dec, the net result of which is where we find ourselves tonight i.e. on the brink of relegation. I'm not surprised. Especially after our lack of transfer activity in January.

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Biscuit Barrel said:

Step up or step down?

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Sussex Nomad said:

Totally agree, I want him out as manager but not out of the club, we owe him loyalty for that.

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Super Steve Earle said:

If ever there is a time for Chris to demonstrate the managerial skills for which he has been feted all season, this is it. Not quite, but almost a one match shoot-out. He needs to show his mettle and find a formation and personnel to win one match. Warnock will have Chris sussed unless Chris pulls a surprise of some sort - goodness knows what, but we dare not be predictable, slow or any of the usual nonsense. It needs to be Man Utd all over again.

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