[Albion] What exactly would the next manager do that would make everything good?

[Jim in the West]

I don't know what to think - last season Potter seemed a tactical genius. This season we theoretically have better players (Lamptey, White, Lallana, Welbeck...) but something's not working. There have been some excellent performances (Man Utd, Newcastle, Villa, Liverpool), but too many average ones. When Hughton went I thought it was absolutely the right decision - we were awful for 6 months, and only going in one direction.

Are we "crap" because we can't score, or are we "crap" because the manager can't get the tactics right or motivate the team? I think it's much more the former....if we'd won the last two matches (which we very easily could and should have done) we'd be having a very different debate.

Sacking Potter would be (on paper) the easy solution - but presumably we'd have to get rid of Billy Reid and Hamberg, too? And possibly MacAulay?. And then we'd have to re-recruit for all those positions.

I'm absolutely convinced that TB sees this as a long term project, with Potter as part of it. The U23s and U18s play a similar style. The objective is to develop our own players and bring them through. It takes a lot longer than going out and splashing £150m+ on new players (eg: Villa, Everton, etc). It may get more painful, but I can't see Potter being sacked.

 

[Get It Forward Stephens]

You know full well that you won't be getting this debate from the fans who want to be vocal today.

Those fans all believe that Eddie Howe would turn Maupay and Connoly into 20 goals a season forwards.

I would happily take a manager who could turn them into 5 goal a season strikers right now.

Potter has coached all confidence out of them and many others.

 

[Swansman]

Did you actually watch the way Sheffield United were scrapping for everything as opposed to way even in the dying seconds we were just walking it up the pitch?

Its not a question of "motivation", its a question of playing it to a team mate or a space where a team mate is looking to move rather than just kicking the ball for the sake of kicking the ball. It has zero to do with motivation. You actually think there is a lack of motivation in the final minutes of a 1-1 or 0-1 football game? You think they actually believe "nah this is boooring, I want to go home and play Yatzy"? In that case I assume you've never met a professional footballer and even less so played football yourself.

Its like Maupay said at the beginning of last season when people were moaning about passing the ball around in the back line - its not without purpose, its not because they are lazy, its because they are looking for team mates and spaces and wont randomly hoof the ball until they find one.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Bilić IN!

 

[NooBHA]

I think the OP is correct. I don't think another Manager could get much more out of this group of players.

But they are almost all his group now. He dismantled the team he inherited and he will have to live or die with who he fields each week.

He has to keep going with his philosophy because I don't think he can adapt to playing differently. And I think he will still yield enough points over the season to stay up.

However there has been at least 4 new threads started about the Manager today alone. And once that happens it becomes difficult for him.

 

[The Fits]

I think the OP is correct. I don't think another Manager could get much more out of this group of players.

But they are almost all his group now. He dismantled the team he inherited and he will have to live or die with who he fields each week.

He has to keep going with his philosophy because I don't think he can adapt to playing differently. And I think he will still yield enough points over the season to stay up.

However there has been at least 4 new threads started about the Manager today alone. And once that happens it becomes difficult for him.

This is interesting, and i think you're right.
The mistake is thinking this is Hughton's team. It isn't - It is his squad. He made some massive, massive calls- Duffy out, Stephens out, Propper not fancied. Whatever has happened with Ryan (something happened after the first game he was dropped, clearly).
So that is another thing- what can a new manager do? Bring his own players in.

 

[Jim in the West]

I think the OP is correct. I don't think another Manager could get much more out of this group of players.

But they are almost all his group now. He dismantled the team he inherited and he will have to live or die with who he fields each week.

He has to keep going with his philosophy because I don't think he can adapt to playing differently. And I think he will still yield enough points over the season to stay up.

However there has been at least 4 new threads started about the Manager today alone. And once that happens it becomes difficult for him.

Things can change very quickly though...a few weeks ago we had just beaten Villa and drawn with Liverpool. Potter was definitely IN.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Two things:
1. Our overall speed of play - it makes it too easy to defend against. I think just upping the tempo would have a huge effect.
2. Recycling the ball after a clearance. When we regain possession near the opposition box after a headed clearance, for example, this is a hugely advantageous position. Continue the attack from this position by playing it wide and then crossing, hitting a through ball to a striker, or just playing it to the back post. Invariably, we prioritise possession in this situation by playing it back into our half and having to start all over again. Its not the percentage option.

 

[The Fits]

Things can change very quickly though...a few weeks ago we had just beaten Villa and drawn with Liverpool. Potter was definitely IN.

Exactly this. My worry is how the mood will be if we lose our next two.

 

[giveusfalmerplease]

Bilić IN!

Actually thats not that unlikely. a LOT of press said it was a ridiculous sacking for a manger playing basically with a championship team, who still managed to do something we never did, take a point away to Man City right before he was sacked.

 

[Jim in the West]

This is interesting, and i think you're right.
The mistake is thinking this is Hughton's team. It isn't - It is his squad. He made some massive, massive calls- Duffy out, Stephens out, Propper not fancied. Whatever has happened with Ryan (something happened after the first game he was dropped, clearly).
So that is another thing- what can a new manager do? Bring his own players in.

But those calls were probably right - Celtic have been very poor this season. Stephens can't get in the Burnley team. Ryan has been well below average this season (and Sanchez has been excellent). He also made calls on Knocky and Glenn - both obviously correct, Montoya, Bernardo.....Plus Andone and Locardia last year.

 

[NooBHA]

Things can change very quickly though...a few weeks ago we had just beaten Villa and drawn with Liverpool. Potter was definitely IN.

I said virtually the same thing in another thread. A couple of wins in a row changes everything.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Two things:
1. Our overall speed of play - it makes it too easy to defend against. I think just upping the tempo would have a huge effect.
2. Recycling the ball after a clearance. When we regain possession near the opposition box after a headed clearance, for example, this is a hugely advantageous position. Continue the attack from this position by playing it wide and then crossing, hitting a through ball to a striker, or just playing it to the back post. Invariably, we prioritise possession in this situation by playing it back into our half and having to start all over again. Its not the percentage option.

Good post
I agree.

We are ponderous.

 

[lizard]

Bilić IN!

You joke, but I'd be more than happy to swap him in for Hyypia MkII.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Ah yes.

A new striker would be able to walk into a box, shoot and score every single time.

The problem is our approach in the final third. We overplay.

...and where does that stem from?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

You joke, but I'd be more than happy to swap him in for Hyypia MkII.

You think I joke? I'd take him in an instant over the current occupant of the position

 

[The Fits]

...and where does that stem from?

Exactly.
Players are told to play a certain way. That is how they are coached. They are raw materials that are moulded in the form of the manager.
We play better when we play a higher pace and more direct. Because that suits our players. What Potter is trying (what?) is not suiting them.

 

[The Fits]

After lockdown we had minority possession for the majority of games, we also picked up our best results of the second half of that season.

A new manager might build on that instead of reverting to a game plan that had us in a relegation battle.

We looked great as a counter attacking team.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Actually thats not that unlikely. a LOT of press said it was a ridiculous sacking for a manger playing basically with a championship team, who still managed to do something we never did, take a point away to Man City right before he was sacked.

Bit of a knee jerk reaction to yesterday. Roy isn’t doing a bad job despite the 7-0.

 

[junior]

Get our most imposing and influential player back from Celtic.