Sage SACKED, according to reports

[Username]

It was always going to be a transition period, and a difficult one to manage. I said at the time that we should have prioritised experienced campaigners to see us through, and begin the next phase of developing talent far more slowly and later on. A steady hand manager would have made far more sense in the circumstances.

Thing is, that doesn't mean it could only ever have gone as it did, or that the risks were not worth taking. If we were 15th right now, watching Dyche-ball every week, we would all be bemoaning the club's lack of ambition and failure to maintain positive momentum by appointing someone like that 'Sage' bloke who we were linked with!

This is very fair. And in comparison to the Glasner comparison, the big difference is that we aren’t seeing the green shoots.

If we’re prioritising pressing and keeping possession in training*, why are we still so bad at both? If we’re an attacking team, why do we create so few chances, even if the ones we do create are often very eye-catching?

It’s one thing to accept being shaky on set pieces while you’re working on the other bits, but the problem Sage has is that isn’t abundantly clear what they HAVE actually been working on. That’s not purely down to the quality of playing staff either.

*and acknowledging this is based on reports from elsewhere

 

[TheBigToePunt]

This is very fair. And in comparison to the Glasner comparison, the big difference is that we aren’t seeing the green shoots.

If we’re prioritising pressing and keeping possession in training*, why are we still so bad at both? If we’re an attacking team, why do we create so few chances, even if the ones we do create are often very eye-catching?

It’s one thing to accept being shaky on set pieces while you’re working on the other bits, but the problem Sage has is that isn’t abundantly clear what they HAVE actually been working on. That’s not purely down to the quality of playing staff either.

*and acknowledging this is based on reports from elsewhere

Yes, to me Sage has gone from seeming like possibly a very good coach but perhaps the wrong fit for Palace, to just a very poor coach. Like you, I cannot see any evidence of effective coaching in the nature of the performances. The results could be almost secondary, a short term blip, if the team seemed well-drilled. They absolutely do not, though. Quite the opposite. I am not sure that the players are failing to try hard for Sage. If anything, it seems like the more they commit to his instructions, the worse it all gets.

I suppose this is what happens in any walk of life, really. You want to appoint someone who has done well in other places before, or is doing really well somewhere right now, and you can do a certain degree of due-diligence and a thorough interview, but ultimately until they are in the building and going about their work, you just don’t know what you are getting.

I doubt Parish is the first boss to employ someone only to have reservations very soon afterwards. I have been in that position myself! That is why so many jobs have a six month probation period.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

He’s not animated at all on the touchline during games. I’m not saying that he has to be like the last manager, who acted like he’d eaten the world’s biggest bag of Haribo before kick-off, but at least try to act a bit enthusiastic and motivational!!

Or sit next to someone who does the hooting and hollering. Bob Paisley barely moved but he was successful enough.

 

[Palacesince64]

I suspect matters are hanging with Man Utd. Pochettino has made no secret of the fact that he wants to manage them. I suspect Eddie Howe is also awaiting the meeting today as he may also have his hat in that ring.

And we may want Howe over Frank. Howe has publicly rejected the idea of coming to us, but that just signaled his interest in Man Utd. If Man Utd go with Poch, he may suddenly be available for us. His PR back pedaling will be a thing of the past if he gets our defence reorganized.

If Man Utd decide to stick with what they have for the time being, Poch and Howe will revert to waiting mode; and Frank could be announced for us by the end of the week.

Howe won’t come to Palace. He believes he’s better than that. Before he went to Newcastle he was approached by Celtic and sent them packing. To be honest his record isn’t outstanding. His teams aren’t renowned for their defensive organisation. Not sure he’s an upgrade on Frank.
My concern about Frank is that his Brentford side relied heavily on set pieces and their set piece coach is now their manager and doing at least as well as Frank did while Frank has gone on to struggle at Spurs. Makes me wonder who was behind Brentford’s success.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Or sit next to someone who does the hooting and hollering. Bob Paisley barely moved but he was successful enough.

I think we project all sorts onto irrelevant bits of information, depending on how performances and results are going.

If we were winning then Sage would seem commendably calm and unflustered, and we'd be saying how refreshing to not have an attention-seeking jack-in-the-box like Arteta or Klopp. If he was animated we'd be saying he should sit down and stop confusing the players, as they never listen to managers during games anyway!

Likewise with his weight, and language skills. Benetiz is a fatty. Mourinho has let himself go, the little porker. They've won everything, though. Emery at Villa remains comically similar to Manuel from Fawlty Towers, but it doesn't seem to have done him any harm. Lots of erudite or plain-speaking managers have communicated very clearly on their way to relegation!

Ultimately, whether its overall style of play, tactics, selections, or every little thing about the bloke, if you are doing well then they are all good, and if you are doing badly, they are all wrong!

 

[Jacey]

But we might be bottom, but beat cov and hull and we’ll be in mid table wondering what all the fuss is about, so we’re not exactly in the trenches yet

H, you seem to be in denile,you old Egyptian!!
I am afraid to say that the chances of our winning these games is somewhat remote with Sage, sacked and potentially Paddy Mac, installed as caretaker.His last game in charge resulted in a 4-1 thrashing,a performance for which he was proud.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

Might be in Leclerc depending on his pay off.

The sensible choice. It doesn't smell awful like most French supermarkets.

 

[VinceHilaire]

He’s not animated at all on the touchline during games. I’m not saying that he has to be like the last manager, who acted like he’d eaten the world’s biggest bag of Haribo before kick-off, but at least try to act a bit enthusiastic and motivational!!

Agreed!

I sit in the Main Stand - he shouts out a few instructions - and that is it!

Encourage, organise, motivate….just do something

 

[Nutmegyeti]

But we might be bottom, but beat cov and hull and we’ll be in mid table wondering what all the fuss is about, so we’re not exactly in the trenches yet

And lose to them - like we did against Ipswich and we be f***ed

And i know which of those id be betting on.

 

[taylors lovechild]

Or sit next to someone who does the hooting and hollering. Bob Paisley barely moved but he was successful enough.

Ray did most of the shouting during our R&R days, with Roy often sat on the bench with his Bovril and knee blanket. I have also heard a lot of pros say that they don't really listen to the manager once the game is in play, so perhaps it's really more for the fans' benefit anyway?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Ray did most of the shouting during our R&R days, with Roy often sat on the bench with his Bovril and knee blanket. I have also heard a lot of pros say that they don't really listen to the manager once the game is in play, so perhaps it's really more for the fans' benefit anyway?

That's fair enough. Most of them just wave their arms about meaning either "go forward" or "drop back" or do that hand rolling thing that could mean anything at all.

 

[Willo]

Howe won’t come to Palace. He believes he’s better than that. Before he went to Newcastle he was approached by Celtic and sent them packing. To be honest his record isn’t outstanding. His teams aren’t renowned for their defensive organisation. Not sure he’s an upgrade on Frank.
My concern about Frank is that his Brentford side relied heavily on set pieces and their set piece coach is now their manager and doing at least as well as Frank did while Frank has gone on to struggle at Spurs. Makes me wonder who was behind Brentford’s success.

Thomas Frank had a few set-piece coaches when he was manager of Brentford.
Nicolas Jover (Now at Arsenal), Keith Andrews, Bernardo Cuerva, Andreas Georgson.

 

[Willo]

That's fair enough. Most of them just wave their arms about meaning either "go forward" or "drop back" or do that hand rolling thing that could mean anything at all.

Not many accelerate out of the blocks and proceeed with some rapidity down the touchline when their team scores as Glasner did against Man C !!