Sage in or out

[PatrickA]

The other major factor to consider is which manager is available immediately and whether such manager is vaguely competent.
I'm not really a fan of Howe, but in any event I think his self regard is such that he'd be looking at a bigger club than us

I liked Frank for much of his time at Brentford until he lost his way whereupon the stories emerged that his success was down to the way Brentford was run as opposed to Frank's managerial skills.

I think we've moved on from the likes of Dyche and I'm not sure he'd be a good fit for the squad anyway.

Any other suggestions for an experienced candidate ( not Roy)?

 

[Save Dwindlehurst]

At least for Sage we’re not adrift. Bit lucky to be on seven points. Buys him a bit of time.

 

[samprior]

At least for Sage we’re not adrift. Bit lucky to be on seven points. Buys him a bit of time.

Indeed. Or buys the new guy a bit of time.

 

[samprior]

The other major factor to consider is which manager is available immediately and whether such manager is vaguely competent.
I'm not really a fan of Howe, but in any event I think his self regard is such that he'd be looking at a bigger club than us

I liked Frank for much of his time at Brentford until he lost his way whereupon the stories emerged that his success was down to the way Brentford was run as opposed to Frank's managerial skills.

I think we've moved on from the likes of Dyche and I'm not sure he'd be a good fit for the squad anyway.

Any other suggestions for an experienced candidate ( not Roy)?

Sage's replacement at Lens Dino Topmöller is available after falling out with the board. He was apparently also on our wishlist over the summer. And Sage could go back to Lens. Stranger things have happened.

 

[leejaneagles]

I wanted Glasner out for the rigidity of the formation & I'm actually glad he left of his own accord and can be remembered as our greatest ever Manager (which he is because of the 3 trophies) but we went on some horrendous runs and the reason was because Prem Teams can slice through a midfield 2.

Lacroix and Guehi are supremely talented CBs so they pulled us through but in my mind, we’d of finished way higher up the table and still won our trophies with those 2 at centre back. Eze, Olisse, Sarr and Mateta (in form) were too good to not score, so we made it work.

I still think it was wrong. You can’t convince me otherwise. It works when it works (FA Cup final) which is the highest of highs but too rigid when it doesn’t work (Macclesfield).

This is all a long winded way of saying, I don’t mind playing it when it suits but only Glasner had credit enough in the bank to play a back 5 against bloody Macclesfield!

Sage has some of the worst defenders at his disposal but has Will Hughes, Lerma and to a lesser extent, Doucoure in the bench. If you pick 2 out of Richard’s, Canvot, Disasi and Honor (an admitidly duff set to choose from) but sit Lerma between Wharton and Timber, or Timber between Kamada and Wharton, then have Sarr, Pinot and Strand upfront, we do better.

That team and formation doesn’t win today our 2 CBs probably still score own goals), but we lose 2-0 instead of 5-0 against BRIGHTON

 

[OneStevePerrin]

Or even just drop the wing backs 15 yards deeper. Let the back three play between the width of the penalty box, drop Kamada back to make a midfield three and get the whole team to stop pushing so far up. I am at a loss as to why he isn’t changing it because it so clearly isn’t working.

Leads me to think he can’t communicate his instructions clearly to his players or he has lost them. Either way it’s difficult to see how he can avoid the sack. This is even more chaotic than the Pardew days.

That is exactly what should be happening. I thought we all said after the Leeds draw that was why we got the result. And yet we went into the next two matches pushing the wingbacks up again with two in midfield and let in 8 goals. Utterly amazing that we have seen what’s required and Sage can’t? The unsettled back 3 just can’t handle it and today we switched them around again putting Canvot on the wrong side of the 3. Whatever 3 we use, Richard’s has to play on the right. At least have 2 of the 3 playing in there preferred position. Doesn’t help the centre of the 3 I know but 2 out of 3 must be best until we get players either injured or suspended back? It’s a mess and Sage isn’t helping - Grrr!

 

[samprior]

That is exactly what should be happening. I thought we all said after the Leeds draw that was why we got the result. And yet we went into the next two matches pushing the wingbacks up again with two in midfield and let in 8 goals. Utterly amazing that we have seen what’s required and Sage can’t? The unsettled back 3 just can’t handle it and today we switched them around again putting Canvot on the wrong side of the 3. Whatever 3 we use, Richard’s has to play on the right. At least have 2 of the 3 playing in there preferred position. Doesn’t help the centre of the 3 I know but 2 out of 3 must be best until we get players either injured or suspended back? It’s a mess and Sage isn’t helping - Grrr!

The maddening thing is the wingbacks play so high up leaving us ridiculously exposed...yet still rarely apply any pressure on the opposition when they're in possession. We seem to be sprinting at the opposition from about 10 meters whilst they take their first touch. This then leaves huge pockets of space to pass into and then the same thing happens again until the opposition are running at our back 3 who are usually sh*tting themselves by that point.

 

[sprites]

Correct. The system relies on a near-perfect press. Winning the ball higher up the field means less pressure on the back three...but anything less than full commitment and it unravels, as we've been seeing.