Sage in or out

[Elwissthebest]

The first half was the best we have played in a while and if we had Mateta and Sarr playing today it may have been a different story.

However, it wasn't. 4 defeats in a row, 12 goals conceded, 5 to our closest rivals and we sit firmly at the bottom of the table is enough for me to say time for a change.

Having Mateta on the pitch would indeed be helpful. As far as Sarr is concerned, having him on the pitch and having him playing are two different things. Both have, by their attitude this season, done the manager, and their team mates, no favours at all this season.

 

[Linford]

I've been a huge "Sage In" guy all the way. Today I went to "on the fence".

I still think he has been in unfortunate circumstances. Massive injury crisis, multiple wantaways, all the noise around the club, and the lack of noise from the former Holmesdale Fanatics all being factors.

That being said, our goal difference is abysmal, we're bottom of the league, and despite today being one of the better performances we've had, we still shipped three goals and racked up another loss.

I was thinking he would get the next two so-called "easy" games in Hull and Cov, but with another international break starting it's often time when clubs make changes. Gives any new man a chance to drill the squad.

Sky have Thomas Frank as clear favourite. Having already said I would be happy with him in the Summer gone, I have to stick by that and I'd be happy enough if it does happen.

My own shortlist is as follows;

1. Dino Topmöller
2. Pellegrino Matarazzo
3. José Bordalás
4. Iñigo Pérez
5. Thomas Frank
6. Frank Lampard
7. Julen Lopetegui
8. Tony Popović
9. Ryan Lowe
10. Mile Jedinak

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Ed Aarons in the guardian is reporting that Sage likely to be sacked tomorrow. Aarons is usually pretty reliable.

 

[Willo]

Ed Aarons in the guardian is reporting that Sage likely to be sacked tomorrow. Aarons is usually pretty reliable.

Indeed I was probed about this tonight via a message when I was imbibing a tipple in a local Public House with my dear wife.
She was not best pleased when I was perusing my mobile phone with some regularity whilst I was with her in a social setting.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Indeed I was probed about this tonight via a message when I was imbibing a tipple in a local Public House with my dear wife.
She was not best pleased when I was perusing my mobile phone with some regularity whilst I was with her in a social setting.

Well, you'll have to do better then, won't you?

Otherwise it might not only be Sage getting the elbow!

 

[Vaibow]

It just boils down to this... the club is bigger than any manager... and right now it's not working nor has Sage shown he can fix this... however it's a deep rooted problem that goes to Hobbs and his piss poor recruitment and also, the man calling the shots... Parish - the buck stops with him. Will changing Sage fix the issue? At best, it does short term... but Hobbs has to do better, as does Parish.

 

[ASCPFC]

Indeed I was probed about this tonight via a message when I was imbibing a tipple in a local Public House with my dear wife.
She was not best pleased when I was perusing my mobile phone with some regularity whilst I was with her in a social setting.

Probably wasn't the time and place to be vetting possible matches on Tinder.

 

[radicalsteve]

No doubt PS was dealt a poor hand, but he compounded it. First and foremost, smart managers realize you have to get points on the board at the beginning of the season, so play deep, protect the goal and hope to score on the break and then when you are not in the relegation zone, start to implement a more risk/ goal oriented approach. He missjudged the construct and put us in the hole pre-season with his hoped for style. Even worse, we are not scoring the goals his style expected - because our forwards are not that good, plus Sarr and Mateta are not playing for the team for whatever reasons. It's not rocket science and he should have figured that out, hunkered down and then pressed the board to release the dross and get some decent players on board in January. Unfortunately he has been "deer in the headlights" all season. Super nice bloke I'm sure and yes the players are not abandoning him either and show a lot of character - but that does not get you points on the board. We don't have the quality to support free flowing football over 90 minutes, so we should be digging in, be hard to beat and then build from there ..... but he insisted on a methodology that we cannot implement. And .... his defensive coach is rubbish, and that was his choice.

 

[martinelliff]

Ed Aarons in the guardian is reporting that Sage likely to be sacked tomorrow. Aarons is usually pretty reliable.

Its not exactly a wild suggestion, more people than not are assuming it will happen. A lot depends on Sage relationship with Parish, the players and people behind the scenes. Most observers are of the opinion he is not a bad manager and has come into a messy situation. Wrong time, wrong manager, no luck. Noone will complain if Sage goes after their meeting tomorrow. People who know a lot more than me will make that decision. Whoever the manager is the rollercoaster keeps going, champions league and/or championship next season. Happy if we get both or neither.

 

[Willo]

Well, you'll have to do better then, won't you?

Otherwise it might not only be Sage getting the elbow!

My dear wife is grace and dignity personified and possesses a clarity of thought but she can be a 'Hornet in the pants'.

 

[Willo]

Probably wasn't the time and place to be vetting possible matches on Tinder.

Heavens to Betsy.
Such sites were unavailable when I was in my pomp and we had to rely on charm and personality when confronting ladies face-to-face.
Suffice to say my libidinous behaviour is in the dim and distant past.

 

[RubinsCube]

No doubt PS was dealt a poor hand, but he compounded it. First and foremost, smart managers realize you have to get points on the board at the beginning of the season, so play deep, protect the goal and hope to score on the break and then when you are not in the relegation zone, start to implement a more risk/ goal oriented approach. He missjudged the construct and put us in the hole pre-season with his hoped for style. Even worse, we are not scoring the goals his style expected - because our forwards are not that good, plus Sarr and Mateta are not playing for the team for whatever reasons. It's not rocket science and he should have figured that out, hunkered down and then pressed the board to release the dross and get some decent players on board in January. Unfortunately he has been "deer in the headlights" all season. Super nice bloke I'm sure and yes the players are not abandoning him either and show a lot of character - but that does not get you points on the board. We don't have the quality to support free flowing football over 90 minutes, so we should be digging in, be hard to beat and then build from there ..... but he insisted on a methodology that we cannot implement. And .... his defensive coach is rubbish, and that was his choice.

There has been a lack of flexibility for sure.

When you look at it in the cold light of day:

1. Disasi has played (albeit briefly) in a World Cup Final.
2. Richards was immense at times for us last year and the year before.
3. Mingueza was in the Europa League team of the season just last season.
4. We know Mitchell is class.
5. Lerma, Chilwell and Canvot played meaningful roles in the squad and team last year.

Just considering the players above, there is no way a defence made up of the above players and with Henderson in goal should be letting in 24 goals in 10 games.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

My dear wife is grace and dignity personified and possesses a clarity of thought but she can be a 'Hornet in the pants'.

I'm trying to work out if that's a good thing or not. Unless she's a Watford fan?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Sky now reporting Sage is likely to be sacked but that "no decision has been taken yet". Could all come down to if Steve gets Coco Pops or Corn Flakes for his breakfast.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

It’s clearly going to happen today, I’ll be waiting for the notification all day

 

[FinchleyEagle]

Sage was dealt a terrible hand. Of the awesome 3 CBs that won the FA Cup, losing one and bringing in potential (Canvot) can work. Losing two, and relying on 1 experienced, 1 potential and a hotchpotch of others was never going to work. And our two best strikers have hardly been on the pitch. That's always going to be tough.

But look at the goals we concede, like yesterday, so easy to defend. Players are not doing their jobs or are being coached poorly, and that's on the manager.

Sorry Pierre, but you just couldn't do it.

 

[FinchleyEagle]

It’s clearly going to happen today, I’ll be waiting for the notification all day

You may be right, but Parish rarely does things when expected. Could be any day this week I reckon.

 

[Willo]

Sage was dealt a terrible hand. Of the awesome 3 CBs that won the FA Cup, losing one and bringing in potential (Canvot) can work. Losing two, and relying on 1 experienced, 1 potential and a hotchpotch of others was never going to work. And our two best strikers have hardly been on the pitch. That's always going to be tough.

But look at the goals we concede, like yesterday, so easy to defend. Players are not doing their jobs or are being coached poorly, and that's on the manager.

Sorry Pierre, but you just couldn't do it.

The number of goals we have conceded is alarming.
We have to resort to 'Hard to beat' mode, sacrificing some flair to a 'Back to basics' approach, perhaps deploying a back 4 with the 2 full-backs whose primary role is to actually defend and not been asked to provide an attacking impetus. Mitchell is well-equipped to fulfil this role, however both Khalaili in particular and Mingueza have displayed defensive frailties.

 

[Pikester]

It’s clearly going to happen today, I’ll be waiting for the notification all day

Can you put your Billy Gilbert picture back up, while you're at it.
I don't like change - except managerial ones. 😀