Sage in or out

[elgin eeagle]

Didnt do himself any harm at all last night. The first half was worrying but having Hughes and Doucoure in front of the defence really helped and we looked quite comfortable for large parts of the second half. We will probably still be on the end of some bad defeats between now and January but i definitely wouldnt be sacking him. The away crowd sounded like they were firmly behind him too. Hopefully we can use this time between now and January to sack Hobbs and get Dougie back in place.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

Didnt do himself any harm at all last night. The first half was worrying but having Hughes and Doucoure in front of the defence really helped and we looked quite comfortable for large parts of the second half. We will probably still be on the end of some bad defeats between now and January but i definitely wouldnt be sacking him. The away crowd sounded like they were firmly behind him too. Hopefully we can use this time between now and January to sack Hobbs and get Dougie back in place.

Whilst most fans agree that we need Dougie back nothing is likely to happen until March. As I understand it, under Saudi tax laws you must serve two years before earnings become tax free. Many footballers wanting to return home early have fallen foul of this. I doubt Dougie would want the grubby hands of a Saudi tax man down his sporran!

Then, of course, there is the dirty dollars of Jim Ratcliffe trying to lure our Dougie back to Manchester where, unfortunately he has a house.

 

[elgin eeagle]

Whilst most fans agree that we need Dougie back nothing is likely to happen until March. As I understand it, under Saudi tax laws you must serve two years before earnings become tax free. Many footballers wanting to return home early have fallen foul of this. I doubt Dougie would want the grubby hands of a Saudi tax man down his sporran!

Then, of course, there is the dirty dollars of Jim Ratcliffe trying to lure our Dougie back to Manchester where, unfortunately he has a house.

Thats interesting thanks. I wouldnt be comfortable giving Hobbs another transfer window, would you? On the other hand, if we dont do anything there is a fair chance of relegation given how many we are conceding.

Maybe we can get him to do some moonlighting on the quiet or something!

 

[Willo]

All this 'Sage is on borrowed time' has been a media frenzy with no serious contemplation by the hierarchy to relieve him of his duties.
😛🤣

 

[mtp1958]

All this 'Sage is on borrowed time' has been a media frenzy with no serious contemplation by the hierarchy to remove him of his duties.
😛🤣

Commentators on the game debunked the idea that the players are not playing for him . It's the mistakes the players make that we highlight and blame the manager . Manu fans turned on the players not Carrick . we can learn something from them for a change

 

[MrRobbo]

A win and a clean sheet away from home.

Clearly hasn't lost the team. Clearly can be flexible with tactics.

Name was sung throughout, so a lot of support amongst the fanbase for him

 

[KCeee]

I think the decision's already been made, he's gone once a replacement has been confirmed.

 

[ASCPFC]

I really don't think we need to get carried away with it. See what happens in the league. This is very much reminding me of Vieira.

 

[Willo]

I really don't think we need to get carried away with it. See what happens in the league. This is very much reminding me of Vieira.

Indeed "One swallow doesn't make a summer" and of course Fulham should have been 3-0 to the good before we scored.

 

[Pikester]

This idea of having a 'defensive coach' is interesting.

Firstly, in our case, I find it hard to believe that Paddy is tasked with organising the defence as a discreet job. For one thing, he was on the staff under Glasner when we had a very different, far more defensively coherent, interpretation of the 343 system. If how we defended was up to him then why would it have changed so much from one manager to the next even though the system remains the same on paper?

More to the point, even if a particular coach or assistant is tasked with focusing on defending, he can only do so much if the possession/attacking sides of the game are not up to him. If the players are asked to get forward in a way that places half of them on the 'wrong' side of the ball when we lose it, then your job as a defensive coach is far harder. You are probably working more on high-risk moments and damage-limitation rather than actual coherent, reliable defensive structure.

Plus, most 'managers' are nothing of the sort nowadays. They don't handle contracts, sales, and signings, or set long term direction. They just work with the players they have. In other words, they are a head-coach. I find it hard to believe that the version of 343 we have seen so far is anything other than Sage's take on it. It is certainly his responsibility at least.

Under Glasner we defended in a deep 541 shape. Sarr and Eze/Pino would drop back to defend as part of a bank of 4 midfielders. Mateta would sit in front of the centre mids, so we had all 11 behind the ball with about 25/30 yards between the font player and the defenders. This reduced the distance the centre mids had to cover, and allowed Mitchell and Munoz to defend as fullbacks (i.e. to mark the opposition winger). That in turn allowed the three centre backs to play narrow, close to each other. That leaves far less space (in our half, anyway).

Under Sage the wide players seem to defend more narrow and a bit higher. That helps them press the opposition defence at times, but leaves Mitchell and Khalili exposed. They, perhaps as a result or by design, often defend ten yards further forward than the centre backs. Hence time and again we see either our wing backs scrambling to get back to stop a winger or, even worse, one of our centre backs coming across to the wide area, leaving less defenders and more space in the centre. Critically, it also means all of our defenders are getting moved about at the crucial moments, and are not set in position.

Even if Paddy is the 'defensive' coach, the fundamental structure is so off that his would be a thankless task.

I think that's the next manager sorted.
Are you less expensive than Dyche and Howe?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Didnt do himself any harm at all last night. The first half was worrying but having Hughes and Doucoure in front of the defence really helped and we looked quite comfortable for large parts of the second half. We will probably still be on the end of some bad defeats between now and January but i definitely wouldnt be sacking him. The away crowd sounded like they were firmly behind him too. Hopefully we can use this time between now and January to sack Hobbs and get Dougie back in place.

Having Hendo back was a factor as well. Sage is also more ready to use his subs than certain other managers we've had and they're generally of a higher standard too.

 

[JessieJ]

No need to apologise, and in fact I absolutely agree with your tactical assessment.

I suppose the point I was trying to make is that even when Khalaili has been in a deeper position he still hasn't convinced defensively by letting players go past him easily, by not stopping crosses and by not tracking opponents.
I mention Mingueza not because I necessarily think he will do any better , but because tonight will be my first opportunity to see him live.

If the whole squad was fit and we really wanted to seal up the right flank defensively my choice would be Tomiyasu.
He excelled in the position at Arsenal and with him , and a more defensive Mitchell on the other side, I'm sure we would not be conceding in the same way.

Although a bit late, allow me a comment on the Munoz/Khalaili or Sage/Glasner RWB situation. When Munoz was here he was in the main helped out by Sarr. The two of them doubling up. The FA Cup final the best example. Khalaili, bless him, is constantly isolated. That coupled with his general inexperience remains a problem.

 

[JessieJ]

I didn't watch but from all accounts, and here i am quoting the BBC ticker, "xyz with a free header at the back post but fails to hit the target". This a re-occuring theme in all of our matches as is the information regarding crosses conceeded or made. Last night we were very efficient, scoring from 50% of crosses made i.e. 1 from 2. We bemoan the ineffectiveness of our motly group of strikers but some service might help, you never know. Then again, as we don't play wingers and rely upon the WB's for crosses we shouldn't wonder why Khalaili is exposed so often. Glad i'm not the coach!

 

[PatrickA]

I didn't watch but from all accounts, and here i am quoting the BBC ticker, "xyz with a free header at the back post but fails to hit the target". This a re-occuring theme in all of our matches as is the information regarding crosses conceeded or made. Last night we were very efficient, scoring from 50% of crosses made i.e. 1 from 2. We bemoan the ineffectiveness of our motly group of strikers but some service might help, you never know. Then again, as we don't play wingers and rely upon the WB's for crosses we shouldn't wonder why Khalaili is exposed so often. Glad i'm not the coach!

You're correct.
Nketiah was very isolated yesterday and Chilwell and Mingueza sat deeper so did not provide the width (other than for the goal when Mingueza did push forward).
Osorio and Guessand didn't really get into the game, neither getting close in around Nketiah or winning their individual duels.
We looked more fluid when Pino and McNeil came on and opened up Fulham on a couple of occasions, but this was late in the game.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

You're correct.
Nketiah was very isolated yesterday and Chilwell and Mingueza sat deeper so did not provide the width (other than for the goal when Mingueza did push forward).
Osorio and Guessand didn't really get into the game, neither getting close in around Nketiah or winning their individual duels.
We looked more fluid when Pino and McNeil came on and opened up Fulham on a couple of occasions, but this was late in the game.

McNeil has shown a bit recently and looks a useful player although possibly not a 90 minute contributor. His crossing, although we haven't seen a lot of it, should benefit JSL.

 

[doombear]

I think the decision's already been made, he's gone once a replacement has been confirmed.

I'm not so sure it has. Lots of media stuff because it's their job to get people to click on the story. It's still early days and we're not cast adrift in the league. Obviously if Sage is to survive, both performances and results have to improve. I expect Sage still to be the manager come the Coventry game unless things fall off the cliff in the next 3 games before the International Break.

PS. I've calmed down since my post Newcastle rant and contrary to what I said, I have changed my mind and hope Sage can and will turn things round. There are small signs.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

I'm not so sure it has. Lots of media stuff because it's their job to get people to click on the story. It's still early days and we're not cast adrift in the league. Obviously if Sage is to survive, both performances and results have to improve. I expect Sage still to be the manager come the Coventry game unless things fall off the cliff in the next 3 games before the International Break.

PS. I've calmed down since my post Newcastle rant and contrary to what I said, I have changed my mind and hope Sage can and will turn things round. There are small signs.

I think the decision has been made already as well, and that weak team that started was an attempt at fcuk you parish, I’ll make sure you can’t win this tournament on my way out……..trouble is he didn’t bank on Foolham being so bad 🤣

 

[Teddy Eagle]

I'm not so sure it has. Lots of media stuff because it's their job to get people to click on the story. It's still early days and we're not cast adrift in the league. Obviously if Sage is to survive, both performances and results have to improve. I expect Sage still to be the manager come the Coventry game unless things fall off the cliff in the next 3 games before the International Break.

PS. I've calmed down since my post Newcastle rant and contrary to what I said, I have changed my mind and hope Sage can and will turn things round. There are small signs.

Nothing wrong with changing your mind DB! It's an emotional game and most of us probably veer between wild enthusiasm and abject despair during Palace matches let alone afterwards.

 

[Caterham]

Whilst most fans agree that we need Dougie back nothing is likely to happen until March. As I understand it, under Saudi tax laws you must serve two years before earnings become tax free. Many footballers wanting to return home early have fallen foul of this. I doubt Dougie would want the grubby hands of a Saudi tax man down his sporran!

Then, of course, there is the dirty dollars of Jim Ratcliffe trying to lure our Dougie back to Manchester where, unfortunately he has a house.

Saudi Arabia does not tax earnings / money earnt by individuals living & working in the Kingdom-