My view on Jones and Southampton is, that relegation was always on the radar, the ownership thought they could cheap it in the Premier League, and that squad needed some decent experience to make it competitive.
as for what happened at Stoke, that is probably for someone else to answer, but no one has got it right there since Pullis.
Jones didn't even do that badly at Southampton, considering their position, but their fans kind of decided from the outgo they didn't want him and he didn't cope well with it.
Yeah, the MO that season there didn’t seem to be based on anything sensible, and this year they’ve been successful but a lot of that is funded by JWP sale
Must admit I’m wary of getting Jones. Comes across sometimes as a bit of a knob and does he like himself a bit too much ? Plenty of support for him on this thread though so I’ll bow to better knowledge than mine. One positive though. I’m guessing that in order to come to us I think he’ll have had plenty of assurances about team building. That can only be good.
I think it needs someone with a lot of self belief to make any difference at this stage, someone whose going to come into the dressing room and just set a fire under collective feet.
I'd rather have a successful dickhead (and at our level, he IS successful) than a nice but not overly talented type like Holden (with Appleton being the worst of both - neither likeable nor particularly talented, IMO.)
Don’t get me wrong. I hope, if he is the choice that he blows it out of the water and he’ll get my 100% support. Just wary.
Big statement appointment if true, a huge upgrade on Holden/Appleton.
We can learn from Jones career that he needs a well run set up behind him (Luton) rather than a mess (Stoke). This is my main concern but I still think it’s a coup that we’ve got him and am happy with that. Tactically he is a 4-4-2 diamond or 3-5-2 man so very similar to Bowyer which I think suits the squad well
What "good manager" doesn't need a good set up in the background?
This is a bit like triggers broomstick, you can't be a good manager without good players.
Well Lee Bowyer managed quite well with us, there are some managers that can do well in spite of background mess
Ok the background wasn't good but the players were.
If it is Jones and he switches to a 442 diamond it makes signing a number 10 even more critical.
AMB
Watson Jones REG/Gillesphey Edun
Dobson
Coventry Bakinson
*NEW*
May Ladapo
Jones? Not sure that’s a good idea any more, unless a coach can show him how to defend better. Was replaced by Thomas, and we defended much better second half.
I think far too many people are looking at next season. I wouldn't worry about getting out of League 1 next season I'd worry about the next few months and what we need to do. Some need to accept we are in serious trouble & have an awful run of games coming up. Would snap your hand off for Warnock at least till the end of the season, I'd be relatively confident we will be playing League 1 football next season. We are far from being too good to go down.
I could go for that. I did say yesterday that I'd take a short term appointment just to keep us up ( Curbs or Powell) and then get a permanent manager in May once the season is over and then let them plan for the new season.
My only concern with Jones is whether he would look at jumping ship if a championship club came in for him? Similar to Beale at QPR. I’d be very excited if we did manage to get this one over the line.
We should be looking for a manager to do that and then get us promoted next season and take us on into the championship. Warnock is not that man
I don’t think anyone thinks Warnock is a long term solution but I’d take him until the end of the season while we undertake a proper recruitment. Of those currently available and with the ability we need, some will not entertain us. That leaves a very small pool to choose from. I just don’t think we should rush appointing if it’s possible to get in someone like Warnock to get us out of a hole while we find the right man. If he could be persuaded to take next season also I’d take that as well. Getting us promoted is the most important thing and I think he’s as qualified to do that as any of the names being mentioned. Sadly I think the chances are next to zero.
If you want someone short term then I would suggest looking closer to home and put Curbs in charge and let him oversee the eventual head coach appointment.
We could do with one hard bastard. One that doesn’t suffer fools gladly but adept at man management at the same time. One that could command respect for what he has achieved. Good god, I don’t want much do I.
My only concern with Jones is whether he would look at jumping ship if a championship club came in for him? Similar to Beale at QPR. I’d be very excited if we did manage to get this one over the line.
Would only happen if he does a good job, which would mean we have a chance at promotion. Would take that all day long.
Mixed feelings about Jones, pleased we seem to not be shopping in the cheap end of the market but slightly concerned he is a one club success story which happened at a club that is incredibly well run so may not all have been down to him.
I would have preferred Warnock if he was seriously an option but Jones will still get my full support if announced.
I mentioned to my mate that we need someone that is not going to be messed about. He said what about Joey Barton. Hopefully, he wasn’t being serious, can you imagine.
Must admit I’m wary of getting Jones. Comes across sometimes as a bit of a knob and does he like himself a bit too much ? Plenty of support for him on this thread though so I’ll bow to better knowledge than mine. One positive though. I’m guessing that in order to come to us I think he’ll have had plenty of assurances about team building. That can only be good.
I think it needs someone with a lot of self belief to make any difference at this stage, someone whose going to come into the dressing room and just set a fire under collective feet.
I'd rather have a successful dickhead (and at our level, he IS successful) than a nice but not overly talented type like Holden (with Appleton being the worst of both - neither likeable nor particularly talented, IMO.)
Don’t get me wrong. I hope, if he is the choice that he blows it out of the water and he’ll get my 100% support. Just wary.
I understand. There's honestly not a single candidate been mentioned so far that has unequivocally got me thinking yes that is the one I think is perfect.
They all have caveats and queries, arguments for and against.
The single most important criteria for me almost doesn't matter who the actual choice is - whoever we get needs to be telling the SMT "this is what we need to do, this is who we need to get" NOT the other way around.
My only concern with Jones is whether he would look at jumping ship if a championship club came in for him? Similar to Beale at QPR. I’d be very excited if we did manage to get this one over the line.
I mentioned to my mate that we need someone that is not going to be messed about. He said what about Joey Barton. Hopefully, he wasn’t being serious, can you imagine.
Why Not? Joey as manager and Eni Aluko as his assistant...
I don’t think Jones will be as long term as people think. If he does ok with us, he will be off within the first sniff off a better offer elsewhere, like he did twice at Luton.
Only flip side is that I think we have more potential than Luton if things go well, but I don’t think he has shown to be loyal before.
However, we have just had 3 managers in a row who was utter crap, so feel like I should be happy we managed to get Jones.
I mentioned to my mate that we need someone that is not going to be messed about. He said what about Joey Barton. Hopefully, he wasn’t being serious, can you imagine.
Why Not? Joey as manager and Eni Aluko as his assistant...
I don’t think Jones will be as long term as people think. If he does ok with us, he will be off within the first sniff off a better offer elsewhere, like he did twice at Luton.
Only flip side is that I think we have more potential than Luton if things go well, but I don’t think he has shown to be loyal before.
However, we have just had 3 managers in a row who was utter crap, so feel like I should be happy we managed to get Jones.
We can worry about him jumping ship when he has hopefully got us out of this league.
I don’t think Jones will be as long term as people think. If he does ok with us, he will be off within the first sniff off a better offer elsewhere, like he did twice at Luton.
Only flip side is that I think we have more potential than Luton if things go well, but I don’t think he has shown to be loyal before.
However, we have just had 3 managers in a row who was utter crap, so feel like I should be happy we managed to get Jones.
Doing well for 12 months then jumping ship again would be a big risk. IF he came in and things started going well, it'd be in his interests to stick around for a while and show he can build something imo.
If it’s true that Rowett wants time out with family and Powell is a non starter after being disrespected with the caretaker role, then Jones is the prime target. Yes he’s slightly damaged goods - but a damn sight less than us and perhaps the only reason we’re in with a shout. He’s confident and abrasive and has links to us. I think most would get behind him in a way hardly any of us did for Appleton.
If it is Jones and he switches to a 442 diamond it makes signing a number 10 even more critical.
AMB
Watson Jones REG/Gillesphey Edun
Dobson
Coventry Bakinson
*NEW*
May Ladapo
We have three centre backs that have historically played better in a three than a four. I think we’d be setting up REG, Jones and Gillesphey for underperformance with that approach.
Maybe we could get away with it if we played REG as an inverted full back like a third tier Kyle Walker / Zinchenko.
My team going forward would be something along the lines of:
- Isted or a new goalie - Three of REG, Gillesphey, Jones and Hector - Watson and Edun or new wing backs - Three of Coventry, Bakinson, Camara, Dobson, Taylor, McGrandles, Fiorini or new creative attacking mid - Two of May, Ladapo, Leaburn and Aneke
Or if we were desperate to play the diamond with the players we have available now:
- Isted in goal - REG, Jones/Hector, Gillesphey and Edun - Coventry or Dobbo holding - Bakinson and Camara or Taylor being the box-to-box men - Fiorini or Camara at attacking mid - May and Ladapo up front
Comments
Corney I know, but worth a wind up!!
I don't care how, play the 11 biggest players we have and just bully a couple of results out of teams if that's what works
One that could command respect for what he has achieved. Good god, I don’t want much do I.
I would have preferred Warnock if he was seriously an option but Jones will still get my full support if announced.
They all have caveats and queries, arguments for and against.
The single most important criteria for me almost doesn't matter who the actual choice is - whoever we get needs to be telling the SMT "this is what we need to do, this is who we need to get" NOT the other way around.
Just watched his interview on Sky Sports after he left Southampton. Mentions he likes to build rather than chop and change.
Only flip side is that I think we have more potential than Luton if things go well, but I don’t think he has shown to be loyal before.
Yes he’s slightly damaged goods - but a damn sight less than us and perhaps the only reason we’re in with a shout.
He’s confident and abrasive and has links to us.
I think most would get behind him in a way hardly any of us did for Appleton.
Maybe we could get away with it if we played REG as an inverted full back like a third tier Kyle Walker / Zinchenko.
My team going forward would be something along the lines of:
- Isted or a new goalie
- Three of REG, Gillesphey, Jones and Hector
- Watson and Edun or new wing backs
- Three of Coventry, Bakinson, Camara, Dobson, Taylor, McGrandles, Fiorini or new creative attacking mid
- Two of May, Ladapo, Leaburn and Aneke
Or if we were desperate to play the diamond with the players we have available now:
- Isted in goal
- REG, Jones/Hector, Gillesphey and Edun
- Coventry or Dobbo holding
- Bakinson and Camara or Taylor being the box-to-box men
- Fiorini or Camara at attacking mid
- May and Ladapo up front