Paul Cook.

Got a decent CV hasn't he? From memory did well at Accy, Chesterfield and Wigan.

Bound to crash and burn and buy 5 left backs for no obvious reason then if he ever comes here lol.
 
Got a decent CV hasn't he? From memory did well at Accy, Chesterfield and Wigan.

Bound to crash and burn and buy 5 left backs for no obvious reason then if he ever comes here lol.
I'm sure there'll be 'doomsday' talks on-going between Sadler and Mansford. It wouldn't be good practice if there wasn't. I think we'll get a few points over the next 3 games. If we don't then Cook would be a strong candidate.
 
I'm sure there'll be 'doomsday' talks on-going between Sadler and Mansford. It wouldn't be good practice if there wasn't. I think we'll get a few points over the next 3 games. If we don't then Cook would be a strong candidate.
There's got to be a review. I'd want to sit him down, talk to him and see if he looked lost or see if he had confidence in himself. If it's the latter, crack on. No point gambling so much then just pulling out at first sign of problems. We're taking a risk, so go with it and see where we end up. It always was a risk. They knew that.

If he doesn't convince, if he seems lost or overwhelmed I'd be having serious words about a new no2 with experience and yes, if that doesn't work in the long run, I like Cook and think he's both pragmatic and likes to play football and came out of Wigan situation with a lot of credit.
 
Not a chance he would come here, he done a great job at Wigan last season. A championship club will move for him as soon as the first one or two are sacked
 
Not a chance he would come here, he done a great job at Wigan last season. A championship club will move for him as soon as the first one or two are sacked
I don't think we are the poison chalice any more. Blackpool is a good job, especially in the current climate.
 
The problem could be the age old issue of 'they aren't my players..' We need a manager who is capable of moulding these players into a cohesive unit. It still can be Critchley but I personally think he has 3 games to save his job.
There's managers who can do a job with what they have. I can't think of an example recently but obviously Ollie is the classic example or for that matter Billy Ayre taking over from Carr, tweaking it, inspiring and making what looked shite good with a bit of management, a few signings and his personality. The latter is before me going, but I'm well read enough to suggest that's the general gist!

I don't think 3 games to save his job but then I'm always, always of the 'give it time' view.

I watched Howard's way recently and it's notable that Everton fans were apoplectic about Kendal, the vitriol in about 83 was spectacular, full page letters to the echo, low crowds, protests and thrashed 5-0 in the derby.

If you sack quickly you simply never know what might have been. Sometimes it's very bad before it gets better.

He's got till Jan at least for me. No matter what. The question will be if it's still shit - do we repeat last year and hope the window is the fix?

That'll be a tricky choice, but probably easier if we're still 23rd. I really don't think we will be but tbh, I predicted 13th at start of season so I wouldn't be surprised if we were say, 16th or 17th - if we are, it's got to be a choice about whether we're showing progress or not.

It's always been about season 2. It always is.
 
Lincoln and Charlton have signed large numbers of players but have still managed decent starts. The difference is experience with Bowyer and the ex nobber.
 
I am not sure that Sadler et al will have had any concerned chats between themselves as yet. I think they are so sold on the Critchley way they will give him a long time yet
 
I am not sure that Sadler et al will have had any concerned chats between themselves as yet. I think they are so sold on the Critchley way they will give him a long time yet
I can guarantee that there will have been a discussion already. Sadler doesn't strike me as a lets wait and see kind of guy.
 
"He's got till Jan at least for me. No matter what. The question will be if it's still shit - do we repeat last year and hope the window is the fix?"

It's a difficult one isn't it? Best case scenario v worst case scenario,
The best case being things turn around results improve, the system works and we move up the table. It's the worst case scenario that's the problem. To quote your January, what if by then we're ten, twelve or even more points adrift of safety?
 
I watched Howard's way recently and it's notable that Everton fans were apoplectic about Kendal, the vitriol in about 83 was spectacular, full page letters to the echo, low crowds, protests and thrashed 5-0 in the derby.

If you sack quickly you simply never know what might have been. Sometimes it's very bad before it gets better.

You cannot compare the resources available to Kendall at a club like Everton or Sir Alex early doors at Man Utd.

They also didn't come in as youth coaches, pot off all of the previous seasons experienced pros then bring in hoards of youngsters in L1.

As I said it's not something you can compare. Like someone said last night, Charlton brought a squad with 12 changes this season and look to be doing ok.
 
You cannot compare the resources available to Kendall at a club like Everton or Sir Alex early doors at Man Utd.

They also didn't come in as youth coaches, pot off all of the previous seasons experienced pros then bring in hoards of youngsters in L1.

As I said it's not something you can compare. Like someone said last night, Charlton brought a squad with 12 changes this season and look to be doing ok.
You can compare how shite we were under McMahon them how it turned around eventually.

That's one comparable example. I'm a bit bored of how people go "I said it wouldn't work" then "I told you so"

Most managers fail. Most strikers score about 8 goals, most defenders make mistakes at some point in most games.

I'm definitely not happy clapping for Critchley but to be honest, a) we've all seen shit turn to gold on the pitch and vice versa, who knows? I'm not seeing it but let's just see. What else can we do?

B) (more negative) sometimes for a new man to have an impact, you have to let the old man take the team as far as you can let them. You have to be able to walk in and go "well, lads, you've given A a right good go. Look where we are. A doesn't work. Let's try B"

I don't think we're there yet. To quote the podcast 'we're stuck with him' and you never know, our assumptions might be confounded. It happens. Occasionally!
 
"He's got till Jan at least for me. No matter what. The question will be if it's still shit - do we repeat last year and hope the window is the fix?"

It's a difficult one isn't it? Best case scenario v worst case scenario,
The best case being things turn around results improve, the system works and we move up the table. It's the worst case scenario that's the problem. To quote your January, what if by then we're ten, twelve or even more points adrift of safety?

I don't think we will be, but yeah, you've got to do something about that before it's too late. It isn't too late now.

I suppose actually BISONS is right in that 3 or 4 games against much more potentially accommodating opposition will reveal a lot.

I don't think we'll be cut adrift at the end of them though and there's enough possibility in the players who are out/haven't featured to say that firing him in the next few games would render those signings in particular pointless.

I suppose when I say 'come what may' I'm not even conceiving we might lose 10 in a row or something. I can't see that though I am very concerned that we don't make chances. I really hope the new lads/injured lads change that.
 
Critchley signed a 3 1/2 year contract. Will be an expensive sacking. I know people are saying let him run the academy, but will be really want to do that?

In my opinion, if we dont improve our performances at the very least (with a few more points on the board) by mid December then the board need to act. Whether that is getting an experienced assistant in who will run the show in the background, or replacing him.

Edit to add, why did we ever stop those 12 month rolling contracts? 🤣
 
Paul Cook after leaving Wigan.....

A former promotion-winning manager at Portsmouth, Cook guided Latics to the 2017-18 League One title and then maintained their Championship status the following season.
He is keen to get back into football, adding: "I'm desperate to get back in."
 
Managers jobs in the championship come round quite often, there will be plenty he feels he can get in the coming months offering a lot more money than we could !
 
In all fairness, you've no idea how much money we could offer.
Be realistic about it, championship managers in the top half can offer in excess of £20k a week, it’s no secret what top managers are paid at this level an there isn’t anyone in this division manager or player on more than £7k p/w
 
Apart for the odd pundit gig, I don't believe Steve McMahon is up to much these days....

Anyone got his number?
 
We've never had such a comprehensive turnover of players brought in to fit a managers style. I said a few days ago let's allow NC to find his best team and review in the new year. But obviously yes not the start anybody wanted or expected.
 
We've never had such a comprehensive turnover of players brought in to fit a managers style. I said a few days ago let's allow NC to find his best team and review in the new year. But obviously yes not the start anybody wanted or expected.
If Critchley doesn’t know his best team by now then we really are in trouble.
 
I don't think experience is necessarily the problem, though I'm not saying it's not important.
Some of the things we're doing wrong you don't need experience to identify - most of us on here can identify it and we've never coached a league side. You just need to not be stubborn and accept that league one sides have limitations that English champions don't.

But I still say 7 league games is nowhere near enough to judge. Loads of managers make poor starts.
 
I don't think experience is necessarily the problem, though I'm not saying it's not important.
Some of the things we're doing wrong you don't need experience to identify - most of us on here can identify it and we've never coached a league side. You just need to not be stubborn and accept that league one sides have limitations that English champions don't.

But I still say 7 league games is nowhere near enough to judge. Loads of managers make poor starts.
With cup games and preseason friendlies this season alone he’s had what 12-13 games? Let’s not forget he was here part of last season as well.
 
A different pair of eyes will see things in a different way. That can only be good.

It would be interesting if fans were in the ground to see whether NC would 'hear' the fans giving advice and take some on board as food for thought. I'd be shouting to give CJ a go at the main striker and tell him to close defenders down using his pace, amongst other things.
 
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