Post by bowranger on Nov 21, 2012 18:15:54 GMT
This has been something bothering me when I think about the rest of our season.
So if, or more likely when, Hughes goes we will have the same squad of players. That is unlikely, judging by Fernandes' talk in the press, to change much in the January transfer window.
The starting 11 for the Southampton game was probably, on paper, what I would have picked myself. Or close to it. Hughes made some bizzarre subs but fundamentally I thought it was roundabout the team we should have picked. Now tactically it was a bit of shambles in the sense we played like we'd done no research whatsoever on Southampton's style of play. Now either Hughes is lying about meticulous preparation or the players don't bother listening and/or implementing that. Both possible.
Fundamentally though, no tactical awareness in my opinion could have avoided that result when you consider the completely gutless, lazy, disinterested and downright unprofessional performances from a number of our squad that day. A lot of our squad have nothing to prove and nothing to fight for. Cissé, Zamora, Park, Bosingwa, Cesar as some examples have little to bother performing for bar their own professional integrity - all either coming to the end of their careers, or in Cissé's case, has already committed to a future below the Premier League standard. Granero will always find an appreciative bosom in La Liga for not fitting in with the "nasty rough and tumble" of the Premier League. I could go on. My point being is that tactics can be wrong - but with the quality we have, that wouldn't translate into a 1-3 defeat to a very limited, if well organised, Southampton tea when you consider the gulf in quality in individual ability. Not wanting to play for a manager is one thing - I can appreciate a dip in form because of that. But it does not account for a fundamental lack of effort and workrate.
My point being is that Hughes could not motivate these players - but who could? Don't get me wrong, this isn't a Hughes defence, I think he should go and he has indeed lost the dressing room. But I think it's important to note that manager's do badly - they get the sack. If players do not lift a finger to fight for the cause, nothing happens to them. Whilst I now agree that Hughes isn't the one to take us forward on the basis that they are his new signings and the buck stops with him fundamentally, it is those players who cost him his job because they hold all the power.
So my question would be - what makes anyone sure, if they are, that another manager can shape a team of largely mercenary, cannot-be-arsed players into a team that earns their money? I've concluded myself that it's either near-certain relegation with Hughes, or likely relegation with someone else - because I don't have faith in a large section of the squad. But the latter is all we have left to try.
So if, or more likely when, Hughes goes we will have the same squad of players. That is unlikely, judging by Fernandes' talk in the press, to change much in the January transfer window.
The starting 11 for the Southampton game was probably, on paper, what I would have picked myself. Or close to it. Hughes made some bizzarre subs but fundamentally I thought it was roundabout the team we should have picked. Now tactically it was a bit of shambles in the sense we played like we'd done no research whatsoever on Southampton's style of play. Now either Hughes is lying about meticulous preparation or the players don't bother listening and/or implementing that. Both possible.
Fundamentally though, no tactical awareness in my opinion could have avoided that result when you consider the completely gutless, lazy, disinterested and downright unprofessional performances from a number of our squad that day. A lot of our squad have nothing to prove and nothing to fight for. Cissé, Zamora, Park, Bosingwa, Cesar as some examples have little to bother performing for bar their own professional integrity - all either coming to the end of their careers, or in Cissé's case, has already committed to a future below the Premier League standard. Granero will always find an appreciative bosom in La Liga for not fitting in with the "nasty rough and tumble" of the Premier League. I could go on. My point being is that tactics can be wrong - but with the quality we have, that wouldn't translate into a 1-3 defeat to a very limited, if well organised, Southampton tea when you consider the gulf in quality in individual ability. Not wanting to play for a manager is one thing - I can appreciate a dip in form because of that. But it does not account for a fundamental lack of effort and workrate.
My point being is that Hughes could not motivate these players - but who could? Don't get me wrong, this isn't a Hughes defence, I think he should go and he has indeed lost the dressing room. But I think it's important to note that manager's do badly - they get the sack. If players do not lift a finger to fight for the cause, nothing happens to them. Whilst I now agree that Hughes isn't the one to take us forward on the basis that they are his new signings and the buck stops with him fundamentally, it is those players who cost him his job because they hold all the power.
So my question would be - what makes anyone sure, if they are, that another manager can shape a team of largely mercenary, cannot-be-arsed players into a team that earns their money? I've concluded myself that it's either near-certain relegation with Hughes, or likely relegation with someone else - because I don't have faith in a large section of the squad. But the latter is all we have left to try.