Ghost of Clough

SOME wanted 3 at the back because they wanted Knight in midfield and thought 3 at the back was the only way to do that. Rosenior even said he would have tried Smith there if he wasn't injured in pre-season. What did Warne do on Saturday? Went back to a back four with Smith at RB.
Rosenior's system only needed tweaking, and with a couple of additions in January he wold have achieved that. The passing between defenders was for two reasons. Not having those couple of additions, but also the style of drawing the opposition out of position. 
The majority of fans didn't want super direct play, bypassing the midfield. They wanted a more urgent style of play, passing between lines, without sacrificing the amount of possession.
Most of all, fans want winning football. As I've mentioned before, only Ted Magner has a better win% than Rosenior in the history of our club. If the quality of football is crap, you have to make sure you're getting results, and so far Warne is failing. Warne is quickly joining the Jewell, Brown and Pearson group as managers with the worst record for our club. He's already got a worse record than Tommy Docherty.

SOME wanted 3 at the back because they wanted Knight in midfield and thought 3 at the back was the only way to do that. Rosenior even said he would have tried Smith there if he wasn't injured in pre-season. What did Warne do on Saturday? Went back to a back four with Smith at RB.
Rosenior's system only needed tweaking, and with a couple of additions in January he wold have achieved that. The passing between defenders was for two reasons. Not having those couple of additions, but also the style of drawing the opposition out of position. 
The majority of fans didn't want super direct play, bypassing the midfield. They wanted a more urgent style of play, passing between lines, without sacrificing the amount of possession.
Most of all, fans want winning football. As I've mentioned before, only Ted Magner has a better win% than Rosenior in the history of our club. If the quality of football is crap, you have to make sure you're getting results, and so far Warne is failing. Warne is quickly joining the Jewell, Brown and Pearson group as managers with the worst record for our club. He's already got a worse record than Tommy Docherty.

SOME wanted 3 at the back because they wanted Knight in midfield and thought 3 at the back was the only way to do that. Rosenior even said he would have tried Smith there if he wasn't injured in pre-season. What did Warne do on Saturday? Went back to a back four with Smith at RB.
Rosenior's system only needed tweaking, and with a couple of additions in January he wold have achieved that. The passing between defenders was for two reasons. Not having those couple of additions, but also the style of drawing the opposition out of position. 
The majority of fans didn't want super direct play, bypassing the midfield. They wanted a more urgent style of play, passing between lines, without sacrificing the amount of possession.
Most of all, fans want winning football. As I've mentioned before, only Ted Magner has a better win% than Rosenior in the history of our club. If the quality of football is crap, you have to make sure you're getting results, and so far Warne is failing. Warne is quickly joining the Jewell, Brown and Pearson group as managers with the worst record for our club. He's already got a worse record than Tommy Docherty.

U21s player/coach. A new role has crept into U21 football, which is to have an experienced pro or two in the side to coach youngsters through the games

You aren't the first to claim this, but what are you basing it on? Poor results? The majority of the people who don't think Warne should be manager are basing their opinion on much more than results. Style of play, damage to the academy, reducing the chances of keeping our academy graduates, dwindling attendances, the destruction of the feel good factor around the club, etc...

You aren't the first to claim this, but what are you basing it on? Poor results? The majority of the people who don't think Warne should be manager are basing their opinion on much more than results. Style of play, damage to the academy, reducing the chances of keeping our academy graduates, dwindling attendances, the destruction of the feel good factor around the club, etc...

You aren't the first to claim this, but what are you basing it on? Poor results? The majority of the people who don't think Warne should be manager are basing their opinion on much more than results. Style of play, damage to the academy, reducing the chances of keeping our academy graduates, dwindling attendances, the destruction of the feel good factor around the club, etc...

Liam Delap - Man City (Stoke City on loan)
Emil Riis Jakobsen - Preston
Sven Karic - NK Maribor
Mo Adams - Al-Shabab
Henrik Ojamaa - FC Flora
Charles Vernam - Lincoln City
Seb Thompson - Burnley
Archie Brown - FC Lausanne
Lewis Walker - Gillingham
Andy Dales - Mickleover
Hugo Jinkinson - Coalville Town
Rhys Sharpe - Kettering Town
Mark Dudley - Belper Town
Tom Koblenz - FSV Jagersburg
Pablo Mills - Mickleover
Greg Mills - Stourbridge
Jack Rogers - Ilkeston Town
Alex Babos - Banbury United
Theo Streete - Leamington FC

Pablo Mills is a player coach. Jinkinson is a Coalville U21 player 

Probably because of where we were when Rosenior was relieved of his duties. We were outside the playoffs on goal difference and his overall record as manager was the best we've had in 75 years. Instead, we're now 5 points behind 6th, with only Pearson having a worse record since Jewell.
There's no sign of things improving. If anything, results and performances are getting worse. He's pointed the finger at a number of players already, specifically regarding injuries and is ignoring his own role in that. It's no surprise that players who haven't had a good pre-season and others who no longer have the fitness levels required are picking up injuries. Yet, Warne consistently keeps players who are running on empty on the pitch and sticks to a style which puts the older players (specifically our defence) at risk of picking up muscle injuries.

It's a stick or twist decision. Sticking with Warne will cause a lot of damage to what we have left after years of mismanagement. The academy graduates in the first team will leave to Championship sides, and we'll go in to next season with just Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Hourihane and Collins from the current squad. All the investment in the academy will be wasted as none will be suited to Warne's style. Attendances will dwindle this season, and ST sales will be lower for next season. Academy recruitment will be damaged as youngsters won't see a pathway to the first team anymore.
The first team will be set back at least 1 year, more likely 2. The academy will go back to 2008 standard.

It's a stick or twist decision. Sticking with Warne will cause a lot of damage to what we have left after years of mismanagement. The academy graduates in the first team will leave to Championship sides, and we'll go in to next season with just Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Hourihane and Collins from the current squad. All the investment in the academy will be wasted as none will be suited to Warne's style. Attendances will dwindle this season, and ST sales will be lower for next season. Academy recruitment will be damaged as youngsters won't see a pathway to the first team anymore.
The first team will be set back at least 1 year, more likely 2. The academy will go back to 2008 standard.

It's a stick or twist decision. Sticking with Warne will cause a lot of damage to what we have left after years of mismanagement. The academy graduates in the first team will leave to Championship sides, and we'll go in to next season with just Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Hourihane and Collins from the current squad. All the investment in the academy will be wasted as none will be suited to Warne's style. Attendances will dwindle this season, and ST sales will be lower for next season. Academy recruitment will be damaged as youngsters won't see a pathway to the first team anymore.
The first team will be set back at least 1 year, more likely 2. The academy will go back to 2008 standard.

It's a stick or twist decision. Sticking with Warne will cause a lot of damage to what we have left after years of mismanagement. The academy graduates in the first team will leave to Championship sides, and we'll go in to next season with just Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Hourihane and Collins from the current squad. All the investment in the academy will be wasted as none will be suited to Warne's style. Attendances will dwindle this season, and ST sales will be lower for next season. Academy recruitment will be damaged as youngsters won't see a pathway to the first team anymore.
The first team will be set back at least 1 year, more likely 2. The academy will go back to 2008 standard.

It's a stick or twist decision. Sticking with Warne will cause a lot of damage to what we have left after years of mismanagement. The academy graduates in the first team will leave to Championship sides, and we'll go in to next season with just Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Hourihane and Collins from the current squad. All the investment in the academy will be wasted as none will be suited to Warne's style. Attendances will dwindle this season, and ST sales will be lower for next season. Academy recruitment will be damaged as youngsters won't see a pathway to the first team anymore.
The first team will be set back at least 1 year, more likely 2. The academy will go back to 2008 standard.

Liam Delap - Man City (Stoke City on loan)
Emil Riis Jakobsen - Preston
Sven Karic - NK Maribor
Mo Adams - Al-Shabab
Henrik Ojamaa - FC Flora
Charles Vernam - Lincoln City
Seb Thompson - Burnley
Archie Brown - FC Lausanne
Lewis Walker - Gillingham
Andy Dales - Mickleover
Hugo Jinkinson - Coalville Town
Rhys Sharpe - Kettering Town
Mark Dudley - Belper Town
Tom Koblenz - FSV Jagersburg
Pablo Mills - Mickleover
Greg Mills - Stourbridge
Jack Rogers - Ilkeston Town
Alex Babos - Banbury United
Theo Streete - Leamington FC

Reckon he’s got that now eh @angieramhe’s definitely league 1 standard. Maybe when he gets close to 20 goals, which doesn’t look so impossible, that £700k will look cheap.
I’m seeing similarities with Jack Stretton too here, no doubt that will be ridiculed for awhile.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to see Birdy like this. What a useless choice it is having Hourihane in there too. 

In my opinion, @duncanjwithamisn’t too far wrong in his assessment. Warne will get more time, and obviously deserves more time, but I have always been concerned that he might be only good at getting energy and fight out of less talented footballers. I am not convinced he is any tactical genius (indeed I think he is a one trick pony) and I am not sure he knows how to vary his man management approach to deal with (on paper) better players than he is used to dealing with. I think snide comments regarding McGoldrick, Chester and Barkhuisen in interviews indicates that there might not be the happy changing room there was last season, or even a few weeks ago. Time will tell in the end, but I think there is a chance that things might get a little ugly over the coming month.

Is Hourihane any better, yet he hasn't been singled out?
Sibley
Tackles: 13
Dribbled Past: 5
Fouls: 7
Hourihane
Tackles: 13
Dribbled Past: 5
Fouls: 11
In terms of succesful tackles per 90, only Tommo with his 46 minutes of action is better than Sibley's 1.70. Hourihane is way down the list at 1.05 per 90.

So 5 league games into Warne's tenure and I think a pattern is emerging. The short version of this Warne isn't managing the fitness levels of the squad very well which when combined with a very narrow tactical outlook is leading to some of the mediocre performances we've been seeing. And there is reason to be concerned that if this isn't adjusted things will go downhill. 
Tactics
As everyone knows we've been setting up under Warne with a 352 with an attempt at pressing aggressively and attacking directly. With the two wingbacks being actually wingers. It's not hard to see how setting up like this asks a lot physically of any given player. With the wingbacks so aggressive there is often a lot of space to cover out wide meaning the midfield and the wider centre backs are often having to cover large swaths of ground just to plug gaps. I think a big reason why we've conceded so many penalties is because of how easily we can get stretched.
Also the midfield are all encouraged to press meaning there is no one to cover so they all have to keep moving or else again gaps appear. Then added on top of all of this is a seeming reluctance to try to keep the ball for any amount of time, even when we are up and even when we are looking gassed. I can remember times even when we've won that we were in a position just to slow the game down and keep the ball to take the sting out of the game only for players to be encouraged to go recklessly forwards.
What this leads to is almost an exhaustive amount of work than isn't entirely necessary and it's no wonder that frequently gaps starting really appearing in games for us after half time. I think the best example for this is in Warne's first game in charge we were one up and yet we are taking a long throw into the box with all the centre backs up field which is followed by a counter which all of them have to sprint back.
Fitness
Its worth noting that we had a short pre season meaning that the players didn't necessarily have the time to do the same amount of fitness work. Combined into this is several players carrying knocks at different stages in pre-season and most of the squad is either on one side or the other of where you'd expect them to be at their fittest from an age perspective. In short our squad isn't the fittest but that's not something you can solve in the short term. It's also exercabated by lack of depth in places. It's something as a manager you should be carefully managing both from a team selection stand point and from a tactical stand point. And yet Warne has often kept players playing well past the point they've looked knackered and players playing physically overdemanding positions are often getting started multiple times in a week. And I think you are seeing the effect this is having. Its no surprise that we've had now 4 injuries in 3 games and it shouldn't be taken lightly.
Performance
A more tired player is more likely to get injured. But also a player who is fatigued is going to be worse, they'll suddenly look a yard off the pace or their touch will desert them or they'll seemingly drift by in a game. Being tired affects you mentally as well as physically and I think so-so isn't doing enough can often be because they are knackered out. These things tend to spiral as well because if X is tiring, Y has to work harder to cover which leads to them tiring and so on.
Our best performances under Warne have come after an international and after a full week off. Whilst all of our performances where we've played Tuesday-Saturday have been mediocre at best. This isn't a coincidence, fatigue is leading to a drop off in performance levels. It's concerning that Warne is saying that we just aren't working hard enough because it means he's likely missing the forest for the trees. 
Going Forwards
We are currently in a very congested run of fixtures with another 5 games in the next 14 days. Thats a tough run physically on any squad. If things go they way they've been so far I think we will so another couple players pick up injuries and performances steadily get worse. The tactics and the management of players are just causing to much fatigue to build in a squad ill-equipped for it. And it's increasingly looking like Warne with his tactical rigidity and his focus on not working hard enough in his recent interview either doesn't seem where the issues is stemming from or doesn't have a solution.
After all if your only tool is a hammer every problem is a nail.

And this is the main problem. We hired the wrong manager as this squad is not suited to Warne's system. We had it before when we went from McClaren's attacking football, to Clement's possession based system, to Pearson's 442, to Rowett's defensive style, to Lampard's attacking football.
Every manager needed an overhaul of the squad which cost us in several ways.
Poorer finishing position - with squads adapting to new teammates and new styles of play An inflated wage bill - due to struggling to get rid of players not suited to the new style Lack of development of academy graduates - due to bloated squads Under Rosenior, we were outside of the playoffs on goal difference. It was clear we only needed 2 more players to make it work (RB and LW). Yet here we are, now probably 7 players shy of a squad Warne would like. Every week we're slowly drifting further away from the playoffs.
Rosenior also has the 2nd best win record and highest equivalent points per game record in our club's history. Only Ted Magner having a better record (excluding caretakers for 2 games or less).
Harsh on Walker, who must be doing something right as Warne has kept him on in the first team staff. Why does being a former academy coach mean he can't be a good first team coach? Jody Morris had an identical role at Chelsea to Walker, but the consensus being he was a good assistant for us. Brendan Rogers was Chelsea reserves manager, yet has gone on to win promotion to the PL with Swansea, won numerous titles in Scotland and won two titles with Leicester. Kieran McKenna was an U18 coach and Spurs and Man Utd before becoming Ipswich manager. There are doubles other examples out there.
Buxton was a temporary assistant until a decision was made on who the permanent manager was. A more attack minded assistant was needed, much like McClaren needed Simpson to offer balance.

And this is the main problem. We hired the wrong manager as this squad is not suited to Warne's system. We had it before when we went from McClaren's attacking football, to Clement's possession based system, to Pearson's 442, to Rowett's defensive style, to Lampard's attacking football.
Every manager needed an overhaul of the squad which cost us in several ways.
Poorer finishing position - with squads adapting to new teammates and new styles of play An inflated wage bill - due to struggling to get rid of players not suited to the new style Lack of development of academy graduates - due to bloated squads Under Rosenior, we were outside of the playoffs on goal difference. It was clear we only needed 2 more players to make it work (RB and LW). Yet here we are, now probably 7 players shy of a squad Warne would like. Every week we're slowly drifting further away from the playoffs.
Rosenior also has the 2nd best win record and highest equivalent points per game record in our club's history. Only Ted Magner having a better record (excluding caretakers for 2 games or less).
Harsh on Walker, who must be doing something right as Warne has kept him on in the first team staff. Why does being a former academy coach mean he can't be a good first team coach? Jody Morris had an identical role at Chelsea to Walker, but the consensus being he was a good assistant for us. Brendan Rogers was Chelsea reserves manager, yet has gone on to win promotion to the PL with Swansea, won numerous titles in Scotland and won two titles with Leicester. Kieran McKenna was an U18 coach and Spurs and Man Utd before becoming Ipswich manager. There are doubles other examples out there.
Buxton was a temporary assistant until a decision was made on who the permanent manager was. A more attack minded assistant was needed, much like McClaren needed Simpson to offer balance.

And this is the main problem. We hired the wrong manager as this squad is not suited to Warne's system. We had it before when we went from McClaren's attacking football, to Clement's possession based system, to Pearson's 442, to Rowett's defensive style, to Lampard's attacking football.
Every manager needed an overhaul of the squad which cost us in several ways.
Poorer finishing position - with squads adapting to new teammates and new styles of play An inflated wage bill - due to struggling to get rid of players not suited to the new style Lack of development of academy graduates - due to bloated squads Under Rosenior, we were outside of the playoffs on goal difference. It was clear we only needed 2 more players to make it work (RB and LW). Yet here we are, now probably 7 players shy of a squad Warne would like. Every week we're slowly drifting further away from the playoffs.
Rosenior also has the 2nd best win record and highest equivalent points per game record in our club's history. Only Ted Magner having a better record (excluding caretakers for 2 games or less).
Harsh on Walker, who must be doing something right as Warne has kept him on in the first team staff. Why does being a former academy coach mean he can't be a good first team coach? Jody Morris had an identical role at Chelsea to Walker, but the consensus being he was a good assistant for us. Brendan Rogers was Chelsea reserves manager, yet has gone on to win promotion to the PL with Swansea, won numerous titles in Scotland and won two titles with Leicester. Kieran McKenna was an U18 coach and Spurs and Man Utd before becoming Ipswich manager. There are doubles other examples out there.
Buxton was a temporary assistant until a decision was made on who the permanent manager was. A more attack minded assistant was needed, much like McClaren needed Simpson to offer balance.

And this is the main problem. We hired the wrong manager as this squad is not suited to Warne's system. We had it before when we went from McClaren's attacking football, to Clement's possession based system, to Pearson's 442, to Rowett's defensive style, to Lampard's attacking football.
Every manager needed an overhaul of the squad which cost us in several ways.
Poorer finishing position - with squads adapting to new teammates and new styles of play An inflated wage bill - due to struggling to get rid of players not suited to the new style Lack of development of academy graduates - due to bloated squads Under Rosenior, we were outside of the playoffs on goal difference. It was clear we only needed 2 more players to make it work (RB and LW). Yet here we are, now probably 7 players shy of a squad Warne would like. Every week we're slowly drifting further away from the playoffs.
Rosenior also has the 2nd best win record and highest equivalent points per game record in our club's history. Only Ted Magner having a better record (excluding caretakers for 2 games or less).
Harsh on Walker, who must be doing something right as Warne has kept him on in the first team staff. Why does being a former academy coach mean he can't be a good first team coach? Jody Morris had an identical role at Chelsea to Walker, but the consensus being he was a good assistant for us. Brendan Rogers was Chelsea reserves manager, yet has gone on to win promotion to the PL with Swansea, won numerous titles in Scotland and won two titles with Leicester. Kieran McKenna was an U18 coach and Spurs and Man Utd before becoming Ipswich manager. There are doubles other examples out there.
Buxton was a temporary assistant until a decision was made on who the permanent manager was. A more attack minded assistant was needed, much like McClaren needed Simpson to offer balance.