In defence of Paul Warne.

[Rev]

45 minutes ago, Marriot Ram99 said:

7th place in a league with about 9 decent sides is hardly a good achievement, it's the absolute bare minimum of what is acceptable for this club. Without the performances of Mcgoldrick and Mendez Lairg mid season we would have been no better off than the likes of Fleetwood and Shrewsbury on very small budgets last season wasn't awful but he hardly deserves a slap on the back for it. This season the aim is promotion and its not the results that have been the worry It's the manner of performances, s**** football and lack of pragmatism with what we have available players wise.

Seeing as you've quoted my post, you'll have no problem pointing out where I say 7th place is a good achievement. 

[RodleyRam]

Last season I was one of this forum who expressed some concerns about the way we were set up tactically and how PW went about footballing matters.

Since then he's grown on me in lots of ways and I quite like his approach to building culture etc.

I don't know if the seeming lacklustre transfer window is down to a difficult market, restrictions or poor recruitment practices on our part. Clearly there is something holding us back from recruiting players with the kind of characteristics we obviously need but I doubt it's fair to let the entirety of blame for that at PW's door unless he's completely blind to the obvious.

I can't fully compute the rationale behind the formation and tactics given the relative strengths and weaknesses of our personnel but I don't think 2 games is sufficient to fully judge the new squad, though I do have genuine concerns which date back to last year on his tactical ability and in game management. I hope he can re-evaluate a little and adapt.

I really want him to do well and I like all the players brought in as people, so I am trying to be optimistic that we will have our 'Igor' moment when it all just clicks into place and we all wonder what the fuss was all about.

[Comrade 86]

We just can't stop shooting ourselves in the feet, can we? My take, FWIW...

I'm disappointed that Warne made the comments he did. To whom he is referring is a sideshow and an irrelevance. The individual(s) concerned will know and that's what matters. There are simple and irrefutable reasons for not doing this; firstly, chucking players under the bus, especially younger players, turns divides into chasms; secondly, and this is the kicker for me, it makes you look really f****** weak and untrustworthy. Sadly this has coloured my impression of Warne, though perhaps not irrevocably. My biggest issue is that he has form for this already with the now departed Didzy and this a manager who prides himself on his man-management skills. The jury's out right now, Paul 😑

For context, I've been vocal in my support for Warne this season, despite my annoyance at him being given the job over Rosenior. Why?Well the fact is, our recent history tells its own story; Ever since Mac1 we've bounced between managers of contrasting football styles and visions, never once assembling a squad to complement said visions, instead knee-jerking from one option to the other hoping we'll stumble on something that works. I think it's fair to say our unwillingness to build a squad has been a key factor in our demise. A decade of upheavals followed by a catastrophic 'last tilt' left us on the edge of the abyss and THE prime directive now (and for at least one further year (2024- end of EFL sanctions)), is to protect the football club and it's heritage and to ensure the fanbase has a stadium to visit and a team to watch. In Clowes we have the right man for that role, but it's fair to say that even having given myself time to consider things, my already tenuous belief in Warne is shaken, to say the very least. 

FWIW, the players are not exempt either. If they've a problem with the gaffer, sort it, but not by dropping the lot in front of 30,000 loyal, paying fans. That's inexcusable, if indeed that's what happened. There's little doubt that this squad still needs more pace and flair, but the existing roster need to start punching their weight and quickly. There are expectations for them too, not just the club and manager and they'll do well to remember that, or I can see things turning toxic in a hurry. Hopefully, the Burton game will see a sharp rise in performance level, an end to the naysaying and the smoothing of furrowed brows, if only for now.

COYR

[DRBee]

 I find Warne unappealing as a manager and don't like his style of play. But I am not calling for him to be sacked. What I do find unacceptable is what I see as his complacency. Last year after a very good run mid-season, we fell away and fell into a pattern where we found it hard to win games. Though we only just missed out on play-off places, we could all see that the team was not playing that well. His emphasis for  the new season should be about us needing to improve and he needs to take responsibility for our performances, unlike what he said after Tuesday's game, publicly suggesting the blame lay with particular identifiable players. He and his management team still have to prove themselves and not all managers can transfer success at one club to a new one. 

[Magicman]

Reminds me of David Brent in his querky obsessions. 

[RoyMac5]

5 minutes ago, Magicman said:

Reminds me of David Brent in his querky obsessions. 

This is the 'in defence' of thread! 😄 If we know it then the players know it too, how are his respect levels I wonder?

 

[duncanjwitham]

6 minutes ago, DRBee said:

What I do find unacceptable is what I see as his complacency. Last year after a very good run mid-season, we fell away and fell into a pattern where we found it hard to win games.

My biggest concern with that, is that I don't think he ever really understood why we were playing well and winning those games.  The first full game after we reverted to a back 4 (Bristol Rovers, we won 4-2 IIRC) he was asked post-match about the change in formation, and basically said he didn't think it made any difference, we'd just worked harder or something.  If he couldn't see that getting the majority of the squad into positions they're comfortable in is going to make us play better, then there's no hope.

[Ram-Alf]

11 hours ago, RodleyRam said:

Last season I was one of this forum who expressed some concerns about the way we were set up tactically and how PW went about footballing matters.

Since then he's grown on me in lots of ways and I quite like his approach to building culture etc.

I don't know if the seeming lacklustre transfer window is down to a difficult market, restrictions or poor recruitment practices on our part. Clearly there is something holding us back from recruiting players with the kind of characteristics we obviously need but I doubt it's fair to let the entirety of blame for that at PW's door unless he's completely blind to the obvious.

 

I've gone the opposite way, He came in with a refreshing attitude to honesty/joviality, Tuesday nights comment of "heads being turned" and his "the players chose the Captain" has sent him sliding down the ladder of likeness for me, I don't dislike PW just not to enamoured now, Where I would try to bail him out for criticism I now let those who do criticise I give some slack too.

The market PW is moving in is getting smaller and smaller, A player with a certain characteristic age and ability are being picked up by Champ clubs...hence us losing Roberts and selling Knight, 2 more COULD be on their way if those heads are still spinning. 

[MadAmster]

Most were reasonably happy with the individual signings. We're either going to struggle all season or the squad is going to gel, preferably starting at Burton tomorrow. It could take time. He has 3 more years on his contract. IMO he will get those years.

[RoyMac5]

1 minute ago, MadAmster said:

Most were reasonably happy with the individual signings. We're either going to struggle all season or the squad is going to gel, preferably starting at Burton tomorrow. It could take time. He has 3 more years on his contract. IMO he will get those years.

Only promotion soon ie this season, and him wanting to stay will guarantee that. IMHO.

[mwram1973]

5 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

Only promotion soon ie this season, and him wanting to stay will guarantee that. IMHO.

Tbh, if we don't go up this season, he'll be gone in mine and his opinion. 

[May Contain Nuts]

1 minute ago, MadAmster said:

Most were reasonably happy with the individual signings. We're either going to struggle all season or the squad is going to gel, preferably starting at Burton tomorrow. It could take time. He has 3 more years on his contract. IMO he will get those years.

I was happy with the signings we did make, although I pictured Elder fitting in as a LWB better than does. I also didn't imagine that Bradley would forget to bring his specialist insoles up from Luton.

If the players are given roles which suit them and there's a clear structure and method in place for both scoring and not conceding goals, I can see the squad being good enough to grind its way into the play-offs.

However the alarm bells started ringing when Warne talked of the Centre backs providing overlaps and Korey Smith getting forward more to become the goalscorer Warne thinks he is (OK he scored in pre-season, but has something like 1 competitive goal in 6 years), and to 'make his kids proud' - should that be a priority over keeping goals out?

I put that to the back of my mind though, because obviously we wouldn't have both of those things going on at once, would we? Oh.

[maxjam]

A good and fairly balanced assessment of the first 2 games and 'those' comments from Paul Warne. 

Approx 20 mins long and worth a listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g61qsk

[TomTom92]

1 hour ago, RoyMac5 said:

Only promotion soon ie this season, and him wanting to stay will guarantee that. IMHO.

PW said himself he'd walk away if he came to the ground and people were holding a 'PW Out' flag. If we miss out on top 6 there's no way the fans will accept it. However, at this rate he won't see halloween never mind the final match of the season.

[duncanjwitham]

13 minutes ago, TomTom92 said:

PW said himself he'd walk away if he came to the ground and people were holding a 'PW Out' flag. If we miss out on top 6 there's no way the fans will accept it. However, at this rate he won't see halloween never mind the final match of the season.

Anyone know any flag-makers? Asking for a friend... 😉

[Guest]

48 minutes ago, maxjam said:

A good and fairly balanced assessment of the first 2 games and 'those' comments from Paul Warne. 

Approx 20 mins long and worth a listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g61qsk

How are the 2 armchair pundits any more qualified than any of us to spout rubbish on the wireless? For what it's worth, halfway into the podcast, I'd have said almost the exact opposite of what both of them are saying, and why should anyone have to listen to what I think. Who are they? Do they get random punters on every time or is it always these two?

[SSD]

Think he needs to start by making sure the gap between the defence and midfield isn't as wide as the Suez canal...

Against Blackpool it was cringeworthy. Clearly some lack of communication going on in the field.

[Premier ram]

Still totally in the Paul Warne camp, stability needed , not back to the sack a manager or two every year days please , yes the two results are not an ideal start , yes we need 2 or 3 new signings but the manager is fully aware of this , time and patience needed, let’s see when the window closes I’m sure we will be in a better place

[CBRammette]

6 hours ago, TomTom92 said:

PW said himself he'd walk away if he came to the ground and people were holding a 'PW Out' flag. If we miss out on top 6 there's no way the fans will accept it. However, at this rate he won't see halloween never mind the final match of the season.

I think many would if its been an enjoyable season the pitch, if there signs of an evolving plan and if there is say progression of youth players especially if PW operating under tight budget still. Lots of "ifs" but think to say "no way the fans will accept it" is very sweeping.  I think what you see is what you get with him and he will take fan disgruntlement very much to heart so genuinely hope things turn around. 

[CBRammette]

1 hour ago, Premier ram said:

Still totally in the Paul Warne camp, stability needed , not back to the sack a manager or two every year days please , yes the two results are not an ideal start , yes we need 2 or 3 new signings but the manager is fully aware of this , time and patience needed, let’s see when the window closes I’m sure we will be in a better place

Likely out of his hands anyway re getting signings across the line