Hunt out.

[tmesis]

The thread and its existence is a product of the reality we are in. There are those who believe that changing a manager will achieve some sort of positive impact on results. This would only happen if the manager has lost the dressing room and the players are either bickering with each other or not putting any real effort in. In the case of players not putting the effort in, that is when you may question the fit for the shirt.

It's kind of the modern way.

Fans have just been conditioned to think that sacking the manager is always necessary if results or performances dip, regardless of what else is going on.

This is not a great squad of players. The amount of basic mistakes they make is embarrassing at times. Recruitment has been poor, looking like we've gone for depth rather than quality. Definite shades of Tommy Burns' (less than) magnificent seven.

Is Hunt doing a great job? No.

Could someone come in and do a better job? Quite probably.

Could we find and attract someone capable of doing a better job? That's where it get's tricky.

This is the worst squad since the one that got Burns sacked. Sacking him and bringing in Pardew was a decision we definitely got right, but signing Forster and Butler helped massively, and we aren't going to be doing anything like that for quite a while.

[windermereROYAL]

The thread and its existence is a product of the reality we are in. There are those who believe that changing a manager will achieve some sort of positive impact on results. This would only happen if the manager has lost the dressing room and the players are either bickering with each other or not putting any real effort in. In the case of players not putting the effort in, that is when you may question the fit for the shirt.

This is not a great squad of players. The amount of basic mistakes they make is embarrassing at times. Recruitment has been poor, looking like we've gone for depth rather than quality. Definite shades of Tommy Burns' (less than) magnificent seven.
.

I tend to disagree with this paragraph, While describing the squad as great would be pushing it a bit I don`t think the recruitment has been that bad, I`ll leave the keeper out of this, replacing Bindon and Mbengue was always going to be a big ask I`d say O`Connor Williams and Burns are solid players at this level, Jacobs takes some pelters from the goons but for me he`s done very little wrong so far.

In the midfield we`ve got Doyle who on his early showings is no Knibbs but he`s showing enough for him to have an impact, Fraser is a good stand in at DM should they choose to push Wingy forward sometime in the future, we`ve got Ritchie who everybody wanted and have yet to see.

In attacking areas we`ve got Danny K who`s a bit raw but could be a fan favourite like Jimmy Kebe if he can sort out his final ball, Lane on the other side hasn`t played much yet, but that goal last week shows he`s got it in his locker.

Up top is where the real fan criticism comes in MOM hasn`t exactly hit the ground running as he so I suspect he`ll be used as an impact sub in future behind first choice Jack Marriott who may not have 90 minutes in his legs just yet.

Just because the results aren`t quite there yet it`s nothing to do with player ability IMO.

[Stranded]

The squad is more than fine to push in to the top half and possibly outside chance of play-offs.

The glaring weakness appears to be a gap in the striking position where another option would be great (and may still come).

Is it weaker than last year - given we had a few players who proved they were playing at a higher standard, of course it was, but this is not a weak squad in terms of L1 - if Hunt can't get them obtaining results by mid to late October then he may well be in trouble as the one place this squad shouldn't be is in a relegation battle. Confidence is always a big part of this and if they can get a result at Barnsley and beat Orient then things look rosier.

As for this being the weakest squad in the last 30 years or so - well, I'm not really sure what people are thinking we should have, given this is the lowest level the club has been at in that time and we are just coming out of nearly a decade of financial turmoil and decline. Hardly surprising that it may be the weakest we've had in that time, doesn't mean it is bad for our current level. Comparing to Reading squads of the past is pointless.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Last year we could put out a top 6 first XI but were only ever a few injuries away from being a bottom half team.

Now we can put out two top half XIs, but the best line up isn't quite a good (as you would expect without Bindon, Mbengue, Knibbs and Smith). I'd say overall we're stronger now; it's a marathon not a sprint. The likes of Kanu and Holzman are playing in the NL now were only a couple of injuries away from playing last year.

[Hound]

The squad is more than fine to push in to the top half and possibly outside chance of play-offs.

The glaring weakness appears to be a gap in the striking position where another option would be great (and may still come).

Is it weaker than last year - given we had a few players who proved they were playing at a higher standard, of course it was, but this is not a weak squad in terms of L1 - if Hunt can't get them obtaining results by mid to late October then he may well be in trouble as the one place this squad shouldn't be is in a relegation battle. Confidence is always a big part of this and if they can get a result at Barnsley and beat Orient then things look rosier.

As for this being the weakest squad in the last 30 years or so - well, I'm not really sure what people are thinking we should have, given this is the lowest level the club has been at in that time and we are just coming out of nearly a decade of financial turmoil and decline. Hardly surprising that it may be the weakest we've had in that time, doesn't mean it is bad for our current level. Comparing to Reading squads of the past is pointless.

We’ve signed 2 CFs to fill one position and Kelvin can do a job there as well. Don’t think we need another 1. Definitely wouldn’t saying a glaring weakness. Not sure how you’d fit another one in without dropping one from the squad completely

[Stranded]

The squad is more than fine to push in to the top half and possibly outside chance of play-offs.

The glaring weakness appears to be a gap in the striking position where another option would be great (and may still come).

Is it weaker than last year - given we had a few players who proved they were playing at a higher standard, of course it was, but this is not a weak squad in terms of L1 - if Hunt can't get them obtaining results by mid to late October then he may well be in trouble as the one place this squad shouldn't be is in a relegation battle. Confidence is always a big part of this and if they can get a result at Barnsley and beat Orient then things look rosier.

As for this being the weakest squad in the last 30 years or so - well, I'm not really sure what people are thinking we should have, given this is the lowest level the club has been at in that time and we are just coming out of nearly a decade of financial turmoil and decline. Hardly surprising that it may be the weakest we've had in that time, doesn't mean it is bad for our current level. Comparing to Reading squads of the past is pointless.

We’ve signed 2 CFs to fill one position and Kelvin can do a job there as well. Don’t think we need another 1. Definitely wouldn’t saying a glaring weakness. Not sure how you’d fit another one in without dropping one from the squad completely

Fair - glaring is probably the wrong word and Marriott scoring on full debut should give him confidence - I guess the gap for me, is a "different" type of striker that can either come on for the last 20 or so to give the opponents something new to think about or could start if needed where tactically it makes more sense.

[morganb]

The squad is more than fine to push in to the top half and possibly outside chance of play-offs.

The glaring weakness appears to be a gap in the striking position where another option would be great (and may still come).

Is it weaker than last year - given we had a few players who proved they were playing at a higher standard, of course it was, but this is not a weak squad in terms of L1 - if Hunt can't get them obtaining results by mid to late October then he may well be in trouble as the one place this squad shouldn't be is in a relegation battle. Confidence is always a big part of this and if they can get a result at Barnsley and beat Orient then things look rosier.

As for this being the weakest squad in the last 30 years or so - well, I'm not really sure what people are thinking we should have, given this is the lowest level the club has been at in that time and we are just coming out of nearly a decade of financial turmoil and decline. Hardly surprising that it may be the weakest we've had in that time, doesn't mean it is bad for our current level. Comparing to Reading squads of the past is pointless.

We’ve signed 2 CFs to fill one position and Kelvin can do a job there as well. Don’t think we need another 1. Definitely wouldn’t saying a glaring weakness. Not sure how you’d fit another one in without dropping one from the squad completely

Fair - glaring is probably the wrong word and Marriott scoring on full debut should give him confidence - I guess the gap for me, is a "different" type of striker that can either come on for the last 20 or so to give the opponents something new to think about or could start if needed where tactically it makes more sense.

I wonder what this season's plans were for Basil Tuma before he got injured? He was starting in pre-season and could be classed as "different" as he has pace so opposition defences wouldn't relish him coming on for the final 20 minutes of a game

[Sutekh]

We’ve signed 2 CFs to fill one position and Kelvin can do a job there as well. Don’t think we need another 1. Definitely wouldn’t saying a glaring weakness. Not sure how you’d fit another one in without dropping one from the squad completely

Fair - glaring is probably the wrong word and Marriott scoring on full debut should give him confidence - I guess the gap for me, is a "different" type of striker that can either come on for the last 20 or so to give the opponents something new to think about or could start if needed where tactically it makes more sense.

I wonder what this season's plans were for Basil Tuma before he got injured? He was starting in pre-season and could be classed as "different" as he has pace so opposition defences wouldn't relish him coming on for the final 20 minutes of a game

Probably just that. Perennial substitute with starts in the cup, so progression for him from last year while the management make up their minds over his long term future.

[Snowflake Royal]

Modern football fans are just clueless. Lose three games in a row, something that occurs quite normally during a season for about half the teams who play, maybe more, and the sky is falling.

You need an entirely new squad and to sack a manager.

People seem to just expect to win every game.

Used to be you'd ignore the league table for the first 10 games whilst things shook out. Now it’s panic stations on you're in the bottom 5 after 3 games

[Stranded]

Modern football fans are just clueless. Lose three games in a row, something that occurs quite normally during a season for about half the teams who play, maybe more, and the sky is falling.

You need an entirely new squad and to sack a manager.

People seem to just expect to win every game.

Used to be you'd ignore the league table for the first 10 games whilst things shook out. Now it’s panic stations on you're in the bottom 5 after 3 games

It used to be that the tables were never even published until about 6 or 7 games in, as they were seen as frankly pointless until then.

[leon]

He’s got to go.

And lol at calling the Swindon game meaningless. It’s an extra revenue stream and a game against a bitter rival, no matter what the competition.

Our fans are just plain weird.

plain speaking as ever Brogue. Where do you think we'll end up under Hunt. relegated?

[Brogue]

He’s got to go.

And lol at calling the Swindon game meaningless. It’s an extra revenue stream and a game against a bitter rival, no matter what the competition.

Our fans are just plain weird.

plain speaking as ever Brogue. Where do you think we'll end up under Hunt. relegated?

A relegation battle, but not relegated. Think we will limp home to a 17th place finish. Get a competent manager in and I think we will finish 8th.

[leon]

He’s got to go.

And lol at calling the Swindon game meaningless. It’s an extra revenue stream and a game against a bitter rival, no matter what the competition.

Our fans are just plain weird.

plain speaking as ever Brogue. Where do you think we'll end up under Hunt. relegated?

A relegation battle, but not relegated. Think we will limp home to a 17th place finish. Get a competent manager in and I think we will finish 8th.

I agree that is a possibility. My main concern with Hunt is his inflexibility. I do wonder why football manager are so stubborn and resistant to evolving tactics. I guess thats the difference between the bad ones and the good ones.

[Brogue]

plain speaking as ever Brogue. Where do you think we'll end up under Hunt. relegated?

A relegation battle, but not relegated. Think we will limp home to a 17th place finish. Get a competent manager in and I think we will finish 8th.

I agree that is a possibility. My main concern with Hunt is his inflexibility. I do wonder why football manager are so stubborn and resistant to evolving tactics. I guess thats the difference between the bad ones and the good ones.

i was listening to a podcast with Tony Mowbray just this week and he was talking about Ruben Amorim at Utd. He said 'who am i to criticize the manager of Manchester united, but why oh why do so many managers insist on playing the way they want to play, rather than the way that suits the players they have'.

When he takes over at a club he looks at the players he's got and sets the tactics according to their strengths. We saw it with Selles for his first 20 odd games, just stubbornly set us up with the 4222 bollox. He swallowed some pride eventually and adapted the formation. Hunt needs to do something pretty quick, the problem is Nigel Gibbs is now gone, and i don't think he's got it in him, and nor has anyone around him. It's a real shame we didn't get that Beale guy in as number 2 that we were after.

[stealthpapes]

The thread and its existence is a product of the reality we are in. There are those who believe that changing a manager will achieve some sort of positive impact on results. This would only happen if the manager has lost the dressing room and the players are either bickering with each other or not putting any real effort in. In the case of players not putting the effort in, that is when you may question the fit for the shirt.
I have been through this a few times. It took a lot for us to sack Tommy Burns. At the time, results and performances were very poor and the fans were actively chanting for his head. There had been significant investment in his players, and this caused a schism in the dressing room. There had been old guard and the new, split on their loyalties with each blaming the others for their plight.
Noel has a good few of his “good lads’ in the camp now. There is a risk that if results do not pick up, that the dressing room could be as divided as the fan base. This is actually exacerbated by fan reactions, booing and chanting designed to show contempt for the team and its performances. No good can come of it.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the validity of Noel’s tactics and even his strategy. But the real problem is likely to be his philosophy. He seems to be dogmatically stuck to one single philosophy. With this entrenched mindset, managers will keep swapping players about in a system, believing that the ingredients are wrong and not the recipe. We have a frankly astonishing number of what are termed ‘inverted wingers’ on the books. When he lined us up with Lane on the right and Kyerewaa on the left against Port Vale, I really began to fear for him. No width, everything channeled into the middle, exactly where Port vale expect it and want it. Managers who can’t or won’t adapt due to an unshakable adherence to a single philosophy will die on that hill.
If we are still in the shit in November, then there is a chance that the axe could fall. Doing it now, or in the near future will be a very risky thing to do by Redwood. Without the ability to give a new manager the funds to make his own changes to the squad, the outcome would be more than likely negative. They will out of necessity give him as much time as they can. Because the recruitment not only falls on Noel’s shoulders, but on Joe’s as well.
If you had asked me back in the day which one of our players would make it as a manager. I would have gone, Jobi, Bryn, Ivar and Murts. Noel and his brother would not have entered my head. But, at this moment I do not want to see him sacked. It is in the clubs best interest that he succeeds. Because failure will set us back years. This time we don’t have Pards, fitting windows while he waits for his chance to sweep everything away and rebuild a squad.
If Noel can change his philosophy, the strategy and tactics can and will change.

oxf*rd reading that

Dont usually use it but put this into Chat GPT

It came up with
Noel’s rigid philosophy makes the team predictable, but sacking him now would harm the club, so his success depends on adapting.

+
There is no prince across the water.

[traff]

oxf*rd reading that

Dont usually use it but put this into Chat GPT

It came up with
Noel’s rigid philosophy makes the team predictable, but sacking him now would harm the club, so his success depends on adapting.

+
There is no prince across the water.

Yes, edited out that line.

[Sebastian the Red]

That young lad Alan Pardew could probably do a job

[Vision]

The Port Vale performance wasn't great of course but we won the game from the inverted winger on the left (to be fair I'm not sure what DK's stronger foot is as everything other than dribbling seems to be a whiff) cutting inside leading to the inverted winger from the right cracking an absolute beauty with his left foot. Not sure anyone within the game would be advising Hunt to rip it up and start again after our first League win and first clean sheet of the season on the back of two very creditable away draws.

I've said it before but it wasn't just the 4222 formation that was stifling Selles it was that he really didn't know what personnel he wanted. Once he decided on the players he wanted to work with, he then selected the formation that worked best for them. He wasn't exactly flexible after that because it was proving to be relatively successful despite a few bumps along the way. I think it's also true that player turnover is so high in the modern game that as a manager it's easier to have a set system that to integrate replacements into than change everything.

Lets see what Hunt does with the group he's now stuck with. I have my doubts but the last 3 league results (which is ultimately what he'll be judged on) have been a home win and two draws against Wycombe (close to automatic promotion last season) and Bolton who battered us on our previous 2 visits. We're also into round 3 of the League Cup.

It's hardly sacking material is it?

[Mid Sussex Royal]

The Port Vale performance wasn't great of course but we won the game from the inverted winger on the left (to be fair I'm not sure what DK's stronger foot is as everything other than dribbling seems to be a whiff) cutting inside leading to the inverted winger from the right cracking an absolute beauty with his left foot. Not sure anyone within the game would be advising Hunt to rip it up and start again after our first League win and first clean sheet of the season on the back of two very creditable away draws.

I've said it before but it wasn't just the 4222 formation that was stifling Selles it was that he really didn't know what personnel he wanted. Once he decided on the players he wanted to work with, he then selected the formation that worked best for them. He wasn't exactly flexible after that because it was proving to be relatively successful despite a few bumps along the way. I think it's also true that player turnover is so high in the modern game that as a manager it's easier to have a set system that to integrate replacements into than change everything.

Lets see what Hunt does with the group he's now stuck with. I have my doubts but the last 3 league results (which is ultimately what he'll be judged on) have been a home win and two draws against Wycombe (close to automatic promotion last season) and Bolton who battered us on our previous 2 visits. We're also into round 3 of the League Cup.

It's hardly sacking material is it?

Agree it isn't but I'd say we've played well for a sustained period of a game for only 45 mins all season (Wycombe) aside from that its been odd 10-15 min spells.

We've scored 5 league goals all season and I believe the highest xG has been 0.1 ......we've had 3 long range efforts (individual skill) an unlikely header that goes in 1 in 500 probably and a lucky deflection.

The main theme of this thread has been performance and tactics and my view is Hunt/coaches haven't the nous to improve things so results will generally be poor.

On the basis of what I've seen to date I'd give us maybe a draw with Orient and Mansfield which will leave us near the bottom by the next break.

[leon]

The Port Vale performance wasn't great of course but we won the game from the inverted winger on the left (to be fair I'm not sure what DK's stronger foot is as everything other than dribbling seems to be a whiff) cutting inside leading to the inverted winger from the right cracking an absolute beauty with his left foot. Not sure anyone within the game would be advising Hunt to rip it up and start again after our first League win and first clean sheet of the season on the back of two very creditable away draws.

I've said it before but it wasn't just the 4222 formation that was stifling Selles it was that he really didn't know what personnel he wanted. Once he decided on the players he wanted to work with, he then selected the formation that worked best for them. He wasn't exactly flexible after that because it was proving to be relatively successful despite a few bumps along the way. I think it's also true that player turnover is so high in the modern game that as a manager it's easier to have a set system that to integrate replacements into than change everything.

Lets see what Hunt does with the group he's now stuck with. I have my doubts but the last 3 league results (which is ultimately what he'll be judged on) have been a home win and two draws against Wycombe (close to automatic promotion last season) and Bolton who battered us on our previous 2 visits. We're also into round 3 of the League Cup.

It's hardly sacking material is it?

Agree it isn't but I'd say we've played well for a sustained period of a game for only 45 mins all season (Wycombe) aside from that its been odd 10-15 min spells.

We've scored 5 league goals all season and I believe the highest xG has been 0.1 ......we've had 3 long range efforts (individual skill) an unlikely header that goes in 1 in 500 probably and a lucky deflection.

The main theme of this thread has been performance and tactics and my view is Hunt/coaches haven't the nous to improve things so results will generally be poor.

On the basis of what I've seen to date I'd give us maybe a draw with Orient and Mansfield which will leave us near the bottom by the next break.

by mid october we'll get a view of where we are heading. If we are still in the same state I would say decision time