Based on This Season ONLY: Clarke or McDermott?

[John Smith]

This was brought up on the radio last night, simple question - who has had the better season in charge?

[Maneki Neko]

purely on football Clarke had had the team playing better more consistent football for that wonderful 6/7 games (before everyone worked us out)
But these players are clarkes, the team is imbalanced because of Clarke, its full of loanees because of Clarke, their confidence is shot because of Clarke, the instability is clarkes fault- the huge rebuild was too much all at once, and it was fudged completely, and then he oxf*rd off leaving us in the shit.

so given all that, and over the whole season, id choose brian every time

[George_]

Clarke had an in form Blackman, Sa who was 2nd top scorer & Tshibola looking very good in front of the back 4. We played some great football in Late August/September/early October. But after that we won 1 in 8 games. We had a system under Clarke which benefited Blackman and lead to success, but when Blackman had a dip in form the team had a dip in form.

Brian has had Blackman for a couple of games (and he was out of form then compared to early season form) Sa was on his way & Tshibola was injured. He also came in when the majority of the team had lost a great amount of confidence from the early season momentum. Brian brought in Evans who i think could be a decent signing for the future, Kermorgant who just isn't very good and was given Rakels who has only played a handful of games.

If Brian had Clarke's early season team i honestly think he would have kept the momentum going & we would have been around the play offs now.

Overall I'd give them both a 6 - but i know I'd prefer Brian to be dealing with the much needed changes in the squad this summer than Clarke.

[Zammo]

Up until the second half of Fulham away, Clarke was in charge of a squad capable of winning the Championship.

[genome]

Clarke had an in form Blackman, Sa who was 2nd top scorer & Tshibola looking very good in front of the back 4. We played some great football in Late August/September/early October. But after that we won 1 in 8 games. We had a system under Clarke which benefited Blackman and lead to success, but when Blackman had a dip in form the team had a dip in form.

Brian has had Blackman for a couple of games (and he was out of form then compared to early season form) Sa was on his way & Tshibola was injured. He also came in when the majority of the team had lost a great amount of confidence from the early season momentum. Brian brought in Evans who i think could be a decent signing for the future, Kermorgant who just isn't very good and was given Rakels who has only played a handful of games.

If Brian had Clarke's early season team i honestly think he would have kept the momentum going & we would have been around the play offs now.

Overall I'd give them both a 6 - but i know I'd prefer Brian to be dealing with the much needed changes in the squad this summer than Clarke.

Nail, meet head

[Forbury Lion]

Up until the second half of Fulham away, Clarke was in charge of a squad capable of winning the Championship.

Maybe this was when Fulham first declared their interest in him as their next manager?

Clarke wanted out after spending the money/loaning players and realising it wasn't going to work out.
Brian wanted in, he inherited the mess and saw some key players depart.

Had we kept Clarke all season things would not have improved.
Had we started the season with Brian we might be in a better position.

Give Brian the same number of games at the start of next season and compare that start to that of Clarke for a better comparisson, assuming he has the same funds available to rebuild.

[Maneki Neko]

assuming he has the same funds available to rebuild.

oh.

[Zammo]

Up until the second half of Fulham away, Clarke was in charge of a squad capable of winning the Championship.

Maybe this was when Fulham first declared their interest in him as their next manager?

At half-time ?

[RoyalBlue]

Thought the question was a simple 'who has had the better season in charge?', not who has the best excuses for failing.

[No Fixed Abode]

Clarke. Better PPG.

Things are obviously falling apart under BM with last nights punch up. He's obviously not galvanised the squad.

[sandman]

Can't vote really.

Clarke shouldn't have been sacked but Brian's done a decent job with the hand dealt to him. Birmingham is the only game I can think of that stands out where he's got things majorly wrong and but for some terrible finishing from John and particularly Vydra we'd have got more points from quite a few games. We have more fight and grit and we've actually shown some character in games like West Brom, Forest and Charlton.

[One8Seven1*]

This was brought up on the radio last night, simple question - who has had the better season in charge?

Clarke had the better season. Had it not been for his eagerness, whatever the reasons behind it, to speak to Fulham, then he'd have got us back on track and we'd have had a decent go at a P/O place.

Whilst he shot himself in the foot, we still don't know what's going on behind the scenes that would have made him want to consider his options after being backed so strongly last summer. Unfortunately SJM and Nigel Howe have too much sway at the club and now we're lumbered with McDermott who is one of the nicest guys in the game, but he isn't the man to take this club forward. There's already too many fans calling for his head. His only saving grace is the end of season approaching, but a mediocre start could see him back out the door for a second time before November IMHO. Sadly another wasted season awaits.

[No Fixed Abode]

This was brought up on the radio last night, simple question - who has had the better season in charge?

Whilst he shot himself in the foot, /quote]

But he wasn't the one who made it public.

[andrew1957]

Under Clarke the team (for whatever reason) was going off a cliff. McD saved the day and stabilised things and the fight is gradually coming back into the team but he will have a lot of work to do this summer and I rather doubt that the Thais will be spending 2.5M on a loan striker next time. I think it will be a case of lots of senior players going to be replaced by and a few free or low cost transfers and youth in which case we could be in for a few years of rebuilding.

I just hope they don't expect a Leicester miracle and give Brian the time he will need.

[No Fixed Abode]

Under Clarke the team (for whatever reason) was going off a cliff. .

Err - they were on a poor run - but off a cliff? Massively exaggerating here..

[andrew1957]

Under Clarke the team (for whatever reason) was going off a cliff. .

Err - they were on a poor run - but off a cliff? Massively exaggerating here..

In his last four games we were beaten heavily at Cardiff and Forest. We scraped a home win against Bolton and were very lucky against a bottom side and then lost at home to QPR with the team looking dispirited. Many on here were fearing relegation at that time so I don't think I am exaggerating. For whatever reason there was no fight shown in those games.

[bcubed]

Up until the second half of Fulham away, Clarke was in charge of a squad capable of winning the Championship.

this with knobs on

[Forbury Lion]

I'm going to wait until the season ends - we're not yet mathematically safe from relegation and if we go down, I might be inclined to vote Clarke.

[Maneki Neko]

Under Clarke the team (for whatever reason) was going off a cliff. .

Err - they were on a poor run - but off a cliff? Massively exaggerating here..

from 2nd, winning every week, to 13th and winning 1 in 8
I wont insist its an actual cliff, but its certainly cliff-like.

[NessaFromEldorado]

...Unfortunately SJM and Nigel Howe have too much sway at the club and now we're lumbered with McDermott.

Madejski has no input on decisions whatsoever these days and is essentially a pissed up meet and greet. Howe and Hammond take responsibility for that appointment.