Hunt out.

[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?

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.

All season? We've played 6 games (and 4 of those against teams fancied for promotion). 5 points from the last 3 fixtures is a decent return and we were every bit as good in one of those games as we were supposedly bad in the others.

He's hardly been helped by a transfer policy that has seen the CEO/DOF (whatever JJ is) plus the owner talking about 3 levels of transfer window thus making early season more of a pre-season. For better or worse and barring any late loans/free agents, this squad is now his.

I have my own reservations but lets see what he does in the coming weeks. He's not Redwood's man and I get the feeling JJ will want his imprint more on things moving forward so I doubt it will take much to pull the plug on Hunt and replace him with a man of JJ's choosing.

[Snowflake 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.

All season? We've played 6 games (and 4 of those against teams fancied for promotion). 5 points from the last 3 fixtures is a decent return and we were every bit as good in one of those games as we were supposedly bad in the others.

He's hardly been helped by a transfer policy that has seen the CEO/DOF (whatever JJ is) plus the owner talking about 3 levels of transfer window thus making early season more of a pre-season. For better or worse and barring any late loans/free agents, this squad is now his.

I have my own reservations but lets see what he does in the coming weeks. He's not Redwood's man and I get the feeling JJ will want his imprint more on things moving forward so I doubt it will take much to pull the plug on Hunt and replace him with a man of JJ's choosing.

We're clearly getting more comfortable in front of goal too.

Goals: 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1
Shots (on): 7(3), 8(2), 13(3), 5(2), 17(6), 11(5)

[WestYorksRoyal]

Flipping the topic on its head a bit, what is a fair expectation for Hunt with resources at his disposal? What keeps him at the helm into 2026, 2027 and beyond?

I'd say top half, clear development of the team and a spine to build upon for a promotion challenge in 26/27 is enough to keep him here. Position could even slip to 15th or so and he potentially gets to stay if we're trying to play good football and we can see the potential with a good transfer window next summer.

Mid table and turgid football and get rid at the end of the season, maybe March or so if you want a new manager to learn the ropes and figure out their plans ahead of the summer.

What is completely unacceptable with this squad is any sort of relegation battle, and if it looks like we're in for one at the end of October or so he must be sacked then. The squad is simply too good for that, even with time to gel etc.,

It's funny that the biggest critics of Hunt will typically be the biggest critics of the new owners and the transfer window; you can't have it both ways lads. I personally think they have given him a good enough squad to succeed, and he doesn't he needs to take responsibility. But if we finish 10th, play well and then he's sacked I'll then be pissed with the owners, as I don't think the squad is ready for promotion.

[Millsy]

He’s got to go.

Well you're the mod, make it happen. Ian isn't going to quit on his own!


(Only joking Ian, typical Millsy 'humour' - you're alright )

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Flipping the topic on its head a bit, what is a fair expectation for Hunt with resources at his disposal? What keeps him at the helm into 2026, 2027 and beyond?

I'd say top half, clear development of the team and a spine to build upon for a promotion challenge in 26/27 is enough to keep him here. Position could even slip to 15th or so and he potentially gets to stay if we're trying to play good football and we can see the potential with a good transfer window next summer.

Mid table and turgid football and get rid at the end of the season, maybe March or so if you want a new manager to learn the ropes and figure out their plans ahead of the summer.

What is completely unacceptable with this squad is any sort of relegation battle, and if it looks like we're in for one at the end of October or so he must be sacked then. The squad is simply too good for that, even with time to gel etc.,

It's funny that the biggest critics of Hunt will typically be the biggest critics of the new owners and the transfer window; you can't have it both ways lads. I personally think they have given him a good enough squad to succeed, and he doesn't he needs to take responsibility. But if we finish 10th, play well and then he's sacked I'll then be pissed with the owners, as I don't think the squad is ready for promotion.

I'd say with this squad 9th-12th is a realistic expectation. I agree - he's by and large been supported by the owners as although we haven't got the quality of some that have left perhaps, we definitely have better depth than the previous 2 seasons.

Agree - if the football improves and we are pushing towards top half next year then keep the status quo, but if its stills turgid crap and we're around bottom 8 (even if safe) I'd make the change in Spring.