I don't think that Pepe was too tactically naive for the premiership. People talk about the high tempo game that he wanted to bring to the club but his time with Betis wasn't always about high pressing and high tempo. He tactically outwitted many coaches including Pep Guardiola during his time at Betis because he was very flexible with his ideas. For example and these aren't exact cases but just a snip it at the a Pepe way, at home to Real Zaragoza, Betis would play high up the pitch and control the tempo of the game with possession football but then the next week away at Real Valladolid, he would set the team out in a more conservative manner with a deeper defensive line and when they had the ball they would look at moving it quickly from back to front at speed, like we did in his first match against Everton. The week after at home to Athletic Club, he would focus his teams play on a certain Athletic Club weakness such as lack of pace at the back by picking 2 quick strikers and 2 quick wingers and getting his team to play quick football in behind the opposition. He tactically outwitted Guardiola in his first season with Betis when they were still in the 2nd division. He knew that Barca were poor at the back so he chose a starting 11 with certain tactics to exploit it. Betis won that game 3-1. He has the tactical flexibility that a lot of current Premiership managers don't have but he was never able to truly show it with us.
I still believe that had he been given the current squad, we would be doing much better than we are right now. I don't think we would be top 10 but we would around 11th or 12th right now which I'm sure most people would be happy with. The atmosphere in the ground would also be much better than the poisonous atmosphere that we have currently.
As for Irvine's future, I think he should be given 1 last shot against Hull. Lose that and it will time to change because the fans will be even more on his back and the atmosphere against Villa will be even worse. I feel sorry for him because he doesn't deserve the abuse that he is getting but he is unfortunately a bit out of his depth.
I still believe that had he been given the current squad, we would be doing much better than we are right now. I don't think we would be top 10 but we would around 11th or 12th right now which I'm sure most people would be happy with. The atmosphere in the ground would also be much better than the poisonous atmosphere that we have currently.
As for Irvine's future, I think he should be given 1 last shot against Hull. Lose that and it will time to change because the fans will be even more on his back and the atmosphere against Villa will be even worse. I feel sorry for him because he doesn't deserve the abuse that he is getting but he is unfortunately a bit out of his depth.