I think AI was appointed because Peace wanted someone who wouldn't rock the boat, would train everyone in a professional face to face manner and would utilise a compact style of play based around a solid defence and quick counter-attacking. Essentially someone that is like Roy Hodgson was and has the same ideas that Hodgson had. That does make sense because that period was generally good (Hodgson's rigid, boring 4-4-2 aside) and the players, some still make up the core of our squad, were very happy.
However, there does come a time when clubs have to move forward and not try to stay in the past or redeliver what worked in the past. I personally wasn't overly thrilled by the appointment of AI. I could understand the thinking behind it (the above) but I wanted us to keep Pepe or bring in someone who would have changed things and moved us into a fresh future like Pepe wanted to.
At the moment I am still behind AI (I did lose some patience with him though) and I don't want to see him sacked (I wrote on one thread earlier in the week that I wanted him gone but I was annoyed after the Arsenal match and I allowed myself to be influenced) because it will mean more changes and instability over the tough Christmas period which is fast approaching. However, I think that if we lose to Villa on Saturday, Peace will pull the plug because a defeat to Villa at home will make AI's job completely untenable with regards to how most supporters will react. It could end up like Wolves with Mick McCarthy after we beat them 5-1.
If the above happens, which I really hope doesn't because any confidence that our squad has left will be shot to pieces, my choice of replacement is still Quique Sánchez Flores.
I didn't think we were that bad either. We looked solid defensively which is something that Irvine deserves credit for, we moved the ball around well with some purpose at times and the midfield 5 was more flexible due to the rotation of their positions when we had possession.
Overall I'm happy with the point yesterday. It wasn't perfect but it is a start and most importantly it stopped the rot, which after 4 straight defeats, was needed.
However, there does come a time when clubs have to move forward and not try to stay in the past or redeliver what worked in the past. I personally wasn't overly thrilled by the appointment of AI. I could understand the thinking behind it (the above) but I wanted us to keep Pepe or bring in someone who would have changed things and moved us into a fresh future like Pepe wanted to.
At the moment I am still behind AI (I did lose some patience with him though) and I don't want to see him sacked (I wrote on one thread earlier in the week that I wanted him gone but I was annoyed after the Arsenal match and I allowed myself to be influenced) because it will mean more changes and instability over the tough Christmas period which is fast approaching. However, I think that if we lose to Villa on Saturday, Peace will pull the plug because a defeat to Villa at home will make AI's job completely untenable with regards to how most supporters will react. It could end up like Wolves with Mick McCarthy after we beat them 5-1.
If the above happens, which I really hope doesn't because any confidence that our squad has left will be shot to pieces, my choice of replacement is still Quique Sánchez Flores.
(07-12-2014, 02:26)drewks Wrote: Is there a time when a post quotes a post that quotes another quote ....and you forget where you started??
Well, onto the last 40 mins of the game which is all I saw......pardon me for being a lone voice but I didn't think we were anything like as bad as all the other posts suggest.
That's it.
I didn't think we were that bad either. We looked solid defensively which is something that Irvine deserves credit for, we moved the ball around well with some purpose at times and the midfield 5 was more flexible due to the rotation of their positions when we had possession.
Overall I'm happy with the point yesterday. It wasn't perfect but it is a start and most importantly it stopped the rot, which after 4 straight defeats, was needed.