13-12-2020, 17:13
I think the points raised are valid, with this set of players, any manager would have a tough job.
It's perfectly feasible we could sack Bilic and not do any better.
And I think we would all be in full agreement that he hasn't been well backed by the board...
But my cross argument for that is that Bilic is largely responsible for assembling this disjointed squad. He openly said all summer that Krovinovic was the top target, which I thought at the time was totally ludicrous and posted as much. When you go into the Premiership with little budget, the last thing you want to do is waste a precious loan deal on a player who was bit part at Championship level. And while I think he's a decent squad player to have at this level, did we really need another of this type with Sawyers at the club and Gallagher who also operated as a number 10 incoming? For me it was crying out for a proper defensive midfielder and Bilic was blind to the fact. If I'm being honest, I think this move was purely to please Pereira, which seems ridiculous in professional football. This isn't under 15's.
Then we shelled out over £30m for Diangana and Grant who both operated on the left wing last year. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking either of these transfers individually, I was personally chuffed when we signed Grady as I thought it was a signal of intent. Grant also may well prove to be a good signing in time. BUT... if you know the club has a limited budget, do you go for 2 left wingers for big money when there are clear problems in other area? Namely full back or defensive midfield? For me that's a poor decision. For me you strengthen the spine of the team first and top up with luxuries on loan as there are always plenty of young wingers available. Look at Fulham, they grabbed Adamola Lookman on loan and he has had more Premier League experience than Grady.
And finally, we need to ask ourselves, is Bilic picking the best team with the admittedly limited quality we have available? Is he getting the lads up for it?
My answer on both accounts is no.
With the exception of the Spurs game, which we were unfortunate to lose, I don't think we have had a good 90 minutes performance. We have had a couple of decent 45 minute spells which which were before or after a dreadful half.
Losing a 3 goal lead to Chelsea was pathetic. The way we turned up to play Fulham was a joke from start to finish. The second half capitulation against Sheffield United was incredible and it was their bad finishing that won us that game, not our ability to keep a clean sheet. The reaction to the sending off against Palace was simply embarrassing. While I could accepted defeat in that game, to simply crumble with 10 is a joke. Every other team in this league would at least keep things reasonable with 10, but no team has a weaker spine than we do. Finally to play a Newcastle team missing half a dozen players including their captain, talisman and having to field midfielders at the back and not even come out of the blocks isn't good enough.
And Bilic's failure to motivate the lads isn't something new. It dates back to last season when we failed to beat Blues, Blackburn, Huddersfield and QPR when Promotion was ours to grab.
So while I am in 100% agreement that he hasn't been dealt the best cards, for me it's clear that he is failing to do his job to a satisfactory standard.
I also think there is evidence of a fallout / bad blood with some players. I mean, what other reason can there be for selecting Matt Phillips to play at wing back when Gibbs is fit other than a fallout? Phillips was never good defensively even when protecting a full back, so how is he going to be good enough to play wing back? No shock when he was ball watching for Almiron's goal yesterday because he isn't a player with any defensive awareness. The decision to play these square pegs in round holes has to land with Bilic.
It's perfectly feasible we could sack Bilic and not do any better.
And I think we would all be in full agreement that he hasn't been well backed by the board...
But my cross argument for that is that Bilic is largely responsible for assembling this disjointed squad. He openly said all summer that Krovinovic was the top target, which I thought at the time was totally ludicrous and posted as much. When you go into the Premiership with little budget, the last thing you want to do is waste a precious loan deal on a player who was bit part at Championship level. And while I think he's a decent squad player to have at this level, did we really need another of this type with Sawyers at the club and Gallagher who also operated as a number 10 incoming? For me it was crying out for a proper defensive midfielder and Bilic was blind to the fact. If I'm being honest, I think this move was purely to please Pereira, which seems ridiculous in professional football. This isn't under 15's.
Then we shelled out over £30m for Diangana and Grant who both operated on the left wing last year. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking either of these transfers individually, I was personally chuffed when we signed Grady as I thought it was a signal of intent. Grant also may well prove to be a good signing in time. BUT... if you know the club has a limited budget, do you go for 2 left wingers for big money when there are clear problems in other area? Namely full back or defensive midfield? For me that's a poor decision. For me you strengthen the spine of the team first and top up with luxuries on loan as there are always plenty of young wingers available. Look at Fulham, they grabbed Adamola Lookman on loan and he has had more Premier League experience than Grady.
And finally, we need to ask ourselves, is Bilic picking the best team with the admittedly limited quality we have available? Is he getting the lads up for it?
My answer on both accounts is no.
With the exception of the Spurs game, which we were unfortunate to lose, I don't think we have had a good 90 minutes performance. We have had a couple of decent 45 minute spells which which were before or after a dreadful half.
Losing a 3 goal lead to Chelsea was pathetic. The way we turned up to play Fulham was a joke from start to finish. The second half capitulation against Sheffield United was incredible and it was their bad finishing that won us that game, not our ability to keep a clean sheet. The reaction to the sending off against Palace was simply embarrassing. While I could accepted defeat in that game, to simply crumble with 10 is a joke. Every other team in this league would at least keep things reasonable with 10, but no team has a weaker spine than we do. Finally to play a Newcastle team missing half a dozen players including their captain, talisman and having to field midfielders at the back and not even come out of the blocks isn't good enough.
And Bilic's failure to motivate the lads isn't something new. It dates back to last season when we failed to beat Blues, Blackburn, Huddersfield and QPR when Promotion was ours to grab.
So while I am in 100% agreement that he hasn't been dealt the best cards, for me it's clear that he is failing to do his job to a satisfactory standard.
I also think there is evidence of a fallout / bad blood with some players. I mean, what other reason can there be for selecting Matt Phillips to play at wing back when Gibbs is fit other than a fallout? Phillips was never good defensively even when protecting a full back, so how is he going to be good enough to play wing back? No shock when he was ball watching for Almiron's goal yesterday because he isn't a player with any defensive awareness. The decision to play these square pegs in round holes has to land with Bilic.