I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
Now the season is at the stage of what it is... Would you consider telling Bowyer to have a two week break, giving the reigns to Jackson and then in two weeks time see if Bowyer comes back refreshed and is a better Manager as a result?
I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
Now the season is at the stage of what it is... Would you consider telling Bowyer to have a two week break, giving the reigns to Jackson and then in two weeks time see if Bowyer comes back refreshed and is a better Manager as a result?
In principle yes, but I think the damage has been done now.
If Thomas came out and said he is here for the long term, regardless, 100% I would support a 2 or 3 week break.
With that though, Saturday convinced me that regardless of what happens this week or next week, Bowyer won’t be our manager next season
If that’s the case then why not get shot of him now and A. Start planning for next season or B. New manager boost outside chance of play offs.
I speculated above it on potentially why
then get rid now, appoint Euell till end of season, nothing to lose but maybe everything to gain?
We're not going to go down so we could look for a new manager at the end of the season when we know who is available.TS needs to decide on a caretaker in the meantime or to leave Lee in charge.
I don't think things can be turned around this season based on who is available. I still don't understand what has gone so wrong with LB this season...
Dont get the fascination with a caretaker till the end of the season
All its going to do is set us back come the summer, another period of potentially missing out on key signings because we dont have a permanent Manager in place - Remember when we got Bent, we got him because we moved quicker than everyone else the moment the transfer window opened. How can we do that when we cant even offer players (even if its Gallen doing the signing) assurances that the new Manager will even want them?
Only reason for giving Jackson or Euell the caretaker job is with the potential of them having it full-time
But then as others have said, giving it to Jackson and are you really changing that much
This season has gone, lets not waste next season by dithering over decisions... Its why Sandgaard almost needs to come out with the vote of confidence and confirm that Bowyer will be here come the start of next season at the very least, or he goes now - I fear we're so paranoid (maybe the wrong word) about getting the right manager that we could end up being down here even longer than we need to
can't speak for others but I'm suggesting a caretaker only in the scenario AFKA suggested whereby a new manager may already have been identified but not available until the summer. If not then yes bring in a new man immediately, we have no time to waste as you quite rightly point out.
I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
Now the season is at the stage of what it is... Would you consider telling Bowyer to have a two week break, giving the reigns to Jackson and then in two weeks time see if Bowyer comes back refreshed and is a better Manager as a result?
In principle yes, but I think the damage has been done now.
If Thomas came out and said he is here for the long term, regardless, 100% I would support a 2 or 3 week break.
and how would that pan out if Jacko came in and won six games on the spin?
I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
Now the season is at the stage of what it is... Would you consider telling Bowyer to have a two week break, giving the reigns to Jackson and then in two weeks time see if Bowyer comes back refreshed and is a better Manager as a result?
In principle yes, but I think the damage has been done now.
If Thomas came out and said he is here for the long term, regardless, 100% I would support a 2 or 3 week break.
and how would that pan out if Jacko came in and won six games on the spin?
It's a win win then isn't it?
Anyone who has any sort of high pressured job gets holiday and has a deputy. I really don't see why football is so different.
Just another thought... If Sandgaard wants a Danish Manager (who is currently out of the UK)
Would said person be allowed to travel over and take up the role. provided they self-isolate for the required period?
Don't know but I don't understand why people think he'd bring in a Danish manager. More likely they'd be American wouldn't it?
I actually think they'd be British, or have worked in Britain previously, can't see them appointing a random foreigner personally.
Purely on the thought that Sandgaard might want someone to replace Bowyer but cant because that person cant enter the country, I mentioned Danish but guess their Nationality doesnt really matter if they're not already here
Of course I could be barking up the wrong tree and that may not be an issue
I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
I suppose it could happen in football but the issues are from Bowyer's perspective, that it may be seen as a sign of weakness and what if say Euell or somebody else comes in as a caretaker and instantly changes things for the better?
I must be in the minority in thinking getting rid of LB is short-termism at its absolute worst. He did brilliantly getting us up, all those who say he had a great squad completely disregard the fact that there's been much better squads across all 4 divisions who are expected to do great things and don't. Having a great squad doesn't guarantee promotion and any manager getting promoted in their first full season as a manager deserves recognition.
Last season we came within a whisker of staying up despite being an absolute basket case of a club off the field. The job he did under those circumstances was first rate, and keeping us up would have been nothing short of incredible. In fact getting us to the last game of the season with a shot at staying up was some achievement in itself.
Has this season been great? No. I've watched the games and I see the same things as everyone else we've been poor for a while now. I can understand those who are frustrated and we haven't been great to watch. Losses hurt no matter how they happen but I think there a little easier to accept when there's good football on display and there's been a lack of that in a lot of games this season.
Do I think LB deserves all the blame for that? No. I think recruitment has been hit and miss this season, however that was the hand we were dealt with the takeover issues and there were clearly some gambles, e.g Madison, that haven't paid off however we had to roll the dice and didn't have the backing we seemingly have now under TS. I also think we've had a terrible run of injuries, which have really derailed us. I also think there's been plenty of games we should have won and if we'd taken chances we'd probably be much higher up the table than we are.
Everyone has a view on the subject and there are clearly those who feel differently and feel LB should go, and that's the great part of football that everyone can see things differently. I don't think LB should be sacked and I think he should get a crack at next season, however I can understand the point of view of those who think he should go. However I do think some of the comments about LB are really unnecessary, the man is a legend in my eyes for what he's done and when the time comes for him to leave, whether it's today, the end of the season or 5 years time he deserves absolute respect from us for what he has done under really difficult circumstances at times.
His achievements and track record already show he's clearly a good manager and those saying he's inept or doesn't have a clue what he's doing I think are really off the mark, and some (not all) of the posts on here suggest there'll be some sort of celebratory feel if he goes which again I just find a little distasteful of someone who has achieved a lot for this club.
I do think we need a little perspective on where we were as a football club even a few months ago, we had been neglected at best for years and at worst asset stripped. Building us back to where we need to be is going to take substantial time and effort no matter how good TS intentions and how much money he is willing to throw at it, it won't all happen overnight. It's worth bearing in mind TS isn't the only owner in League One, or even League Two, who has ambition and the finances to match it and us having a great owner doesn't guarantee that we'll walk the league.
I love his ambition and love that we finally have someone who wants success for this club, but I also think we need to be realistic in terms of what we can achieve and how quickly. Do people genuinely think Eddie Howe is going to come to us like I've seen suggested and spend his Tuesday night's at Accrington and Plymouth?
I struggle to blame bows too much. When you think of all the shit he's had to deal with when he's been here, the hammer blow of last second relegation and the bizarre way the world is at the moment, I think it's just all caught up with him and he's exhausted.
He looks to me like a man who needs a good long break away from football. He looks burnt out, don't forget there was barely even an off season.
I said the same months ago. He needed at least a month off at the end of last season, but that's not possible in football, especially the last close season. He's mentally shot and needs some time off.
I have been banging this drum for months. I don't see why it can't happen in football. I doubt Bowyer has had a week off, I mean a proper week off since the play off final.
The last time he had any meanful time off was probably after the shewsbury game when he didn't know if he had a job or not.
It's not healthy. Lee is far from the only manager that has got in a rut like this. Very few ever get out of it. It's going to cost Thomas a million quid ish to sack him and it could have probably have been avoided with 2 weeks holiday in October.
I suppose it could happen in football but the issues are from Bowyer's perspective, that it may be seen as a sign of weakness and what if say Euell or somebody else comes in as a caretaker and instantly changes things for the better?
We get a proper man in now still have chance of playoffs
I think this is a point that many miss. If you believe in the strength of the squad, there are certainly enough games to go to put the sort of run we need together. Of course it isn't guaranteed, but it is much more likely with a new manager than Bowyer. He is clearly burnt out and whilst that is sad, genuinely sad, it has to be accepted and managed.
I still think he’ll be here until the end of the season.
Yeah I think if he's still here by 3pm Saturday then that tells me TS is happy to write off this season in favour of some stability. I think some communication from the top would be good in terms of settling fans down though.
"CAFC would like to announce that they will not be sacking Lee Bowyer today". Hmm.
I must be in the minority in thinking getting rid of LB is short-termism at its absolute worst. He did brilliantly getting us up, all those who say he had a great squad completely disregard the fact that there's been much better squads across all 4 divisions who are expected to do great things and don't. Having a great squad doesn't guarantee promotion and any manager getting promoted in their first full season as a manager deserves recognition.
Last season we came within a whisker of staying up despite being an absolute basket case of a club off the field. The job he did under those circumstances was first rate, and keeping us up would have been nothing short of incredible. In fact getting us to the last game of the season with a shot at staying up was some achievement in itself.
Has this season been great? No. I've watched the games and I see the same things as everyone else we've been poor for a while now. I can understand those who are frustrated and we haven't been great to watch. Losses hurt no matter how they happen but I think there a little easier to accept when there's good football on display and there's been a lack of that in a lot of games this season.
Do I think LB deserves all the blame for that? No. I think recruitment has been hit and miss this season, however that was the hand we were dealt with the takeover issues and there were clearly some gambles, e.g Madison, that haven't paid off however we had to roll the dice and didn't have the backing we seemingly have now under TS. I also think we've had a terrible run of injuries, which have really derailed us. I also think there's been plenty of games we should have won and if we'd taken chances we'd probably be much higher up the table than we are.
Everyone has a view on the subject and there are clearly those who feel differently and feel LB should go, and that's the great part of football that everyone can see things differently. I don't think LB should be sacked and I think he should get a crack at next season, however I can understand the point of view of those who think he should go. However I do think some of the comments about LB are really unnecessary, the man is a legend in my eyes for what he's done and when the time comes for him to leave, whether it's today, the end of the season or 5 years time he deserves absolute respect from us for what he has done under really difficult circumstances at times.
His achievements and track record already show he's clearly a good manager and those saying he's inept or doesn't have a clue what he's doing I think are really off the mark, and some (not all) of the posts on here suggest there'll be some sort of celebratory feel if he goes which again I just find a little distasteful of someone who has achieved a lot for this club.
I do think we need a little perspective on where we were as a football club even a few months ago, we had been neglected at best for years and at worst asset stripped. Building us back to where we need to be is going to take substantial time and effort no matter how good TS intentions and how much money he is willing to throw at it, it won't all happen overnight. It's worth bearing in mind TS isn't the only owner in League One, or even League Two, who has ambition and the finances to match it and us having a great owner doesn't guarantee that we'll walk the league.
I love his ambition and love that we finally have someone who wants success for this club, but I also think we need to be realistic in terms of what we can achieve and how quickly. Do people genuinely think Eddie Howe is going to come to us like I've seen suggested and spend his Tuesday night's at Accrington and Plymouth?
Could not disagree with anything that you have written.
Excellent analysis and puts many of the short sighted and intellectually
challenged posters on this thread in their place.
Second we go a goal down heads drop. Think Bowyer tried something new after a woeful performance and it worked well.
The set up wasnt particularly smart with the players we had on (DJ and Milar) so in hindsight he should have stuck with 442 and also just never play Watson again.
I’m not a fan of scapegoating players who aren’t playing well/a bit shit but Watson just doesn’t seem to care at all.
For everyone saying ‘I would take so and so’ to replace Bows you are in a dreamland.
The only likely replacement is Euell stepping up as we know he wanted the Wimbledon job.
Regardless I would stick with Bowyer, but clearly I’m one of a few now
I must be in the minority in thinking getting rid of LB is short-termism at its absolute worst. He did brilliantly getting us up, all those who say he had a great squad completely disregard the fact that there's been much better squads across all 4 divisions who are expected to do great things and don't. Having a great squad doesn't guarantee promotion and any manager getting promoted in their first full season as a manager deserves recognition.
Last season we came within a whisker of staying up despite being an absolute basket case of a club off the field. The job he did under those circumstances was first rate, and keeping us up would have been nothing short of incredible. In fact getting us to the last game of the season with a shot at staying up was some achievement in itself.
Has this season been great? No. I've watched the games and I see the same things as everyone else we've been poor for a while now. I can understand those who are frustrated and we haven't been great to watch. Losses hurt no matter how they happen but I think there a little easier to accept when there's good football on display and there's been a lack of that in a lot of games this season.
Do I think LB deserves all the blame for that? No. I think recruitment has been hit and miss this season, however that was the hand we were dealt with the takeover issues and there were clearly some gambles, e.g Madison, that haven't paid off however we had to roll the dice and didn't have the backing we seemingly have now under TS. I also think we've had a terrible run of injuries, which have really derailed us. I also think there's been plenty of games we should have won and if we'd taken chances we'd probably be much higher up the table than we are.
Everyone has a view on the subject and there are clearly those who feel differently and feel LB should go, and that's the great part of football that everyone can see things differently. I don't think LB should be sacked and I think he should get a crack at next season, however I can understand the point of view of those who think he should go. However I do think some of the comments about LB are really unnecessary, the man is a legend in my eyes for what he's done and when the time comes for him to leave, whether it's today, the end of the season or 5 years time he deserves absolute respect from us for what he has done under really difficult circumstances at times.
His achievements and track record already show he's clearly a good manager and those saying he's inept or doesn't have a clue what he's doing I think are really off the mark, and some (not all) of the posts on here suggest there'll be some sort of celebratory feel if he goes which again I just find a little distasteful of someone who has achieved a lot for this club.
I do think we need a little perspective on where we were as a football club even a few months ago, we had been neglected at best for years and at worst asset stripped. Building us back to where we need to be is going to take substantial time and effort no matter how good TS intentions and how much money he is willing to throw at it, it won't all happen overnight. It's worth bearing in mind TS isn't the only owner in League One, or even League Two, who has ambition and the finances to match it and us having a great owner doesn't guarantee that we'll walk the league.
I love his ambition and love that we finally have someone who wants success for this club, but I also think we need to be realistic in terms of what we can achieve and how quickly. Do people genuinely think Eddie Howe is going to come to us like I've seen suggested and spend his Tuesday night's at Accrington and Plymouth?
Could not disagree with anything that you have written.
Excellent analysis and puts many of the short sighted and intellectually
challenged posters on this thread in their place.
My point of view, I like Bowyer, I like his passion and I loved the immediate impact he had taking over for Robinson. I loved the 18/19 season, Wembley and the start of 19/20.
Since our promotion, we hit the ground running in the Championship and after a good start we picked up a couple of injuries and struggled. Bowyer became increasingly defensive and began to slate players that were previously deemed 'Projects'. It started with Bonne.
Bowyer has never truly taken the blame for any defeat leading to relegation. I am not holding him accountable for relegation, but surely he must at some point accept his tactics, formation or subs could have been wrong on the way to relegation?
Some of Bowyer's post match comments last season evidenced this:
"I'd like to think (this defeat) gives (my players) a kick up the backside. It should do, if they've got any pride that will hurt. And I'm sure it does because it hurts me. "Believe it or not I'm already looking forward to next weekend because the group of players I've got are honest. "That will be hurting them today. I'm looking forward to the reaction I get."
"Not good enough from start to finish. They were better than us. "Too many players weren't at it today. Too many nowhere near as well as they can play. "We have a squad that have to be at their best to compete in this division."
"It was a disappointing day. Blackburn did a good professional performance, a job on us. "We started well and were the better side for the first 10, 15 minutes, but then Blackburn got their first goal and after that they were the better side and deserved their three points. "The Championship is relentless and everyone has to earn their three points. Did my players work hard? Of course they did."
"I'm disappointed, frustrated and angry. My players gave absolutely everything and they didn't deserve not to come away with anything. "It wasn't a foul for their goal. One hundred percent, it wasn't a foul. I spoke to the ref and he said, 'It's because your player's sandwiched him'. A six foot seven striker has got sandwiched. "I'm sure it's still a contact sport and there was minimal contact. He gave a foul and it was never a foul. It's becoming a non-contact sport now. That's the way it's going, anyway. "It's wrong because we deserved to come away with a point."
"I'm frustrated and disappointed again. We can't keep gifting teams goals. "We are not good enough to give teams one-goal leads. "We had three clear-cut chances. We have got to take at least one of them. "The message to supporters is this - just stick together. We have got nine games to go and we have to keep fighting together."
"I'm proud of the players tonight, there's not many times you'll hear me say that when we lose a game. "But tonight you're playing against a top, top Brentford side who have been hammering teams left, right and centre, before the lockdown and after the lockdown, they're the in-form team in our division and we've just given them a right scare. "On another day we might have come away with something, but we've just got to keep showing that fight and I'm sure we'll be OK. "
"The officials have cost us the game today, it's plain and simple. Chuks Aneke, his goal is a goal. And I said to the fourth official, 'the linesman can't just guess'. "You have to be 100 per cent right on these decisions, these are big moments, there are careers on the line. "If their penalty was a penalty then so was ours, because Jake got dragged to the floor, and it's a penalty. "Something has to be done, because that wasn't up to scratch, all of them, the ref and the two linesmen."
"If we won tonight, for me 49 [points] is safe. Looking at who others have got to play that would have put us on 49 with a better goal difference. "We should have won comfortably. We hit the post, we missed chances - clear-cut chances. Once you go 2-0 up it's done, the game is finished. We had so many chances for that to happen. But that is why we are in this situation. We have missed too many chances. "To concede the way we did hurts a lot. Since coming back from this lockdown the amount of pressure and chances we have created we should be well out of sight. There is no way we should be competing to stay in this league. "We created chances to win two games tonight. Unfortunately, you don't take your chances, you don't win games. You don't win games, you won't stay in this division. Plain and simple."
"It could be the difference between us staying up and not staying up. It can't keep happening. "I will ring Alan Wiley (referee director at PGMOL) and I will tell him again, like I did after the Reading game, and I know what he will do. "On Monday he will again come back to me and apologise again like he did last week. "I know that will happen, but it does not make anything easier for us. We are talking about massive decisions."
I'm not happy. I've said to the players it's not about tonight's game, "Since coming back from lockdown we've been the better side in most of the games and that's what cost us. We should have been safe before we came here tonight. "There are only so many things you can do, and you can cut corners for so long and even then we still fought til the last day. "We should have still been safe with the players we've got, but it didn't happen."
So from February last season to our relegation, not once was a loss Bowyer's fault.
The wins he was complimentary about his players, but the losses he slates them. The only game he didn't was Brentford.
This season hasn't been much different. I suppose last night was the first time I can recall Bowyer putting his hands up and saying the defeat was on him, though even then it felt like it was through gritted teeth.
I said he'd have another ten games for me to form an opinion on how he is doing with his squad after the transfer window, we're only four games later and I do not want to stay quiet until the 10 games are up. 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses. After the first of those fixtures, I was hopeful that we'd been wrong as we looked really good, we closed the opposition down quickly and looked for the quick ball to the attacking players. I thought, despite a quiet second half, we looked easily the better side.
Since then we have looked consistently worse. We went from a 2-0 win to a lower table opponent, to a 3-2 loss against a typically mid table opponent, to a 1-1 draw against a lower table opponent and finally last night losing 2-1 to the team bottom of the league.
Now though it is obvious that the window hasn't changed a thing. The average PPG is a solitary point per game since January 1st, in that time we have played 12, won 3, drawn 3 and lost 6. Of that since the window closed we have played 5, but I won't count Portsmouth and maintained our 1PPG form.
Bowyer loves a 9 game block so here are his this season:
Block 1 - 19pts from 27 (2.11ppg) Block 2 - 13pts from 27 (1.44ppg) Block 3 - 11pts from 27 (1.22ppg) Block 4 - (Inc) 1pt from 6 (0.5ppg)
A very clear downward trend.
Bowyer's shown that he struggles to motivate a disorganised side since his fantastic first 18 months.
He has also shown his injury hangups from 19/20 have come with him into 20/21 with constant tinkering of the side to 'rotate' players.
This season since day 1 of the season, we have used too many defence variations, too many midfield variations and too many forward variations. We then say that the players look like strangers! It's not a surprise when players don't get a string of games together.
We have hired and sold/released players between September and January... That's ridiculous and concerns me almost as much as the disorganisation in the side.
On top of the above we have reports of one of our most senior players stating that 'Bowyer has f***ing lost it' and alleged that he doesn't discuss tactics in training. Even if only partially true that is not good, we also have another poster saying that a youth player has said that Bowyer treats the younger players like kids and are mistreated, another states that he has heard things along these lines and had been trying to ignore it as rumour.
The latest rumour isn't worth repeating as it is extremely outlandish.
I just want success for the club, like Sandgaard says he does, I don't even care if we never reach Sandgaard's crazy plan!
I want stability and progression. Unfortunately Bowyer's progression has hiccuped this season and it's tough to take. You have people that have backed Bowyer week in and out highlighting the same oddities in selection etc they Bowyer makes, too many continuing to blindly support him.
If Sandgaard is willing to write this season off whilst we have a chance of at least reaching play offs, I'll be disappointed, but understanding.
We can't afford to fail next season to meet Sandgaard's targets.
I must be in the minority in thinking getting rid of LB is short-termism at its absolute worst. He did brilliantly getting us up, all those who say he had a great squad completely disregard the fact that there's been much better squads across all 4 divisions who are expected to do great things and don't. Having a great squad doesn't guarantee promotion and any manager getting promoted in their first full season as a manager deserves recognition.
Last season we came within a whisker of staying up despite being an absolute basket case of a club off the field. The job he did under those circumstances was first rate, and keeping us up would have been nothing short of incredible. In fact getting us to the last game of the season with a shot at staying up was some achievement in itself.
Has this season been great? No. I've watched the games and I see the same things as everyone else we've been poor for a while now. I can understand those who are frustrated and we haven't been great to watch. Losses hurt no matter how they happen but I think there a little easier to accept when there's good football on display and there's been a lack of that in a lot of games this season.
Do I think LB deserves all the blame for that? No. I think recruitment has been hit and miss this season, however that was the hand we were dealt with the takeover issues and there were clearly some gambles, e.g Madison, that haven't paid off however we had to roll the dice and didn't have the backing we seemingly have now under TS. I also think we've had a terrible run of injuries, which have really derailed us. I also think there's been plenty of games we should have won and if we'd taken chances we'd probably be much higher up the table than we are.
Everyone has a view on the subject and there are clearly those who feel differently and feel LB should go, and that's the great part of football that everyone can see things differently. I don't think LB should be sacked and I think he should get a crack at next season, however I can understand the point of view of those who think he should go. However I do think some of the comments about LB are really unnecessary, the man is a legend in my eyes for what he's done and when the time comes for him to leave, whether it's today, the end of the season or 5 years time he deserves absolute respect from us for what he has done under really difficult circumstances at times.
His achievements and track record already show he's clearly a good manager and those saying he's inept or doesn't have a clue what he's doing I think are really off the mark, and some (not all) of the posts on here suggest there'll be some sort of celebratory feel if he goes which again I just find a little distasteful of someone who has achieved a lot for this club.
I do think we need a little perspective on where we were as a football club even a few months ago, we had been neglected at best for years and at worst asset stripped. Building us back to where we need to be is going to take substantial time and effort no matter how good TS intentions and how much money he is willing to throw at it, it won't all happen overnight. It's worth bearing in mind TS isn't the only owner in League One, or even League Two, who has ambition and the finances to match it and us having a great owner doesn't guarantee that we'll walk the league.
I love his ambition and love that we finally have someone who wants success for this club, but I also think we need to be realistic in terms of what we can achieve and how quickly. Do people genuinely think Eddie Howe is going to come to us like I've seen suggested and spend his Tuesday night's at Accrington and Plymouth?
Could not disagree with anything that you have written.
Excellent analysis and puts many of the short sighted and intellectually
challenged posters on this thread in their place.
Thanks Dad, I'll consider myself told and put in my place.
Comments
If Thomas came out and said he is here for the long term, regardless, 100% I would support a 2 or 3 week break.
and how would that pan out if Jacko came in and won six games on the spin?
Would said person be allowed to travel over and take up the role. provided they self-isolate for the required period?
Anyone who has any sort of high pressured job gets holiday and has a deputy. I really don't see why football is so different.
Don't know but I don't understand why people think he'd bring in a Danish manager. More likely they'd be American wouldn't it?
I actually think they'd be British, or have worked in Britain previously, can't see them appointing a random foreigner personally.
Of course I could be barking up the wrong tree and that may not be an issue
Last season we came within a whisker of staying up despite being an absolute basket case of a club off the field. The job he did under those circumstances was first rate, and keeping us up would have been nothing short of incredible. In fact getting us to the last game of the season with a shot at staying up was some achievement in itself.
Has this season been great? No. I've watched the games and I see the same things as everyone else we've been poor for a while now. I can understand those who are frustrated and we haven't been great to watch. Losses hurt no matter how they happen but I think there a little easier to accept when there's good football on display and there's been a lack of that in a lot of games this season.
Do I think LB deserves all the blame for that? No. I think recruitment has been hit and miss this season, however that was the hand we were dealt with the takeover issues and there were clearly some gambles, e.g Madison, that haven't paid off however we had to roll the dice and didn't have the backing we seemingly have now under TS. I also think we've had a terrible run of injuries, which have really derailed us. I also think there's been plenty of games we should have won and if we'd taken chances we'd probably be much higher up the table than we are.
Everyone has a view on the subject and there are clearly those who feel differently and feel LB should go, and that's the great part of football that everyone can see things differently. I don't think LB should be sacked and I think he should get a crack at next season, however I can understand the point of view of those who think he should go. However I do think some of the comments about LB are really unnecessary, the man is a legend in my eyes for what he's done and when the time comes for him to leave, whether it's today, the end of the season or 5 years time he deserves absolute respect from us for what he has done under really difficult circumstances at times.
His achievements and track record already show he's clearly a good manager and those saying he's inept or doesn't have a clue what he's doing I think are really off the mark, and some (not all) of the posts on here suggest there'll be some sort of celebratory feel if he goes which again I just find a little distasteful of someone who has achieved a lot for this club.
I do think we need a little perspective on where we were as a football club even a few months ago, we had been neglected at best for years and at worst asset stripped. Building us back to where we need to be is going to take substantial time and effort no matter how good TS intentions and how much money he is willing to throw at it, it won't all happen overnight. It's worth bearing in mind TS isn't the only owner in League One, or even League Two, who has ambition and the finances to match it and us having a great owner doesn't guarantee that we'll walk the league.
I love his ambition and love that we finally have someone who wants success for this club, but I also think we need to be realistic in terms of what we can achieve and how quickly. Do people genuinely think Eddie Howe is going to come to us like I've seen suggested and spend his Tuesday night's at Accrington and Plymouth?
Hmm.
Could not disagree with anything that you have written. Excellent analysis and puts many of the short sighted and intellectually challenged posters on this thread in their place.
For everyone saying ‘I would take so and so’ to replace Bows you are in a dreamland.
The only likely replacement is Euell stepping up as we know he wanted the Wimbledon job.
Regardless I would stick with Bowyer, but clearly I’m one of a few now
Since our promotion, we hit the ground running in the Championship and after a good start we picked up a couple of injuries and struggled. Bowyer became increasingly defensive and began to slate players that were previously deemed 'Projects'. It started with Bonne.
Bowyer has never truly taken the blame for any defeat leading to relegation. I am not holding him accountable for relegation, but surely he must at some point accept his tactics, formation or subs could have been wrong on the way to relegation?
Some of Bowyer's post match comments last season evidenced this:
"Believe it or not I'm already looking forward to next weekend because the group of players I've got are honest.
"That will be hurting them today. I'm looking forward to the reaction I get."
"Too many players weren't at it today. Too many nowhere near as well as they can play.
"We have a squad that have to be at their best to compete in this division."
"We started well and were the better side for the first 10, 15 minutes, but then Blackburn got their first goal and after that they were the better side and deserved their three points.
"The Championship is relentless and everyone has to earn their three points. Did my players work hard? Of course they did."
"It wasn't a foul for their goal. One hundred percent, it wasn't a foul. I spoke to the ref and he said, 'It's because your player's sandwiched him'. A six foot seven striker has got sandwiched.
"I'm sure it's still a contact sport and there was minimal contact. He gave a foul and it was never a foul. It's becoming a non-contact sport now. That's the way it's going, anyway.
"It's wrong because we deserved to come away with a point."
"We are not good enough to give teams one-goal leads.
"We had three clear-cut chances. We have got to take at least one of them.
"The message to supporters is this - just stick together. We have got nine games to go and we have to keep fighting together."
"But tonight you're playing against a top, top Brentford side who have been hammering teams left, right and centre, before the lockdown and after the lockdown, they're the in-form team in our division and we've just given them a right scare.
"On another day we might have come away with something, but we've just got to keep showing that fight and I'm sure we'll be OK. "
"You have to be 100 per cent right on these decisions, these are big moments, there are careers on the line.
"If their penalty was a penalty then so was ours, because Jake got dragged to the floor, and it's a penalty.
"Something has to be done, because that wasn't up to scratch, all of them, the ref and the two linesmen."
"We should have won comfortably. We hit the post, we missed chances - clear-cut chances. Once you go 2-0 up it's done, the game is finished. We had so many chances for that to happen. But that is why we are in this situation. We have missed too many chances.
"To concede the way we did hurts a lot. Since coming back from this lockdown the amount of pressure and chances we have created we should be well out of sight. There is no way we should be competing to stay in this league.
"We created chances to win two games tonight. Unfortunately, you don't take your chances, you don't win games. You don't win games, you won't stay in this division. Plain and simple."
"I will ring Alan Wiley (referee director at PGMOL) and I will tell him again, like I did after the Reading game, and I know what he will do.
"On Monday he will again come back to me and apologise again like he did last week.
"I know that will happen, but it does not make anything easier for us. We are talking about massive decisions."
"Since coming back from lockdown we've been the better side in most of the games and that's what cost us. We should have been safe before we came here tonight.
"There are only so many things you can do, and you can cut corners for so long and even then we still fought til the last day.
"We should have still been safe with the players we've got, but it didn't happen."
So from February last season to our relegation, not once was a loss Bowyer's fault.
The wins he was complimentary about his players, but the losses he slates them. The only game he didn't was Brentford.
This season hasn't been much different. I suppose last night was the first time I can recall Bowyer putting his hands up and saying the defeat was on him, though even then it felt like it was through gritted teeth.
I said he'd have another ten games for me to form an opinion on how he is doing with his squad after the transfer window, we're only four games later and I do not want to stay quiet until the 10 games are up. 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses. After the first of those fixtures, I was hopeful that we'd been wrong as we looked really good, we closed the opposition down quickly and looked for the quick ball to the attacking players. I thought, despite a quiet second half, we looked easily the better side.
Since then we have looked consistently worse. We went from a 2-0 win to a lower table opponent, to a 3-2 loss against a typically mid table opponent, to a 1-1 draw against a lower table opponent and finally last night losing 2-1 to the team bottom of the league.
Now though it is obvious that the window hasn't changed a thing. The average PPG is a solitary point per game since January 1st, in that time we have played 12, won 3, drawn 3 and lost 6. Of that since the window closed we have played 5, but I won't count Portsmouth and maintained our 1PPG form.
Bowyer loves a 9 game block so here are his this season:
Block 1 - 19pts from 27 (2.11ppg)
Block 2 - 13pts from 27 (1.44ppg)
Block 3 - 11pts from 27 (1.22ppg)
Block 4 - (Inc) 1pt from 6 (0.5ppg)
A very clear downward trend.
Bowyer's shown that he struggles to motivate a disorganised side since his fantastic first 18 months.
He has also shown his injury hangups from 19/20 have come with him into 20/21 with constant tinkering of the side to 'rotate' players.
This season since day 1 of the season, we have used too many defence variations, too many midfield variations and too many forward variations. We then say that the players look like strangers! It's not a surprise when players don't get a string of games together.
We have hired and sold/released players between September and January... That's ridiculous and concerns me almost as much as the disorganisation in the side.
On top of the above we have reports of one of our most senior players stating that 'Bowyer has f***ing lost it' and alleged that he doesn't discuss tactics in training. Even if only partially true that is not good, we also have another poster saying that a youth player has said that Bowyer treats the younger players like kids and are mistreated, another states that he has heard things along these lines and had been trying to ignore it as rumour.
The latest rumour isn't worth repeating as it is extremely outlandish.
I just want success for the club, like Sandgaard says he does, I don't even care if we never reach Sandgaard's crazy plan!
I want stability and progression. Unfortunately Bowyer's progression has hiccuped this season and it's tough to take. You have people that have backed Bowyer week in and out highlighting the same oddities in selection etc they Bowyer makes, too many continuing to blindly support him.
If Sandgaard is willing to write this season off whilst we have a chance of at least reaching play offs, I'll be disappointed, but understanding.
We can't afford to fail next season to meet Sandgaard's targets.
It's all very tiring you know?