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Michael Appleton - March 2025 appointed Shrewsbury manager (p124)

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  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 15,812
    billysboots said:
    killerandflash said:
    Appleton only has one assistant/coach. I thought the plan was for him to have an additional person?
    There has been a guy warming up the defenders home and away  recently not sure who he is.
    maybe he needs to warm them up a bit more so that they can last longer than 80 mins
  • Chunes
    Chunes Posts: 17,349
    cabbles said:
    I thought @Swisdom’s insight was very useful, but I can’t reconcile how Appleton has got this reputation as a fantastic coach.  If you look at his record as a coach/manager, it’s not great.  Surely the results override any players that have played under him talking up his credentials

    I’m sure we’ve all worked with great managers in the past that we think are good at bringing the best out of their direct reports, but they don’t deliver the results.  It has to go both ways.  If Appleton is as Swisdom’s comments say, one of the best coaches in the game, then a) I think his career record would look a bit better and b) why hasn’t he pursued coaching roles as opposed to taking the hot seat
    I could be wrong but it might be that there's a difference between being a brilliant coach and a brilliant manager. I think Lee Bowyer was probably a world class coach... there seemed to be nothing about playing top flight football in any position that he didn't have a great understanding of. But when it came to man management he had weaknesses. 

    Likewise perhaps Appleton might be great "on the grass" but in setting up teams or reacting to what's happening on the pitch, not so great. 

    It's hard to imagine that any top coach would be absolutely glued to one formation. To me, that seems to suggest they aren't confident tactically. 
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
  • swordfish
    swordfish Posts: 4,234
    seth plum said:
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
    I agree, but how much is Appleton to blame for that? He inherited a squad assembled with the early promotion of youth in mind it seems to me. He wants a better balance with more experienced players brought in. 
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
    I agree, but how much is Appleton to blame for that? He inherited a squad assembled with the early promotion of youth in mind it seems to me. He wants a better balance with more experienced players brought in. 
    Appleton is supposed to be the manager, so coaching and team selection is down to him isn’t it?

  • swordfish
    swordfish Posts: 4,234
    seth plum said:
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
    I agree, but how much is Appleton to blame for that? He inherited a squad assembled with the early promotion of youth in mind it seems to me. He wants a better balance with more experienced players brought in. 
    Appleton is supposed to be the manager, so coaching and team selection is down to him isn’t it?

    Yes, so I presume he has more faith in the youngsters than in any senior pro's he leaving out in favour of them, unless under pressure from above. Of course how he deploys the resources at his disposal and formation used is down to him. I'm not impressed so far, but accept he has limited options at present and wants leaders in to cope better with the mental frailty we exhibit week after week when under pressure.
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
    I agree, but how much is Appleton to blame for that? He inherited a squad assembled with the early promotion of youth in mind it seems to me. He wants a better balance with more experienced players brought in. 
    Appleton is supposed to be the manager, so coaching and team selection is down to him isn’t it?

    Yes, so I presume he has more faith in the youngsters than in any senior pro's he leaving out in favour of them, unless under pressure from above. Of course how he deploys the resources at his disposal and formation used is down to him. I'm not impressed so far, but accept he has limited options at present and wants leaders in to cope better with the mental frailty we exhibit week after week when under pressure.
    Yet we have the Chem Campbell/Louis Watson/Tyreece Campbell (and others) mysterious Hokey Cokey system at play, coupled with scattering around blame and excuses for his poor results.
    He is the manager, it is down to him, otherwise he shouldn’t have accepted the job.
  • swordfish
    swordfish Posts: 4,234
    seth plum said:
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    swordfish said:
    seth plum said:
    To me as a keen follower of the development of our young players it feels like they are simply being exploited rather than nurtured.
    I agree, but how much is Appleton to blame for that? He inherited a squad assembled with the early promotion of youth in mind it seems to me. He wants a better balance with more experienced players brought in. 
    Appleton is supposed to be the manager, so coaching and team selection is down to him isn’t it?

    Yes, so I presume he has more faith in the youngsters than in any senior pro's he leaving out in favour of them, unless under pressure from above. Of course how he deploys the resources at his disposal and formation used is down to him. I'm not impressed so far, but accept he has limited options at present and wants leaders in to cope better with the mental frailty we exhibit week after week when under pressure.
    Yet we have the Chem Campbell/Louis Watson/Tyreece Campbell (and others) mysterious Hokey Cokey system at play, coupled with scattering around blame and excuses for his poor results.
    He is the manager, it is down to him, otherwise he shouldn’t have accepted the job.
    Thank you for answering my question.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,561
    Despite what was said tonight about giving Appleton time I still don't think he's the man to take this club forward. When he eventually leaves we will still be stuck in league one.
  • RickAddick
    RickAddick Posts: 1,198
    LargeAddick said:
    Despite what was said tonight about giving Appleton time I still don't think he's the man to take this club forward. When he eventually leaves we will still be stuck in league one two.
    Fixed for you.
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  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,975
    LargeAddick said:
    Despite what was said tonight about giving Appleton time I still don't think he's the man to take this club forward. When he eventually leaves we will still be stuck in league one.
    Stuck in league one if we’re lucky
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,561
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    edited January 2024
    LargeAddick said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
    The word that kept coming up during the live stream was “stability”. At one point GC even said if sacking managers was a measure of success, we’d be in the Premier League already.

    That was music to my ears after going through Adkins, Jackson, Garner, Holden and now Appleton in three years if the fans had their way currently. I think at the very least 3/5 of those would be able to get us promoted if they had been properly supported. Instead they were disposed of at the first sight of trouble.

    The SMT could go back on their word and sack Appleton if we lose at the weekend. But I’m happy to take them at their word for now when they preach stability.
  • supaclive
    supaclive Posts: 6,514
    Callumcafc said:
    LargeAddick said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
    The word that kept coming up during the live stream was “stability”. At one point GC even said if sacking managers was a measure of success, we’d be in the Premier League already.

    That was music to my ears after going through Adkins, Jackson, Garner, Holden and now Appleton in three years if the fans had their way currently. I think at the very least 3/5 of those would be able to get us promoted if they had been properly supported. Instead they were disposed of at the first sight of trouble.

    The SMT could go back on their word and sack Appleton if we lose at the weekend. But I’m happy to take them at their word for now when they preach stability.
    You want Appleton to have another 2 1/2 seasons to get us out of League 1?

    So we MAY be in the Chamionship in 2026/27?

    Great.....
  • CAFCDAZ
    CAFCDAZ Posts: 1,198
    I have no issues with backing a manager who has a team that looks like there giving there all, are fighting for the shirt and he has the tactical nouse to change things when they aren't working, do we really see any of those things from Appleton? A very rigid 4-3-3 continues to stick square pegs in round holes and hasn't attempted anything other than a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. I hope for our own sanity he can turn it around, but there is hardly anything screaming at me that his the guy for us. I've seen more life in a ICU unit then on the touchline from him. Sorry last lines abit dark but you get my drift
  • NabySarr
    NabySarr Posts: 4,284
    If Appleton looked like he had a decent plan, I would happily back him through this bad run. At the moment his plan seems to be May playing on the right wing, I can’t get behind that. 

    If the plan was 4-2-3-1 with May as a 10 or 3-5-2 with May and a partner then I’d be fine to give him time. 

    We do need to give a manager 2-3 windows and time to build. I’d rather it be a good manager that has a sensible plan, than Appleton, who’s selections and tactics have been baffling and results poor 
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,728
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
  • MarcusH26
    MarcusH26 Posts: 8,035
    I still wouldn't be surprised if he's gone by early March if the new signings and returns from injury don't produce a big uptick in form. Just feels like a bad fit that's never going to work out. 
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    Callumcafc said:
    LargeAddick said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
    The word that kept coming up during the live stream was “stability”. At one point GC even said if sacking managers was a measure of success, we’d be in the Premier League already.

    That was music to my ears after going through Adkins, Jackson, Garner, Holden and now Appleton in three years if the fans had their way currently. I think at the very least 3/5 of those would be able to get us promoted if they had been properly supported. Instead they were disposed of at the first sight of trouble.

    The SMT could go back on their word and sack Appleton if we lose at the weekend. But I’m happy to take them at their word for now when they preach stability.
    I agree about stability, what upsets me is the random spin of our recent managerial wheel has landed on Appleton to bring that so called stability.

    I hope your optimism turns out to be true and Appleton wins every remaining game this season. 

    Then judging by results will be a happy experience.
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  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    edited January 2024
    I don't know how good Appleton is. I do know, he hasn't got much chance with the squad he has and the injuries to key players. In the same way Holden didn't. I do think it is very important we have the right manager in place as even though promotion is not possible, the rest of the season, including this window is very important in terms of setting us up for next. 

    I would look back to Bowyer and Powell. The period they had in charge the season before promotion gave them a great picture of what they needed to do. In recent times they have been the only managers to bring success so I would look at what they did more than what Liverpool or Arsenal do. So is Appleton able to do this (I honestly don't know, but I think I would be unfair on him to decide no) and if he is, is the structure there that gives him the ability to? I was for Bowyer leaving as I think the toils of the club had taken its toll and he had lost the dressing room, but he has had a rest, and I wouldn't be averse to having him back in charge now. With Powell, he did it from a similar point to where we are now and he is in the game so hasn't lost touch. I don't know Appleton can do it but I know people who have done it can probably do it again if supported. Maybe, both Bowyer and Powell had more control over signings than this board woud want to give them.

    Going back further in time to our previous success, and again a manager who had the power to build his team, I am reminded that Curbs improved the team season on season until 2004, when we were the best Charlton team in my lifetime and probably the fourth best team in the country. Of course it is hard to maintain that, let alone improve on it. But the continuous improvement was down to having the right man, with the right amount of power and continuity. It is interesting when Curbs left that Murray couldn't wait to implement a new system which took a lot of the power away from the manager, despite what had brought us success, and it is a reminder that the egos of these people can be their worst enemies.
  • Leuth
    Leuth Posts: 23,315
    Croydon said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
    When he's had an actual centre-forward at his disposal, and more than one functioning midfielder, he's had us looking pretty decent 
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,728
    Leuth said:
    Croydon said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
    When he's had an actual centre-forward at his disposal, and more than one functioning midfielder, he's had us looking pretty decent 
    We looked ok. I personally didn't see anything that would make me confident he'd get us promoted. 
  • NabySarr
    NabySarr Posts: 4,284
    Leuth said:
    Croydon said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
    When he's had an actual centre-forward at his disposal, and more than one functioning midfielder, he's had us looking pretty decent 
    We beat a collection of the worst teams in the league at home. 

    I wouldn’t say we looked that decent either, more that if you have CBT, May, Aneke and Leaburn in your squad you probably beat those teams whoever the manager is 

    Never felt like we played that well or were set up well, just had one good spell in the game and those players were clinical and that was enough 
  • NabySarr
    NabySarr Posts: 4,284
    Wigan away was probably the only game we actually looked like a decent and well coached/set up team. And that game Appleton still picked the wrong team and only moved May central due to Camara’s injury 
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    Croydon said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
    - Convincing home wins against Wycombe, Exeter and Reading. These weren’t scraped one nils, we put those teams away relatively comfortably each time in the end.

    - Battling performances to come back from behind to take points from Stevenage, Blackpool and Reading after we’d started to get a reputation pre-Appleton as a team that folds under pressure.


    IMO both of the above are far better than last season where we were prone to losing home games to Morecambe, Cheltenham etc. even with all our best players fit.

    Recent struggles with late dropped points have not been ideal but our home record under Apples is still good (1.8 ppg) and there is definitely an uptick in performance since the beginning last season (1.53 ppg).
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    supaclive said:
    Callumcafc said:
    LargeAddick said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
    The word that kept coming up during the live stream was “stability”. At one point GC even said if sacking managers was a measure of success, we’d be in the Premier League already.

    That was music to my ears after going through Adkins, Jackson, Garner, Holden and now Appleton in three years if the fans had their way currently. I think at the very least 3/5 of those would be able to get us promoted if they had been properly supported. Instead they were disposed of at the first sight of trouble.

    The SMT could go back on their word and sack Appleton if we lose at the weekend. But I’m happy to take them at their word for now when they preach stability.
    You want Appleton to have another 2 1/2 seasons to get us out of League 1?

    So we MAY be in the Chamionship in 2026/27?

    Great.....
    Yea that’s the reality of the world we live in. There’s only three teams that go up every year. You can have the best manager and have the best squad but also need a bit of luck to be one of those three teams.

    You tell me I’m too positive but now I’m being too realistic? Which is it?

    I will say that if we’re not seriously involved in the top six race next season then that’s a failure. And if the following season we are not in the top two race, the same would apply. Being in the race doesn’t guarantee anything though.
  • supaclive
    supaclive Posts: 6,514
    Callumcafc said:
    supaclive said:
    Callumcafc said:
    LargeAddick said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Hardly going to say he’s got one game to save his job. 
    The word that kept coming up during the live stream was “stability”. At one point GC even said if sacking managers was a measure of success, we’d be in the Premier League already.

    That was music to my ears after going through Adkins, Jackson, Garner, Holden and now Appleton in three years if the fans had their way currently. I think at the very least 3/5 of those would be able to get us promoted if they had been properly supported. Instead they were disposed of at the first sight of trouble.

    The SMT could go back on their word and sack Appleton if we lose at the weekend. But I’m happy to take them at their word for now when they preach stability.
    You want Appleton to have another 2 1/2 seasons to get us out of League 1?

    So we MAY be in the Chamionship in 2026/27?

    Great.....
    Yea that’s the reality of the world we live in. There’s only three teams that go up every year. You can have the best manager and have the best squad but also need a bit of luck to be one of those three teams.

    You tell me I’m too positive but now I’m being too realistic? Which is it?

    I will say that if we’re not seriously involved in the top six race next season then that’s a failure. And if the following season we are not in the top two race, the same would apply. Being in the race doesn’t guarantee anything though.
    Scott said not challenging and being in the top 6 this season would be a failure 

    I agree with him

    I also don't think Appleton and Scott can deliver it for us.   You disagree. 

    I hope you're right.  I don't think you will be.

    But.  The best team, with the best manager will get promoted out of Divison 3.
  • Braziliance
    Braziliance Posts: 8,359
    Callumcafc said:
    Croydon said:
    Callumcafc said:
    I still have faith in him - think he'll turn us around and if we stick with him for the next season or two, he'll get us promoted. Noticeable tonight that they didn't even entertain the question about how long Appleton has got / why he's still here.
    Genuine question if I may - what have you seen from him that gives you confidence he'll get us promoted? 
    - Convincing home wins against Wycombe, Exeter and Reading. These weren’t scraped one nils, we put those teams away relatively comfortably each time in the end.

    - Battling performances to come back from behind to take points from Stevenage, Blackpool and Reading after we’d started to get a reputation pre-Appleton as a team that folds under pressure.


    IMO both of the above are far better than last season where we were prone to losing home games to Morecambe, Cheltenham etc. even with all our best players fit.

    Recent struggles with late dropped points have not been ideal but our home record under Apples is still good (1.8 ppg) and there is definitely an uptick in performance since the beginning last season (1.53 ppg).
    I wouldn't say Wycombe was particularly comfortable, scoreline of course but we struggled second half and got a goal against the run of play and CBT got a bit of a solo goal at the death when they were chasing.

    I am quite cynical about wins against ten men, Exeter was 2-1 and then Will Aimson was wrongly sent off, so much so that it was overturned. If we couldn't beat a ten men Exeter that would have been poor, especially with only half hour to play. 

    Reading were just pants tbf, I think now we would have a hard time but we caught them at a good time. Even then they had as many chances we were just more clinical on the day. 

    If you look at last season you've said we were prone to losing home games to some shoddy sides, but we also beat Derby 1 nil, Plymouth 5-1 (similar to Exeter red card), Exeter 4-2, Pompey 3-0, Barnsley 2-0 by the 14th of Jan and then of course the highlight Shrewsbury 6 nil when players were at the beach. 

    If we manage to beat Peterborough on Saturday, we will be 1 point worse off than we were last season where we had 34. 


  • NabySarr
    NabySarr Posts: 4,284
    Appleton had a decent run to start with, but since then he hasn’t even tried to go back to that formula that was working well for him. 

    If it looked like his plan was to go back to that 4-2-3-1 with May as a 10 then I’d be ok with giving him time. But all the evidence points to his plan being a 4-3-3 with May on the right 

    His plan wastes the talents of our best player, so it is really hard to get behind him and trust that he will turn this around given time and resources. 

    Personally I think we could get a better manager with a much better plan (Michael Duff, 3-5-2, May and a partner) that has a much better recent track record that Appleton does. 

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