Worcester Owl

Yes, but would he be likely to get the boot after a poor start?

Some extraordinarily OTT posts on here. Presumably ST would have had feelers out to other clubs in case he didn't get the gig, and once that was confirmed he maybe decided he didn't want to stay in any capacity but move on. Good luck to him regardless. Now let's calm down and await the appointment of the new manager.

Yes, I think they may all be in Dover.

Yes there used to be couple of cracking Belgian bars in the town centre, I'm going back a few years though, don't know if they are still there.

I think this is where I am. At this stage, with 1/3 of the season gone, I think it's worth giving the job to ST to the end of the season with a play-off position as his target. If he doesn't achieve that, then we recruit a new manager over the summer with a budget to bring in players as needed. I completely get L1F's point about needing 4 better players. At the same time, it's a shame that all fans (me included) think the necessary remedy these days lies in the transfer/loan market. Every club, whatever its status, seems think that's the quick and easier way to go, rather than coaching players to play better, more consistently (yes our performances have been poor overall but we've seen potential in certain passages of play). ST is popular with the squad, it's said, and is respected as a coach. See what he can do.

We're still on page 1 of a match day forum. Bit sad.

Interesting. Is it actually lawful to cancel a purchase without offering a refund? "Visiting supporter" sounds somewhat vague. Visiting from where? Supporting whom?

It shows the problem of making a successful appointment. By the time they left us Frizzell and Royle were among the most experienced managers across the entire Football League (I remember well the outrage when Frizzell was sacked and replaced by the rookie Royle). It's a problem at all levels - look at the roll call of managers at Old Trafford since Ferguson. City will have the same problem when Pep moves on.

Wasn't it effectively Sharp's relegation? I think he resigned just before the drop, and Warnock had no time at all to rescue that season. Could be wrong.

But you're happy to assume that we have access to said "abundance". Maybe rein in your imagination in future.

There may well be an honourable tradition of mis-spelling our own players' names, but FFS!!! LUNDSTRAM !!!!

It always amazes me to watch subs about to come on standing on the touchline with the manager (or more likely assistant) while the latter goes through all the notes on his clipboard or iPad. Why not just let a guy go on and play? Everything has to be analysed to death.

I want facts, not imagination. How many nutritionists/conditionists do we have on the staff?

And how many of those do we have access to in the 5th tier?

If you exclude his spell at Tranmere, where he averaged a goal every other game (82 in 165, very good) his career record is 102 goals from 338 appearances - good, but not earth shattering. I think people got carried away by pre-season optimism. He's a good player and he's been no doubt hampered by our poor start and lack of service from midfield, but he is not the saviour some want him to be. He's also 33 years old.

170 appearances for Arsenal, 48 for United, 12 caps for Scotland. Can't have been that bad.

And now Woking are losing. We'd have been 7th if we'd won that

We're up to 8th as it stands with Rochdale currently losing. Need Woking to lose as well though to move up to 7th.

I was brimming with confidence until you posted that!!

Yes, and even if it were true, just because players might be part time it doesn't mean they are no good or not fit. Plenty of semi-pros earn a good living from combining a job outside football with playing part time. Gives them more security and I suspect they play all the better for that. This league is very tough to get out of. We are in it for a reason and while we're moving in the right direction, it's going to take time and patience, short of spending crazy money (and even that won't guarantee promotion).

I don’t wish to be Aunt Agonistic but do you not know whether or not you do?

I like ST. Comes across as down to earth and honest.

That's just not the case though. Over the summer we recruited players in midfield and other positions to such an extent that optimism soared and the bookies made us second favourites for promotion. Injuries especially to Lundstram, Ward, Raglan haven't helped. Nobody is saying this squad is the finished article but under ST we have won 10 points from 12. To quote Dr Schulz in Django Unchained: "Everybody calm down...."

Excellent post and should be the last word on the matter. Lock the thread and let’s move on.

That reminds me of a very funny bit in one of Al Murray’s books where he laid into Hitler for bringing the toothbrush moustache into disrepute! Can’t remember the name of it and it was a few years ago (he’d probably get into trouble with some people now for being frivolous) but it was bloody funny!