League one forever

That is a top post! Very well balanced. An exactly the discussion I’m after. I really want him to do well. Like I do any Oldham manager. The point about Abdallah and shez getting along in different circumstances is very intriguing. However it wasn’t to be. Also the point about Shrewsbury is excellent. What are their constraints, lack of budget, etc - but look at what is achievable. Like all of us I just want something- anything to shout about. The only two mangers I’ve felt had ‘it’ were shez an Johnson. I think there’s enough in his tenture to say he’ll do ok, but won’t push us on IMO.

Right. I want to know how people feel about how he’s done in the 31 games he’s had. An for all those that jump on ‘31 games, wtf is that to judge’ We all made a judgement on Kelly, Robinson, and Dunn, far quicker. So I think it’s a fair amount time to look at his performance. Hes taken 36 points from 31 games. Im interested in things HE CAN AFFECT. Team selection, tactics, man management, player recruitment. (The ones he could pick, which he had plenty of scope for) Im not interested in, the training facilities are shit, he can’t have all his own players, the takeover. This man is not stupid. An to say these things are surprise to him or he didn’t have his eyes wide open when he took the job, is insulting his intelligence. Personally, I’m very 50/50. I think we flatter to deceive. If we stay up, and Wellens keeps the job, I honestly wouldn’t go into next season with any great hope. As he’s shown so far, he can’t organise a defence. How many times do we a goal down, start slowly, or concede a couple without tactical change. Having said that I think we’d be ok for our usual 17th, because he’d have us scoring a few. So, we bob along watching a few more entertaining games, and finish 17th. Terrific. Can’t wait.

But we’re not allowed to talk about our defensive record or tactics. Because Wellens has the impossible job. . . . ? I said the other day, that if he keeps us up it would be harsh to sack him. But I can’t help but feel, that we flatter to deceive. To be honest. Im really 50/50 on him staying in the summer.

Bury are gone, and Northampton look like there going the same way. 2 from 5 now I reckon.

Ah ok. Thought he was still advising in the background, didn’t know he had been asked to resign. Thanks for the info.

Maybe there using us a shop window for the National league?

Like what. . .

. . And the rest. Having said that Wellens did get good backing with his choices in fees for Byrne, and McEleney. And got Benyu, Pringle, Nazon, Doyle, and Bryan in on loan. So the question is; are we short because we carry 5/6 French lads that never play. Or because in Jan, out of 7 signings Wellens chose one defender?? The fact he missed out on Mills is a bit of a moot point. If he was that interested he would had 3/4 centre half’s lined up. Didn’t struggle to pick up midefileders and strikers did he?

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Corney is exempt, as he’s already gone. . Well in a ‘as far as the fans are aware way’ ?

I wonder who’ll be next. .

My gut agrees with you. I think he does flatter to deceive. BUT. If he keeps us up, i think it would harsh to sack him.

I’ll take that. Couple of results went for us late on.

Maybe there’s a directory we could use?

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So your acknowledging we do need tactical/coaching help at the back after all? That’s all I I’ve been trying to say. As good as we are going forward, we are really poor at the back. Our goals against speaks for itself, and it’s why we are where we are. I’ll put it another way. When we’ve needed to change a game offensively under RW, he generally makes the right call. Why, because he was an attacking midfielder and that’s his strength. But how often have we conceded first under Wellens?? Or shipped 2 quickly without a tactical change? Like you say, hopefully he gets a shirtliff type in the summer. But again you have to ask, why haven’t the club or RW got psomeone helping him now, or after Jewell left? It’s baffling.

Agreed. Wouldn’t it be good to concede less AND score goals. . ! You know, like any decent side does. At the minute it seems a binary choice. Be defensively good, but win a few ugly. Result, finish 18th. Be offensively good, but get concede a load. Result, finish 18th. Surely we can aim higher than 18th. . .

No one wants to talk it about Gaz. #theimpossiblejob ?

How do you know all this about our fan base? Or are you generalising? You throw things in at the end there, shit pitch/no training facilities- you telling me he walked down to chapel road after working there for three months and said wtf is this? The takeover was hanging in the air? He’s not getting divorced or had a bereavement. Jewell. . . I’ll give you. Why do we over dramatise what’s he’s ‘going through’ ‘put up with’ ‘had to deal with’ is the job difficult sometimes- Yeah, I’m sure it is. But what league one job isn’t?

Do you think AL didn’t get a say in his appointment??? The reason shez left was because AL was bringing players in. He WERE being run like a side in administration by Corney. RW has only known AL, the takeover, and the dying embers of Corney. Moreover you could argue that under Corney - Dickov, Johnson, Kelly, Dunn, Shez, had more upheaval, stress, lack of support, PR own goals than Richie ever has. In fact he’s got the job at a very fortuitous time. He did inherit a struggling a side, and that was defensively poor. But when does he start taking responsibility for results? We can argue about Jan till we’re blue in the face. I’m not inside the club, and I know im minority here- but I don’t have any sources at the club. All I know is we were short defensively, maybe there’s collective blame. The fact is under him, we have struggled badly defensively. We can’t blame injuries- because every club gets them- we are light at centre half but we know why. Are our tactics right? Are they getting good protection? Does Wellens have the nous to work defensively? Or does he need help in the summer?

You make it sound like we should be grateful?? Like he’s ‘dragged’ us out of administration or some other dire situation. He’s very lucky to be in the job in the first place. A fact he acknowledged himself, when he got the job. What crap is he getting thrown at him? Can we not look at our defensive record, without it being a conspiracy?

Why are you banging your head against a brick wall for a little while longer? Strange comment. We disagree. That’s all. Funny how the embargo didnt didn’t stop us ‘signing’ 5 midfielders in Jan. Priorities? Mills would have been excellent, but why put all your eggs in one basket? A bit naive- which is allowed- as long as he learns. I appreciate he’s young, and any rookie manger will make mistakes, but we are allowed to highlight those mistakes and look at wether he’s getting the best out of the squad- without it being a witch hunt. I hope he keeps us up, and as an earlier poster said he would done then to at least have another crack next year.

Fair comment. Still wish we didn’t have to come from behind so often.

When you say ‘hasnt had a defence all season’ Who got rid of Clarke? Then only signed his 22 year old mate Kean in Jan? Whilst signing god knows how many midfielders? Why was Wilson a real steady Eddie under shez, but looks a liability under Wellens? Why, when we have one of the worst defensive records in the division, has this not been addressed effectively? Wellens takes the credit with how we play going forward at times, he has to take responsibility for the utter shambles we’ve been at the back.

Some cunts. . Nice. I thought we were just chewing the fat. For the the purpose of balance- as you and smiler seem very keen to point out he’s doing a miracle job under the most unbelievable pressure. He was here when all this shitstorm started- he saw first hand how the club was run. How it had been run, and had first hand experience of the new owner and how he would like to run things. He already knew the squad and the personalities. I would say that’s very advantageous. He didn’t get parachuted in, he desperately wanted the job. So complaining about the job, once in your post is either incredibly stupid or just very naive. He knew we had a shit pitch- but didn’t adapt early enough. He had the best backing I can remember in Jan. Despite being heavily backed he moaned all the way through Jan the takeover wasn’t going through, coinciding with a dreadful run of form. . He’s done ok. He’s had the same problems that every rookie league 1 manger has. Do I want him sacked? No. But I’m not having he’s been the second coming, working under impossible conditions. It’s bollocks.