Tommy

[hepcat]

I think Tommy is severely restricted in terms of finance.There are no financial fair play rules in our league so we have mega rich owners prepared to throw good money after bad in their pursuit of league football etc.We also have no means of additional income through the week when compared to clubs who hire out facilities etc.I wish we could finish higher and there are exceptions who manage it without massive cash inflows eg Halifax, Gateshead but the reality we can’t compete with even the likes of Eastleigh and Sutton for better players !

that's the problem isn't it? If half the teams in the league are prepared to lose £1m a season then the teams trying to make ends meet can't compete. That puts a ceiling on what you can achieve. The ceiling gets lower and lower and eventually you run out of road.

I think that ‘run out of height’ might be more appropriate, Silas.

It reminded me of my school days when I was told by Sir to "Pull your socks together " and when John Motson said that Gerrard was "About to make a soiree into the middle of the park" . Two turns of phrase I'll never forget...

[ShotOnTarget]

With our current predicament, you have to have someone who is affordable, can attract half decent players on pony wages and then try to get a tune out of them. That's a big ask, and I suspect the type of manager that some people on here want are just the stuff of fantasy.

I'm expecting big changes in the squad. Tommy will turf several out, and like last year the bigger earners (e.g. Henry) will be asked to drop their wages in order to stay on. Those without a blind loyalty to Tommy will just walk and take their chances elsewhere.

Another possibility is that young players will see the Club provides an opportunity to improve their game and move on to better things. Also his season maybe have seen a higher placing had it not been for the extraordinary injury toll.

For those wanting Tommy to be replaced, be careful what you wish for.

[Old Bob]

With our current predicament, you have to have someone who is affordable, can attract half decent players on pony wages and then try to get a tune out of them. That's a big ask, and I suspect the type of manager that some people on here want are just the stuff of fantasy.

I'm expecting big changes in the squad. Tommy will turf several out, and like last year the bigger earners (e.g. Henry) will be asked to drop their wages in order to stay on. Those without a blind loyalty to Tommy will just walk and take their chances elsewhere.

Another possibility is that young players will see the Club provides an opportunity to improve their game and move on to better things. Also his season maybe have seen a higher placing had it not been for the extraordinary injury toll.

For those wanting Tommy to be replaced, be careful what you wish for.

The club provides an opportunity for SOME young players to improve their game, others not. We all know who we are talking about.

Sorry, but I'm never impressed by the "careful what you wish for" cliche. It's just an empty way of avoiding taking difficult decisions.

[Silasgoldeen]

With our current predicament, you have to have someone who is affordable, can attract half decent players on pony wages and then try to get a tune out of them. That's a big ask, and I suspect the type of manager that some people on here want are just the stuff of fantasy.

I'm expecting big changes in the squad. Tommy will turf several out, and like last year the bigger earners (e.g. Henry) will be asked to drop their wages in order to stay on. Those without a blind loyalty to Tommy will just walk and take their chances elsewhere.

Another possibility is that young players will see the Club provides an opportunity to improve their game and move on to better things. Also his season maybe have seen a higher placing had it not been for the extraordinary injury toll.

For those wanting Tommy to be replaced, be careful what you wish for.

The club provides an opportunity for SOME young players to improve their game, others not. We all know who we are talking about.

Sorry, but I'm never impressed by the "careful what you wish for" cliche. It's just an empty way of avoiding taking difficult decisions.

teams are really bad at hiring managers though. even up the leagues, I remember someone who worked as a consultant saying that premier league teams would identify a target, but if they couldn't land him, plan b was often a manager with a completely different style, and plan c was completely different again. So they'd end up pivoting all over the place with all the upheaval that brings to the entire club.

Given that money talks in football, you generally get what you pay for, and if we aren't going to spend top half money on players we aren't going to get a top half result unless we are lucky or can hire an unrecognised genius.

Otherwise 90% of the candidates will perform at or around what we have now, and variance/luck/injuries will determine how far we deviate.

So I think this "be careful what you wish for" stems from Tommy being a known quantity. He has proven that he will put a team on the pitch that will, over the course of the season, probably play at or around a mid table level (yes, yes, I know). I'm sure there are managers out there who could have got more out of this squad, but also there are managers who'd have got less out of the squad. So again, any change is a risk (your hard decision). As with all these things, there's a risk/reward to consider.

To me, you make the change only if you have identified an outstanding candidate who is available. Absent that exact criteria you don't risk anything.

[brian bloomfield]

Another possibility is that young players will see the Club provides an opportunity to improve their game and move on to better things. Also his season maybe have seen a higher placing had it not been for the extraordinary injury toll.

For those wanting Tommy to be replaced, be careful what you wish for.

The club provides an opportunity for SOME young players to improve their game, others not. We all know who we are talking about.

Sorry, but I'm never impressed by the "careful what you wish for" cliche. It's just an empty way of avoiding taking difficult decisions.

teams are really bad at hiring managers though. even up the leagues, I remember someone who worked as a consultant saying that premier league teams would identify a target, but if they couldn't land him, plan b was often a manager with a completely different style, and plan c was completely different again. So they'd end up pivoting all over the place with all the upheaval that brings to the entire club.

Given that money talks in football, you generally get what you pay for, and if we aren't going to spend top half money on players we aren't going to get a top half result unless we are lucky or can hire an unrecognised genius.

Otherwise 90% of the candidates will perform at or around what we have now, and variance/luck/injuries will determine how far we deviate.

So I think this "be careful what you wish for" stems from Tommy being a known quantity. He has proven that he will put a team on the pitch that will, over the course of the season, probably play at or around a mid table level (yes, yes, I know). I'm sure there are managers out there who could have got more out of this squad, but also there are managers who'd have got less out of the squad. So again, any change is a risk (your hard decision). As with all these things, there's a risk/reward to consider.

To me, you make the change only if you have identified an outstanding candidate who is available. Absent that exact criteria you don't risk anything.

Completely agree Sillas

What you must go on is the previous record of the manager in different leagues / financial situations and look also at the backroom staff and benefits and negatives that he has bought to the clubs he's managed.Dig deep and don't be afraid to ask difficult and uneasy questions in the interviews.

What you mustn't do is go on personal feelings, friendships, nepotism and wanting to be the one that appoints your candidate, just for a minute of self gloating.

[Old Bob]

Another possibility is that young players will see the Club provides an opportunity to improve their game and move on to better things. Also his season maybe have seen a higher placing had it not been for the extraordinary injury toll.

For those wanting Tommy to be replaced, be careful what you wish for.

The club provides an opportunity for SOME young players to improve their game, others not. We all know who we are talking about.

Sorry, but I'm never impressed by the "careful what you wish for" cliche. It's just an empty way of avoiding taking difficult decisions.

teams are really bad at hiring managers though. even up the leagues, I remember someone who worked as a consultant saying that premier league teams would identify a target, but if they couldn't land him, plan b was often a manager with a completely different style, and plan c was completely different again. So they'd end up pivoting all over the place with all the upheaval that brings to the entire club.

Given that money talks in football, you generally get what you pay for, and if we aren't going to spend top half money on players we aren't going to get a top half result unless we are lucky or can hire an unrecognised genius.

Otherwise 90% of the candidates will perform at or around what we have now, and variance/luck/injuries will determine how far we deviate.

So I think this "be careful what you wish for" stems from Tommy being a known quantity. He has proven that he will put a team on the pitch that will, over the course of the season, probably play at or around a mid table level (yes, yes, I know). I'm sure there are managers out there who could have got more out of this squad, but also there are managers who'd have got less out of the squad. So again, any change is a risk (your hard decision). As with all these things, there's a risk/reward to consider.

To me, you make the change only if you have identified an outstanding candidate who is available. Absent that exact criteria you don't risk anything.

I do agree with you, Silas. I think your point is well made by looking at the recent history of Manchester United. But replacing managers, although always a gamble, does not have to be a shot in the dark. Working up a clear idea of who you want and why is a necessary part of the process, as is having a Plan B (and C). And as you say, Plan B could reasonably be sticking with what you have. My concern is that sticking with what we have could well land us with a season of struggle culminating in relegation. We got awfully close this season.

I have a recurrent nightmare in which we start next season with JVS in goal, Maghoma in defence, Widdrington as captain, and a Corbett/Ghandour strike force