Let's talk about Nuno....

[Freddeno]

still have faith in Nuno, but we need to play more on their half and not so much sideways/backwards...

 

[sycophantia]

Can't believe anyone is even considering getting rid of Nuno, its bad atm, his toughest time since he came but I've still got faith in him to turn it round even if it takes till middle of next season. Also, who the hell would we get in here better? Careful what you wish for.

 

[YoungWolf]

The more I think about it, the more insane I think we'd be to even consider changing the manager. We landed one of the best coaches in Europe when we were 15th in the Championship and since had unprecedented success for many of us who didn't get to see us in the 70s (or earlier ).

We are facing our first extended run of form under Nuno with the one win in ten. He's not turned that round yet, some of that is a bit of bad luck, plenty of it is on him. It doesn't mean we should just desert him though. He's turned around similar tactical issues before (start of last season when we had same issues vacating the middle of the pitch). I think he knows the 4231 is the best way of solving a lot of those problems but without Podence, or a focal point he's looked at ways to cover those deficiencies (ie. "solutions" that weird people get upset by him saying).

We just need to get through to the end of this season without anything mental happening. Improve the form short term (next 6 games), improve the performances medium term (next 12 games) for us to build on ahead of next season. I think we will invest a fair bit in some key areas, and if we get the right we will have a very nicely balanced squad with some real quality all over the pitch. That's where we need to get to in the next six months or so.

 

[redvictor]

The more I think about it, the more insane I think we'd be to even consider changing the manager. We landed one of the best coaches in Europe when we were 15th in the Championship and since had unprecedented success for many of us who didn't get to see us in the 70s (or earlier ).

We are facing our first extended run of form under Nuno with the one win in ten. He's not turned that round yet, some of that is a bit of bad luck, plenty of it is on him. It doesn't mean we should just desert him though. He's turned around similar tactical issues before (start of last season when we had same issues vacating the middle of the pitch). I think he knows the 4231 is the best way of solving a lot of those problems but without Podence, or a focal point he's looked at ways to cover those deficiencies (ie. "solutions" that weird people get upset by him saying).

We just need to get through to the end of this season without anything mental happening. Improve the form short term (next 6 games), improve the performances medium term (next 12 games) for us to build on ahead of next season. I think we will invest a fair bit in some key areas, and if we get the right we will have a very nicely balanced squad with some real quality all over the pitch. That's where we need to get to in the next six months or so.

It isn't just the manager you'd be changing. It's all the coaching staff, and 3/4 of the players. And..... the very ethos of the current club. We have to give him time, and i feel it won't be till next season you see it, just like you are surmising.

 

[prawnking]

I don't think any PL managers are untouchable, and I can see where Punts is coming from, but I think Nuno deserves more than just one below average / poor season.

I wouldn't be even considering his position unless we were still in this boat or worse this time next year tbh

 

[Wilf Wolf]

The more I think about it, the more insane I think we'd be to even consider changing the manager. We landed one of the best coaches in Europe when we were 15th in the Championship and since had unprecedented success for many of us who didn't get to see us in the 70s (or earlier ).

We are facing our first extended run of form under Nuno with the one win in ten. He's not turned that round yet, some of that is a bit of bad luck, plenty of it is on him. It doesn't mean we should just desert him though. He's turned around similar tactical issues before (start of last season when we had same issues vacating the middle of the pitch). I think he knows the 4231 is the best way of solving a lot of those problems but without Podence, or a focal point he's looked at ways to cover those deficiencies (ie. "solutions" that weird people get upset by him saying).

We just need to get through to the end of this season without anything mental happening. Improve the form short term (next 6 games), improve the performances medium term (next 12 games) for us to build on ahead of next season. I think we will invest a fair bit in some key areas, and if we get the right we will have a very nicely balanced squad with some real quality all over the pitch. That's where we need to get to in the next six months or so.

I agree with your post but what happens if the bit in bold doesn't happen? Hopefully Jose will be a catalyst for improvement but it is by no means guaranteed. I guess it is a constant reassessment based on the evidence to hand but whilst I'm right behind Nuno I can see why some fans are beginning to consider life without him.

 

[YoungWolf]

I agree with your post but what happens if the bit in bold doesn't happen? Hopefully Jose will be a catalyst for improvement but it is by no means guaranteed. I guess it is a constant reassessment based on the evidence to hand but whilst I'm right behind Nuno I can see why some fans are beginning to consider life without him.

By 'mental' I mean us getting relegated, which I have no fears about personally.

If the other two things don't happen, say we get 40 points rather than the 47 that I think we may get, it will just increase expectations in the summer that we need to invest and start the season well. I think I agree with PrawnKing's assessment.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I think it depends what you're looking to achieve.

Get back to the solid performances of recent years and attain the league position that came with it then everyone is probably fairly content with that. On pitch performances are decent, achieving enough to attract good players and have semi-frequent European campaigns.

I'm not sure that style ever pushes you beyond that level though.

If there's more desire to change the philosophy, be more expansive and see if that's the formula for further progression, though I don't see a lot of being pursued thus far beyond dabbling with four at the back, then it's more difficult. How many managers/coaches completely change their philosophy mid tenure, or even between jobs, other than temporarily going pragmatic when things get tight? When clubs want to change the way they play it almost always comes with a change of coaching staff, which I don't think is at all unreasonable. People have their beliefs, their ways of working and sometimes that doesn't align with their staff or employers, it's usually easily to swap the personal rather than alter personalities.

 

[YoungWolf]

Would argue that Klopp did a very good job of embracing blending control with chaos quite gradually over time. They went from being quite wild with their results (and they were playing in a similar fashion to his Dortmund side) to just consistently winning even when it felt like they were coasting through some games. That was aided by the signing of a centre back of Van Dijk's ilk mind, and just general excellent recruitment.

May be harder to go the other way, introduce more chaos into that control that Nuno clearly feels is important. We do have players for that (Traore springs to mind) however. I'm keen to see what he does when Podence is fit. The best we have looked this season IMO is when he has played behind a forward in the 4231. If Podence is fit and available, and he just sticks with the flat midfield three I'll be very frustrated.

 

[AndyWolves]

We have to accept that with Nuno, if he's ever in doubt we will go defensive and try not to concede.

 

[Norman Deeley]

My big worry right now is that the players - Neto, Adama, Neves etc - cannot be happy with the way we are playing. We're boring to watch right now, and the players must get frustrated. My worry is that unless something changes, and changes quickly, there may be a queue at the exit door come the summer.

 

[Tony Towner]

We have to accept that with Nuno, if he's ever in doubt we will go defensive and try not to concede.

Defensive now means deep though and we do the one thing we're trying not to either directly or by giving corners away because of it

 

[Wilf Wolf]

By 'mental' I mean us getting relegated, which I have no fears about personally.

If the other two things don't happen, say we get 40 points rather than the 47 that I think we may get, it will just increase expectations in the summer that we need to invest and start the season well. I think I agree with PrawnKing's assessment.

I'd be very surprised if we got 47 points, in fact I think 40, quite possibly less, is much more likely. If you are saying you'd only consider his position if we got relegated aren't you are effectively you are saying you'd stick with Nuno just because there are three really awful teams in the division?

We are not like Norwich who expected to struggle from the outset and judged their manager accordingly, we finished 7th, tweaked the squad and have got to the midpoint not having a clue how to set up from one week to the next. I'm more bothered about performances than points as I think we'll stay up regardless because of the aforementioned poor teams. If we are as as poor as we have been recently, or even close to it, come May, some serious questions need to be asked.

 

[YoungWolf]

I'd be very surprised if we got 47 points, in fact I think 40, quite possibly less, is much more likely. If you are saying you'd only consider his position if we got relegated aren't you are effectively you are saying you'd stick with Nuno just because there are three really awful teams in the division?

We are not like Norwich who expected to struggle from the outset and judged their manager accordingly, we finished 7th, tweaked the squad and have got to the midpoint not having a clue how to set up from one week to the next. I'm more bothered about performances than points as I think we'll stay up regardless because of the aforementioned poor teams. If we are as as poor as we have been recently, or even close to it, come May, some serious questions need to be asked.

I'm saying stick with Nuno because I think he is one of the best coaches in Europe.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I'm saying stick with Nuno because I think he is one of the best coaches in Europe.

He certainly has been and it's over to him to prove it in the second half of this season.

 

[Premier Quality]

I always find it astounding that people are happy to forget three oustanding seasons because of a poor run of nine games...

it really is pathetic tbh.

 

[The Bear]

It's OK to have questions or doubts that Nuno can take us into the top 6 regularly.

But Nuno has also more than deserved a proper chance to see if he can achieve it. He needs a full pre-season and at least half a season to see if he can implement it successfully.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

It's OK to have questions or doubts that Nuno can take us into the top 6 regularly.

But Nuno has also more than deserved a proper chance to see if he can achieve it. He needs a full pre-season and at least half a season to see if he can implement it successfully.

A week is a long time in politics and half a season is a lifetime in football. How long does his good work balance out against a slump? I think that if he is not showing a bit more than recently by the end of the season it is fair to ask questions. At the moment it feels like we're a rudderless ship in need some direction as we're looking more like a toothless Hoddle team every game. I'm right behind him for now but I'd like to see some direction of where we're heading before the end of the season. If there is none i don't think it is unreasonable to question his position.

 

[Parkins left foot]

No manager in the PL is 'bomb proof' - Lampard is being seriously questioned right now

Nuno is not in danger yet, but to say that he is inviolate is wrong - he is in a difficult place just now & needs to find a way through this. Can he do this - yes I think he can.

The meteoric ride we have had over the last 3 years has given him a trajectory to continue with - life & football doesn't work that way.

 

[Jabbawolf]

I’m struggling to be too critical of Nuno in the pandemic - he strikes me as very empathetic and is also isolated from his loved ones, and I’m sure this is affecting him in a big way.

Some will say that he should still be professional, and still deliver, but he is just another human being.