On paper

[Sammy Chung was King]

Rob Jones start doesn't look good, two points from a possible twelve, but as we know stats don't tell the whole story, the situation he is trying to correct.
He has players who on paper, a fair few of them should be destroying teams in this league, but he also has glaring weaknesses left by lack of recruitment in those areas by the previous manager, and a few players who are coming towards the end.

He started off with a trip to the most underated side in this league in Walsall, full of confidence, a squad that has been built steadily and now injuries permitting, are challengers for the play-offs.
The team was in with a chance for most of the game, but conceded five minutes from the end, then were hit on the break trying to get an equaliser in added time.

The we faced an Oldham side hammered five one the previous game, when a side let's so many goals in, in a game, the next game normally is trying to get a clean sheet
Only the special teams can forget a game like that and play the same and go for the win.
We normally if the side was confident, would have beaten Oldham, but with both side's low on confidence, it was a reasonable result for both, Butler scoring the goal for us got us a point and a minor plus from the game.

We went to Bramall Lane with our confidence still low, and though we had a player sent off for a stupid 'Ref please send me off' challenge!, we were already going to lose the game.
It just made it more comfortable for them, so again we lost by a two goal margin.
Tonight we faced a side still trying to form as a team, after having the heart ripped out of the side, losing players they didn't want to, including our own Andy Williams and his strike partner from last season.
We went a goal down, that should have been 'Game over', with a side lacking belief, also losing our leader having started for the first time for a while.
From somewhere the side suddenly found some belief, the team Rob picked was very solid, not listening to many supporters and playing the experienced players, with an injection of youth.
Horsfield showing plenty of energy and drive, Anderson offering a threat up front with Williams, eventually he got the equaliser.
Then after that Williams got his own confidence booster, a penalty that he converted, all of a sudden many of us will have had a mix of 'Willing the side to hold on',
'Wanting them to do it for Rob Jones',
Thinking that' No doubt we had to concede even in the little time left'.

Unfortunately we did the latter, and a fantastic result turned into a good point, small margins seperate success, failure and mediocrity.
Tonight was between mediocrity and success, it was a level up on the previous games, against potentially the best side of the four.
Mark Cooper plays the game in the right way, attractive and they will get more results, i wouldn't mind him as our next manager.
On Rob
The stats

P 4 W0 D2 L 2 F 4  A 8 PTS 2 POSSIBLE 12

Can Rob given time step up on these performances?,
Can he improve what he has in the team enough to challenge for promotion?,
Should he be given more time to see?,
Or has the time come to get an experienced manager appointed as soon as possible?,

It isn't an easy decision is it?.

[eastender]

Here's a Stat that does tell the whole story , when Dany N'Guessan's on the pitch we look like we might score.

 So why after a MOM performance against Oldham then decide to leave him out for the next one and three quarter games.

[Sammy Chung was King]

Managers do it all the time eastender, maybe it's baffling to us because we don't know all the facts, he isn't fully fit that's for sure, all i can think is he had a slight niggle, so the manager didn't risk him.
We need the power, pace and just a different way of playing that he brings.

[mrfrostsdad]

No Sammy. He can't turn round what we have and challenge for promotion because the team we have is not good enough.
I admire your optimism mate, but everything I've seen over the last year tells me we don't have any players who should be 'destroying teams' in this league. We are currently a very poor team in a poor league.

I truly hope I'm wrong and I truly hope that the manager, whether that be Jones or whoever, can turn it round, and quickly

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

No Sammy. He can't turn round what we have and challenge for promotion because the team we have is not good enough.
I admire your optimism mate, but everything I've seen over the last year tells me we don't have any players who should be 'destroying teams' in this league. We are currently a very poor team in a poor league.

I truly hope I'm wrong and I truly hope that the manager, whether that be Jones or whoever, can turn it round, and quickly

Bu

No Sammy. He can't turn round what we have and challenge for promotion because the team we have is not good enough.
I admire your optimism mate, but everything I've seen over the last year tells me we don't have any players who should be 'destroying teams' in this league. We are currently a very poor team in a poor league.

I truly hope I'm wrong and I truly hope that the manager, whether that be Jones or whoever, can turn it round, and quickly

On the flip side he's willing to change things, made a few signings who look decent to be fair and we are attacking with more tempo.  The side is a mess and I don't think it's an overnight fix to get the balance corrected, but there are signs that Jones could get it right.

[The Red Baron]

I'd love nothing more than for Rob Jones to succeed. I think he will go on to be a good manager. However, I am now of the view that this job needs someone from outside.

Brutally, there are some players in the squad who are not good enough and others whose best days are behind them. One way or another the next manager will need to move them on. Can Jones do that? I'm not sure.

If the immediate job was about fine-tuning and getting an extra 5-10% out of the squad then I'd back Jones to do that. But major surgery, or major butchery if you prefer, is needed.

[Rich_The_Conisbrough_Rover]

On paper and as daft as it sound serve probably got one the best sides in this division by a long shot, we've got some big names, the morale and whole atmosphere within the club is that low it r ally is taking its toll, we need a manager ASAP but the board are turning a blind eye to our results, were crumbling and crumbling fast.

[The Red Baron]

On paper and as daft as it sound serve probably got one the best sides in this division by a long shot, we've got some big names, the morale and whole atmosphere within the club is that low it r ally is taking its toll, we need a manager ASAP but the board are turning a blind eye to our results, were crumbling and crumbling fast.

I don't think they are. They are taking their time with the aim of getting the appointment right. If they had rushed it we might have got the wrong man.

Also I think it was reasonable to give Jones the chance to  "audition" for the job. It hasn't worked out, but I actually think it has shown that there was more to our poor results than Dickov's lack of tactical nous.

[mrfrostsdad]

On paper and as daft as it sound serve probably got one the best sides in this division by a long shot, we've got some big names, the morale and whole atmosphere within the club is that low it r ally is taking its toll, we need a manager ASAP but the board are turning a blind eye to our results, were crumbling and crumbling fast.

ll

Sorry a Rich. I can't agree. The league table doesn't lie. We've won one game out of ten and we've deserved to win one game out of ten because, quite frankly, we've been tosh.
I agree with you about getting a new manager in asap. How long does it take? It took us forever to get rid of Dickov and it seems to be taking forever to get in a replacement. We don't do owt quick at Donmy!

[dickos1]

Jones has had 4 games
And he was getting grief after 1
How long will new manager get?  We have a lot of impatient unrealistic fans

[Yorkiered]

Jones has had 4 games
And he was getting grief after 1
How long will new manager get?  We have a lot of impatient unrealistic fans

He has now had 4 games and we are still shite. How many games do you want him to have?

[dickos1]

If you think a manager should be judged after 4 games then that says it all,
If a new manager comes in he's got to deal with players that aren't his, playing a style he doesn't agree with, and a side that's losing week in week out
Surely you don't think a manager can change all that in 2 and a half weeks?

[BobG]

And he will be starting when the transfer windows are closed as well as the next time it's open it being unhelpful and over hyped. I seem to recall it took 6 months and more for anyone to spot even the slightest degree of improvement from our not so long ago Lazarus figure.

BobG

[keith79]

Dickov got over two seasons and people still wanted to give him more time.

[Canadian Rover]

I don't know why people don't believe in Rob Jones...I really hope he gets the job full time.

[dickos1]

Dickov got over two seasons and people still wanted to give him more time.

Jones has had 2.5 weeks, a nonsense to judge him

[Colin C No.3]

Dickov got over two seasons and people still wanted to give him more time.

Jones has had 2.5 weeks, a nonsense to judge him

Yeah....how long do you give 'em again dickos? Oh of course.......'I told you all when you clambered for PD's head to be careful what you wished for'.

[dickos1]

Your posts are making less and less sense Colin

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We may still be shite, but after last night it doesn't smell as bad!

[Sammy Chung was King]

If we can't get McDermott, Hasselbaink or one of the others i consider the 'Top targets', i would give Rob the job, i just see no major difference in managerial ability in Redfearn and Jones.
The ideal situation would be the club telling the new manager Rob is the number two, so he can learn from whoever it is, then step up to the big job, when he has the experience.
Whoever takes over as manager, i wouldn't expect them to get rid of Wellens, Coppinger or any of the other experienced players, as i don't see the board paying contracts up, they would just be sidelined or loaned out.

I can't agree that this side doesn't have some of the strengths to be a good side, i think many will be surprised how much confidence effects things, when it comes back you will see a massive difference.
Once he plugs some of the weaknesses, sidelines the one's he doesn't want, things will pick up, i don't think the players could give him any more against Swindon, that should be the effort every week.

Personally i see encouraging signs of the squad being a little more competitive, the young loanees will help that, i still think Gobern can contribute for us, and Anderson if he is still performing like that in a few games time, Extend the loan and get a permanent deal organised for january, Palace have a lot of talent their may be a chance.