Two games in and yet the knives are out already in some quarters

[swansnews]

https://planetswans.co.uk/2023/08/14/two-games-in-and-yet-the-knives-are-out-already-in-some-quarters/

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

I completely agree.

Saturday was terrible, the previous Saturday wasn't much better.

But he's new in himself, the squad has had a serious shake up in the summer (with more to come if you believe online reports) and he is trying to blend existing players with several new.

I would expect the rest of August, September and October to be very choppy performances-wise, before we get a feel for what a Duff team looks like.

When it does arrive, I'm looking forward to seeing this "high-octane, front-foot" football he keeps talking about. It sounds great. I'm sure he'll deliver it when things settle down.

 

[Pegojack]

Of course fans are going to grumble loudly when they see a piss poor performance against so-so opposition who we should have taken a point from at least.
But it's a long old season. Who would have thought, in the middle of our dreadful run last season, that we'd be in with a shout of the play offs come May?
We need to see what squad we are playing with when the window shuts, and how Duff deals with the seeming inability of our back line to cope with a high press and break forward. For me, a minimum three in midfield is essential.

 

[cadleigh]

Phil - excellent post. The one saving grace is that this is a tiny minority of supporters who use social media to amplify their voices, often using multiple identities. Many are too young to remember us in the Premier League so believe that Martin’s brand of football was a return to the way we played under Rodgers and Laudrup. Others are old enough to know better but get their kicks from provoking a reaction out of other people. Gives them some kind of validation which they lack in their personal and professional lives I guess. Sad really.

 

[cwmdonkinjack]

https://planetswans.co.uk/2023/08/14/two-games-in-and-yet-the-knives-are-out-already-in-some-quarters/

I fully agree with this article. Observations and constructive criticism are one thing but some of the social media hyperbole is ridiculous. It is indicative of the knee jerk times we live in, not just football. There are new players and combinations and uncertainty over the future of some current players as well as the fact it is still August. There are 23 other teams all striving to do the same thing as us, quite a few with far larger budgets and fanbases. Like everyone I want success but being a championship side counts as relative success for me given our historical league positions over the time most of us have been fans.

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

It's because he's been beastly to our beloved ex manager innit.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Phil - excellent post. The one saving grace is that this is a tiny minority of supporters who use social media to amplify their voices, often using multiple identities. Many are too young to remember us in the Premier League so believe that Martin’s brand of football was a return to the way we played under Rodgers and Laudrup. Others are old enough to know better but get their kicks from provoking a reaction out of other people. Gives them some kind of validation which they lack in their personal and professional lives I guess. Sad really.

Rodgers and Laudrup employed two totally different types of football.

So which one was Martin meant to have been trying (and, in your view, failing) to return to?

You're obviously old enough to know better than the youngsters on this, so please educate us.

 

[sainthelens]

Agree with all of the above...but..
We know how this works, transitioning is one thing, losing/poor performances relating to it only ends in tears. He's had a full pre season to work on things, I dont subscribe to using the first dozen games as a continuation of that. What I've witnessed the first 2 games doesn't take a genius to put it right relatively quickly. If things go tits up next few games and then it goes wrong when wer up the road in a few weeks....this forum and others will get toxic very quickly. Not condoning that, but its what'll happen.

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

Agree with all of the above...but..
We know how this works, transitioning is one thing, losing/poor performances relating to it only ends in tears. He's had a full pre season to work on things, I dont subscribe to using the first dozen games as a continuation of that. What I've witnessed the first 2 games doesn't take a genius to put it right relatively quickly. If things go tits up next few games and then it goes wrong when wer up the road in a few weeks....this forum and others will get toxic very quickly. Not condoning that, but its what'll happen.

And yet Wuss was given two full seasons and probably more if he hadn't walked off to a better job and still loved by some on here but duff has a dozen games.

 

[monmouth]

And yet Wuss was given two full seasons and probably more if he hadn't walked off to a better job and still loved by some on here but duff has a dozen games.

I doubt anyone at the club is giving him 12 games, nor the vast majority of supporters in the stands. It's all twatter noise from a few self important 'football expert' wankers, that think their opinion counts. What happens even if a bunch of dickheads could somehow hound Duff out? Billy Bullshit ain't coming back. He chose to leave his adoring acolytes.

That's not to say things don't need sorting out. I don't think anyone could have watched Saturday and not been dismayed. That's Duff's actual job, not pressers and appeasing twats.

 

[sainthelens]

And yet Wuss was given two full seasons and probably more if he hadn't walked off to a better job and still loved by some on here but duff has a dozen games.

Perhaps Russ was given that time cos he didn't have a pre season when he arrived, then the bullshit baffled all and sundry. Hence that won't help Duff and time he needs. I think thers plenty of us who can spot a fraud , got everything crossed that Duff isn't one.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

The end of October/dozen games thing shouldn't be misconstrued for something it isn't.

If results aren't great by then, but there are clear signs of what a Duff team looks like and it's exciting stuff and we're just being really unlucky with the bounce of the ball in a few games, then I think most right minded fans will happily cut him more slack.

Likewise, if the performances are a bit iffy but he's getting results, then he will buy himself some more time because football fans will forgive a lot if their team is winning.

What I will say is, if he gets to 12 games/end of October and performances more often than not resemble Saturday's, then it wouldn't be unreasonable to start drawing conclusions he's not the man for the job. Because by then there should be some evidence of a plan/pattern/shape.

The fact is right now none of us know how it's going to pan out, certainly not after 2 games, so it remains a watching brief for the time being.

If he can deliver this fast-paced, high octane stuff he keeps promising then I don't foresee many people having much issue with that. Entertainment comes in many forms, as long as it isn't Cooperball MkII I think most people will be happy bunnies.

 

[Ringwood Jack]

The funny thing is our young gun defenders was protected by RM despite full of errors so never established what RM wanted from them. Now Duff is repeating the same challenge with the same 3 CB's. There must be a point when decision is made and question the ability of these 3 to play at this level whatever the style we adopt.

 

[3swan]

Two days on and I haven't changed my thoughts on the game.

But (there always is)

However bad we were, we could have actually got something from the game, with the two scrambled efforts off the line and the late header just wide, even though I was half way through shouting goal.

It came down to fine margins, as I can't remember them having any other real attempts, apart from when Key passed across goal and the shot went over the bar.

All ifs and buts, let's just hope we see steady progression where the ifs turn to yes.

 

[TerryPHELAN]

Duff can help himself massively by dropping one of the centre backs, who in my humble opinion are all a liability defending.