There is no shame in asking the question

[barmy billy]

Hmmmmmmm.......some interesting comments on this thread.

What amazes me more than anything is how some people can alter their opinions so swiftly.
There are a few who - recently - have expressed their utter frustration at the tactics and team selection, but they now declare that MM is the best manager in the Championship. You cannot have it both ways.

I have said before that I feel sorry for MM in the fact that he has had no backing at all in terms of resources from the owner.
In that respect, he has done a superb job in getting us to where we are currently.
But considering where we were at the turn of the year, could it be better now?
Could we be in a higher position than we find ourselves?
If we could, then why has it gone wrong?
Is there any truth in the rumour that ME made funds available in the January transfer window but MM was not keen on spending?

So to answer the OP question, I have asked myself the following questions:

1) Am I happy with the style of hoof ball currently being played? NO
2) Am I happy that players are being played out of position? NO
3) Am I happy that we play narrow and with very little pace? NO
4) Do I think that if we played a different system to 4-4-2 and with players in their proper positions we would get better results? YES

No brainer for me, then. I would rather see us play attractive football and lose than see us play boring hoof ball and lose.

Good post Rossi and I agree with most of your comments.

With regard to the hoof ball, do you think it's because the defenders have so little confidence in the midfield that they feel they have lttle option other than to hoof it? Conversely, is this what they are coached to do? MM is a strong character and I would have thought that he would stamp it out if he did not approve.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Hmmmmmmm.......some interesting comments on this thread.

What amazes me more than anything is how some people can alter their opinions so swiftly.
There are a few who - recently - have expressed their utter frustration at the tactics and team selection, but they now declare that MM is the best manager in the Championship. You cannot have it both ways.

I have said before that I feel sorry for MM in the fact that he has had no backing at all in terms of resources from the owner.
In that respect, he has done a superb job in getting us to where we are currently.
But considering where we were at the turn of the year, could it be better now?
Could we be in a higher position than we find ourselves?
If we could, then why has it gone wrong?
Is there any truth in the rumour that ME made funds available in the January transfer window but MM was not keen on spending?

So to answer the OP question, I have asked myself the following questions:

1) Am I happy with the style of hoof ball currently being played? NO
2) Am I happy that players are being played out of position? NO
3) Am I happy that we play narrow and with very little pace? NO
4) Do I think that if we played a different system to 4-4-2 and with players in their proper positions we would get better results? YES

No brainer for me, then. I would rather see us play attractive football and lose than see us play boring hoof ball and lose.

Good post Rossi and I agree with most of your comments.

With regard to the hoof ball, do you think it's because the defenders have so little confidence in the midfield that they feel they have lttle option other than to hoof it? Conversely, is this what they are coached to do? MM is a strong character and I would have thought that he would stamp it out if he did not approve.

I think that defenders not having confidence in the midfielders has a lot to do with it: also we have midfielders who frequently pass the ball backwards towards the defence not giving them time to assess the options, so a hoof usually results.

[Dubai Blue]

I think that last point (from what I've seen on TV) is really important. It's not always appropriate to blame the defenders, especially full backs for this hoofing, if the MF in front of them are under pressure from swiftly advancing opponents then they are likely to feel the same and get rid quick. I'm guessing that this is in fact coached into them in order to iron out some of the silly errors in possession at the back that we have seen in the past.

[arana peligrosa]

In my opinion he's the best manager we've had since Bobby Robson. I know Burley had a decent run but in my opinion he wasn't a good manager and MM is in a different class.

Not my words, but a quote from a previous response

No disrespect, but have you really thought this through. Obviously no-one will ever come close to what Sir Robson achieved here, but you're putting our current manager (and his hitherto achievements) over names such as John Lyall, Burley and Royle.

For one thing, Lyall won this league's championship while at this club and while the subsequent years in the EPL weren't as productive it's still a very commendable achievement. Could McCarthy ever win this league while manager here ? Yes times change but the question still remains.

Burley not only gave this club European soccer once again but regularly took Town to the play-off finishes, although we don't need a reminder that they invariably ended in eventual defeat. Nonetheless we were involved more often than not and for a time, endured the best play and experience seen at Portman Road in 20 years.

Royle is one of my favorites therefore a little biased in my selection, but once again took Town to the play-offs twice in succession, missing out by a point if correct in the latter from an auto promotion place. Wasn't a name for everyone but I often enjoyed his time with us and provided some memories that will live forever. Maybe went a little too soon.

I'll admit that McCarthy in his short time here is a much better success than the garbage we invariably endured with aforementioned (usual) names such as Jewell and Keane, but can't subscribe to the idea that he's anywhere near the class of what was first suggested - Yet

I think in time McCarthy may be on a plateau with some of those names but only if he were to remain with us for at least another two years, and in those two years oversees the club into successful play-off objectives. By successful, I don't necessarily mean winning through to the EPL as a part of it, but just being involved. By then, he may just have a better defense.

[barmy billy]

In my opinion he's the best manager we've had since Bobby Robson. I know Burley had a decent run but in my opinion he wasn't a good manager and MM is in a different class.

Not my words, but a quote from a previous response

No disrespect, but have you really thought this through. Obviously no-one will ever come close to what Sir Robson achieved here, but you're putting our current manager (and his hitherto achievements) over names such as John Lyall, Burley and Royle.

For one thing, Lyall won this league's championship while at this club and while the subsequent years in the EPL weren't as productive it's still a very commendable achievement. Could McCarthy ever win this league while manager here ? Yes times change but the question still remains.

Burley not only gave this club European soccer once again but regularly took Town to the play-off finishes, although we don't need a reminder that they invariably ended in eventual defeat. Nonetheless we were involved more often than not and for a time, endured the best play and experience seen at Portman Road in 20 years.

Royle is one of my favorites therefore a little biased in my selection, but once again took Town to the play-offs twice in succession, missing out by a point if correct in the latter from an auto promotion place. Wasn't a name for everyone but I often enjoyed his time with us and provided some memories that will live forever. Maybe went a little too soon.

I'll admit that McCarthy in his short time here is a much better success than the garbage we invariably endured with aforementioned (usual) names such as Jewell and Keane, but can't subscribe to the idea that he's anywhere near the class of what was first suggested - Yet

I think in time McCarthy may be on a plateau with some of those names but only if he were to remain with us for at least another two years, and in those two years oversees the club into successful play-off objectives. By successful, I don't necessarily mean winning through to the EPL as a part of it, but just being involved. By then, he may just have a better defense.

I must admit I saw the comment you refer to, but I thought it was so laughable that it didn't warrant a response.

[BoroBlue]

Saint Jude, you are either a N**wich joker or a clown. Ridiculous to even ask the question.

[arana peligrosa]

The above is incongruous to the point of being offensive. I don't need to reason my loyalties to no-one, there is no ambiguity in which team I look out for, been a follower of this club side longer than most on these pages, and going to leave it there before I say something I'll later regret...

Only to add, you know damn well this was a serious discussion, and most were good enough to participate. Didn't see no harm in it. Guess in a few weeks we'll have a better understanding of how trivial - or how relevant - this here debate appeared. Done with this now.

[Andym]

The above is incongruous to the point of being offensive. I don't need to reason my loyalties to no-one, there is no ambiguity in which team I look out for, been a follower of this club side longer than most on these pages, and going to leave it there before I say something I'll later regret...

Only to add, you know damn well this was a serious discussion, and most were good enough to participate. Didn't see no harm in it. Guess in a few weeks we'll have a better understanding of how trivial - or how relevant - this here debate appeared. Done with this now.

I have to say I agree with you completely Saint Jude. It's the confrontational nature of some of the bigots on this forum that have led to me not posting any more. If people disagree with you they slag you off or insult you rather than providing a reasoned discussion. I can understand heated discussion face to face, but when you are sat at a keyboard you have time to think before being bloody rude.

It was similar last week when Jeremy Rusher posted a reasoned comment and got slagged off. When he retaliated he was yellow carded.

[phily bon bon]

Hi Andy good to see you posting if only now and again. I always found your input worthy of a read and as said sad you dont do it more. Its been a really good season on a whole ,with us punching well above our weight for most of the season.
Theres been a buzz about the place for most of the season,shame it seems to have talied off just at the business end of the season.

Take care mate BLUE ARMY.

[marko69]

My tuppence ha'penny worth, for what it's worth, (tuppence ha'penny....., just said it) is that unless it's stated facts, or just plain having a laugh, everything else is opinion based on forums. Only when someone is talking outright Shyte with stats plucked from the deepest depths of their nonsensical brains, that's when every other poster has a "right" to call them out on it.

I too thought Jeremy Rushers opening post all made perfect sense,....., but, for him to be part of an "almost" family like community of supporters, I feel (opinion alert) he sort of brought it all on himself.

I think to actively take regular part in a soccer forum, you need to have a rather large set of hairy testicles. (Put them away, Hallam, FFS!)
I know I have large testicles. I know this for a fact because the wife asked me the other day; "Why have you got a small d1ck, but HUGE balls?"
See ^^^^ proof! "Marko big baws!"

[phily bon bon]

My tuppence ha'penny worth, for what it's worth, (tuppence ha'penny....., just said it) is that unless it's stated facts, or just plain having a laugh, everything else is opinion based on forums. Only when someone is talking outright Shyte with stats plucked from the deepest depths of their nonsensical brains, that's when every other poster has a "right" to call them out on it.

I too thought Jeremy Rushers opening post all made perfect sense,....., but, for him to be part of an "almost" family like community of supporters, I feel (opinion alert) he sort of brought it all on himself.

I think to actively take regular part in a soccer forum, you need to have a rather large set of hairy testicles. (Put them away, Hallam, FFS!)
I know I have large testicles. I know this for a fact because the wife asked me the other day; "Why have you got a small d1ck, but HUGE balls?"
See ^^^^ proof! "Marko big baws!"

Vintage Marko ^^^^ PMSL

[BoroBlue]

Good, go away then Saint Jude, don't need your ridiculous negativity on here at a time where we should be getting behind the team and finishing off what has been our best season for many a year. I would argue the case further but just not worth sinking to your level. Go play at Carrot Road!


Vintage Marko ^^^^ PMSL[/quote]

[arana peligrosa]

Good, go away then Saint Jude, don't need your ridiculous negativity on here at a time where we should be getting behind the team and finishing off what has been our best season for many a year. I would argue the case further but just not worth sinking to your level. Go play at Carrot Road!


Vintage Marko ^^^^ PMSL

[/quote]

Would one of the moderators be good enough and erase this from the pages. It's not even worth the time of response

[barmy billy]

For goodness sake Saint Jude, grow up and stop being so wet. I would have thought you intelligent enough to realise that if you post something controversial you need to have the backbone to deal with the responses.

Or as our esteemed Jock suggests, grow a pair.

[Frosty]

There is nothing wrong with this discussion Boroblue nor do I have any doubts regarding St Jude's passion for the club.

If you read the thread fully you would see that the OP if for MM staying.

Please refrain from this type of post in the future.