Brian: The right decision?

[Sanguine]

^The frustration in the stands just because Guthrie, Pearce and Morrison had exchanged 6 or 7 passes was ridiculous.

[sandman]

Thought this fan got it spot on.

We're trying to pass the ball, and near the end I heard somebody behind me say 'get it forward' but I was thinking 'no, no, no!'

They tried to make the team go forward but Nigel said "no, no, no".

[RoyallyFcuked]

I agree that in the championship that was the case, but it certainly wasn't in the Premier League.

It was certainly a problem early in the season and it was probably what lost McDermott his job, but we were over it by late December when we made all those changes against Man City. For example, we took an early lead against West Ham and hung onto it expertly. Since 1st December, we only dropped points from winning positions three times- at home to Man United, away at Spurs, and at home to Villa.

So I don't think it is fair to blame McDermott for what is currently a one-off defeat on the basis that we did it in 7 of our first 14 matches in his fourth season managing us. Don't get me wrong, 7 out of 14 is shocking (imagine us with 17 extra points... we'd be between Norwich and West Ham), but it was hardly a deeply ingrained habit that we haven't been able to shake.

That's a fair point. But, is still think it's partly down to him. I'm not going to blame McD for the problems under Adkins, I just think some of the bad habits the team had under McD, particularly last season, are still present and it's going to take time before they disappear completely.

[SCIAG]

How many times did we actually hold on to a lead for decent amount of time though? Just the once against West Ham wasn't it? The rest, including the win over Sunderland, were late winners when there wasn't much time to think about holding on.

It's true that West Ham was the only time we had to hold on for over half an hour (though the 0-0 against Swansea was a similarly impressive performance where we held on for 90), but given the number of points that changed hands in the final minutes of our games over the season, I think it's perfectly reasonable to cite holding a lead for quarter of an hour against Newcastle. Half our matches contained goals scored later than Le Fondre's winner.

Admittedly, holding on against Chelsea and West Brom didn't take much defensive work.

@Fcuked: I think that could be a fair point, but it's also worth remembering that significant portions of this team barely played under McDermott. Of the outfield players we've used this season, only Pearce, Karacan, HRK, Le Fondre and McAnuff played for us last time we were in the Championship. They've made 11 starts between them this season, so about two-thirds of our side didn't really play under McDermott for very long.

[RoyallyFcuked]

Sorry but the players still don't know how to properly defend a lead, and that is down to one Brian McDermott and his style of management.

I think I'm starting to get my head around your in depth analysis of this complex conundrum.

We are Royally Fcuked because, everything that went wrong when McDermott was in charge was his fault and everything that goes wrong whilst Adkins is at the helm will still be McDermott's fault.

So, I'm guessing the troublesome fact that McDermott's team when last in the Championship (and I realise it's simply outrageous to compare like for like ) managed to hang onto leads away to all of promotion chasing Southampton, Brighton and West Ham and, having since lost the knack, this can only be his fault.

If, by the end of the month, Adkins fails to add to the one league victory since the day he arrived and/or can't catch and overtake the mighty Bounemouth, McDermott should be burnt at the stake.............................you see, I'm a quick learner

That's it, time to leave this land of Grade A pricks.

I agree that in the championship, we did have an ability to hold onto a lead, to a certain extent. But don't forget we often won games the second half so we needed to hold the lead for less time. We were known for a never say die spirit as we fought until the end and came from behind in matches to get results. I remember thinking in some matches I went to, its ok if we go a goal down, because our players seemed to try that much harder to get back on terms.

But, in other matches I also remember thinking "so we've scored early, this probably isn't good because we will just sit back now". The reason I thought that was obviously because it happened on a number of occasions. The problem was still present and actually seems to have been there for much, if not all of McD's time in charge. It was same last season, but the quality of opposition teams exposed the problem big time.

[RoyallyFcuked]

] We seemed pretty decent at defending leads in the championship, and didn't get too many opportunities in the premier.

a team that sits on a two-goal is always asking for trouble, because as comfortable as it looks at 2-0/3-1, as soon as another goal is pulled back, everything changes.


Overall though, anyone who was at the game on Saturday who doesn't think bringing Adkins in was the right call, must have very different idea of what football is about to me.

I completely agree with the last two sentences, not the first one though

[RoyallyFcuked]

@LoyalRoyalFan @Woodcote Royal @melonhead

Why don't you get a room with your boyfriend McDonut

[winchester_royal]

This is all just going round in circles now.

Moot conversation anyway. Nige has a 3 year contract, an owner who is completely behind what he is trying to do, and a large proportion of the fanbase enthused at how the team is developing.

To those who remain nay sayers I suggest you get on board because he aint going anywhere and you'll enjoy the coming months a lot more without the STGs.

[sandman]

Don't like him and never will.

[Ian Royal]

Don't like him and never will.

Your loss.

[sandman]

I'm sure I'll get over that devastating loss and if I valued your opinion on anything Ian that would maybe make a difference.

Comes down to the sort of person you like. You and most other people with Royal in their username people like the brash and arrogant approach of a Ronseal Adkins type manager. I and many others like a reserved and humble approach that doesn't include copious amounts of Sailing metaphors in their programme notes a la Coppell and McDermott. Frankly I just don't like him or his personality.

If you like him fair enough but I don't so you can go swivel.

[SydenhamRoyal]

I'm sure I'll get over that devastating loss and if I valued your opinion on anything Ian that would maybe make a difference.

Comes down to the sort of person you like. You and most other people with Royal in their username people like the brash and arrogant approach of a Ronseal Adkins type manager. I and many others like a reserved and humble approach a la Coppell and McDermott. Frankly I just don't like him as a person.

If you like him fair enough but I don't so you can go swivel.

Bollox; I've got Royal in my name, and much prefer McDermott and Coppell as people. I dont like Adkins. I do like the football we are playing at the moment under him.

[sandman]

Hence the use of the word "most" and not "all".

[Ian Royal]

I liked all of them.

And I don't see Adkins as any more arrogant than either McDermott or Coppell. He's less deadpan and reserved, but that isn't the same as being brash or arrogant.

[winchester_royal]

Quite remarkable really that some see fit to make such dismissing statements on the basis of media interviews which very rarely reflect a person's true personality. Nigel's popularity at all of his former clubs, with his players, and around his home town (Winchester ) in general suggests that he is anything but brash and arrogant.

Still, don't let that stop you Sandy, and if you can throw the odd dig in about my 'young' age over the next couple of pages then all the better

[LoyalRoyalFan]

@LoyalRoyalFan @Woodcote Royal @melonhead

Why don't you get a room with your boyfriend McDonut

It's called decency I suppose. McDermott, a man who served us very well over 10 years - a man who won us a title no less - was treated like shit by some on here. Excuse us if we don't agree with the decision to sack him in the first place, if we don't join in with the McDermott bashing on a daily basis, and we don't join in on the Adkins love fest just because he likes to pass the ball a bit.

[Royalee]

Don't like him and never will.

Good, if he came across you he'd rightly think you were a waste of air.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Not commented on or read this thread for ages so apologies if this doesn't follow previous, but if you compare us on Sat to the turgid pile of sh1t Leeds dished up on Sky vs Leicester the other day I know who I'd rather have managing us now

[tmesis]

@LoyalRoyalFan @Woodcote Royal @melonhead

Why don't you get a room with your boyfriend McDonut

It's called decency I suppose. McDermott, a man who served us very well over 10 years - a man who won us a title no less - was treated like shit by some on here. Excuse us if we don't agree with the decision to sack him in the first place, if we don't join in with the McDermott bashing on a daily basis, and we don't join in on the Adkins love fest just because he likes to pass the ball a bit.

Can people not grasp that liking the job Adkins is doing doesn't mean someone spent last year sticking pins into a McDermott voodoo doll.

Amazing as it may seem, it is actually possible to think McDermott was treated shabbily, yet still be happy Adkins is here.

[sandman]

Not commented on or read this thread for ages so apologies if this doesn't follow previous, but if you compare us on Sat to the turgid pile of sh1t Leeds dished up on Sky vs Leicester the other day I know who I'd rather have managing us now

Yeah that McCormack goal was awful.