MATCHWATCH : Barnsley (a)

[Brogue]

Just can’t believe how naive some fans are being. Name me a club in country that wouldn’t be having the same conversations about the manager when sat in 21st and only 1 win in 7 .

[WestYorksRoyal]

What I will say is, without results improving in the next 3 games, surely Couhig and JJ will need to front up and talk about the bad start. If we're on 7 or 8 points from 10, there's no dressing that up or spinning it.

Even if they have faith in Hunt, they would need to address the topic otherwise they're making a mockery of their promise on "transparency".

[PieEater]

It’s stronger than 5 points from 21, 1 win in 7 and 21st in the league. I don’t give a shit about the playoffs. I never thought we’d be close to em. But we are genuinely in a relegation battle with a top half team. That’s on the manager. It also doesn’t help that we’ve been dog shit in every game we’ve played. Not only are we not getting the results, the performances are not there either.

I think that is the crux, we have a good team, a good squad but the results and football is generally dire. You have to lay that at the managers door. I'm of the view that he's following El Jeffe's plan and slugging out games with the same team and the same formation until eventually it comes good. As nice a guy as he is, I really don't rate Hunt. Ask yourself if he was sacked - who else would employ him as their manager?

[Ascotexgunner]

It’s stronger than 5 points from 21, 1 win in 7 and 21st in the league. I don’t give a shit about the playoffs. I never thought we’d be close to em. But we are genuinely in a relegation battle with a top half team. That’s on the manager. It also doesn’t help that we’ve been dog shit in every game we’ve played. Not only are we not getting the results, the performances are not there either.

I think that is the crux, we have a good team, a good squad but the results and football is generally dire. You have to lay that at the managers door. I'm of the view that he's following El Jeffe's plan and slugging out games with the same team and the same formation until eventually it comes good. As nice a guy as he is, I really don't rate Hunt. Ask yourself if he was sacked - who else would employ him as their manager?

I sincerely hope he isn't following Selles plan......Judging by Friday night Selles managerial career is over, finished, Kaput! Just 9 months and 2 jobs having left us.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yeah but, what an early retirement £€

[donh99]

The reason why so many of us expected a top six finish* is because that’s what we were told we were aiming for. And the message hasn’t changed the new investor in his interview just this week saying playoffs minimum. What do you expect fans to think when our owners are saying playoffs and here we are 21st in the league 5 points from 21. And even if we didn’t believe their lies. WE ARE 21st IN THE LEAGUE AFTER 7 GAMES.

*Don't think anyone expected top six finish but a play off challenge definitely

+ 1

The Board are repeatedly stating that the objective this season is the playoffs...

Why are people pretending that anything less is OK...

Because what are our options? They own the club and will leave when they choose. What do you expect to do? Protest against this lot because they set expectations too high?

Or acknowledge that promotion takes a few years to build and they inherited a club with broken finances and 5 contracted players. I have no idea why they are talking about the top 6 when it was never realistic, but when you look at the substance of what they're doing on and off the pitch you can see the plan to turn us around. And the time to judge would be after 3 years, not 3 months.

+1

[WestYorksRoyal]

It’s stronger than 5 points from 21, 1 win in 7 and 21st in the league. I don’t give a shit about the playoffs. I never thought we’d be close to em. But we are genuinely in a relegation battle with a top half team. That’s on the manager. It also doesn’t help that we’ve been dog shit in every game we’ve played. Not only are we not getting the results, the performances are not there either.

I think that is the crux, we have a good team, a good squad but the results and football is generally dire. You have to lay that at the managers door. I'm of the view that he's following El Jeffe's plan and slugging out games with the same team and the same formation until eventually it comes good. As nice a guy as he is, I really don't rate Hunt. Ask yourself if he was sacked - who else would employ him as their manager?

The difference from the Selles situation should be options. We were such a basket case then, nobody would join us. Add in the cost of sacking and Selles was always going to stay.

The owners can sack Hunt if they want, it's just a matter of cost. And I've no doubt we could poach a high potential coach from lower L1 or L2. I think Orient are progressing enough that Wellens is out of reach, but Darren Moore has done a decent job at Vale, or maybe Grant McCann who led Doncaster to the L2 title and has had a fine start this season.

[Esteban]

If we'd been unlucky in games, created loads of chances, had lots of long term injuries to key players, not conceded many goals or chances, etc, maybe you could understand. But that’s not the case here.

We aren't creating great chances, nearly all of our goals have been from outside the box, we aren't keeping clean sheets and we don't look like a side that’s going to on the front foot throughout games, as Hunt keeps saying. The stats don't lie and results are poor. We can't rely on scoring 3 or 4 every game to win.

The squad is better than 21st in the league. Everyone has their own opinion on the squad, but I think there's only 3 players from last season, who are better than their replacements.

I'm a massive Noel Hunt fan and I really want him to succeed, but he's under huge pressure now. If nothing improves by the next international break, then he can have no complaints if the board make a change. I really hope he can turn it round.

[Hound]

Agreed but actually the one long term injury who could really impact the side is prob O Connor and he should be back next week

If we’re still rubbish with him then I’ll prob totally give up on Hunt sadly

[Royal_jimmy]

We’ve got better players than bottom
4 of the division. And we’re just not getting the best out of them for whatever reason

Maybe we are slowly building something behind the scenes and will get better and stronger as we go, but I’m yet to see much that convinces me this is the case

International break certainly didn’t help. Hopefully we can beat Orient and push on again. I just don’t think from what I’ve seen over the last year Hunt will take us forward. Would love to be proved wrong, just not seeing the progress

Our problem really isn't quality. Last season proves that, ok we don't have the same calibre of centre backs but we're arguably stronger in other areas of the pitch and there's no way we're a relegation threatened side. We're miles better quality wise, it's clear management and coaching is the problem.

[Royal_jimmy]

Just can’t believe how naive some fans are being. Name me a club in country that wouldn’t be having the same conversations about the manager when sat in 21st and only 1 win in 7 .

We have fans with a tinpot attitude that's why

[WestYorksRoyal]

Even last season, we weren't actually great. We kept things tight, stayed in the game and relied on the moments the likes of Wing and Knibbs could provide. We had some genuinely good performances like when we beat Wrexham, but not many.

I often think Real Madrid are not a particularly good team and somehow find a way to win the Champions League through Courtois saves and moments going their way. We were basically a L1 Real Madrid, except now the moments aren't going our way.

[Orion1871]

Even last season, we weren't actually great. We kept things tight, stayed in the game and relied on the moments the likes of Wing and Knibbs could provide. We had some genuinely good performances like when we beat Wrexham, but not many.

I often think Real Madrid are not a particularly good team and somehow find a way to win the Champions League through Courtois saves and moments going their way. We were basically a L1 Real Madrid, except now the moments aren't going our way.

You're describing what people say about good teams and finding a way to win despite not playing particularly well. It's exactly what good teams do and makes them good teams.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Even last season, we weren't actually great. We kept things tight, stayed in the game and relied on the moments the likes of Wing and Knibbs could provide. We had some genuinely good performances like when we beat Wrexham, but not many.

I often think Real Madrid are not a particularly good team and somehow find a way to win the Champions League through Courtois saves and moments going their way. We were basically a L1 Real Madrid, except now the moments aren't going our way.

You're describing what people say about good teams and finding a way to win despite not playing particularly well.

And I guess now you're seeing what it looks like when they stop finding a way.

Another analogy is England at Euro 24 who were a moments team. In the final we faced a team with a similar calibre of player (very little between the two) and lost out to a better coached team with a clear plan. But carrying on the analogy, I do think we have better players than 12 or so teams in the division which means we should have time to give Hunt a chance.

[Lower West]

The squad is better than 21st in the league.

Anybody can play fantasy football based on data. Real life is very different. Everybody else was able to do their transfer business earlier. Building a team from what's left. Was always going to require a degree of luck. No preseason to gel either.

[West F]

It’s stronger than 5 points from 21, 1 win in 7 and 21st in the league. I don’t give a shit about the playoffs. I never thought we’d be close to em. But we are genuinely in a relegation battle with a top half team. That’s on the manager. It also doesn’t help that we’ve been dog shit in every game we’ve played. Not only are we not getting the results, the performances are not there either.

I think that is the crux, we have a good team, a good squad but the results and football is generally dire. You have to lay that at the managers door. I'm of the view that he's following El Jeffe's plan and slugging out games with the same team and the same formation until eventually it comes good. As nice a guy as he is, I really don't rate Hunt. Ask yourself if he was sacked - who else would employ him as their manager?

I sincerely hope he isn't following Selles plan......Judging by Friday night Selles managerial career is over, finished, Kaput! Just 9 months and 2 jobs having left us.

It was a ridiculous job to take. Replacing a manager who got 90 points over the season. A ridiculous knee jerk sacking by Sheffield Utd, and one they are paying for. This is what happens when you sack a manager who still has the dressing room onside.

[Esteban]

The squad is better than 21st in the league.

Anybody can play fantasy football based on data. Real life is very different. Everybody else was able to do their transfer business earlier. Building a team from what's left. Was always going to require a degree of luck. No preseason to gel either.

Excuses, I'm afraid. He's had plenty of time to work with the players and there's very little improvement in key areas. Better managers would have won more points by now. Hunt should get more time, but he hasn't got long.

[Crowbar6753]

Orient is a must win game for Noel especially as its followed by Stockport away!! Our record against strong teams isn't good. There's already a points gap building just above us in 17th place, lose the next two and it's not looking great!
If we become stranded i really cannot see the owner's not pulling the trigger, which is a shame as Noel's a good bloke, however, football's a cut throat business.
Maybe a cheaper option is to revert Ledge back to the youth set up and get an experienced tactical coach in to work alongside Noel? Maybe even Brian McDermott for a short period of time.

[West F]

Orient is a must win game for Noel especially as its followed by Stockport away!! Our record against strong teams isn't good. There's already a points gap building just above us in 17th place, lose the next two and it's not looking great!
If we become stranded i really cannot see the owner's not pulling the trigger, which is a shame as Noel's a good bloke, however, football's a cut throat business.
Maybe a cheaper option is to revert Ledge back to the youth set up and get an experienced tactical coach in to work alongside Noel? Maybe even Brian McDermott for a short period of time.

It would be much harder for Brian to call him Gaffer than it was for Gibbo.

[Mr Angry]

At least we have begun to create more chances than a couple of weeks ago and in Marriott have someone who knows where the net is.

I think there are clear signs things are turning round and whilst I don't see us being a play off team, I really think we have it within us to be a top half team.

That having been said it is - as the cliche goes - a results industry and I agree that, rightly or wrongly, Noel is under pressure now.