I could obviously post this in the SACKED thread...but I hate seeing negative thread titles about managers (in capital letters!) so here goes

 

1. So we had a bad run in March...but we had a great run in February; when we were unbeaten, why doesn't that count?, if everytime a club has a bad run they sack the manager that would see a couple of changes every season (like Fulham this season in the EPL)
    
2. Managers have to be allowed to work things through sometimes, getting out of a hole is often more instructive to a manager than a run where nothing goes wrong....sadly this too often isn't allowed to happen (in the EPL especially, yet Norwich and West Ham probably will stay up because they didn't panic and sack the manager)
    
3. Many posters on here have said that Terry Butcher didn't have a plan B..... given that our entire striking option for the last two seasons has been Billy McKay, and the board haven't provided any alternative, and most SPFL clubs know what to expect. Hughes is trying something different, but getting this to work consistently wont happen overnight
    
4. The likes of Marley Watkins and Ryan Christie (and Williams to a lesser extent) are being given their chance under Hughes. In additional Aaron Doran seems to be thriving under Hughes stewardship
    
5. Under Hughes we will surely finish in the top six for a second year running, which I think is a massive achievement. He does seem to have be able to maintain the team spirit.
    
6. We got to the League Cup final, and in my opinion did very well against the club second in the country (in a great run of form), I think Hughes can take some credit for that
    
7. All our key players seem to be very keen to extend their contracts, Vincent in particular was a good result along with Draper...the players must have some faith in Yogi?
    
8. A couple of 0-5 reverses are disappointing, but don't discount the fact we were so close to a Cup Final (does strange things to the mindset of a player), the manager can't do too much if key players who have been playing well all season make a couple of mistakes...it's a long season for a small squad. The same can happen to more fancied teams (Like Arsenal in the EPL, 0-6, 3-6, and a 0-5)
    
9. We won yesterday so surely everything is alright again....but seriously; stability is a good thing for a club to have, and provided the club do something about getting a decent alternative/additional striker to McKay (preferrably one who is taller, and can also hold the ball up) then I think Hughes should be in charge for next season and we will see what he is capable of. We should only consider a change if there is evidence that 'all the wheels have fallen off the cart', and that Yogi has 'lost' the dressing room

There rests the case for the defence, M'lud

ICTRoughi....I can't comment on the Rangers game, but I felt we did pretty well in the Cup Final, first absorbing Aberdeen pressure, then nullifying their threat...for 20-25mins of the 2nd half we were in complete control, but couldn't get the goal, and blew ourselves out. I think we relied too much on Billy to get the goals. I think the team now would win that game...yes I know you have to take the chance when presented, maybe we weren't quite good enough, but there are several players who have come on a fair bit since that game.... helped I in my view by Yogi's stewardship

ICTRoughi....I can't comment on the Rangers game, but I felt we did pretty well in the Cup Final, first absorbing Aberdeen pressure, then nullifying their threat...for 20-25mins of the 2nd half we were in complete control, but couldn't get the goal, and blew ourselves out. I think we relied too much on Billy to get the goals. I think the team now would win that game...yes I know you have to take the chance when presented, maybe we weren't quite good enough, but there are several players who have come on a fair bit since that game.... helped I in my view by Yogi's stewardship

I was at the Rangers game and I felt that we gave Rangers too much respect and didn't press them high enough and then they got their lucky goal. If we were a bit more ruthless, we would have trounced them IMO.

The cup final, I think that's when Yogi was starting to implement the passing style of play and again at that time it was a new style that the players weren't adapted to yet and again we didn't press Aberdeen high enough meaning they could sit back and play for penalties which played into their advantage having 30K fans on their side. In my opinion we were definitely good enough to win the final but we didn't press them enough to win it.

All that being said, now I feel we are at a happy medium where the players have hammered home the style of play that the gaffer wants to play and in my opinion they have got the style of play sussed to a tee now. If we played the cup final tomorrow, I'm convinced we would walk out of Glasgow with silverware.

As they say, time is a great healer.

SP, you ask, "are you still not happy with the progress recently made since the change of management?"  I ask, what progress are you referring to?  As I said in my post, I am very encouraged by the improved performance at the start of this season compared with the end of last season - but since the change of management?

 

Since Yogi took over we have played 42 competitive games, winning 15, drawing 13 and losing 14.  In the year and a bit before Butcher left we played 58 competitive games winning 25, drawing 19 and losing 14.  Can you please explain how a significantly inferior record over a prolonged period represents progress?  These are the facts.  There is no point accusing me of being negative just because I base my comments on the facts.

 

If you read my posts you will see I am actually being very positive about the team.  I state "I am absolutely delighted that we are where we are".  I refer to our "wonderful squad" which I believe can "do something really special". And in talking about whether we can finish in the top 3 this season, I state "I firmly believe this squad is capable of doing so."  Just how much more positive can one get!

 

You also ask "when will you ever just come out and just say that J.H is doing a great job?"  The answer is simple.  When the results and performances on the park demonstrate that he is!  Yes, I know we are second in the league and that is great, but we are only just over a quarter through the season.  We have a great squad who should be able to stay close to the top throughout the season.  If we can achieve that then I will be absolutely delighted to say that Yogi has done a great job.  In truth, there is still some way to go before we can say the team has progressed under Yogi's management but he certainly has my full support and best wishes for the task ahead.

Very interesting* article here about a new manager taking over a club and trying to implement a new passing/moving style of play...

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/27/luis-suarez-brendan-rodgers-liverpool

I have been keen on Yogi since he arrived but I knew it would take time for his style of play to work. To focus on the poor start is wrong - remember Butcher's start - relegation. Remember the songs about Dennis Wyness - he had an awful start but would be seen as one of the best strikers ever to grace this club.

While we are only part way through the season I do not expect a dip in form or results - if Billy hits a scoring run I expect things to get better.

Roll on Saturday and the test of an away game at Parkhead - even if it goes wrong there we should just write that off and carry on.

Some of the football this season has been the best we've played in the Premier League and I don't see it changing in the near future.

I am hugely encouraged by his start this season.

 

I don't quite get how some are still trying to find negatives, the team with one of the lower budgets in the division sitting 2nd, the players appear to have bought into his style of play, chances are now being created for Billy and once he takes one he will start banging them in again.

 

Negatives? nah not for me I will just enjoy it.

The only negative I have about Yogi at the moment is his monotonous post/pre-match interviews. That sound exactly the same, each week haha. 

 

But aye, journalists, pundits and all sorts have claimed to admire our football this season, I'm not complaining.

The only negative I have about Yogi at the moment is his monotonous post/pre-match interviews. That sound exactly the same, each week haha. 

 

I actually thought his latest one, post Dundee Utd, was rather good.

Missed that. Did he, for once, speak in something other than cliches ?

Positive or Negative ?  --each to his own, I say.

 

Or, to put it in short form -- OCH!

Missed that. Did he, for once, speak in something other than cliches ?

The bit from 2:45 onwards rivals Al Pacino's 'Any Given Sunday' speech imo.

 

SP, you ask, "are you still not happy with the progress recently made since the change of management?"  I ask, what progress are you referring to?  As I said in my post, I am very encouraged by the improved performance at the start of this season compared with the end of last season - but since the change of management?

 

Since Yogi took over we have played 42 competitive games, winning 15, drawing 13 and losing 14.  In the year and a bit before Butcher left we played 58 competitive games winning 25, drawing 19 and losing 14.  Can you please explain how a significantly inferior record over a prolonged period represents progress?  These are the facts.  There is no point accusing me of being negative just because I base my comments on the facts.

 

If you read my posts you will see I am actually being very positive about the team.  I state "I am absolutely delighted that we are where we are".  I refer to our "wonderful squad" which I believe can "do something really special". And in talking about whether we can finish in the top 3 this season, I state "I firmly believe this squad is capable of doing so."  Just how much more positive can one get!

 

You also ask "when will you ever just come out and just say that J.H is doing a great job?"  The answer is simple.  When the results and performances on the park demonstrate that he is!  Yes, I know we are second in the league and that is great, but we are only just over a quarter through the season.  We have a great squad who should be able to stay close to the top throughout the season.  If we can achieve that then I will be absolutely delighted to say that Yogi has done a great job.  In truth, there is still some way to go before we can say the team has progressed under Yogi's management but he certainly has my full support and best wishes for the task ahead.

 

Dont get me wrong I can see what you are saying but you are suggesting that under hughes we have made no progress but I want to know what you expectations are. Last season was poor but the players had to adapt to a new approach and without a lot of time to impliment it with our backlog of games and s led to mistakes and we lacked a cutting edge. The debate there would be why change when he said he wouldn't but after a pre season to get to know it we have played pretty well in most games and won plenty of games. Just because his record doesnt have as many wins than under butcher what are expectations that can say we can do better. We wont win the league and may if we get lucky have a good go for 2nd so why is he still not hitting the heights. Your right in saying most fans would have vilified him if we had continued as last finished but it hasnt and i think most fans are happy to let last season go if we continue to do well. As for your comment on the derby yes it was a terrible first half but teams have bad games and lets be honest with the size of our squad it more likely than teams with bigger squads. Second half we battered then and played some terrific football but for some poor finishing and some rather annoying goalkeeping we would have battered them. 

John H had to overcome more than just the reluctance of players to buy into his methods, he had also the negativity and severe criticism to absorb, consider, reject and stick to his guns. It was his way or the highway which I think shows the mettle of the man. -Courage, tenacity  and belief. 

These are all valuable traits in a person. What I did not particularly care for with Mr. Butcher was a sense that he was insincere and a bit too angry on more than one occasion to be altogether believable. This seemed to  precede a revelation of unpredictability and a  bit of imbalance, perhaps, in his personality. For sure, the way he acted in the final analysis was so self-motivated and such an awful way to  treat both the club in general and the top Management as well revealed what he was all about.  

 

With John Hughes I get a strong feeling that what you see is what you get so you can predict with more confidence  what the actual goals are for him and how he will react in adversity. I shoirt I have confidence and trust in him. For me that means a great deal.

 

Missed that. Did he, for once, speak in something other than cliches ?

 

The bit from 2:45 onwards rivals Al Pacino's 'Any Given Sunday' speech imo.

 

 

Aye...It's a mighty fine aftermatch interview!

SP, you ask, "are you still not happy with the progress recently made since the change of management?"  I ask, what progress are you referring to?  As I said in my post, I am very encouraged by the improved performance at the start of this season compared with the end of last season - but since the change of management?

 

Since Yogi took over we have played 42 competitive games, winning 15, drawing 13 and losing 14.  In the year and a bit before Butcher left we played 58 competitive games winning 25, drawing 19 and losing 14.  Can you please explain how a significantly inferior record over a prolonged period represents progress?  These are the facts.  There is no point accusing me of being negative just because I base my comments on the facts.

 

If you read my posts you will see I am actually being very positive about the team.  I state "I am absolutely delighted that we are where we are".  I refer to our "wonderful squad" which I believe can "do something really special". And in talking about whether we can finish in the top 3 this season, I state "I firmly believe this squad is capable of doing so."  Just how much more positive can one get!

 

You also ask "when will you ever just come out and just say that J.H is doing a great job?"  The answer is simple.  When the results and performances on the park demonstrate that he is!  Yes, I know we are second in the league and that is great, but we are only just over a quarter through the season.  We have a great squad who should be able to stay close to the top throughout the season.  If we can achieve that then I will be absolutely delighted to say that Yogi has done a great job.  In truth, there is still some way to go before we can say the team has progressed under Yogi's management but he certainly has my full support and best wishes for the task ahead.

For  those facts to be a reflection of form Yogi has 16 games left to better Butchers results.

I am very impressed with how things are going just now, defence solid enough (going by match thread, even Celtic found it tough to breach at times), only problem is lack of goals but hopefully that will come.

All in all, this season has started well and long may that continue :-).

Next two games are MUST wins.

Next two games are MUST wins.

Utter nonsense. 

 

Next two games are MUST wins.

Utter nonsense. 

 

I agree with you there PumpFake i am to say we need to win the next two matches is stupid because if we don't then what is the worst that could honestly happen we are only 12 league matches into the season we still have another 26 MATCHES!!!! 

Hamilton's bubble will burst, Motherwell can't buy a win and we are unbeaten at home. How is it wrong to expect two wins from two.

Edited November 1, 201410 yr by ICTRoughi

Hamilton's bubble will burst, Motherwell can't buy a win and we are unbeaten at home. How is it wrong to expect two wins from two.

Because football is a magical sport which is why so many people love it, anything could happen. You cant expect a result cause i mean some people expected us to get destroyed by celtic today but we didn't, some expected us to go massively down hill after TB let us but we haven't.

Hamilton will be a tough one.

If Partick Thistle are our away bogey team, I'd have Hamilton Accies as our home bogey team!

Hamilton's bubble will burst, Motherwell can't buy a win and we are unbeaten at home. How is it wrong to expect two wins from two.

Because football is a magical sport which is why so many people love it, anything could happen. You cant expect a result cause i mean some people expected us to get destroyed by celtic today but we didn't, some expected us to go massively down hill after TB let us but we haven't.

If we have European aspirations, its vital to pick up 6 points in our next two games IMO.

We have the team to do it hence why I'm like IHE expecting us to do so.

Magical or not, top sides consistently beat teams like Hamilton and Motherwell. Hamilton are a good side but have lost 2 and drew 1 of their last 3. At home we should expect to win. Motherwell home or away on their current form we should expect to comfortably win

The Record commentator also said that our last away game against Motherwell ( I think he said ) was the  best football he had seen in ages and all that ICT needed was continued believe in themselves and a desire to attack.