Rob Edwards Sacked

Starting to feel that he's been conned into a 'project' that doesn't really exist. Unless we seriously strengthen our midfield he has no chance and shouldn't be judged too harshly. Only two signings so far have been punts upfront that have never played in England.

 

Quite. It can change of course in the next few weeks, but the project, as it stands, is manage the duds nobody wants until the self inflicted damage of their contract extensions run out. And then reset with a very small budget post parachute payments and with remaining significant debt (albeit offset by selling the few remaining assets next summer).

 

Not quite sure how’s been conned? After all, he was the one who said he thought he had a good squad to work with. Yes I know people will reply “oh he had to say that” but he didn’t. There are other ways of saying that you’re a little underwhelmed and hope you get incomings.

He’s a new coach for us and now working at a higher level, inheriting a side recently relegated with only six wins, and inheriting a squad containing a lot of dead wood. In addition, he’s getting us to play a new formation. Just chill. He’s no fool. He will have known what he was walking into, and he and his assistant have enough self-belief to think he can turn us around. He will believe he can coach better performances out of our squad.

It was never going to realistically happen by July 12 though.

Stay patient!

 

I’m pleased we have a coach who doesn’t look happy when we lose a friendly. That’s exactly the mentality we need.

He didn’t need to be told how good or bad we were. Football is played in public. He would have been able to realistically assess us over the last few weeks of last season once it was known he was coming. He attended a match too, which we lost badly.

Where he may be slightly naive is in believing he can improve all our squad through his coaching. But again I see that as a positive about him.

He won’t be fired after a few games. Not going to happen. We fans need to get out of that culture and attitude just as much as the powers that be do too.

 

The Gino Effect

 

Pretty much all of our squad is championship standard, the trouble is that few are "top 2 championship standard". If we are serious about promotion we need better players. If we are accepting that we are set for a longer term life in the champ then the current squad should be ok and the key will be cutting costs.

 

So far he's not been backed one little bit imo. Is it starting to sink in now that he has been bullshitted.

 

I think the outcome is pretty inevitable unfortunately, he’s going to have a remit of top two but assuming both Dennis & Sarr go he’s going to have a squad far weaker than the one that managed that last time, in a league that is now back on its feet again by comparison . He’s on a hiding to nothing if we don’t bring some decent players through the door. He’ll essentially have to be an incredible manager for it to work, when in reality he might actually be a very good manager, but that won’t be enough.

 

Kayembe was one of our best players vs Panathinaikos, and Edwards also singled him out for praise after the Bolton game yesterday.

 

That often seems to happen with managers soon after they take over another club though.

Eddie Howe seemed to age a few years in a month just after he took over Newcastle.

 

I happen to know for a fact that his biggest demands on joining, were that we backed him with a striker from Charleroi and a reserve forward from the Spanish 4th tier.

He also was clear that he wanted to get rid of Cucho and Zinc because of the rule of 11.

 

I hope and believe he might well be a good coach, but I fear that the Pozzos and Dux are using him to paper over their own ineptitude.

My summary of most of Duxberry's extended interview in the Wobby was 'yeah we mucked up and we keep mucking up, but we brought in a young British manager, so......'

The only thing that has changed in the whole set up is that instead of a 54 year old from the Oman Premier League, they've brought in a manager from the British league.

Transfer business and PR ******** remain exactly the same from what I can see, so they're hoping that Rob can weave some sort of silk purse out of the pig's anus they've given him.

If he does, that would be amazing, but also mean that he would be very entitled to feel that should Everton or West Ham, or Wolves or whoever come knocking, he could achieve more with their much less bonkers set ups.

 

Well, I suspect that various other coaches felt let down by the club hierarchy who promised them things and didn't deliver. Most obvious examples being Silva and Ivic. It's not exactly without precedent that we get a coach in and then don't meet their expectations and fail to give them the tools to succeed.

 

Ok so lets all be miserable and pessimistic then on July 13.

 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1546901417604124674
https://twitter.com/i/status/1547139468091686917

Here are the first two parts of the interview Edwards gave after the Bolton humiliation.

The good thing here is that he said we are looking to bring in new players.....which means more than one. So fingers crossed that means striker(s) to replace Sarr and/or Dennis if they go and a central midfielder.

 

The only way i'll know we've 'changed' as a club will be if we give Edwards a full season at the very least!

However, let's be honest, if we are mid-table after 8 games he will be gone......and repeat.

 

I think he'll still be here if we are mid table after 8. I think if we are bottom 6 he will be gone.

 

Haven't we sacked this ar5ehole yet?

 

You're not from these parts are you, stranger?

 

Lol at Bolton humiliation.

It was a behind closed doors friendly. In which we actually created several chances in the second half.

I really think the heat is getting to some people. Lord knows what things will be like at the weekend.

 

It all depends on the incoming players, and whether we keep Sarr/Dennis. If we have a similar team that started against Bolton, which isn't beyond the realms of possibility, then I think we're toast. That side will just not pick up points.

Edwards has to be given the squad that's capable of challenging at the top end. It's all very well SD and Giaretta saying we have a very talented squad, but we have to be honest. It's not up to much without that bit of stardust our top players provide. If these top players go, or are unavailable as in Louza's case, then Watford will struggle. We have to give RE the necessary quality to compete. For me, if we fail in the first few games, and Edwards has got a similar team as he has now (without Sarr and Dennis) then it's all on the club.

You can't say here......your strikers are Bayo and Manaj, your midfield is Cleverley, Gosling, TDB and Kayembe....now go and win the league. That just wont be fair. No coach/manager could fashion a competitive team if that's all he's got to work with.

But if we're on a low points total after 5 games, he'll be under massive pressure that's abundantly clear.

 

I’m saving my pessimism for T20 finals day on Saturday!

 

I think you need to look at some of your own posts from last week before making those observations on others.

 

All too likely, I fear...

 

A week is a long time in posting!

I was criticised for being over negative so I’m trying to be more cheerful.

Even if it is behind clenched teeth!

 

I'm shocked that a new head coach was promised a project and instead has to make do with the same bunch of OAPs and the finest selection from Bayat's bargain bucket.

 

Literally looks the same, if not older at the top.

I think you’re confusing the difference between a smile and a scowl as ageing.

 

If we are on a low points total for sure but as I said I expect him to still be here if we are mid table after 8.

 

It won't last.

 

Sticking my neck out here but I actually think he's here for the long run and the first 8 results won't define his future (unless we're absolutely useless and thumped in all the first 12 games).
GP knows things had to change, and RE knows he has to build his team based on shrewd spending, finding the existing players that he thinks will work for him, and patience while the club wait to find if we get a chunk of money for Sarr/Dennis.
It will be another "Ivic" start to the season and we might have a torrid first month. Of the season, but I'm up for the ride and RE is the right type to help take the club out of 3 years of general misery....
I think the real issue/outlook depends on whether GP totally expects promotion this year or not..?

 

By that same token I think some are overstating Rob appearing a bit concerned in his latest interviews as claiming it means he's already tired or in over his head.

 

Or that you shouldn't believe everything the club's board tell the press.