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The substitutions by Cook have been a source of amusement, at first, but over the past weeks a far more serious situation. He just has no idea. I believe he is
Seriously out of his depth.
When I read his interview yesterday on taking Powell and Jacobs off because of fatigue. But with all the injuries, are they over trained? At both Ipswich and Derby
we sat down just after 2pm and they were all running etc. That went on until 2.45. Both Ipswich and Derby did half that, Derby did 15 mins. Players do not have
Boundless energy. I believe that length of warming up is ridiculous.
As for replacements. Peter Reid works with the club but I note that the disgraceful sacking of Darren Moore he is available as is Graeme Jones!I do agree with an earlier comment COOK looks totally shattered. Give him gardening leave and let Joe take over till he is fit again.
Unless he’s pushed into changes like Derby at home. Cook’s substitutions seem to be driven more by ‘sports science’ rather than tactics or the immediate needs of the team.
Yesterday was a classic example. Powell and Massey where causing havoc. We didn’t need them for defensive responsibilities but where crucial to keep Reading on the back foot. Let them worry about conceding again, rather than pushing on for the equaliser, and ultimately, winner.
Same can be said for Ipswich at home. What a boost it would have been for the team and fans to have Powell and Massey starting. Try and get the job done in the first-half and then look to rest ‘em. Instead it was the usual cautious affair which backfired. Powell eventually coming on when Ipswich literally had nine men behind the ball. McManaman opened things up a little to give James space to operate in. Only to be discarded entirely from the squad since.
I’m trying my best not to say Cook has completely lost the plot. But results this coming week could be the final straw.
How does a manager stop players makkng mistakes? The only real option is to drop them. Are you suggesting we drop reece james when he makes a mistake or gives away a cheap free kick?Yesterday we had a line-up and formation with real quality and pace. They played their way to a pretty comfortable 1-2 lead and where pressing for a third. Cook switched it up with the negative Naismith and Clarke substitutions. Still 20 minutes to go so it was obvious we’d sit back and hope to hold on.
Individual mistakes and indiscipline crept in but it was all down to the change in approach. Rather than finishing off a ragged Reading side they got a second wind and the rest is history. This has happened time and again since the Millwall game in October.
It will continue to happen unless Cook changes or is replaced. Our best hope is Rotheram getting the worst points haul in Championship history for that last relegation spot.
Who do we bring in? That is my one concern if we do sack him.Rowett, Moyes, Allardyce, Jokanovic……depends how much cash you’re willing to throw at it. And if it’s a long-term thing or firefighting.
Cook looks a broken man. The players may scrape a win here and there. But I see no game plan or game management to give me much confidence.
He’s supposed to leave him on because everyone on social media says soA Reading player dislocated his shoulder. Pushed it back in, played on, and they got the win.
Stick Powell on the halfway line. All he needs to do is cause a nuisance and win free kicks. As for Massey, sure, he was tired. But he is our only pacy outlet. Naismith isn’t upto this level. Technically limited, regularly out of position, and panics in pressure situations.
If a change was needed. It was time to put on someone like, well, an FA Cup winner. A player who excels in pressure situations and would cause havoc against a shaky Reading defence.
Realistically I see us getting another four, maybe five, points. Optimistically seven.
At this time of year anything can happen. We’re hoping Rotherham don’t string some wins together.
We simply shouldn’t be in this position with the squad we have. Awful management.
How many points is that thrown away against bottom six teams?
We keep getting told about the quality and budget needed to compete in this division. Forget them. We need to focus on our direct rivals in the relegation mix. I for one think we have the best squad amongst that lot.
To see the points return we have against such teams points to the manager. I’d have been disappointed with 2pts this week. We come away with zero.
Time for Cook to go.
At the fans forum it was confirmed we made multiple seven figure bids in January. Not the sort of money the biggest clubs are spending. But decent money for us in our current financial position. It was also made clear multi-million bids for Grigg were turned down. It’s only when the bid reached £4m it was deemed too good to turn down. So, circumstances, and perhaps perceptions, could have been quite different.
At the AGM, and at recent fan consultations, it was also made clear there will be a number of quite significant infrastructure investments and fan initiatives.
Is it even worth writing up our thoughts? Feels like we’re only repeating ourselves.
Second half we just fell apart. Win would’ve been great, but I’d have taken a point. Went from looking in control, possibly extending our lead, to a lower division side holding on in a cup game.
Has anything changed since Milwall away in October? Even when a goal up it seems inevitable we’re going to lose. Game management is non-existent with so many points ******away. We now have a fully fit squad and I firmly believe in the players we have. Selections, tactics, man management, game management. All below par and costing us.
I really don’t know what we’ll do. Feels inevitable we’ll drop into the bottom three. Whether it’s this weekend or a few weeks down the line. The impression I get is Cook and the team still don’t really believe they’re in a relegation fight.
So would you prefer us to pick up points playing as we did yesterday, or lose games playing attacking football?It’s not one or the other is it.
After the Preston/Millwall disappointments we attempted to shut up shop away from home. It’s been the key reason we’ve dropped into a relegation battle. Now we’re playing with fear home & away.
I would always favour attacking football. Those occasional wins go a long way to pushing you up the league and breeding confidence. Brentford went through a very tricky spell and couldn’t win for love nor money. They kept playing expressive football, the goals flowed, and they’ve motored away from the danger zone. You could say the same about Blackburn. They’ve slipped up recently but already done enough to be safe.
Our football has seen the goals dry up but rarely do we keep clean sheets. Especially away from home. We need three mistake free performances just to pick up 3pts. As the pressure increases and other relegation rivals approach matches like cup ties. It only takes a two game turnaround for us to be looking up with a 3pt gap to close.
This week we have two crucial away fixtures, followed by Blackburn away. I’d like to think we can come away with 3-5 points and go into the Bolton home game with confidence. Slip up and we could be in real trouble.
Well you don’t get any points for pretty football
As the darkside used to tell us under martinez. Now its all about attractive football.[/quote]We have never played attractive football under Cook. We did play pacey, exciting, attacking football and where rewarded with a League 1 title and a storming start to this Championship season.
Since Cook made the dramatic shift to negative, long-ball, football. We’ve been rewarded with the second worst form in the division and the worst away from in the country. We always pointed to injuries, but with a fully fit squad, our style hasn’t changed. Neither has, largely, the personnel he selects.
With a 3pt gap to the relegation places we will need to see a significant upturn in away form. Little suggests we can rely entirely on our home form, likewise, those ‘6 pointers’ haven’t been going our way.
I’d give Cook 6/10 for the season so far.
Unless we show unexpected form against the top teams, against our direct rivals, and improve our away form. I could well see the others closing in. Right now it’s 50/50 whether we stay up.
Since key players returned from injuriy I’ve yet to see any improvement in performances.
For all the good Whelan did. The commercial department and marketing of the club never really progressed beyond lower league level. Outside of TV income and JJB/DW sponsorship, other forms of commercial income, have been pretty much non-existent. Even when in the Premier League.
For some time we’ve needed someone to come in and operate us as a business. Look at the club from top bottom and maximise our profile and facilities.
This window is a kick in the teeth. But I will always be there.We need a result against QPR…….just as we’ve needed results for however many months.
But I am seriously scratching my head at some of the reactions to this transfer window. For me, it’s been nothing but positive. In every key area of the pitch we’ve improved with experienced, proven Championship quality, and one of the brightest prospects in the PL. We’ve also moved on players who have never done it at this level.
Honestly, what have people been watching this season. Can they not see where we’ve been lacking. Can they not see how certain players have struggled with the step up in quality. Thank goodness the club and manager saw sense to shake things up rather than sleepwalk to another relegation.
It’s all about the feel good factor, and the lift he’ll give Sunderland now is priceless, well look at us, we’ve had the shit kicked out of us the fans (and even the players by all accounts are feeling it), well done IEC.What’s kicked the shit out of this club is being relegated to League 1 twice in three seasons. Even if you come back up you always lose fans, sponsorship income and profile along the way. Previous recruitment has relied far too heavily on prospects we hope can step up and keeping hold of players for sentimental reasons. This team was lacking experience and character.
There’ll be plenty of opportunities to bring through our own young players and pick up prospects elsewhere. But first we need to stabilise and establish ourselves in this division.
He would have given his all for us and I doubt he’d cause trouble.
But there comes a point when the club needs to look at the player as an asset when their contract is winding down. The manager also made it clear Grigg wasn’t first, or second, choice. And the player himself will eye up one last big move.
This transfer and fee suited all parties.