Grant mccann...

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

[Lesonthewest]

I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Exactly this, he's tried to coach them into being better players in League 1  but it hasn't worked. The players are simply not good enough. More importantly than anything else, we need a far better recruitment team. Terry needs to be ruthless with this, if not, we go down.

[DD]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

[Pintolager]

I have always backed McCann an accepted that he will make mistakes, but maybe I have been looking through rose tinted specs too much lately. Today was awful and we can point fingers at players, but ultimately the book stops with GM. We are too lightweight, too slow and lack composure at times. I don't want him gone yet, but at what point does the club say enough is enough? January is going to be crucial now to save the season the way things are.

As for Sharp becoming the new boss if GM went, I don't think would happen, he would more likely take a coaching role at Sheffield United.

[Ryaldinhio]

I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Exactly this. For me GM is doing the best he can with what he has been given. We had a poor transfer window.

Keeper, people say a downgrade on TSL
Defence, not as good as last yr IMO
Midfield, same but were being called out in L2
Up front, not as good as how we finished L2.

Bear in mind we didn't exactly set the league 2 alight last year.

Im not convinced this squad would have made playoffs in L2 last season and Im not sure anyone can convince me that isnt down to budget.

[mushRTID]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

[GazLaz]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

The manager is responsible.

[Chris Black come back]

People suggesting Sharp as player manager have surely been on the Christmas ales. Surely.

[Ryaldinhio]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

[Herbert Anchovy]

I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Absolutely this.

[mushRTID]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.

[Ryaldinhio]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.

I agree, but this is driven by budget. We have one of the richest owners in the EFL but we were spending more money on signings to improve the team 20yrs ago.

[Herbert Anchovy]

Certain posters were wetting themselves with glee during the Summer at some of our signings. If you can be arsed go take a look, it’s not too difficult to find the posts on here. There was even talk of promotion in the air. Now we’re struggling SOME of those same posters are calling them everything from a pig to post and GM should be sacked for getting them on board. Shows what we know about football management and recruitment doesn’t it?

(By the way, if you’re going to use multiple monikers when posting on here you need to post/write in a different style too or it just makes you look odd)

Today we were shit, and have been for a while, but GM has earned the right to have longer than to Christmas to put things right. Panic sacking is just modern football, reactionary bollox. He deserves time to stop the rot.

How does the song go….I’m Rovers till we play shit?

[scawsby steve]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.

I agree, but this is driven by budget. We have one of the richest owners in the EFL but we were spending more money on signings to improve the team 20yrs ago.

We don't have one of the richest owners in the EFL. Many clubs are owned by billionaires.

[RobTheRover]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

[mushRTID]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The problem is we haven’t strengthened the team enough. So every couple of fixtures is looking tough!

[Chris Black come back]

They haven't worked out yet obviously, but Gotts was one of the better players in League Two last season, Middleton has been performing at a good standard in the Scottish top tier which is equivalent of League One, Pearson played 39 times in Championship season before last and 29 times in League One last season and Hanlan has played his last 250 league appearances in League One. These are players who can or accurately should be able to easily compete at League One level.

[BillyStubbsTears]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

Thing is, we had Heffernan to put in the team that season. Part of our underperformance was self inflicted.

We ain't got that get out this year.

[In the box]

They haven't worked out yet obviously, but Gotts was one of the better players in League Two last season, Middleton has been performing at a good standard in the Scottish top tier which is equivalent of League One, Pearson played 39 times in Championship season before last and 29 times in League One last season and Hanlan has played his last 250 league appearances in League One. These are players who can or accurately should be able to easily compete at League One level.

On paper Gotts ,Middleton, Hanlan were seen as positive signings and Pearson who is just wanting to per-long his career as he can still compete in L1 . But ask yourself what is happening with them now , is it them as players or is our manager who’s just not getting them to improve or even play to expectations.

[Bentley Bullet]

Cant wait to hear is after game prognosis

Diagnosis.

Autopsy.

[ForsolongaRover]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.

[Herbert Anchovy]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.

But I can absolutely guarantee you that nobody was saying “don’t worry lads & lasses, we have a strong squad so we’ll be fine” at Christmas of that particular season. There was panic, calls for sackings and criticism of the board and players just as there is now.

[RobTheRover]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

Thing is, we had Heffernan to put in the team that season. Part of our underperformance was self inflicted.

We ain't got that get out this year.

Yeah, I know.  But only as recently as last week most were saying we've not played that badly and given time the results will come.

I get that today was a massive disappointment in a game most would look at as vital we get something from, but which is it?   Sack the manager or performances are better than the results we've had?  If it's the latter then it's a fine tune, if it's the former then it's wholesale change.

[Chris Black come back]

For all people criticising McCann now, he was wiping floor with all comers in this league for most of opening 10 games. He has managed to get a very good tune out of this squad, this season. He clearly isn't now but it can be done.

[Pancho Regan]

Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.

Are we to start every season in January ?

I'd much rather we didn't but he has more credit in the bank than 3months for me.

Agree with you 100% Ryaldinhio.

A voice of reason in a maelstrom of shit.

Very short memories some people have.
I’m hurting badly tonight but I will not give up on this manager.

[Lesonthewest]

Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

I was under the impression it was Lee Glover.

[knockers]

All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.

[ForsolongaRover]

The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.

But I can absolutely guarantee you that nobody was saying “don’t worry lads & lasses, we have a strong squad so we’ll be fine” at Christmas of that particular season. There was panic, calls for sackings and criticism of the board and players just as there is now.

I don’t suppose your contention or mine can be proved beyond doubt, but I would say that SOD had spent a lot longer than McCann in building a squad, a style of play and a reputation. And although there were detractors, his base and the style were consistent and it was clear that the team were not outclassed and in some ways superior and more attractive in their style of play. There were no glaring shortcomings and good grounds for believing that there was enough quality to succeed in the longer term.

particularly because of the “tippy-tippy” close control Based on that he carried a greater  It is not easily “performances” and there was a system, a style of play, a mutual understanding that (if not fully ) could be seen to be emerging

[grayx]

All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.

Spot on.
I’d make him manage his budget in Jan by trimming his squad & spending it better.

[Ryaldinhio]

All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.

Spot on.
I’d make him manage his budget in Jan by trimming his squad & spending it better.

All of these are Grants, I agree with that.

But what if we have second lowest budget.

ANY other business would expect therefore to be second bottom without luck, be that in results or finding a diamond.

IMO opinion we have a really low budget for this league and as I said at game week 1 I'd take 20th.