“we didn’t have a load of young players being schooled and progressing”, did we expect to have by the end of October for **** sake? Finding 11 players to put a team together was hard enough. We were always going to be playing for survival.
This argument is based purely on the fact that you think Nigel should have been sacked and I disagree.
I think people massively underestimated the size of the task, Nigel was a scapegoat and he should have been given more time and support. To lose his services all together was the largest error.
I am starting to seriously hope that Pritch is not appointed manager, irrespective of his 700+ games, 14 seasons, and unrivaled loyalty, if he failed to get a good start in the managers job he could be ‘shown the door’ by the end of October never to be seen again.
I really cant agree with the Nige as a scapegoat argument. He did a bad job, it’s as simple as that. He past record as a manager always suggested that that would be the case, but he was given the job on the understanding that much of the squad from the previous season would stay - obviously that didnt happen.
Yes he had to put a squad together at short notice, but as did Gary in the summer. Gary also had to do this in mid season after taking over from Nige. The squad that Gary put together in November/December was a much better squad that Nige had put together in the summer.
The players that Nige recruited as the season progressed were terrible. Linton, Wiggin-Thomas, a few dodgy defenders (i’m sure Drew has a full list…). So yes his task in the summer was massive, but things got worse rather than better. There was no evidence that things would ever improve.
When you lose so many games on the spin, you at least look for ways to turn defeats into draws - even if that means grinding out nil nils at home. Nige didn’t look like doing that. We lost to a poor Cammell Lairds team at home, when a draw would have helped massively.
I understand that Nige had realised he needed a stronger assistant and had decided to make the change. Well to be honest that says all we need to know about Nige as a manager. He KNEW he needed to make changes and was GOING TO do it. A good manager makes the change and then talks about it afrerwards, not the other way around. The fact that Nige had discussed it with you Rabbit shows that he was deliberating over rather than trusting his own judgement. If a manger doesnt have conviction in his own decisions then his time is up.
Steve McClaren has just won the Dutch title, does that mean he should have been given longer as England coach?
Reading sacked their manager earlier in the season, and a lot of fans said it was done too soon. They weren’t saying that when they beat Liverpool at Anfield or finished 9th in the league under their new manager though.
Can’t believe this post but agree with Robbo!! Nige is a great lad and a great Wittoner. As a manager I think its fair to say that he’s a non starter. I think we needed to hang on to Nige and appoint a manager he would have been happy working alongside. Saying that we can’t go back now and if Nige were to come back he’d be ideal in getting in youngsters and bringing them through. We need a fresh start with a manager new to Witton. I see Steve Waywell is available having resigned at Chorley. Here is some one experienced who has managed successfully in the past on a shoestring. These are the kind of people we want. We’ve missed out on Darren Tinson as he’s just been appointed joint manager at Nantwich. Also Steve Payne, ex Macclefield, experienced Centre Half has just retired at Halifax he might be someone to consider!!
Just suggestions Gents so don’t take this as gospel just alerting all who look at this website to the possibilities!!