| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 15:14 - Sep 9 with 3230 views | 49thseason | Its good comms to get a pre-emptive strike in regarding their views on the current situation ahead of tomorrow. I would have expected little else, but well done them for making their position clear. They have a long term plan and like any route on a map, sometimes whats underfoot does not always align with what you thought it would be and you just have to concentrate on getting one foot in front of the other until you arrive at a downhill section... It looks like we will have to battle on until Watson is able to pick his best team. As an aside, the Ogden Family's Computacenter investments produced stellar 1st half results yesterday, so their mood should be very positive....( and the share price is up 119.55% in the last 12 months https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/CCC/ |  | |  |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 15:22 - Sep 9 with 3194 views | Trev | Fair enough, a professional statement and their position is clear. Still, lose our next two games and the calls for his head will get much louder and their stance will really be pushed. |  | |  |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 16:44 - Sep 9 with 2913 views | tony_roch975 | Just play the first 27.5 mins. of Episode 102 of the Podcast at the Forum and ask for Watson's and the Board's response. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:17 - Sep 9 with 2758 views | 442Dale | Whilst appreciating the communication and transparency, it also leads to more questions. The biggest being at what point does “Ultimately, football is a results business” reach a stage where a decision is made? Losing on Saturday? A defeat and then a loss to Oldham? Win one and lose five? Not sure the panel at the forum is right either, hopefully those present won’t just use a “well, you’ll have seen the statement” approach to more involved questions. The one person I have a lot of sympathy for remains Watson himself, especially considering all the factors that have been acknowledged (yet already known) in the statement. The way he’s handled things has been a credit to him. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:27 - Sep 9 with 2693 views | D_Alien |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:17 - Sep 9 by 442Dale | Whilst appreciating the communication and transparency, it also leads to more questions. The biggest being at what point does “Ultimately, football is a results business” reach a stage where a decision is made? Losing on Saturday? A defeat and then a loss to Oldham? Win one and lose five? Not sure the panel at the forum is right either, hopefully those present won’t just use a “well, you’ll have seen the statement” approach to more involved questions. The one person I have a lot of sympathy for remains Watson himself, especially considering all the factors that have been acknowledged (yet already known) in the statement. The way he’s handled things has been a credit to him. |
I agree. There's stoicism and resilience in his character, whatever other qualities people might ascribe to him, or doubt in him I hope no-one mentions the dreaded "vote of confidence" tomorrow evening |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:35 - Sep 9 with 2646 views | 442Dale |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:27 - Sep 9 by D_Alien | I agree. There's stoicism and resilience in his character, whatever other qualities people might ascribe to him, or doubt in him I hope no-one mentions the dreaded "vote of confidence" tomorrow evening |
Unfortunately by making the statement, the club have given supporters the chance to explore what’s been said and ask if it’s that. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:00 - Sep 9 with 2569 views | D_Alien |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 17:35 - Sep 9 by 442Dale | Unfortunately by making the statement, the club have given supporters the chance to explore what’s been said and ask if it’s that. |
True The statement also goes some way to answering the question i intended to pose (unless someone got there ahead of me) about the recruitment process. It indicates it was thorough and included references from (presumably*) trusted authorites in football. That's what caught my eye in the statement * anyone want to jump on my presumptions/assumptions? Feel free... [Post edited 9 Sep 18:04]
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:04 - Sep 9 with 2542 views | Edindale | My interpretation of the statement is that it is a 'vote of confidence' in IW. The board have an agreed position which will respond to 90% of potentially awkward questions or allow them to curtail debate on difficult matters. The Forum could probably not have gone ahead in other circumstances. It is really unfortunate that IW is in this position as it is largely undeserved in my view. Every manager makes mistakes but his have been magnified by rotten luck in respect of injuries and consequent selection problems. I hope he turns it around and we get 2-3 points in the next two games otherwise the decision will become a formality. On the basis of recent performances unfortunately I don't see how he will do it against two useful sides. Hopefully he gets the support in the interim from the club and players to restore some confidence. |  | |  | Login to get fewer ads
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:18 - Sep 9 with 2463 views | James1980 | Look what happened last time the board caved to the toxic atmosphere with regards to the manager. I know this board is not the same as the one that sacked Stockdale and employed Bentley but those that were on it might be wary taking such action again. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:25 - Sep 9 with 2427 views | 442Dale |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:18 - Sep 9 by James1980 | Look what happened last time the board caved to the toxic atmosphere with regards to the manager. I know this board is not the same as the one that sacked Stockdale and employed Bentley but those that were on it might be wary taking such action again. |
I’m not so sure the atmosphere was that toxic then and Stockdale had been there a year already. An awful start to the season compounded the situation. The Bentley appointment reflected the poor decision making at the time. There was a lot of it. It’s not about “caving”. A decision may or may not need to be made if there is no upturn in form. Results business. People can be respectful within that. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:33 - Sep 9 with 2400 views | nordenblue |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:18 - Sep 9 by James1980 | Look what happened last time the board caved to the toxic atmosphere with regards to the manager. I know this board is not the same as the one that sacked Stockdale and employed Bentley but those that were on it might be wary taking such action again. |
Its not really a 'toxic atmosphere' its very much justified as a direct result of piss poor performances and even worse results coupled with confusing management. When does 'bad luck with injuries become an excuse rather than a reason, the reality is the players at his disposal have in the main been brought in by the manager and the others already here are easily good enough to be at worst competitive at this level, the fact is lose another 4/5 games and the axe will fall regardless of what has/hasnt happened previously 👍 |  | |  |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:56 - Sep 9 with 2298 views | James1980 |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:25 - Sep 9 by 442Dale | I’m not so sure the atmosphere was that toxic then and Stockdale had been there a year already. An awful start to the season compounded the situation. The Bentley appointment reflected the poor decision making at the time. There was a lot of it. It’s not about “caving”. A decision may or may not need to be made if there is no upturn in form. Results business. People can be respectful within that. |
I thought Simon cited toxicity whether it was happening or at risk of happening as one of the reasons for sacking RS. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 19:06 - Sep 9 with 2248 views | 442Dale |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:56 - Sep 9 by James1980 | I thought Simon cited toxicity whether it was happening or at risk of happening as one of the reasons for sacking RS. |
I can’t remember but the situation was looking poor after such a bad start following on from progress stalling in the second half of the previous season. As said, the decision making, especially on the football side was very poor throughout 2022. Putting the manager aside, there has to be a commitment from the board to illustrate we’ve made progress in how the club manage everything around what happens on the pitch. With every passing day McNulty looks more like Hill than even Hill did. That a manager is that important reflects on everything else. That has to be acknowledged. |  |
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 19:20 - Sep 9 with 2196 views | D_Alien |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 19:06 - Sep 9 by 442Dale | I can’t remember but the situation was looking poor after such a bad start following on from progress stalling in the second half of the previous season. As said, the decision making, especially on the football side was very poor throughout 2022. Putting the manager aside, there has to be a commitment from the board to illustrate we’ve made progress in how the club manage everything around what happens on the pitch. With every passing day McNulty looks more like Hill than even Hill did. That a manager is that important reflects on everything else. That has to be acknowledged. |
In terms of success, possibly... but Hill and NcNulty are poles apart in their approach to the game Just thinking back to Hill's first few months, starting from hitting rock bottom of the league and finishing half way... the style of football (who can forget the 7-2 at Stockport?) puts Hill into a different class I appreciate you might've meant something different [Post edited 9 Sep 19:21]
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 19:42 - Sep 9 with 2089 views | 442Dale |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 19:20 - Sep 9 by D_Alien | In terms of success, possibly... but Hill and NcNulty are poles apart in their approach to the game Just thinking back to Hill's first few months, starting from hitting rock bottom of the league and finishing half way... the style of football (who can forget the 7-2 at Stockport?) puts Hill into a different class I appreciate you might've meant something different [Post edited 9 Sep 19:21]
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Yeah. It was how they both recognised what the football club was about, had a clear plan, which created a structure others had to buy into. Resilient, strong characters who made decisions which, while some may not have agreed with, always made sense. Instilling a different mentality into the whole club. One based on being winners. Their football was different, the game itself was different in the two eras as well. Both recognised that and made sure everyone knew the best way to get success. Hill’s change to a more methodical approach in League 1 during his first spell was a great example of this. The culture he’d created made sure that everyone immediately accepted it and bought into the shift. Unfortunately when he left, that culture immediately disappeared which gave a good indication of how he led it with clear structures. [Post edited 9 Sep 19:48]
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| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 22:23 - Sep 9 with 1691 views | Trev |
| Ahead of the Forum.." A message from the Board". on 18:18 - Sep 9 by James1980 | Look what happened last time the board caved to the toxic atmosphere with regards to the manager. I know this board is not the same as the one that sacked Stockdale and employed Bentley but those that were on it might be wary taking such action again. |
I'm not sure your cautionary tale is a true reflection of events. Stockdale should have been sacked at the end of the previous season and a decent manager brought in. Instead he was backed heavily and then sacked too early in the next season leaving us in a mess and having to resort to JB. |  | |  |
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