02 Nov 2020 19:20:48
Mark I was reading your post lower down about leadership.
One thing I will say, is that Jack is no leader, and it becomes very evident when we are losing.
In my opinion he was given the job because of his ties and standing at the club, and that does not qualify you as a leader.
To be honest, looking at our squad I honestly don`t think we have a leader.
I think if fit maybe Heaton would be better, but the question has to be asked is he a better keeper than Martinez.
On top of that, McGinn has not got anywhere near his form since injury, some players can only perform in a winning side, and I think McGinn might be one of them, he was very poor again yesterday.
02 Nov 2020 20:04:14
Hi Dave, we have talked about this many times.
No pitch leader.
No motivator.
No Roy Keane.
There is no one that the players can turn to in times of trouble.
I think that the Lpool win was excellent but not helpful. Some players thought we had got there and would stay there.
Some players think they have done enough and Deano is not a disciplinarian that will bollack the slackers.
Boring I know but we still need the hard man at the back to guide players. Mings is not the answer. He is Mr nice guy.
Every team needs a general, an arse kicker, not against the opposition but to cajole our players.
Come January £30/ 40m on a leader could, should, be first on the list.
Lots of chat about wingers, midfield and strikers but nothing about our soft centre. that's our weak spot. Lots of creams but no nut crunch.
Perhaps as a back row man I am biased but nothing is built from the top down. It has to come from the back, the bottom.
02 Nov 2020 20:12:38
Dave I agree re Jack not being a natural leader and I think the squad as a whole are bereft of them I must confess to liking my captains to come from the back as they can see what’s at play across the pitch so whilst on one level I like the suggestion re Heaton I don’t think as a keeper he would get in above Martinez So that being the case my only other suggestion which is likely to get me slated is Mings he is a talker and despite what others say in my opinion he has a presence which I don’t think Jack has failing that I don’t see other options. than leaving Jack in situ. Re McGinn I know at the moment he is blowing hot and cold but I think we should keep faith with him he will come good imo.
02 Nov 2020 20:45:28
Mings talks the talk but, alas, doesn't always walk the walk. Jack is more the inspirational captain with what he does on the pitch but we don't need someone who's nice but someone who their own players are scared s######s of. Imagine the Mile Jedinak stare against the baggies and picture that look coming your way if you weren't performing? Sadly I don't see anyone of that ilk within our ranks nor do I see fire and brimstone coming from the dugout. I'm not suggesting Deano prowls the touchline like a rabid rottweiler looking to bite someone's nuts off but a bit of an ear bending wouldn't go amiss.
02 Nov 2020 21:24:28
Hi Oldvillan and John.
Oldvillan you know I agree with you, as you say we have been here before, so we have to keep banging the drum mate, niceties are getting in the way on this one mate.
John, I have to say mate, I agree with Oldvillan, I don`t think Mings is the answer, and as I see it we have no leader.
Come January it should be a priority, either a mouth or a size 15.
I also think Mcginn needs to be reminded he is not a fixture in the team.
02 Nov 2020 21:37:46
Moose, your mention of no bite in midfield is a factor in all of this mate, I thought McGinn was going to be our Billy Bremner, how wrong was I.
Bite in midfield will always compliment a no nonsense C/ B, Look at your Nobby Stiles, Billy Bremner, its a no brainer and needs sorting ASAP, old habits are never far away.
02 Nov 2020 21:54:02
So if it’s not anyone in the current squad who are we suggesting we should bring in to fill the role?
02 Nov 2020 21:58:23
Dave I actually think we're too nice as a team and that goes for the manager too. We need to be a bit more streetwise, tactical fouls, standing on the ball to stop free kicks, jostling for position in the box etc. What we actually get when we're under the cosh is dangling a leg, jogging back and a half ass attempts to win the ball.
02 Nov 2020 22:02:56
By all accounts Deano has given plenty of hair dryers and is more than capable of giving a bollocking when necessary. The players and staff themselves have said it on multiple occasions.
We need a leader desperately, Grealish got the captaincy to inspire something when we were desperate, ultimately it worked, whenever the players are asked where the promotion and the winning run came from, it always starts with something along the lines of “well jack coming back was a big helpâ€. But now we need a change, he’s found a way to perform under the pressure of being our main man, being captain aswell is just unnecessary.
Ideally I agree, you want someone further back, or centre mid at most imo. When you look the only obvious candidate is Mings, but as some have said here, there are doubts over him. But maybe the captaincy will bring something out of him, surely it’s worth a shot. Would be a bit of a media storm if not handled correctly though, headlines would all be about Jack being stripped and what not.
Shame Hourihane isn’t a permanent fixture anymore, he captained Barnsley to promotion, really good attitude and student of the game, doing his badges at the minute.
02 Nov 2020 22:24:26
Dave, I would like to see us play 3 at the back, with Mings and Konsa flanking a new inspirational defender in the middle of the 3, I think we need somebody with ability to read the game and organize us defensively. This would allow Cash and Targett to do what I think would suit their abilities, to be attacking wing backs.
Who that central defender should be, I’m not sure on that one yet.
As far as the midfield is concerned, I think playing both Luiz and Nakamba as DM’s at the expense of McGinn might work better. This would give Luiz a bit of freedom to push forward from time to time, which he clearly likes to do. Nakamba does have his deficiencies but he would give us that bite we seem to be lacking.
02 Nov 2020 23:08:05
Good shout Mark, I would be up for that mate.
03 Nov 2020 11:51:41
IMO a captain doesn’t have to be all about handing out rollickings. especially in the current game. Maybe 10-20 years ago was more important to have an enforcer in that roll? But now days I think the captain needs to be an inspirational figure, one when the chips are down everyone turns to and who is able to step up and handle that pressure. taking pressure off others. no one is better then jack at this, so imo we-already have the perfect candidate for skipper in today’s modern game.
03 Nov 2020 13:37:02
All I have seen Jack do when the chips are down, is throw a strop, kick the air, and eff and blind at the ref, captains should not behave like that, modern game or not.
Very good player yes, but captain is a big No from me mate.