|
|
Post by rosssgb on Mar 8, 2019 20:56:02 GMT
I think you're being very harsh. He managed back to back promotions and with largely the same squad then achieved back to back mid table finishes in League One. He clearly made mistakes this season but a lack of resource and losing his best players in a succession of transfer windows killed any hope of kicking on. Out of of interest did you blame DC for our relegation to the conference rather than John Ward? Anyone that does is again being unfair - can't have it both ways, I.e blamed for taking an already relegation threatened side down but then also getting the blame for another relegation several years down the line when having been relieved of his duties six months before the end of the season. I agree. When we had our two mid table league 1 finishes most of us acknowledged there was still a big chasm to the top of the table sides and that we had overachieved. Factor in the loss of major players for us (Snake, Bodin, Ellis, Brown) then it’s hardly much of a surprise that we have struggled. The fact is that if we stay up this year we will probably struggle again next year unless anything major changes. Totally agree with this, but still doesn’t mean you can’t criticise him. |
|
|
|
Post by stuartcampbell on Mar 8, 2019 23:53:20 GMT
For me you can't expect a manager to be able to sell their 4 top goalscorers at the club and replace every single one of them to equal effect and also expect him to improve other aspects of the pitch. DC did his best in terms of recruitment, it's not his fault that players like Reilly, Nichols, James and Payne who all had histories of goalscoring consistently missed chances. I know we criticise him for signing Payne, but the reality is at the time we thought 200k was an absolute steal for Shrewsbury's top goalscorer last season.
In fact almost all of DC's signings on paper were good; Craig, Bennett, Upson. I just think DC had favourites, from what I remember last season he claimed Nichols wasn't performing because he wasn't being played as a sole ST, and he also said if he didn't start scoring soon he'd be dropped, which didn't happen. Our main weakness when we went up was our defence by far, and that wasn't helped by signing a CB who could score but couldn't defend in Hartley. But I think long term had he kept Taylor, Bodin and Harrison, I think we'd be promotion candidates, so realistically is it his fault? I don't think so.
Keep in mind too that DC is still only 41 and his poor season at Rovers will be one of his most valuable managerial lessons and experiences. I think he could easily be a Championship manager in the future, he just needs a club that will back him and give him time.
|
|
socrates
Proper Gas
Posts: 12,783 
Member is Online
|
Post by socrates on Mar 9, 2019 0:48:41 GMT
For me you can't expect a manager to be able to sell their 4 top goalscorers at the club and replace every single one of them to equal effect and also expect him to improve other aspects of the pitch. DC did his best in terms of recruitment, it's not his fault that players like Reilly, Nichols, James and Payne who all had histories of goalscoring consistently missed chances. I know we criticise him for signing Payne, but the reality is at the time we thought 200k was an absolute steal for Shrewsbury's top goalscorer last season. In fact almost all of DC's signings on paper were good; Craig, Bennett, Upson. I just think DC had favourites, from what I remember last season he claimed Nichols wasn't performing because he wasn't being played as a sole ST, and he also said if he didn't start scoring soon he'd be dropped, which didn't happen. Our main weakness when we went up was our defence by far, and that wasn't helped by signing a CB who could score but couldn't defend in Hartley. But I think long term had he kept Taylor, Bodin and Harrison, I think we'd be promotion candidates, so realistically is it his fault? I don't think so. Keep in mind too that DC is still only 41 and his poor season at Rovers will be one of his most valuable managerial lessons and experiences. I think he could easily be a Championship manager in the future, he just needs a club that will back him and give him time. Spot on. We’ve always had little runs of a couple of seasons where we’ve done well won promotions followed by losing those good players, got relegated, and then waiting for another time where we get it right on a shoestring. DC had four good seasons despite consistently losing his best players. He’s a good manager but not a miracle worker. |
|
