We would have been better off with Robins (18 Viewers)

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Ironically it was the tougher games we used to well with MR in charge for. Our issues were against teams like Derby at home.

100% agree, always wound me up that we played so much better on the counter without the ball but we always tried a possession based tactic

 

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[Chris1987]

And whose decision was that, Mark Robins or Doug King ?

It was Robins who dropped him and wasn't going to play him . At that point unless he moved to a coaching position that was it . Can't think of any club that would retain someone in those circumstances.

 

[clint van damme]

Not sure that this is the case Clint. I sense that he is a pretty divisive character which a roughly equal split in either camp.
I'm maybe the exception - jury out until there is enough evidence to side either way.

There are posters on this forum who won't hear a word against him. They may be a minority, but I still find it strange.
I try to judge him on each action, it's just at the moment he seems to piss me off with pretty much everything he does!
I'm still glad he's here instead of sisu though.

 

[Chris1987]

There are posters on this forum who won't hear a word against him. They may be a minority, but I still find it strange.
I try to judge him on each action, it's just at the moment he seems to piss me off with pretty much everything he does!
I'm still glad he's here instead of sisu though.

It is a step up ! I can understand that he has done some things to piss people off but I am prepared to give it time as there are also some things which appear to be positive steps forward. What he does in the next 18 months will determine my opinion either way.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

It was Robins who dropped him and wasn't going to play him . At that point unless he moved to a coaching position that was it . Can't think of any club that would retain someone in those circumstances.

Agree not giving McFadzean a coaching role was the a bad decision.

 

[Chris1987]

Agree not giving McFadzean a coaching role was the a bad decision.

He couldn't be any worse than bloody Aled that's for sure

 

[Sick Boy]

I think it was as soon as King took over. How common is it for owners to change and the manager not?

If that was the case, why did he wait a total of nearly two seasons?

 

[Sick Boy]

I think King had made the decision long before he pulled the trigger. He owns the club so that's his right, well see if it was the coŕrect thing to do

I think he likely decided earlier this season when things weren’t going to plan. If we’d been knocking on the door of the play-off, Robins would still be here.

 

[bigfatronssba]

These players clearly aren’t good enough.

These players are Robins’ signings

 

[clint van damme]

I think he likely decided earlier this season when things weren’t going to plan. If we’d been knocking on the door of the play-off, Robins would still be here.

In that case he probably wouldn't have been able to but I'm convinced he was waiting for an excuse and the Derby performance gave it to him.

 

[clint van damme]

These players clearly aren’t good enough.

These players are Robins’ signings

Yet for 3 months last season they were in incredible form. Some feat by Robins and his staff if these players are so bad.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Yet for 3 months last season they were in incredible form. Some feat by Robins and his staff if these players are so bad.

Yes it was.

Unfortunately a season is 9 months long

 

[clint van damme]

Yes it was.

Unfortunately a season is 9 months long

And last season we finished 9th and neatly got to an FA cup final so the new coaching set up should be able to surpass that given they are elite, (probably not this season admittedly).

 

[Deity]

Agree not giving McFadzean a coaching role was the a bad decision.

He isn’t a proven coach. This isn’t a retirement home for ex players.

If he goes on to become a great coach then i would welcome him back with open arms at that point.

 

[wingy]

Agree but that short sequence of games was never going to make or break the season. The form since the beginning of the season had been poor and there appeared to be no consistent strategic approach other than constantly chopping and changing and playing shit. It's plain naive to think that every negotiation process can be concluded swiftly.

But desirable I think?

 

[AOM]

It’s one of them. He’s definitely a marmite character. Lampard works, then fair play. If it fails, can we start looking at Evatt

I still don't expect Doug King to be here at the club very long regardless, but think the Lampard appointment will be make or break for him

 

[Chris1987]

But desirable I think?

Absolutely but not always possible

 

[Evo1883]

These players clearly aren’t good enough.

These players are Robins’ signings

I always find this mentality weird .. Robins is recommended players by several scouts who will tell him they are good enough to fill the roles at the club .. it's a formality saying they are robins signing when in reality they are vetted by several people first

Yes Robins said yes to his scouts who are paid to find the best players

The same way I said yes to my missus when she asked if I wanted dinner

I repeat this a million times what robins said about dovin " I'm told he's a very good keeper "

 

[bigfatronssba]

And last season we finished 9th and neatly got to an FA cup final so the new coaching set up should be able to surpass that given they are elite, (probably not this season admittedly).

I agree that the coaching team need to take their share of criticism.

However the players either aren’t good enough or aren’t playing to their potential.
To be honest the “not good enough” is the more respectable of those suggestions

 

[bigfatronssba]

I always find this mentality weird .. Robins is recommended players by several scouts who will tell him they are good enough to fill the roles at the club .. it's a formality saying they are robins signing when in reality they are vetted by several people first

Yes Robins said yes to his scouts who are paid to find the best players

The same way I said yes to my missus when she asked if I wanted dinner

I repeat this a million times what robins said about dovin " I'm told he's a very good keeper "

If Robins was agreeing to signings without checking them out himself then he needs to except responsibility.

It sounds like he was naive to the extreme in his trust of his recruitment team.
A good manager should constantly check the work of his staff

 

[nunchuckas]

Ironically it was the tougher games we used to well with MR in charge for. Our issues were against teams like Derby at home.

My prediction is that under Lampard, we'll beat the teams we should be beating (arguably Robins biggest weakness), but he'll lack the tactical nous to beat the better teams (Robins greatest strength).

When you look at Frank's first Chelsea stint, he inherited a great squad that finished 3rd. He finished 4th with them, not bad. But he only won 1 game against the top 6, so was just getting the base level out of his players, no more no less, and beating the teams he should be beating. At Derby, he had some incredible talent on loan (Mount, Tomori etc.) did enough to get to the playoffs, but according to Derby fans, messed up the tactics in the final big time.

The main difference is Robins wouldn't sacrifice his philosophy of trying to build a team good enough to go up by being good enough, not through luck. We very rarely won ugly, I can think of Watford 0-1 away with Vik, that's about it. Rather than trying to just force a win in a particular game. Especially early on the season when we're trying to find an identity. Later in the business end of the season he becomes more pragmatic and will do things to get us across the line in meaningful games. But that Wolves performance wouldn't have been possible with that team if it wasn't for the idealogical work done by Robins throughout the whole season.

Under Lampard we'd have had no chance against Wolves, as we'd have just spent the season trying to beat what's in front of us week in week out.

It might have taken us a few more seasons, but I genuinely think Robins was building a team good enough to challenge right at the top of this league, playing the right way, capable of going up and staying up.

Most other managers are just chancers trying to get through each game, through no fault of their own due to the short termist nature of the modern game.

 

[wingy]

I always find this mentality weird .. Robins is recommended players by several scouts who will tell him they are good enough to fill the roles at the club .. it's a formality saying they are robins signing when in reality they are vetted by several people first

Yes Robins said yes to his scouts who are paid to find the best players

The same way I said yes to my missus when she asked if I wanted dinner

I repeat this a million times what robins said about dovin " I'm told he's a very good keeper "

Who was doing the scouting the summer before and then who was doing it this summer? Didn't the Leicester guy get binned fairly early in his deal,of course we should also acknowledge that Ms
Robert's actually joined us at approximately the point at which we were unplayable?
But what since has been going on?

 

[Evo1883]

If Robins was agreeing to signings without checking them out himself then he needs to except responsibility.

It sounds like he was naive to the extreme in his trust of his recruitment team.
A good manager should constantly check the work of his staff

Robins will look at the signings and I imagine the data will suggest every signing we made would be a good signing

Ask doug the thick prick why he negotiated 9 million for 2 league 1 players

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I always find this mentality weird .. Robins is recommended players by several scouts who will tell him they are good enough to fill the roles at the club .. it's a formality saying they are robins signing when in reality they are vetted by several people first

Yes Robins said yes to his scouts who are paid to find the best players

The same way I said yes to my missus when she asked if I wanted dinner

I repeat this a million times what robins said about dovin " I'm told he's a very good keeper "

What did he say about Luis Binks and Liam Kitching?

 

[Evo1883]

Who was doing the scouting the summer before and then who was doing it this summer? Didn't the Leicester guy get binned fairly early in his deal,of course we should also acknowledge that Ms
Robert's actually joined us at approximately the point at which we were unplayable?
But what since has been going on?

There's an article stating Robins took a step back in the recruiting aspect , it's been thrown around on here loads but fans just can't wrap there heads around the recruitment process

 

[Evo1883]

What did he say about Luis Binks and Liam Kitching?

Do tell me I'm sure you will

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Do tell me I'm sure you will

On Kitching I think Saddle said that he was marks number one target.

 

[Evo1883]

On Kitching I think Saddle said that he was marks number one target.

Ok that's all pure speculation isn't it ?

 

[wingy]

Ok that's all pure speculation isn't it ?

Someone at the club certainly did the l
Preambles at the play off final then it was a drawn out affair getting signed for that rediculous fee I'd suggest, although that cannot be laid at the players feet!

 

[clint van damme]

I agree that the coaching team need to take their share of criticism.

However the players either aren’t good enough or aren’t playing to their potential.
To be honest the “not good enough” is the more respectable of those suggestions

King said this is a top 6 'deck', (I appreciate he couldn't really say anything else though there are those on here who think if you say it yo the CET it must be true!).

He said the players are now 'Premier league fit'.

Robins had them in at least play off, if not autos form for over 3 months last season.

I have serious doubts about this squad myself but there's plenty that's points to the fact that actually, they're not too bad and it's us doubters who have got it wrong.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Robins will look at the signings and I imagine the data will suggest every signing we made would be a good signing

Ask doug the thick prick why he negotiated 9 million for 2 league 1 players

Its not just that though.

Last season it was the defence that prevented us from reaching the Play Offs. Its what has got Robins sacked this season

We spent the summer improving the attack that was fine last season, whilst ignoring the problematic defence.

Was Robins on board with that?

 

[Alan Dugdales Moustache]

After 3 games it's far too early to start to judge Lampard on anything. Let's see where we are after 10 games . By then I'd expect him to have his team getting used to his style of play.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Do tell me I'm sure you will

Manager Mark Robins said: “We are delighted to welcome Liam to CoventryCity.

“Liam is a talented player, who is versatile across the back line. He is a strong defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and provides leadership as well and a maturity beyond his years.

“We are very pleased that he has chosen to join us and look forward to working with him.”

Safe to say he has shown very little of that here.

 

[Evo1883]

Its not just that though.

Last season it was the defence that prevented us from reaching the Play Offs. Its what has got Robins sacked this season

We spent the summer improving the attack that was fine last season, whilst ignoring the problematic defence.

Was Robins on board with that?

Why was it the defence last season? Up until hull we had the 5th best defence in the league

 

[Evo1883]

Safe to say he has shown very little of that here.

But ofcourse many of us still think he should be starting ? Including me