Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue
Well-Known Member
There's been a lot of truthful/untruthful things said about Pressley and thought it's time he's given the praise and criticism he deserves..
1) Pressley DID develop young players such as Callum Wilson and Christie (and improved Moussa & Clarke's game)
Before Pressley joined the club, Wilson, being the obvious example, played 12 games for us scoring 1 goal. He had loan spells at Tamworth and Kettering for christ sake. He did not at all like ever making it for us and was on the verge of release once or twice. Are you telling me that in the Summer before the 13/14 season he just magic'd from a Non-league maybe into an England Under 21 Striker on fire in front of net?
Moussa was ok-ish under Robins scored 6 in 46 games from Midfield. Last year under Pressley, 14 in 46 with 12 assists. He came on leaps and bounds under the man. The same applies to L.Clarke - his game improved massively, from a lower league journeyman to someone who did some good work of the ball.
Everyone with any genuine talent who has left us for financial reasons (was bought/got a bigger contract/we couldn't afford their wages) Wilson, Christie, Moussa, L.Clarke, Christie, Murphy, Baker - has left a better player- Not one person can argue that.
2) The Quality of the Players that left at the end of last season WERE NOT replaced in any form.
I don't care what Waggot says about the level of budget - nobody can argue that any of the above, forementioned players have been replaced with respectable quality players.
We lost millions and millions of pounds worth of promising talent and players approaching their peak - we 'replaced' them with a Loan Reserve Sheffield Weds. striker (Madine) and a 'marquee' signing in Journeyman, Tudgay who has scored 11 goals in the last 5years!!
TO summarise - We lost around 60 goals A SEASON in Wilson, Clarke and Moussa and you're trying to tell me Madine (32 goals in the last 5 years ACs), F. Nouble (14 goals in the last 5 years ACs) and Tudgay (11 goals in the last 5 years ACs) are suitable acceptable replacements?! Get fucking real.
To put this in simple terms - it's like owning a laundrette with 5 good quality washing machines. One day someone comes in and offers you £1000 for all of your 5 washing machines. You accept and decide to replace your washing machines with a bucket and sponge in the corner, because you want the 1k in your pocket- but you still expect your laundrette to keep the same profit coming in each week... it's a stupid analogy but a simple way of looking at the task that was facing Pressley.
We couldn't train or age the next batch of academy kids quick enough to replace the batch just sold. I believe A Phillips, Maddison and G Thomas will go on to establish themsleves in our team.
3) Sometimes YES Pressley was tactically naive and inexperienced. But there was also many a time - even as Waggot has acknowledged, that the players brought in in the summer, completely let themselves down as professional footballers. Goes with the territory of rejects, freebies, loan players and other clubs cast offs.
4) I go to the games - At Oldham, Crewe and on saturday, tactically it was Pressley's doing, we sat back and lost 2 key points.
Last season, dumped in shithole Northampton, with no fans, no kits, no money, no hope. We tore teams to pieces and played some cracking football, with pace, that was also Pressley's doing.
He didn't turn into an appalling manager. We've lost our way this season, but there is no way he can be blamed for that. He can clearly train and work with academy's and developing players. I wish him all the best, a passionate bloke who didn't whinge and moan and runaway like the beloved Robins. He talked some bollocks sometimes but ultimately put his bollocks on the line, many a time.
Thanks and All the best to the bloke.
1) Pressley DID develop young players such as Callum Wilson and Christie (and improved Moussa & Clarke's game)
Before Pressley joined the club, Wilson, being the obvious example, played 12 games for us scoring 1 goal. He had loan spells at Tamworth and Kettering for christ sake. He did not at all like ever making it for us and was on the verge of release once or twice. Are you telling me that in the Summer before the 13/14 season he just magic'd from a Non-league maybe into an England Under 21 Striker on fire in front of net?
Moussa was ok-ish under Robins scored 6 in 46 games from Midfield. Last year under Pressley, 14 in 46 with 12 assists. He came on leaps and bounds under the man. The same applies to L.Clarke - his game improved massively, from a lower league journeyman to someone who did some good work of the ball.
Everyone with any genuine talent who has left us for financial reasons (was bought/got a bigger contract/we couldn't afford their wages) Wilson, Christie, Moussa, L.Clarke, Christie, Murphy, Baker - has left a better player- Not one person can argue that.
2) The Quality of the Players that left at the end of last season WERE NOT replaced in any form.
I don't care what Waggot says about the level of budget - nobody can argue that any of the above, forementioned players have been replaced with respectable quality players.
We lost millions and millions of pounds worth of promising talent and players approaching their peak - we 'replaced' them with a Loan Reserve Sheffield Weds. striker (Madine) and a 'marquee' signing in Journeyman, Tudgay who has scored 11 goals in the last 5years!!
TO summarise - We lost around 60 goals A SEASON in Wilson, Clarke and Moussa and you're trying to tell me Madine (32 goals in the last 5 years ACs), F. Nouble (14 goals in the last 5 years ACs) and Tudgay (11 goals in the last 5 years ACs) are suitable acceptable replacements?! Get fucking real.
To put this in simple terms - it's like owning a laundrette with 5 good quality washing machines. One day someone comes in and offers you £1000 for all of your 5 washing machines. You accept and decide to replace your washing machines with a bucket and sponge in the corner, because you want the 1k in your pocket- but you still expect your laundrette to keep the same profit coming in each week... it's a stupid analogy but a simple way of looking at the task that was facing Pressley.
We couldn't train or age the next batch of academy kids quick enough to replace the batch just sold. I believe A Phillips, Maddison and G Thomas will go on to establish themsleves in our team.
3) Sometimes YES Pressley was tactically naive and inexperienced. But there was also many a time - even as Waggot has acknowledged, that the players brought in in the summer, completely let themselves down as professional footballers. Goes with the territory of rejects, freebies, loan players and other clubs cast offs.
4) I go to the games - At Oldham, Crewe and on saturday, tactically it was Pressley's doing, we sat back and lost 2 key points.
Last season, dumped in shithole Northampton, with no fans, no kits, no money, no hope. We tore teams to pieces and played some cracking football, with pace, that was also Pressley's doing.
He didn't turn into an appalling manager. We've lost our way this season, but there is no way he can be blamed for that. He can clearly train and work with academy's and developing players. I wish him all the best, a passionate bloke who didn't whinge and moan and runaway like the beloved Robins. He talked some bollocks sometimes but ultimately put his bollocks on the line, many a time.
Thanks and All the best to the bloke.
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