My verdict on Worthie

1. His record since winning promotion to the Premier League is damning - played 54; w 11 d 16 l 27. This current run of poor performances is not recent but of long standing and its getting worse. The argument for continuity is only justified when there is steady improvement long term with periodic "blips " . Long term failure requires change.
2. Worthie`s record in the transfer market since getting promotion to the premiereship has been disastrous. Only two signings - Saffri and Ashton have been successful. Particularly damning was his team "strengthening " after promotion and in particular his failure to strengthen the defence. It is not without significance that Wigan and West Ham have taken the premier league by storm by concentrating on getting in power and pace in central defence. Who did Worthie get in ?-Charlton - I rest my case.
3. Worthie`s continued disastrous transfer dealings both in and out of the club after relegation. In particular his continuing failure to strengthen central defence , replace Francis and buy ( for the first time in his 5 years of being in charge ) a decent right sided midfielder/ winger. He gets rid of Edworthy and brings in two right backs neither of whom he deemed good enough ( rightly as it happens) to play today. He brings in Jarrett ( of similar stature to Francis) yet prefers to play an aging left back in central midfield. He pays big money for Hughes and makes him captain. You cant fault Hughes for " effort " and commitment " ( Two Worthie buzzwords) yet he cant control or pass the ball, tackle cleanly or shoot. I thought football was a skilful game but quality appears unimportant to Worthie. Who would you want - Koumas and Ifill or Hughes and Jarrett? Clearly Worthie preferred the latter. Case proved.
3. His tactics and coaching of the players.. What tactics? If effort and commitment won games then we wouldnt be having this debate. We are a shambles at corners ( both defending and taking them) ; free kicks and throw ins at all of which the players are clueless. He is negative ( mantras like " you first have to compete to earn the right to play " actually translates in practice to " start the game defending deep and in numbers and hoof the ball upfield to isolated strikers and let them get on with it ") partcularly away from home ( our away record over the several seasons that Worthie has been in charge is a disgrace).
4. Motivation of players - what motivation? Whatever the players say about supporting Worthie this is not shown on the pitch. Our best players - Green, Huckerby and Ashton look demotivated and out of form. Shackell - our brightest young prospect - is being (or indeed has already been) been destroyed. We are a team of 11 demotivated clueless individuals who have forgotten that football is a team game.
5. Forward planning. What forward planning? I shudder to think what will happen when we lose Davenport at the beginning of December ; Saffri ( our only shining light in the gloom that is currently NCFC) in the New Year; and probably Ashton and Green in the transfer window.
Are we more on track to do a Charlton or a Notts Forest? All bets are off at this stage. Can the Board afford to replace the management team ? The more pertinent question is "Can they afford not to ? "

Posted By: Westfields1, Oct 29, 22:42:27