What's surprised me this season is how much aggressive support he's received in here

I tend to go along with the view that if he keeps us up he hasn't failed, and deserves a hefty spend in the summer and a stab at the start of next season. Having said that, I wouldn't be dismayed if they gave him a shove in the summer.

I can't see how people can state that he's done really well, though. OK, yes, sort of, but really well? On what basis?

"He sorted out the defence" - well, given the circs of the start of this seaon compared with last season, any manager might have signed someone like Bassong. And yet just like last season we've shipped a lot of goals - our GD is, without checking, not much better than teams in relegation trouble, isn't it? is that Sorting Out The Defence? And if the defence is that much better, what has been the cost?

The way I see it, the jury *must* still be out. He hasn't been so bad as to deserve the boot. But on the other hand he doesn't deserve the unconditional and enthusiastic support he seems to be getting. I mean, how many times have we played well? We weren't even THAT good in the season-saving 10-game spell.

If his signings HAVE been great, as in better than others might have achieved - and I'd take the board's view on that over my own - then maybe shove him upstairs to a Director of Football role and let someone younger and braver have a go. I'm growing irritated by his falsetto foghorn from the touchline, as every game is played out to the monotonous sound of him yelping like a migrating goose.

But no. If we stay up, give him a go at next season. Just let's all stop wowing at nothing much.

Oh and about Kei: I'd let him go back. He's OK in an athletic way but there's not much nous there. Even if he's only going to cost a mill or two, we can probably find someone at least as effective. Cheers Kei, thanks for everything.

Posted By: Sugbad The Bad, Apr 27, 18:23:39