Another bad result/performance on saturday and ill be calling for him to go. I have sympathy for Smith because he had to build a team from scratch. But after saturday it will be 10 league games. Barrie should act if the bad results continue, as he did with parker. Only this time do it before the fa. cup tie-remember losing 4-1 to slough under parker! And despite having Rivs and ellis eastleigh are very beatable- midtable and lost 2-0 at home to newport tonight!
__________________
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh When the Wingssssss
Yes we have been performing badly and yes its another loss but we lost to a team second in the league 1-0, thats a lot better than the result I thought we would get! I dont think Smith should be sacked but one thing I have never agreed with is a player/manager, you can't see how the team is performing when you are playing. Smith should stay on the bench. Hopefully Neil can bring in some players soon, we desperatly need a forward and a creative midfield player, in my opinion the back 4 is fine but we struggle to create anything against an organised side and the Lewes game showed that. badly need a win and who knows, maybe one win will start us off on a good run. Give Smith more time, its too early at this stage of the season to be thinking of changing the management team
__________________
Welling United FC. Banging on the walls of Woking dressing rooms since 1963..
I went to the game tonight, could have got ugly early on but as the game went on, apart from being caught cold at the restart Welling deserved a point. No real cutting edge or creativity and a lot different from what I witnessed under A.P.
I cant really comment on seeing one game but it looks like you have struggled to replace the Grays boys!
First half we were poor but second half we really competed and to have got a point would have been fair. Felt sorry for Coleman - off presumably injured at half time and then the midfield actually started to create and pressurise in the second half. If he as on we would have got a point but without him who is going to score? To be fair I thought Blackman did better than recently when he came on at half time.
Probably enough from tonight's performance to keep Smith in the post for another game.
We have to hope that Coleman isn't too badly injured if that was the reason for his substitution as we have to get at least a draw against Eastleigh or we will equal PP's points tally at that stage of the 2004/5 season which was the worst in the last 10 years. The significant difference between 2004/5 and now is that at least there was some hope as we were scoring goals which we are not doing at the moment.
I stick to my earlier expressed view that a decision should be made on Neil's future after the FA Cup tie on the 29th.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Second half they really really battled and I thought we may even score but.................
Apparently Smith has budget to use and is scouring the area for players but I guess they are not available
It is very sad to see the way we are playing this year - last year you always (or nearly always) thought we would get back into the game - this year I will be amazed when we manage to score more than one
Sack the manager - not sure what use that would do unless they have a ready made replacement
I agree with most comments really - I couldn't make the game so can't comment on that. Mark makes a good point that unless someone's lined up to replace Smith, it may not help.
I would also agree with Bruno, give Smith until the FA Cup game - if we can come away with a nice healthy scoreline, things may be on the up - we all know what a bit on confidence in the team can do.
I am not so sure about the relevance of a cup game against a side three divisions below. Sure if we lose or even draw that will be the end for Smith, but if we win, even wallop them, what does that tell us. If we lose to Eastleigh on Saturday we could well be in the relegation positions and will be whatever the cup result. How much confidence can you get from beating a side three divisions below you. Despite the second half performance last night -we haven't got the players - the only way Smith should survive is by bringing in quality players - not rubbish youth players on loan. Given that he hasn't yet and left it too late pre-season I can't see it happening yet.
There are good people around who would still jump at the chance to come to Welling. No idea who but don't forget when PP left we had Liam and then Ade within 6 weeks.
It is an interesting philosophy giving the manager until after the cup game.
I would venture to suggest that by doing that with Brigden at Kingstonian some years ago we locked ourselves into a downwards spiral.
At that point we were always exempt until the 4th qualifier due to past performance which meant we only had to win one game a year for the biggest potential pay day of the season. We lost to lower league opposition and condemned ourselves to many years of banana skins subsequently and also a lot less money. Can you tell me what a win against lower league opposition would have told us in the context of Conference football? If it was right to sack him afterwards, it was right to sack him before.
It is not quite so pointed since they restructured the qualifying procedure for the FA Cup but the same general point still holds. If you think someone is screwing up, why give them the chance to screw up your best potential money stream as well. What does a victory against lower league opposition prove in a league context.
(and before anyone throws it in, Forest were in the same division as Man U when Robins scored to save Ferguson's job)
I agree with some points on here especially about the dual role of player/manager which is extremely difficult at all levels of the game. Smudger and Chippy together in the same midfield has not, does not and will not work.
What worries me most is the constant changing of personnel and formations and it is almost "Mclarenesque" in that he is hoping to find the right answer rather than knowing what the right answer is.
I hope he can turn it around, and quickly, but I think we need to ship out some of the current squad and get two new midfielders and a striker in at the very least
stafford has a point - but i agree with mark all that will happem if he's sacked and don't have a proper replacement we'll still struggle
I still think give him until the fa cup game as we couldn't get someone in quick enough for it anyway and if we go out the cup it will show he's a dead donkey but if we win there is still a glimmer of hope things could turn around
If the mists of time have not obscured my memory Nicky Brigden's departure saw the arrival at PVR of the phenomenon that is the player/manager when Inchie, reluctantly I suspect, took on that role on a part time basis initially, again my memory is correct. In my view this probably had more to do with the downward spiral which that season saw us eventually escape relegation by 1 point having gained 2 wins and a draw in our final 3 matches. Did we learn the lesson about player/ managers? The next appointment was Kevin Hales another player/manager!
As far as making a decision after the FA Cup match goes I think that should the totally unacceptable happen and we lose to Barkingside the loss of the revenue must surely focus the minds of the Hobbins and they will have to act to give us the best chance of survival in the Blue Square South. Whether we ought to be in the Blue Square South may be the subject of a post from me in the near future.
I neglected to include my concerns about whether there was someone out there available and prepared to take over in this post but you will find it in an earlier thread but surely to God the feelers have already been extended.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
All we can do is get behind the team on sat and wait and see what unfolds - i still don't think sack him not until at least christmas but if we lose in the cup even ill say he's got to go
We are just on a VERY bad run - everyone should put off this talk of sacking Smith for a couple of weeks - and see what happens because like it or not he's not going to be sacked before the cup game anyway
How can you say its a bad run when we have had nothing but a bad run. It all comes down to the buck stopping with Neil Smith. If we had had a run of form and a dip, fair enough. But this is his team and we find ourselfs down the bottom with no obvious reason to expect anything to change. We have apparantly been looking at players for weeks.
No, im saying it's been a handful of games and yes it's been crap but the point is unless there is a suitable replacement lined up we'll get rid of him we'll then be back to square 1 again - and this whole merry-go-round starts again
Why is everyone so afraid of change? Whether we have a replacement lined up or not is of no consequence. Keep the manager and keep losing. Sack him and have a caretaker (Moore?) while we look for someone else and the worst that can happen is that we still lose - but maybe that change will improve things.
I suppose it all depends on your definition of what/when its too late. Is it when we can no longer get to the play offs? Or is it when we are in a relegation battle?
I cant see many players wanting to come to Welling under this regime - if such players existed they would already be here by now. In any case we are hardly magnets for good players whatever the case- the players we consider to be good seem to be unable to progress higher up the pyramid (Bodkin, Rivs, Kedwell etc), most players drop down the pyramid when leaving. Tells a story I think - they must come cheap.
A lot I feel depends on the home form. The crowd want to be enetertained and get behind the team but cant at the moment due to what is being produced on the pitch. The team want the crowd to get behind them and its abit of a chicken and egg. I take my hat off to the regular away supporters who observe this week after week spending their hard earned cash, it cannot be good.
Personally I think the telling bit will be the cup tie, irrespective of who we had drawn this must be the turning point. After this I feel it will be too late to turn the tide
I said at the time that my forst choice was Andy Ford, who knew the scene and had had sucess. Dont know if he is still around but if we need someone come the time he could be the man
I'm now a "playmaker" assuming on the number of posts. Bearing in mind the lack of creation in midfield should I now bring my boots to the next game or should I keep posting until it says "Ronaldhino plays for WUFC" as we are lacking up front more
Unless you are young or cheap or both or a mate of Smith's you wont get a contract.
Hes savinga few quid from the budget? What for Xmas??
Go and get Hockton or someone or yes Paul Vines and go and get Jamie Day and or Bods back. But FFS Do something except say you are looking for players.
Please hold the line caller, I have a Mr Andy Townsend and a Mr Paul Barron on the line............what's that you say, you can make it on Saturday, excellent, see you there. Yes I know were in deep doggy do - do, but if you turn up, I'm sure that the nice Mr Hobbins will pay your expenses............
BKK According to Kent online against Eastbourne "Manager Neil Smith and Richard Carpenter produced inspired displays in midfield" so you won't be needed this week but don't take it to heart you may still get your chance.
You really need to start worrying if playmaker becomes manager though
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
