| Forget Blackpool….. 07:28 - Aug 26 with 11677 views | itfcjoe |
…..nearly 2/3s of team with 10 points after 4 games will finish in the top 6 at the end of the season.
1 in 4 of them will finish in the top 2.
It’s vital we start winning soon, we have a much tougher September ahead of us.
Interestingly in the last 22 seasons, the team in 20th place (i.e. us this year) have finished in the top 2 twice, top 6 just once and relegated 3 times [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 7:32]
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:10 - Aug 26 with 1935 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:05 - Aug 26 by jayessess |
There are circumstances where the owners would have to weigh up the risks/rewards of changing manager, I think?
If our rubbish start continues but we finish the season brilliantly but don't quite undo the early damage, the smart money is probably to bet that the current manager has belatedly found their formula rather than seek out a new guy to search for a new formula.
I think Cook's immediate problem is that our second five games are much harder than our first five, and a similar set of results would see his head firmly on the chopping block. |
Depends on what missing out looks like though. If it's an unfortunate play off defeat after a good end of season that might save him, but if we've had such a poor first half to the season that an improved second half sees us finish 7th then I'd expect Cook wouldn't be the man overseeing that improved performance. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:21 - Aug 26 with 1888 views | Bluefish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:10 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
Depends on what missing out looks like though. If it's an unfortunate play off defeat after a good end of season that might save him, but if we've had such a poor first half to the season that an improved second half sees us finish 7th then I'd expect Cook wouldn't be the man overseeing that improved performance. |
I really struggle to see why top 6 and losing in the play offs is seen as success at this level. It would mean nothing and be no different to finishing 7th or 8th. We should not ever say our ambition is top 6, it should be promotion and if that is via the play offs sobeit |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:34 - Aug 26 with 1888 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:21 - Aug 26 by Bluefish |
I really struggle to see why top 6 and losing in the play offs is seen as success at this level. It would mean nothing and be no different to finishing 7th or 8th. We should not ever say our ambition is top 6, it should be promotion and if that is via the play offs sobeit |
It's not success, it's whether it's enough of a failure to sack him. It would depend on circumstances. If we'd ended the season on fire, smashing everyone by 3 or 4, then got done in the play offs through some dodgy refereeing decision that context might justify giving him another season. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:36 - Aug 26 with 1856 views | Bluefish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:34 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
It's not success, it's whether it's enough of a failure to sack him. It would depend on circumstances. If we'd ended the season on fire, smashing everyone by 3 or 4, then got done in the play offs through some dodgy refereeing decision that context might justify giving him another season. |
That would probably mean us competing for top 3 and being clear of the play off pack and ending up 3rd opposed to us scraping in the play offs. There are no excuses this season | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:42 - Aug 26 with 1863 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:36 - Aug 26 by Bluefish |
That would probably mean us competing for top 3 and being clear of the play off pack and ending up 3rd opposed to us scraping in the play offs. There are no excuses this season |
I think most would agree that if we scrape 6th and lose in the play offs then that would be a significant failure and Cook should go. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:46 - Aug 26 with 1853 views | Chrisd |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:36 - Aug 26 by Bluefish |
That would probably mean us competing for top 3 and being clear of the play off pack and ending up 3rd opposed to us scraping in the play offs. There are no excuses this season |
The fact is we can spout all we want what ‘success’ looks like because that’s our own interpretation of it, Gamechanger might have a contrasting view. The way I see it is all we can do - as supporters/fans - is get behind the team and PC and stop worrying about the ifs, mights and maybes, they’ll take care of themselves as the season unravels. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:57 - Aug 26 with 1824 views | Mullet |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:05 - Aug 26 by jayessess |
There are circumstances where the owners would have to weigh up the risks/rewards of changing manager, I think?
If our rubbish start continues but we finish the season brilliantly but don't quite undo the early damage, the smart money is probably to bet that the current manager has belatedly found their formula rather than seek out a new guy to search for a new formula.
I think Cook's immediate problem is that our second five games are much harder than our first five, and a similar set of results would see his head firmly on the chopping block. |
I think that's a very generational and very British view. Not that I disagree, but looking at how our owners act and how they talk, I'd suggest they see changing managers as less serious and severe than changing star players. Particularly as the model they promote and have elsewhere doesn't seem to tie in with Cook and his ilk.
My money is on a Swansea / Brentford / "continental" structure in the dugout up to the boardroom as their medium plan. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 17:03 - Aug 26 with 1780 views | Bluefish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:42 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
I think most would agree that if we scrape 6th and lose in the play offs then that would be a significant failure and Cook should go. |
Not sure you have been reading this place very closely
I would also extend that to 5th and 4th | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 17:31 - Aug 26 with 1775 views | chicoazul |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:10 - Aug 26 by chrismakin |
No one has said it's not the goal.
Do I think the owners will go all panicky if it doesn't happen. No. |
Swift remedial action is not the same as panicking or flouncing as you constantly have it, it’s very common in all businesses especially at very well invested football clubs who have a failing manager. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 17:55 - Aug 26 with 1745 views | WilbrahamBlue |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:21 - Aug 26 by itfcjoe |
If we don’t go up this year we’ll need to raise a couple of million in player sales for the turnover calculations - so our best players this year will be gone and we have to go again. |
Dear lord.
Notionally selling all our best players 3 league games in.
What suggests to you that the club are going to ebb and flow through SCMP periods that drastically every 12 months? [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 18:35]
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:00 - Aug 26 with 1738 views | Keaneish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 12:35 - Aug 26 by Garv |
I don't think anyone argues that promotion isn't the aim, and we should definitely demand a promotion push. Challenging for something doesn't guarantee you getting it, though.
If we don't achieve promotion, does it have to be 'Cook out'? |
It’s kind of nonsense that we have to ask that question but that is the modern game now, unfortunately and it’s dialogue that needs to happen to sate others in the name of meaningful action or progress.
The aim this season is promotion, no doubt; anything less is a failure but there may be mitigating circumstances that enable Cook a stay of execution ala Jack Ross. Historically Cook has taken teams up at either the first or second attempt; the second attempt being preceded by either a play-off semi-final or play off push.
Statistically (when backed with the deemed necessary funds / approach) with Cook we’re looking at a worse case scenario of next season, best case scenario this May. Whether our owners or the Town ‘faithful’ have patience for the former is debatable. [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 18:25]
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:02 - Aug 26 with 1734 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:00 - Aug 26 by Keaneish |
It’s kind of nonsense that we have to ask that question but that is the modern game now, unfortunately and it’s dialogue that needs to happen to sate others in the name of meaningful action or progress.
The aim this season is promotion, no doubt; anything less is a failure but there may be mitigating circumstances that enable Cook a stay of execution ala Jack Ross. Historically Cook has taken teams up at either the first or second attempt; the second attempt being preceded by either a play-off semi-final or play off push.
Statistically (when backed with the deemed necessary funds / approach) with Cook we’re looking at a worse case scenario of next season, best case scenario this May. Whether our owners or the Town ‘faithful’ have patience for the former is debatable. [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 18:25]
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He's already had one attempt. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:16 - Aug 26 with 1700 views | chrismakin |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 17:31 - Aug 26 by chicoazul |
Swift remedial action is not the same as panicking or flouncing as you constantly have it, it’s very common in all businesses especially at very well invested football clubs who have a failing manager. |
Finishing top 6 but falling just short of promotion isn't a failure.
It would then.not be swift remedial action, otherwise Burleh would have been sacked.
I agree anything other than top 6 is not good enough and I would at that point agree with a change of manager. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:34 - Aug 26 with 1682 views | Keaneish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:02 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
He's already had one attempt. |
Behave. That’s a weak, pawing Bluetit level jab and you know it. You’re better than that. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:40 - Aug 26 with 1674 views | jayessess |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 16:10 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
Depends on what missing out looks like though. If it's an unfortunate play off defeat after a good end of season that might save him, but if we've had such a poor first half to the season that an improved second half sees us finish 7th then I'd expect Cook wouldn't be the man overseeing that improved performance. |
By "brilliant" I mean league winner form for the final 20+ games. If we're in such a state after the first half of the season that such form would only land us in 7th I don't think Paul Cook would be allowed to continue. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 19:10 - Aug 26 with 1628 views | Mach_foreignBlue |
We had been bottom of the league in 2003/04. Two points after 6 games under our best manager since 2002 in Joe Royle and what happened afterwards? That had been such a fun, such a good season in which we firmly were in the promotion mix.
No reason to be getting extremely worried after 5 games but each to their own. |  | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 19:39 - Aug 26 with 1599 views | Trequartista |
Ironically on this very day 4 years ago we had won the first four games. We got absolutely battered by Fulham and mid-table reality dawned.
Let's hope Wimbledon is Fulham in the opposite direction. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:14 - Aug 26 with 1539 views | Wallingford_Boy |
Do you expect us to finish top six this season?
For me no. This season is one of transition.
Next season, it’s do or die. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:48 - Aug 26 with 1498 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:40 - Aug 26 by jayessess |
By "brilliant" I mean league winner form for the final 20+ games. If we're in such a state after the first half of the season that such form would only land us in 7th I don't think Paul Cook would be allowed to continue. |
Yeah if 20 games of title winning form still sees us miss out on the top 6 then Cook would already have lost his job. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:51 - Aug 26 with 1489 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:14 - Aug 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
Do you expect us to finish top six this season?
For me no. This season is one of transition.
Next season, it’s do or die. |
Mental. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 21:01 - Aug 26 with 1466 views | timothyeo |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:51 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
Mental. |
Seconded. This low expectation is what makes me think some of our fans deserve third tier football. | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 21:54 - Aug 26 with 1413 views | Vic |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:03 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
Indeed. This creeping notion that promotion isn't the goal this year is really odd and represents a shameful lowering of expectations. The likes of Harper, Edwards, Chaplin, Edmundson etc. haven't come here expecting to spend at least 2 years in League 1. Ashton hasn't worked his arse off to bring those players in to spend 2 years in League 1. The owners haven't put the money in to sign those players to spend 2 years in League 1 either. The fans downplaying expectations is bizarre, especially when some of those fans are those who bemoaned a culture of accepting mediocrity at the club prior to this season. |
I hear all that Herbie, and largely agree. But it doesn’t tally with what the owners and CEO have said does it. I’m sure they have said more than once than we need to be patient and that if we don’t achieve promotion this year then it will be next.
I think we, the supporters have upped the anti now we’ve seen the caliber of players signed, and now expect promo as minimum.
That said, it’s a poor start, much poorer start than I expected, and in my opinion if we don’t look like being in contention for at least a PO place then Cook will be toast. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 22:59 - Aug 26 with 1380 views | Churchman |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 21:54 - Aug 26 by Vic |
I hear all that Herbie, and largely agree. But it doesn’t tally with what the owners and CEO have said does it. I’m sure they have said more than once than we need to be patient and that if we don’t achieve promotion this year then it will be next.
I think we, the supporters have upped the anti now we’ve seen the caliber of players signed, and now expect promo as minimum.
That said, it’s a poor start, much poorer start than I expected, and in my opinion if we don’t look like being in contention for at least a PO place then Cook will be toast. |
Agreed, Vic. When you set standards you do just that. This is 2021, not 1971. 3 years to build is not on the menu these days. Having had his list of players that Ashton has, as far as I know, largely delivered against it’s up to Cook to get them playing.
If we look like we are going nowhere in two months time, then Cook has to go and quite frankly, he can hardly complain. If the team is coming together and getting stronger, grin, bear it and let’s see where we go. |  | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 12:18 - Aug 27 with 1272 views | jayessess |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 20:14 - Aug 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
Do you expect us to finish top six this season?
For me no. This season is one of transition.
Next season, it’s do or die. |
Just on a practical level, I've no idea how you think this "transition" season could possibly work.
Imagine the scene:
We roll into May and we've just finished mid-table in League One for a 3rd season in a row. The manager recruited a bespoke squad last Summer, featuring players no one else in the division realistically had available to them, then drifted to finish below a bunch of clubs with a fraction of our resources. The vast majority of the supporters are fuming, they've watched us scratch around trying to find a formula over 9 months and I can guarantee you they will want the manager out. The owners are looking at a maxed out wage bill and a bunch of players who'll be too well-paid to move on after a season drifting to mid table in L1. Season ticket sales will be through the floor, the place utterly miserable, with the exception of a few people like yourself.
Whatever you think of the merits of managerial continuity or the amount of time needed to "gel" a football team, you've got to see that would be a totally unsustainable situation? | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 13:05 - Aug 27 with 1241 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 18:16 - Aug 26 by chrismakin |
Finishing top 6 but falling just short of promotion isn't a failure.
It would then.not be swift remedial action, otherwise Burleh would have been sacked.
I agree anything other than top 6 is not good enough and I would at that point agree with a change of manager. |
As Herb already pointed out, there is a difference to finishing top 6 and scraping in and losing.
If we were to finish third, miss out on automatics by goal difference or a point or two and then lose, i think i would say fair enough, regroup and go again. But anything else than that is a failure. We should comfortably be aiming for top two with this group, no ifs or buts. That will be the aim for the owners too, despite what they say. I think they've been very generous in interviews about it, but they are managing expectations. Anyone who thinks that they won't be wanting promotion out of cook this season is kidding themselves. |  |
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