Hunt in

[Hound]

I’d like Hunt to get a bit longer but don’t think people asking for a change are stupid

Do you think Hunt will genuinely come good based on what we’ve seen from him? Do you think there are available managers at our level with the experience and know how to do a better job than Hunt for what we need now?

I’d strongly argue a No then a Yes there.

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

It’s the nature of football rightly or wrongly now that you aren’t going to get a lot of time to get it right.

If we can get a couple of wins in the next 4 games I’m sure he’ll be safe for a while yet but do fear for him if we lose the next 2

[Snowflake Royal]

I’d like Hunt to get a bit longer but don’t think people asking for a change are stupid

Do you think Hunt will genuinely come good based on what we’ve seen from him? Do you think there are available managers at our level with the experience and know how to do a better job than Hunt for what we need now?

I’d strongly argue a No then a Yes there.

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

No one should be sacking anyone, short of a massive losing streaks - like 6 or 7 on the bounce, before game 15.

10 games to see how the division is shaking out. Minimum 5 games to turn things around.

Generally, sackings should be between game 20 and 36, or after 46. And clubs shouldn't be run in such dire short termist way that managers get sacked mid-season for not being in the POs or automatics, unless they're nosediving out with not long to go.

[Snowflake Royal]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

It’s the nature of football rightly or wrongly now that you aren’t going to get a lot of time to get it right.

If we can get a couple of wins in the next 4 games I’m sure he’ll be safe for a while yet but do fear for him if we lose the next 2

The nature of football can be changed by people choosing to go a different route.

[morganb]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

No one should be sacking anyone, short of a massive losing streaks - like 6 or 7 on the bounce, before game 15.

10 games to see how the division is shaking out. Minimum 5 games to turn things around.

Generally, sackings should be between game 20 and 36, or after 46. And clubs shouldn't be run in such dire short termist way that managers get sacked mid-season for not being in the POs or automatics, unless they're nosediving out with not long to go.

Like the Transfer Windows for players perhaps we should campaign for Sacking Windows for managers?

[Hound]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

It’s the nature of football rightly or wrongly now that you aren’t going to get a lot of time to get it right.

If we can get a couple of wins in the next 4 games I’m sure he’ll be safe for a while yet but do fear for him if we lose the next 2

The nature of football can be changed by people choosing to go a different route.

And I’d be ok with that if I thought Hunt and co were genuinely planning long term - but that would mean more appearances for the Academy lads, and less reliance on loans, journeymen and players coming in over 30

I think the thing that has disappointed me most is that in fact. Much more fun when you had the likes of Craig, Garcia, Wareham, 2 Kelvins, Kanu, Ahmed all breaking through than just Ahmed and occasionally Camara or Kelvin getting some time like seems likely this year

[South Coast Royal]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

No one should be sacking anyone, short of a massive losing streaks - like 6 or 7 on the bounce, before game 15.

10 games to see how the division is shaking out. Minimum 5 games to turn things around.

Generally, sackings should be between game 20 and 36, or after 46. And clubs shouldn't be run in such dire short termist way that managers get sacked mid-season for not being in the POs or automatics, unless they're nosediving out with not long to go.

Don't disagree that managers should be given time.
In Hunt's case he had time last season that unfortunately climaxed with a capitulation in the final game in front of the biggest crowd for some years.

This season has not been going that well and we have seen quite a turnover of players but , as another poster pointed out, that is par for the course in this division so we are no different.

October or November seem to be regular sacking months as owners get a bit twitchy when a team is not doing well.
From what is written on here, on facebook and what we hear in the crowd on match days Noel and his tactics/ selections are far from being universally liked and it could be the affection that he earned from his playing days has meant a fairly easy ride.

IMHO he has to get at least one win from the next 2 games otherwise we start to look like a potential relegation side going into October rather than a promotion one , something that the new owners wouldn't welcome and maybe they would wield the axe.

BTW, for those that said it gets easier after Orient and Stockport they might not want reminding that last season we scraped home 2-1 v Mansfield and Exeter away (0-0 at home) with what people feel was a much stronger side so maybe things will not be as easy as we would like.

If only we had sold out to a wealthy (and not a skint) Russian like Bournemouth did we might be looking at a home game this weekend v Newcastle rather than watching comparative dross in a boring fixture v Orient.
Such are the vagaries of being a football fan but it irks me watching how a similar little club like ours has been able to survive and compete at the top level when my own club has just slipped away back down to the 3rd division with Premier League football only for a very short time) just a distant memory.

[Mr Angry]

I am very much in the "Hunt In" camp; he has earned the time IMHO, to turn things round and I think that there are clear signs that things ARE improving.

Genuinely, right now I see us finishing comfortably mid table or higher, though the play-offs are not likely this season.

However, if we are still bottom 6 in the run up towards the end of November, with no discernible up turn in performances and results, then I can well see a change being made in order to give a new guy some input into any potential new signings in January.

[Schmeichel the dog]

I am very much in the "Hunt In" camp; he has earned the time IMHO, to turn things round and I think that there are clear signs that things ARE improving.

Genuinely, right now I see us finishing comfortably mid table or higher, though the play-offs are not likely this season.

However, if we are still bottom 6 in the run up towards the end of November, with no discernible up turn in performances and results, then I can well see a change being made in order to give a new guy some input into any potential new signings in January.

+1

[Hound]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

No one should be sacking anyone, short of a massive losing streaks - like 6 or 7 on the bounce, before game 15.

10 games to see how the division is shaking out. Minimum 5 games to turn things around.

Generally, sackings should be between game 20 and 36, or after 46. And clubs shouldn't be run in such dire short termist way that managers get sacked mid-season for not being in the POs or automatics, unless they're nosediving out with not long to go.

You can’t always just write off a third of the season though - very little chance of a recovery to play offs etc after that long. Could be argued that just shows lack of decisiveness if you know that manager isn’t up to the job

Tbh I expect a lot more goes into the process than just results anyway. JJ Couhig and co will know how Hunt is working from the inside and will make their mind up on that as well as the results

I don’t think last season really insulates him for too long - he did reasonably well but was a horror show at Northampton when we desperately needed a win, Barnsley also. In fact bar Wrexham I don’t remember us playing particularly well from March onwards. Couple of wins against relegated teams or on dreadful runs, but an awful lot of dropped points as aell

[Snowflake Royal]

It’s the nature of football rightly or wrongly now that you aren’t going to get a lot of time to get it right.

If we can get a couple of wins in the next 4 games I’m sure he’ll be safe for a while yet but do fear for him if we lose the next 2

The nature of football can be changed by people choosing to go a different route.

And I’d be ok with that if I thought Hunt and co were genuinely planning long term - but that would mean more appearances for the Academy lads, and less reliance on loans, journeymen and players coming in over 30

I think the thing that has disappointed me most is that in fact. Much more fun when you had the likes of Craig, Garcia, Wareham, 2 Kelvins, Kanu, Ahmed all breaking through than just Ahmed and occasionally Camara or Kelvin getting some time like seems likely this year

But we don’t have the same quality there... Ryan/Dorsett - maybe. Ehibhatiomhan - hard to say where he stands yet. Camara - not really. Stickland - no. Okine-Peters - no. Sackey - no, Garcia - maybe.

Even so, you talk about just Ahmed and occasionally Kelvin or Camara, but its not like Garcia, Abrefa, Elliott (not Academy, but he's only 22 and been here 2 years), Dorsett and Stickland have all also started games. It's a bit early to be ruling people breaking through.

[Snowflake Royal]

How long do you give him to come good? It has to be based on results but does Couhlg say: "so long as we out of the relegation zone that's good enough for me" or "after X games we need to be on Y points or else you're on your bike"

The longer we leave making a decision the fewer managers with the experience and know-how to do a better job will be available

Also, if it wasn't Reading Legend Noel Hunt in change but Unknown Randomer Joel Huntinio would people still be saying "Huntinio in"?

No one should be sacking anyone, short of a massive losing streaks - like 6 or 7 on the bounce, before game 15.

10 games to see how the division is shaking out. Minimum 5 games to turn things around.

Generally, sackings should be between game 20 and 36, or after 46. And clubs shouldn't be run in such dire short termist way that managers get sacked mid-season for not being in the POs or automatics, unless they're nosediving out with not long to go.

You can’t always just write off a third of the season though - very little chance of a recovery to play offs etc after that long. Could be argued that just shows lack of decisiveness if you know that manager isn’t up to the job

Tbh I expect a lot more goes into the process than just results anyway. JJ Couhig and co will know how Hunt is working from the inside and will make their mind up on that as well as the results

I don’t think last season really insulates him for too long - he did reasonably well but was a horror show at Northampton when we desperately needed a win, Barnsley also. In fact bar Wrexham I don’t remember us playing particularly well from March onwards. Couple of wins against relegated teams or on dreadful runs, but an awful lot of dropped points as aell

Not always no, but you certainly can in Year 1 of a 5 year plan when you're currently under no threat of relegation.

[Clyde1998]

It’s the nature of football rightly or wrongly now that you aren’t going to get a lot of time to get it right.

If we can get a couple of wins in the next 4 games I’m sure he’ll be safe for a while yet but do fear for him if we lose the next 2

The nature of football can be changed by people choosing to go a different route.

And I’d be ok with that if I thought Hunt and co were genuinely planning long term - but that would mean more appearances for the Academy lads, and less reliance on loans, journeymen and players coming in over 30

I think the thing that has disappointed me most is that in fact. Much more fun when you had the likes of Craig, Garcia, Wareham, 2 Kelvins, Kanu, Ahmed all breaking through than just Ahmed and occasionally Camara or Kelvin getting some time like seems likely this year

I'd imagine the academy has been badly affected in recent years - limited opportunities to go out on loan; constant changes with coaches; players being sold; players deciding not to come here; more restrictive funding; etc. Clubs have natural peaks and troughs with their youth intake anyway. We had a surge of young players enter the first team football in the 2023-24 season too, which would've taken the best players from a number of cohorts.

Given the circumstances, still being able to bring through players like Ahmed and Garcia is impressive. I think we've simply run out of viable talent at this moment of time and/or the players' long term development is better suited to regular youth football over playing the odd couple of minutes for the first team. The better young players will no doubt get training opportunities with the first team.

[Millsy]

What's that.. a string of defeats turning into draw, draw, win, narrow away defeat against top side, win...

Trend looking pretty good.

Just goes to show how premature calls for his head have been. I foresee people jumping a ship they should never have been on.

Still too early either way, we wish him all the best.

[Snowflake Royal]

Are we improving?

Results: LLLDDWLW
Goals: 0,0,1,1,2,1,2,2

Pretty clearly yes.

[Hound]

Some good things, some bad things today.

30% possession at home to Orient and it was far from a great performance. Certainly not one to banish any doubts

That period from 45-70 mins was as poor as I’ve seen

But… Ritchie and O Connor fit could make a huge difference. He needs to sort out the middle 3 and if he can something to stick there and make it work then maybe it’s a trend that can continue to improve

[Royal_jimmy]

I was quite underwhelmed by that performance today. But the win has bought him a few extra games, hopefully Noel has learnt that Ritchie needs to play a bit more!

[Royal_jimmy]

Are we improving?

Results: LLLDDWLW
Goals: 0,0,1,1,2,1,2,2

Pretty clearly yes.

Results wise yes, performance wise no

[andrew1957]

One factor some are forgetting is that most above us have played a game more. If we had played and beaten Northampton (quite possible) we would be 14th on 11 points tonight. Hunt must be given much more time.

[andrew1957]

One factor some are forgetting is that most above us have played a game more. If we had played and beaten Northampton (quite possible) we would be 14th on 11 points tonight. Hunt must be given much more time.