Richardson out

[WestYorksRoyal]

Coming to the conclusion that we are just not good enough - need just a 5-10% improvement and we are sorted.

We improved a lot, with very little credit, over the midpart of the season but this (and last) season should be hammering home some lessons.

There are going to be shit games. Somewhere between every 5 and every ten games. That’s quite regular, so get used to them.

Look at longer term patterns. Be patient (with everyone - Leam made the point about big Kelv in that he’s now got almost four seasons under his belt but he’s 22 and necessarily missed out on some key learning points and experiences had we got him out on loan)

We’re running at about 1.8 ppg under Leam, 9 points every 5 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats in 10, basically). It’s play-off form. And it’s still one loss every five games.

Anyway, the big thing to get sorted over the next summer is strength and conditioning. We’re into the “carefully manage fitness” stage of the season, so there’s going to be the odd player ‘inexplicably’ rested from time to time.

That proper close season might be enough to bridge that ten per cent gap…

Completely agree with the consensus we're not quite good enough this season, but that also with good summer recruitment and a good pre season we should be a serious force next season. I think Richardson has shown enough to give me confidence that we will be.

If you told me when the takeover happened in May that we'd have made this much progress by March I'd have been happy, let alone if you'd suggested it in October.

[tidus_mi2]

Coming to the conclusion that we are just not good enough - need just a 5-10% improvement and we are sorted.

We improved a lot, with very little credit, over the midpart of the season but this (and last) season should be hammering home some lessons.

There are going to be shit games. Somewhere between every 5 and every ten games. That’s quite regular, so get used to them.

Look at longer term patterns. Be patient (with everyone - Leam made the point about big Kelv in that he’s now got almost four seasons under his belt but he’s 22 and necessarily missed out on some key learning points and experiences had we got him out on loan)

We’re running at about 1.8 ppg under Leam, 9 points every 5 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats in 10, basically). It’s play-off form. And it’s still one loss every five games.

Anyway, the big thing to get sorted over the next summer is strength and conditioning. We’re into the “carefully manage fitness” stage of the season, so there’s going to be the odd player ‘inexplicably’ rested from time to time.

That proper close season might be enough to bridge that ten per cent gap…

Completely agree with the consensus we're not quite good enough this season, but that also with good summer recruitment and a good pre season we should be a serious force next season. I think Richardson has shown enough to give me confidence that we will be.

If you told me when the takeover happened in May that we'd have made this much progress by March I'd have been happy, let alone if you'd suggested it in October.

Also agreed and I'd much rather go up as one of the standout sides of the division rather than sneak our way up through the play-offs while looking unconvincing in a lot of games, it just wouldn't fill me with any confidence for the following season in the Championship.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We improved a lot, with very little credit, over the midpart of the season but this (and last) season should be hammering home some lessons.

There are going to be shit games. Somewhere between every 5 and every ten games. That’s quite regular, so get used to them.

Look at longer term patterns. Be patient (with everyone - Leam made the point about big Kelv in that he’s now got almost four seasons under his belt but he’s 22 and necessarily missed out on some key learning points and experiences had we got him out on loan)

We’re running at about 1.8 ppg under Leam, 9 points every 5 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats in 10, basically). It’s play-off form. And it’s still one loss every five games.

Anyway, the big thing to get sorted over the next summer is strength and conditioning. We’re into the “carefully manage fitness” stage of the season, so there’s going to be the odd player ‘inexplicably’ rested from time to time.

That proper close season might be enough to bridge that ten per cent gap…

Completely agree with the consensus we're not quite good enough this season, but that also with good summer recruitment and a good pre season we should be a serious force next season. I think Richardson has shown enough to give me confidence that we will be.

If you told me when the takeover happened in May that we'd have made this much progress by March I'd have been happy, let alone if you'd suggested it in October.

Also agreed and I'd much rather go up as one of the standout sides of the division rather than sneak our way up through the play-offs while looking unconvincing in a lot of games, it just wouldn't fill me with any confidence for the following season in the Championship.

I'd take a sneaky promotion this season any day. Look at Bolton - they were one of the best teams in 23/24 and lost at Wembley, then last season they under performed which can happen in any season. This season they're one of the strongest again but will be in the play-offs which means they could still be here next season.

You take promotion in any form you can get it, as being "a force" in the division may mean being like Bolton.

[tidus_mi2]

Completely agree with the consensus we're not quite good enough this season, but that also with good summer recruitment and a good pre season we should be a serious force next season. I think Richardson has shown enough to give me confidence that we will be.

If you told me when the takeover happened in May that we'd have made this much progress by March I'd have been happy, let alone if you'd suggested it in October.

Also agreed and I'd much rather go up as one of the standout sides of the division rather than sneak our way up through the play-offs while looking unconvincing in a lot of games, it just wouldn't fill me with any confidence for the following season in the Championship.

I'd take a sneaky promotion this season any day. Look at Bolton - they were one of the best teams in 23/24 and lost at Wembley, then last season they under performed which can happen in any season. This season they're one of the strongest again but will be in the play-offs which means they could still be here next season.

You take promotion in any form you can get it, as being "a force" in the division may mean being like Bolton.

Yeah I see the point, would compare our situation to Oxford and I suppose they've stayed up once already and could still stay up again, could compare to Charlton as well who seem to have pulled themselves away from the relegation scrap.

[Snowflake Royal]

Coming to the conclusion that we are just not good enough - need just a 5-10% improvement and we are sorted.

We improved a lot, with very little credit, over the midpart of the season but this (and last) season should be hammering home some lessons.

There are going to be shit games. Somewhere between every 5 and every ten games. That’s quite regular, so get used to them.

Look at longer term patterns. Be patient (with everyone - Leam made the point about big Kelv in that he’s now got almost four seasons under his belt but he’s 22 and necessarily missed out on some key learning points and experiences had we got him out on loan)

We’re running at about 1.8 ppg under Leam, 9 points every 5 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats in 10, basically). It’s play-off form. And it’s still one loss every five games.

Anyway, the big thing to get sorted over the next summer is strength and conditioning. We’re into the “carefully manage fitness” stage of the season, so there’s going to be the odd player ‘inexplicably’ rested from time to time.

That proper close season might be enough to bridge that ten per cent gap…

Completely agree with the consensus we're not quite good enough this season, but that also with good summer recruitment and a good pre season we should be a serious force next season. I think Richardson has shown enough to give me confidence that we will be.

If you told me when the takeover happened in May that we'd have made this much progress by March I'd have been happy, let alone if you'd suggested it in October.

Mostly agree, but I think the reason we aren't good enough is that opening 6 games, mainly the first three. Stick a win in that first three, and I think we probably just make it.

[stealthpapes]

We're clearly not competitive enough to put together a proper tilt at a title.

But the difference between us now and a play-off spot in a month or two really is a marginal gain. Having more than 7 pros at the start of the summer. Differences in player preparation. Just holding on in any number of games.

Wait a second.

Let's have a think back to last season.

There's a good handful or two of games (but I'm thinking Crawley away most) where we just couldn't hold onto a lead.

[tidus_mi2]

We're clearly not competitive enough to put together a proper tilt at a title.

But the difference between us now and a play-off spot in a month or two really is a marginal gain. Having more than 7 pros at the start of the summer. Differences in player preparation. Just holding on in any number of games.

Wait a second.

Let's have a think back to last season.

There's a good handful or two of games (but I'm thinking Crawley away most) where we just couldn't hold onto a lead.

I think part of the frustrations with this season is, as you say, the similarities to last season, it was a valiant effort but should have been the transition season and carrying the momentum to this season.

But because of the DY hangover, we didn't go into this season with a complete enough squad, sold HK for decent money but I think in hindsight there are also big questions to what the hell Hunt and the coaching staff were doing in pre-season because there are just regular complaints about player fitness.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We're close to being good enough for 6th this season, really close and the bad start could be the difference.

But top 4 with chance to really go at automatic promotion? Much further off, but that's where we should be aiming to be next season.

[stealthpapes]

This isn't just a defence of Hunt but ... IMO there is some mitigation.

(a) change in manager means a difference in style, change in focus. Expect some things to fit a lot less well.

(b) players were coming in throughout the summer, all the way to the end of August (Ritchie, Marriott), and on into the season.

[Snowflake Royal]

We're close to being good enough for 6th this season, really close and the bad start could be the difference.

But top 4 with chance to really go at automatic promotion? Much further off, but that's where we should be aiming to be next season.

Yep

[WestYorksRoyal]

This isn't just a defence of Hunt but ... IMO there is some mitigation.

(a) change in manager means a difference in style, change in focus. Expect some things to fit a lot less well.

(b) players were coming in throughout the summer, all the way to the end of August (Ritchie, Marriott), and on into the season.

It feels like we were light on managerial and coaching experience over the summer, and we brought in a CEO who was green too. Perhaps we just didn't have clear expectations of how a good pre season looks like, and then on top of that we had the recruitment issues outlined. It was a tough gig for Noel, no question.

[Brogue]

This isn't just a defence of Hunt but ... IMO there is some mitigation.

(a) change in manager means a difference in style, change in focus. Expect some things to fit a lot less well.

(b) players were coming in throughout the summer, all the way to the end of August (Ritchie, Marriott), and on into the season.

It feels like we were light on managerial and coaching experience over the summer, and we brought in a CEO who was green too. Perhaps we just didn't have clear expectations of how a good pre season looks like, and then on top of that we had the recruitment issues outlined. It was a tough gig for Noel, no question.

Nigel gibbs leaving and replacing him with Scott Marshall was one of the main reasons hunt failed.

[tidus_mi2]

This isn't just a defence of Hunt but ... IMO there is some mitigation.

(a) change in manager means a difference in style, change in focus. Expect some things to fit a lot less well.

(b) players were coming in throughout the summer, all the way to the end of August (Ritchie, Marriott), and on into the season.

It feels like we were light on managerial and coaching experience over the summer, and we brought in a CEO who was green too. Perhaps we just didn't have clear expectations of how a good pre season looks like, and then on top of that we had the recruitment issues outlined. It was a tough gig for Noel, no question.

Nigel gibbs leaving and replacing him with Scott Marshall was one of the main reasons hunt failed.

There's been a lot of rumours spreading around that Couhig didn't back Hunt but without anything credible to back that up I've never really taken it seriously, just never felt like you'd offer a guy a 3 year contract just to set him up to fail.

[Extended-Phenotype]

On Richardson, he seems to come out with the same snippets to the press regarding players who are fit but not being played.

Firstly Rinomhota was "contending with competition for places" and now he has used the same phrase with Kadan Young (who is back fit as he's travelled with the squad to the last two away games).

I imagine the majority would think Rinomhota is better than Fraser and Young is worth a try over Lane off the bench.

It seems strange to bring them both in but not start them unless they are really poor in training.

From the Q&A, there is a lot of concern about fitness. Players might be fit - aka not injured - but not fit enough to earn a spot on the bench, or if they make the bench, not fit enough for X minutes. Don’t forget fitness is not just about being a bit rusty, or a percentage off your best. It’s also about being less prone to (another) injury and returning to square one again.

[MR. CYNICAL]

On Richardson, he seems to come out with the same snippets to the press regarding players who are fit but not being played.

Firstly Rinomhota was "contending with competition for places" and now he has used the same phrase with Kadan Young (who is back fit as he's travelled with the squad to the last two away games).

I imagine the majority would think Rinomhota is better than Fraser and Young is worth a try over Lane off the bench.

It seems strange to bring them both in but not start them unless they are really poor in training.

From the Q&A, there is a lot of concern about fitness. Players might be fit - aka not injured - but not fit enough to earn a spot on the bench, or if they make the bench, not fit enough for X minutes. Don’t forget fitness is not just about being a bit rusty, or a percentage off your best. It’s also about being less prone to (another) injury and returning to square one again.

Don't think Rinomhota had an injury at all and surely he's had the same time if not more than a normal pre-season since he returned from his absence.