it's a cold hard 6 in terms of results. not bad, competent, competitive, but could have been quite a bit better.
but I reckon he is a truly outstanding judge of a player, and is as good as any at developing the ones he fancies. 9 on that score
seems to have a very clear vision and is single minded, courageous even, in taking the neccessary steps. 8.
definitely has the right mix of balls and tact to handle the media and other clubs. loving the mind games. 8
perhaps overdid the high handed, tactically tight approach, but seemed to have little option, due to the atmosphere created by MH's sacking, and the general anarchy and lack of respect towards the club.
appears to have calmed down, and reduced the demands in several areas (notice there were no tactical sheets in use on Saturday)? In any case, it's an old strategy for man-management; the fierce sergeant-major relaxes once his charges have passed boot camp. Even if it wasn't pre-meditated, changing your approach is a hugely difficult and dangerous thing to do. So easy to do it for the wrong reasons, so rare to have a clear impression of how you could improve your approach. It's not just enough to listen to others, because 'others' will tell you any old shit, tainted by their own needs and views. It's having put the right people in the right places who can give you the right feedback, knowing who to listen to and when. Good stuff if it comes off.
Overall, 8, mainly because i kind of like him, and I think there is obvious promise of much much more to come from this system and these players.
Our house could turn out to be made of straw, but having watched him closely, I doubt it. Can he fix it? Yes he can. Bob the Builder.
