Worthingite
Sexy Pete... :D
the ability to play with a style and flair that will eventually allow us to compete with much better teams. All the managers above built teams based on gritty determination, scaring the beejesus out of the opposition, sticking together, grinding out results and, most of all, had a 30+ goal striker. as soon as they got anywhere near the championship - we went straight into a relegation fight.
yesterday was indeed poor - but the game was in the balance against a very good team in form, until a very unlucky deflection. i honestly believe we are close to being a top side in this division and ditching the manager is going to set us back.
Sure, we could get in 'name' like curbishley or howe etc. or we could take another flyer on an up and coming young manager. this may or may not work. but if we do that we can also enjoy watching gus get Leeds back into the prem and challenging with 2/3 seasons. blimey - in that scenario we would probably end up with warnock.
Eventually will get us nowhere. Let's be brutally honest - we're playing, at best, at relegation form. If we keep believing that the corner will be turned, and that Gus will lead us to the promised land, we're going to be waiting a very long time. It's galling to go to the Amex, week in week out and see performances like yesterdays, and the performances against the likes of Middlesborough, Birmingham, Bristol City and Millwall.
In Barber speak, we are consumers, and if people are dissatisfied with the product on offer, they're going to walk. Might sound shit, but it's the truth. I've always been a Gus fan, but he's taken us as far as he can, tactically and mentally. His unwillingness to try other formations, and his stubbornness over certain players and positions is making his position, IMO more and more untenable with every game.
Right now, if Sean O'Driscoll or Eddie Howe had any interest, I'd be biting their hand off if I was TB. Still young, experience at this level, and more importantly, not afraid to take risks.