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The Large One
Who's Next?
I am very happy with Wilkins as the manager, and always was from the day he was given the 'First Team Coach' position in the summer. It always meant he was destined to be the Albion's manager on McGhee's departure - even if it was going to be temporarily. However, as much as it's important for the players to carry on learning, so it's equally important for Wilkins to carry on learning.
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Gully
Monkey in a seagull suit.
I was very happy with the appointment of Wilkins, despite being more than a little worried about his lack of experience, he is however Albion through and through. Given our lack of funds to compete in the transfer market we will rely on the odd shrewd loan signing and what we already have. It is obvious to me that the club is relying largely on the product of our youth system, the very thing that DW has been instrumental in creating, we have already seen what it has produced so far, goodness only knows what joys it has yet to unleash on us.
DW is the right man for the job, despite the current blip in form, I have every faith in him.
DW is the right man for the job, despite the current blip in form, I have every faith in him.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Yorkie said:
5 losses on the bounce my dear girl
London Irish
Well-known member
He has impressed me a lot as a football thinker and as a coach, I like the shape of the teams he puts out and I like his tactics and the thinking behind his subs. The only worry when you look at some of his ashen-faced post-match interviews is you wonder how well he is coping with the huge extra pressures that management brings, but I am sure he just wears his heart on his sleeve and I have no problem with that.
As a big McGhee fan, I don't think our previous manager would be getting much more out of the current squad of players.
They key to our moving forward is getting some experienced players in - and that buck stops at Dick Knight, whether we are talking about Mark McGhee's time or Dean Wilkins's.
As a big McGhee fan, I don't think our previous manager would be getting much more out of the current squad of players.
They key to our moving forward is getting some experienced players in - and that buck stops at Dick Knight, whether we are talking about Mark McGhee's time or Dean Wilkins's.
Goring Gull
New member
Mm with some sort of financial backing from the Dickster would have kept u sin the championship - but he didn't and the rest is history. Once MM had no cash he became disheartened with it all the players picked up on this and he had to go.
Deano has now had his honeymoon period and the pitches and are getting heavy on our youngsters legs, i fear bottom four by end of february.
Deano has now had his honeymoon period and the pitches and are getting heavy on our youngsters legs, i fear bottom four by end of february.
The Large One
Who's Next?
What would you know? You hardly ever see them.
Goring Gull
New member
The Large One said:
But am i likely to be far wrong come the league table end of february? Only time will tell.
I've seen a fair few games this season more than for a while, Bournemouth inparticular was a shocker
Hate to say it but Millwall at home - on past history against struggling clubs has got home defeat written all over it.
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Think he is still learning his trade as a man in charge. Like him a lot and hope he makes a go of it, If we finish in top half of table at end of season that will be success IMHO.
I just wish he would not bring on that board at every match; it looks so geekish and as if he cannot remember what tactics he has told the team
I just wish he would not bring on that board at every match; it looks so geekish and as if he cannot remember what tactics he has told the team
Loft23
New member
Wilkins isn't a great manager. But I think he's the right manager for us, partly because he has worked with a number of the younger players who are now part of our first team.
He has signed a few young players on loan but no one special. But I think McGhee could have signed those sort of players as well if he wanted to but he wanted more experienced league players.
Without sounding negative, we have to focus now on getting enough points to stay up. Depending on when we do that, we can then aim to finish around mid-table. But unless a miracle happens, the play-offs are out of the question!
He has signed a few young players on loan but no one special. But I think McGhee could have signed those sort of players as well if he wanted to but he wanted more experienced league players.
Without sounding negative, we have to focus now on getting enough points to stay up. Depending on when we do that, we can then aim to finish around mid-table. But unless a miracle happens, the play-offs are out of the question!
NMH
Banned
The Large One said:
Poignant. Though I would disagree with the last sentance only in saying that it's MORE important that Wilkins learn, and be 'ahead of the game' ultimately.
He DOES gather the concept of playing to the strengths of the squad members as individuals - gone are the high balls to small players, and asking them to outrun centre-backs with legs twice as long as theirs.
El-Abd - well, this bloke has become a revelation! I fear for us losing him to another club, he's brave and physical, and growing in stature with every game! He'll make an excellent Captain if he keeps this up - I can't speak highly enough of his play since moved to midfield. Another Brian Horton? Not today, but the potential is there.
Perhaps the thing that might hold DW from taking tactical methods to the next level, might be the flexibility of the players themselves - and that we can't spend loads in finding potential star players. I do think that we can afford 3 defenders and 2 strikers when we have a 5-man midfield, when we are goal/s down (or 4-4-2 when level). Defending, for us, should only be bolstered at cost to the attack, if we get a 2-goal lead!
Silent Bob
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
- Dec 6, 2004
- 22,172
Look at our form when we have had hectic runs of games - the bad run when he first took charge - the bad run over Christmas. There would have been nothing like this in the youth - we have a young manager who is still learning, not just a young team. The team was a bit of a mess when he too over but he's slowly reshaping and improving it.
Long live the Dean Wilkins era indeed.
Long live the Dean Wilkins era indeed.
The Large One
Who's Next?
I think Adam El-Abd and Dean Hammond are the two players who have benefitted most from Wilkins' appointment.
El-Abd improved sharply last season when he got his chances at right-back, but putting him in midfield has been a superb re-arrangement of resources. I also think making Hammond captain (ahead of Butters and Carpenter) was a masterstroke. From an absolute mare of a season last season (and fact it - through most of it he was awful), to this season where he leads the team, often by example.
I would only disagree with your captaincy summation on one point, NMH. I think the 'Horton in the making' tag can quite easily be given to Hammond. People say he doesn't lead, but watch him throughout the game when he's not on the ball, he's forever shouting, encouraging and cajoling. He just doesn't ALWAYS have to do it at 300 decibels. I remember him tearing an absolute dirty strip off Frutos yesterday for not doing what he was supposed to.
He's nowhere near being the finished article, but his potential for a long capataincy era is very exciting.
El-Abd improved sharply last season when he got his chances at right-back, but putting him in midfield has been a superb re-arrangement of resources. I also think making Hammond captain (ahead of Butters and Carpenter) was a masterstroke. From an absolute mare of a season last season (and fact it - through most of it he was awful), to this season where he leads the team, often by example.
I would only disagree with your captaincy summation on one point, NMH. I think the 'Horton in the making' tag can quite easily be given to Hammond. People say he doesn't lead, but watch him throughout the game when he's not on the ball, he's forever shouting, encouraging and cajoling. He just doesn't ALWAYS have to do it at 300 decibels. I remember him tearing an absolute dirty strip off Frutos yesterday for not doing what he was supposed to.
He's nowhere near being the finished article, but his potential for a long capataincy era is very exciting.
NMH
Banned
Then we have two fine examples, and potentially leaders, both in the midfield.
That couldn't be better for us.
That couldn't be better for us.
NMH
Banned
With Guy Butters, (hopefully fit) Adam Hinshelwood, Gary Hart and (hopefully finding form) Joel Lynch in defence, there's a lot to feel good about.
Cox, Revell, Robinson and (finding form) Gatting...... we have talent and potential, as well as the experience and economy in our squad.
It puts a spotlight again on Dean Wilkins, because when this squad plays well, the tactics only need to be well-thought and properly implemented and we should be flying!
Cox, Revell, Robinson and (finding form) Gatting...... we have talent and potential, as well as the experience and economy in our squad.
It puts a spotlight again on Dean Wilkins, because when this squad plays well, the tactics only need to be well-thought and properly implemented and we should be flying!
The Large One
Who's Next?
What concerns me about player development at the club is the forwards. Alex Revell is the eldest of four main forwards we have at present, and there is barely 100 professional games between them.
Yesterday showed up a fairly gaping problem. Namely that, as good as our forwards are, there appears to be little further forward they can progress without an experienced striker coming to the club to teach them a few 'tricks of the trade'. Robinson and Revell were marked far too easily by the West Ham defenders, and neither really appeared to know how to cope.
When Virgo was made centre-forward, he had some help from Mark McGhee, Bob Booker - themselves reasonable forwards - and Steve Claridge. Virgo appeared to learn a fair amount from them. Sadly, there appears to be no-one at the club right now who can help. An experienced journeyman centre-forward might be required, even if on loan for a couple of months.
Yesterday showed up a fairly gaping problem. Namely that, as good as our forwards are, there appears to be little further forward they can progress without an experienced striker coming to the club to teach them a few 'tricks of the trade'. Robinson and Revell were marked far too easily by the West Ham defenders, and neither really appeared to know how to cope.
When Virgo was made centre-forward, he had some help from Mark McGhee, Bob Booker - themselves reasonable forwards - and Steve Claridge. Virgo appeared to learn a fair amount from them. Sadly, there appears to be no-one at the club right now who can help. An experienced journeyman centre-forward might be required, even if on loan for a couple of months.
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NMH
Banned
Not sure if that isn't down to coaching.
Just as players don't move for throw-ins, so you spotlight forwards that don't get away from markers.
Some movement is required, to make, and find spaces.
Just as players don't move for throw-ins, so you spotlight forwards that don't get away from markers.
Some movement is required, to make, and find spaces.
The Large One
Who's Next?
I was thinking more in terms of the little nudge, the run across the defenders, the bump, the hustle, the shimmy, the shake, the watusi.NMH said:
Very sedate yesterday from R&R.