It is not very often that a manager who gets his recruitment so badly wrong in his first full season gets it right second time around. The two main reasons being that his confidence & judgement is shot, after messing it up first time around or; he has been sacked.
I have said on here many times that I'm not one for getting rid of managers rashly, without giving them a fair crack at it. I like Craig, he's honest & he wants to bring success to this club.
It also has to be said he has been unable to motivate most of the players he has signed for most of this season. Something has not been right (especially at home). His post match interviews are now resembling Murray's towards the end, as he is just recycling the same old stuff: 'it's not good enough, "most of them downed tools", I can't accept that lack of effort", some of them are not good enough at this level" etc etc. You signed them all Craig!
I won't be able to get to the forum on Wednesday. If I was going I would like to ask Craig why the recruitment was so poor this season, & what he will do differently to bring in the right players for next season?
That echo's my thoughts too, I like him, he's honest, his track record is very good and he admits to his mistakes, but.......
There's been far too many made this season, almost 50 players used is a ridiculous amount, it screams of something not be right behind the scenes, be it recruitment, scouting or just a general dressing room malaise.
In my book he's got until October to prove we're back on the right track next season, he'd plenty of credit in the bank from last seasons turn around but thats running out given the shambles this season has turned into.
However, and this won't sit easy with a lot on here.......are the board not absolved of blame for appointing these men in the first place? We're told they are the very best candidate but history is showing a consistent track record of failure. Never be let it said that DN and NK don't back their managers, they do as S&H & Greene proved, but look at the others, Taylor, Lee, Drury & Murray.......hardly a ringing endorsement for outstanding appointments is it?
This will be the first forum I can't get to since the farcical McFraud charades where the usual acolytes applauded every bile laden lie from his mouth, hopefully people will ask the difficult questions that need asking tomorrow night, but I'm not holding my breath.