Sunday 16 December 2007

Sanchez must go NOW!

Another game; another week closer to relegation. Saturday's lame defeat to Newcastle reinforced my long-held belief that Sanchez is not the man to take us forward. He's had ample time - and money - to prove his worth but, thus far, has failed miserably.

This weekend he was bemoaning our luck (good teams make their own luck as well Lawrie; we're not especially cursed by the Gods); just after attacking bookmakers for taking bets on who will be the next manager facing the axe.

A few weeks back he was suggesting we needed to change the points system; then he was pointing out we'd be top of the league if all games finished at halftime - i'm paraphrasing, of course, but that was the point he was trying to make.

I'm tired of his rantings and I'm tired of his excuses. It was a gamble putting him in charge of the team and it's a gamble that has failed. We are simply not up to it. Two wins in four months is ridiculous. We can't win at home; we can't win away. What's more, the players seem as confused by what's going on as we do in the crowd.

Now, I don't think any of us can fault the lads' commitment in the second 45 on Saturday (although the first half was dire). We were all over Newcastle. Bouazza was threatening; we passed the ball around sweetly; chances came and went...And then, well, we all know what happened in injury time. The point is we shouldn't have been in a position to allow them to rob us like that. We should have had the match wrapped up long before then.

Unless we enjoy a dramatic transformation in fortunes, the trap door is looming...fast. To be honest, I really can't see us getting clear. The relegation dogfight is here and it's here to stay.

Sanchez has been given his chance...and blown it. He hardly worked miracles when he replaced Coleman at the end of last season, but we were assured things would be different this time around once his own players were in situ...

...Well, he wasn't wrong there. Within four months he has managed to do what Coleman never achieved: taking us into the relegation zone. Unless he is replaced with immediate effect then he will go down in history as the first manager to take us out of the Premier League.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rob

I reckon you'll get your way sooner rather than later. Whatever the rights and wrongs of things the points aren't there and the crowd has almost completely turned against him.

I really can't see any way that the club can proceed as we are.

Let's just get it over with.
Rich

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more. Within the first five minutes on Saturday you could sense the crowd turning and the negativity was audible throughout... none more so than when the crowd disgracefully cheered Steven Davis' substitution.

It was a very poor decision to appoint this man and MAF needs to be big enough to admit his mistake and correct it before it's too late. We're already running out of games

Jason Gatties said...

We played well in spurts in the 2nd half but outside of that, a very pathetic effort Saturday.

We are in a situation now where every match is a "must win" situation. I dunno, I'm at a loss. I just know it hurts.

Anonymous said...

The is one of three sites where I've been recommending patience with LS. After Saturday, I give up. Newcastle were there waiting to be taken apart, and were thrilled to be getting the one point.

I have no belief that LS is capable of running a good club. I agree that he needs to go and very soon. I think we have a better squad than at least 5 or 6 EPL sides, but the way we're playing, in a month or so people will be asking "who's going down with Derby and Fulham?"

Rob, you and I must be the only ones who (a) think Murphy is dross and (b) think Steve Davis is worth hanging on to. What's wrong with us? :-)

COYW

Rob said...

i don't know hatterdon - i guess we'll either be proved spectactularly wrong or right!!!

Every match i look for positives in murphy's play but i can't...Davis, on the other hand, seems to be getting stronger by the match...

I hate calling for someone's head but, like you, I just don't believe that Lawrie has the ability to turn it around