I managed to speak with Smudge in the Wheelers Suite before the match. The question I asked was as a player / coach who has been here for a few seasons, are you able to see why things go wrong? He thought and was considered in his reply. Basically he said last season, the footballing philosophy is the MOST important criteria which has to run from youth team through to the first team. Ricardo set the footballing vision , which in the end, just needed a little tweaking to achieve success. Instead the trigger happy Board unfortunately appointed a guy that was the polar opposite of everything that was trying to be achieved, both in style of play, man management, training etc. "Players are simple beings...they need simple instructions" but when you have such a drastic change, you get a car crash situation just waiting to happen and it did big time.

I wanted to delve deeper into the Kevan Yates coaching situation but he had to move on. Actually Smudge has gone up in my estimation, he is intelligent from a footballing sense but I do wonder now, how much of a coaching impact he has, on what followed this evening.

 

 

Personally I think smudges coaching will have an impact on younger players , over a longer time , trouble with our experienced pros they are what they now and maybe there isn't much room for improvement , good to read the above tho @Piethagoram

Its a shame we can't identify someone like him (in midfield) and see if Alan could coach 'em.

I'm not sure one of our young players could be this player, yet I am sure Richards and Thompson could be the energy which gets us forward. I think we just need to find a way of winning the ball back whenever we lose it, yet Smith's experience is certainly paramount away from the pitch. For all people call him, he's a nice guy and he is passionate about football.

On 12/10/2016 at 00:09, Piethagoram said:

he is intelligent from a footballing sense.

basically you are saying he is not from the relationship point of view right?  him and his used motors.