Brown Nose
Well-Known Member
I think those of us who were forcibly critical of NP last season were right to be. He made a lot of very foolish mistakes that cost us a terrific chance of promotion.
I genuinely didn't see a man of 50 who'd shown no sense of his own deficiencies learning, changing or improving. But he has.
His management of the squad over the Millwall/Stoke games was excellent. His faith in people like Vardy was clearly well placed. His ability to change tactics, personnel and formation when appropriate has appeared from nowhere and he is to be commended for that.
I still can't go too far and say that I like NP. Or that I think he'd be any good as a Premier League manager. But I've evolved enough to want to see him given a shot at it.
I hope other critics of NP can, like me, truly respect what he's done this season even though I suspect we still half expect him to feck it all up with some insane decision and retreat back into pig-headed stubbornness.
I hope NP listened to some of the criticism he received and acknowledged that there was something in it. I will always maintain the MONs drive and achievements were fueled by the early criticism of him and fear that his career could disintegrate. Sometimes, it's a very effective means of moving someone forward. Sometimes it's not.
NP is doing a good job now and it's a poor show if his critics cannot counter criticism with praise where it is due.
