Uh oh, the NP apologists are back.
So the random factors such as Bolton bottling it in the second half or Florist leaving one defender to mark four of our attackers in injury time makes all the difference to the future direction of our club, does it?
Is it not of significance that yet another one of our senior players is currently banned from the club for daring to question the arrogant prick (the issue has been widely reported elsewhere)? What about the fact that we've continually shown relegation form for several months now? What about the routinely absurd selections, tactical ignorance, bizarre substitutions and gutless, small minded behaviour (snubbing RL again yesterday because IS dared to challenge him the previous week)?
We have a significantly better squad than anyone else in the play offs and, for me, much better than Hull and, at least, on a par with Cardiff. Our wage bill and financial edge also gives us a clear advantage over most. Yet we're to be grateful for scrambling for a play off place? Just like the last time he was here, we've reached the play offs with a divided squad largely because of the incompetence of one man (together with his utterly pointless assistant Shakespeare). This will be a much bigger obstacle for our players than Watford, and potentially Brighton/Palace.
Make no mistake, win or lose, after these play offs, he needs to be sacked immediately afterwards. I cheered as much as anyone yesterday but along with most other supporters, I wasn't singing our managers name. We can do much, much better than him in the Championship, let alone the Premier League. Yesterday changes nothing in that regard.
The first time he was our manager he did a good job in League One and for the bulk of the first Championship season. But his deficiencies had been exposed by the end of that season, which in part, led to him being replaced. Far too little is also made of the fact that we had Chris Powell as our main coach during this period and his impact on our performances and achievements is undervalued by foggy minds. One of NPs key failings since his return has been not appointing a first team coach worthy of the name. If NP could be big enough to recognise this factor and adequately address it, he may be worthy of a bit more time. However, his ignorance is his main deficiency and throughout his managerial career, will inhibit him. By means of comparison, he chooses the ultimate managerial arrogance of signing his own son instead.
