Pearson In

[The Old Fox]

I know I might be accused of sweeping generalisation, but does it seem to anybody else that the majority of people who are calling for a change in manager do not live in the city or its nearabouts and do not attend live matches whilst the majority of people who are happy for NP to stay do regularly get to attend games? I know there are noteworthy exceptions but it does seem to me that there is a clear split on these lines.

This is certainly true, in my case and, it set me thinking. I live in a holiday village upon the East Coast. I meet lots of locals, most of whom are Norwich fans, but also fans from teams across the country, who come to spend their leisure time by the sea. Many are willing to chat about football and most try to be reasonably polite but, it must be said that I do not come across much admiration for Nigel Pearson. Of course, this could be jealousy, but I tend to find that they are more complimentary of other managers.

I do not believe that the fans of many other clubs would be delighted to find that their manager had left and NP taken over. This will, inevitably, colour one's perspective whilst, fans in the City seem, to me, to have bought in to his "bunker attitude". They seem to be able to forgive Nigel for anything, in grateful recognition of his taking us straight out of the First Division.

 

[dpjfox]

i think this season the league has been particularily weak and was there for the taking (mainly because prem relegated teams didnt perform), i think NP is the right man to manage the club within the new rules but i hope he can fathom and admit the shortcomings in the squad and his management. He is a stubborn man and his reluctance to admit mistakes or try new ideas is my major worry, id stick with him but the nucleus is there for the "right man" if available and there is such aperson!!!

 

[homer]

Unless he gets that haircut sorted, he can feck off

It's bringing shame onto the club, fans and the whole of the City and County

 

[SwedeFox]

I know I might be accused of sweeping generalisation, but does it seem to anybody else that the majority of people who are calling for a change in manager do not live in the city or its nearabouts and do not attend live matches whilst the majority of people who are happy for NP to stay do regularly get to attend games? I know there are noteworthy exceptions but it does seem to me that there is a clear split on these lines.

That might be a good point, actually. Possible explanation: if you don't watch the games (like me - although it seems like most of them have been on TV this season), results really are the only measure of improvement. Which could potentially mean we are less patient and more likely to hit the panic button when things go awry, like they have done since Feb. because we overlook improvements in other areas.

 

[Matt_B]

That might be a good point, actually. Possible explanation: if you don't watch the games (like me - although it seems like most of them have been on TV this season), results really are the only measure of improvement. Which could potentially mean we are less patient and more likely to hit the panic button when things go awry, like they have done since Feb. because we overlook improvements in other areas.

Plus, people who tend to rely on hard data, choose the data that suits their aim. Like Drew taking the last 17 games as it suits his argument. The performances over the season were good enough to achieve the playoffs. Performances in May were very good and encouraging. It's all about where you choose to draw the line, whereas those that attend can see the weekly undulations and more subtle aspects. It would also explain why people who attend are less likely, it seems, to brand a player "shit" or "****ing useless" and instead are more likely to recognise a poor patch in form. That's how it seems anyway.

 

[camberwell fox]

Plus, people who tend to rely on hard data, choose the data that suits their aim. Like Drew taking the last 17 games as it suits his argument. The performances over the season were good enough to achieve the playoffs. Performances in May were very good and encouraging. It's all about where you choose to draw the line, whereas those that attend can see the weekly undulations and more subtle aspects. It would also explain why people who attend are less likely, it seems, to brand a player "shit" or "****ing useless" and instead are more likely to recognise a poor patch in form. That's how it seems anyway.

With all due respect Matt, our assessment of the season has to be based on data. Drew picking our 17 game period to highlight our deficiency during the same period is no different to other posters pointing out our great runs of (as i recall) 2 periods of 5 wins over a season.

17 games is fair as he used our last 17 games which is a third of a season, he didn't pick on 5 games or even 10, so 17 seems reasonable.

The reality is (whether you want him to stay or not) our run was disasterous and we did fluke into the play-offs on 68 points. I can't remember the last time another team got into the Championship on such a paltry return, i believe the average is around 72-73. I think most people have come to the conclusion that something major happened to affect our form so perversely - particularly as we had been playing so well earlier in the season. I don't know what that was and we probably will never know.

As it stands right now unless Np can employ someone along side him to counter his obvious short comings then i fear sticking with him will result in another season of 'close, but no cigar'. As a club, can we afford another failure. I wonder if his ego would allow him to be brave enough to employ someone along side to plug his gaps?

 

[MerseyFox]

The reason I think that a change is needed, is Pearson's inability to get the team out of the slump from February. A better ?manager would have managed the situation better, would have terminated the slump quicker. It seemed that he was bereft of ideas to change things.

 

[Matt_B]

With all due respect Matt, our assessment of the season has to be based on data. Drew picking our 17 game period to highlight our deficiency during the same period is no different to other posters pointing out our great runs of (as i recall) 2 periods of 5 wins over a season.

17 games is fair as he used our last 17 games which is a third of a season, he didn't pick on 5 games or even 10, so 17 seems reasonable.

The reality is (whether you want him to stay or not) our run was disasterous and we did fluke into the play-offs on 68 points. I can't remember the last time another team got into the Championship on such a paltry return, i believe the average is around 72-73. I think most people have come to the conclusion that something major happened to affect our form so perversely - particularly as we had been playing so well earlier in the season. I don't know what that was and we probably will never know.

As it stands right now unless Np can employ someone along side him to counter his obvious short comings then i fear sticking with him will result in another season of 'close, but no cigar'. As a club, can we afford another failure. I wonder if his ego would allow him to be brave enough to employ someone along side to plug his gaps?

Of course we didn't fluke in to the playoffs. Over the season we made the playoffs. Over the last 17 games we made the playoffs, deservedly simply by the fact that we had enough points and goals to get there.

 

[bocadillo]

It also seems to me that the people who are there actually see how the players are performing from time to time - and how they make mistakes with the simple things of the game - things that no manager can be responsible for. Could it be that the players, individually and collectively, are more responsible for the club's position than the manager? Without infinite resources, I don't see how a manger can be responsible for that kind of thing.

 

[spionfox]

Which February do you mean? Why have you chosen February?

Because he reckoned our "purple patch" started then :icon_wink

 

[spionfox]

I'm not sure why your first two questions were obtuse considering i'd already made comments to a collapse in February earlier in this thread.

No you didn't - you said we had a purple patch at that time :icon_bigg

 

[Fox From The Hudd]

It also seems to me that the people who are there actually see how the players are performing from time to time - and how they make mistakes with the simple things of the game - things that no manager can be responsible for. Could it be that the players, individually and collectively, are more responsible for the club's position than the manager? Without infinite resources, I don;t see how a manger can be responsible for that kind of thing.

I think that you are right - for me the issue was we didn't have enough players to drop/rest out of form individuals...

The question then becomes is it NP at fault for not strengthening during the transfer window or not getting the best out of SSL, Danns and Beckford...

 

[bocadillo]

Because he reckoned our "purple patch" started then :icon_wink

Was it George Bernard Shaw who once said that Britain and America were two countries divided by a common colour?

 

[spionfox]

The following is the foundation......

Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Schlupp, Moore, Drinkwater, King, Marshall, Knockaert, James, Nugent, Wood

Just out of interest, have we started many matches with eleven of those twelve names and if so, what were the results?

 

[drew]

I know I might be accused of sweeping generalisation, but does it seem to anybody else that the majority of people who are calling for a change in manager do not live in the city or its nearabouts and do not attend live matches whilst the majority of people who are happy for NP to stay do regularly get to attend games? I know there are noteworthy exceptions but it does seem to me that there is a clear split on these lines.

I sit second row back one sit over from the dugout, I think i can safely say I've witnessed some shite this season including the capitulations to Derby and Peterborough.

Any candidate to replace NP would have to be something special, i'm not advocating change for changes sake.

 

[SwedeFox]

It also seems to me that the people who are there actually see how the players are performing from time to time - and how they make mistakes with the simple things of the game - things that no manager can be responsible for. Could it be that the players, individually and collectively, are more responsible for the club's position than the manager? Without infinite resources, I don;t see how a manger can be responsible for that kind of thing.

I do believe the difference between managerial success and failure is much smaller than some people think - at least over a relatively short period of time such as a season - and depends as much on other circumstances as it does on the manager's actual ability.

Not that I think there is another way to do it, mind. A manager will always be responsible for the results of his team, sometimes deservingly, sometimes not.

 

[drew]

My use of purple patch was wrong. Is bad spell clearer?

 

[spionfox]

My use of purple patch was wrong. Is bad spell clearer?

Not clearer, but certainly now accurate :icon_bigg

 

[Brown Nose]

I know I might be accused of sweeping generalisation, but does it seem to anybody else that the majority of people who are calling for a change in manager do not live in the city or its nearabouts and do not attend live matches whilst the majority of people who are happy for NP to stay do regularly get to attend games? I know there are noteworthy exceptions but it does seem to me that there is a clear split on these lines.

Yep, that is a huge generalisation. As someone who has been to a number of matches over recent months, one thing that has been quite apparent is the almost complete lack of any vocal support for the manager at games. His name hasn't been sung which indicates that many of those in attendance are far from bowled over by him.

This site has more pro-NP than anti but another site is the reverse. From my conversations with fans, views are pretty evenly split about persisting with NP. The reality is that opinion is split because either opinion is entirely valid and can be supported with considerable evidence.

NP will either lead us to a much improved season next time out and some will be able to say, 'told you so' or he'll stutter along, be dismissed and others will have their moment of vindication.

 

[Matt_B]

Yep, that is a huge generalisation. As someone who has been to a number of matches over recent months, one thing that has been quite apparent is the almost complete lack of any vocal support for the manager at games. His name hasn't been sung which indicates that many of those in attendance are far from bowled over by him.

This site has more pro-NP than anti but another site is the reverse. From my conversations with fans, views are pretty evenly split about persisting with NP. The reality is that opinion is split because either opinion is entirely valid and can be supported with considerable evidence.

NP will either lead us to a much improved season next time out and some will be able to say, 'told you so' or he'll stutter along, be dismissed and others will have their moment of vindication.

As much as I'd agree with most of that you'd put, using what is effectively a day care centre as a pointer for fans' opinion is a bit daft!