Coyle taking us to the precipice
clapped off for nearly holding out for a nil-nil at home.
An improved defensive show, aided and abetted by some Arsenal-like Fulham over-elaboration but significantly brought about on the day a couple of reasonably-seasoned campaigners at this level were introduced to the defence, spared us the indignities of conceding two or three early doors for fun.
But we are clutching at very thin straws indeed in these times. Coyle’s claims that we “deserved” more were apparently based on the fact that over the course of 97 minutes on our own midden we had fashioned two halfchances (both falling to Graham who looks like a watered down tribute act to the standout talisman he became last season).
Even my pre-teen daughter had groaned when the six minutes went up for extra time, saying : “We’ll never hang on here.” Coyle even made reference to it after: what other manager wouldn’t see a few minutes extra as an opportunity to win a game at home?
With a couple of creative midfielders he himself signed on the bench (young Samuelson he described as one of the best youngsters around on capturing him), Liam Feeney was introduced.
Coyle has made 10 signings up to press. On Saturday four of his swiftlyacclaimed first five (”Owen Coyle showing why he was the right choice,” Mike Cheston trumpeted proudly but prematurely to the compliant local press) weren’t in the starting XI. One wasn’t even on the bench.
Of course he has had to provide replacements for departed pair Duffy (a sad exit for the terrace hero of Griffin Park just a few weeks earlier) and Hanley but with Stokes, Feeney, Byrne and Hendrie all struggling to justify a start, the manager is effectively making signings to replace earlier signings.
An admission, in effect that for all the “we’re ready mentally and physically” talk that he now clearly doesn’t believe the squad he chose to begin the season with wasn’t good enough.
Most will sympathise that he isn’t getting a decent financial hand to play with but the departure of his predecessor told any likely applicant that that would be the case.
For that first few weeks of careless preparation alone he deserves to go. We are playing catch up before the end of August.
Those who say: “Who would want it? Who would come?” have a good point but it is also impossible to believe that there isn’t an out of work manager who could organise even this inadequate collection of players a little better.
And, yes, I am currently regarding a managerial change as a more immediate priority than any hoped-for alteration of our ownership.
You can turn a season around in no time if you know what you’re doing as the likes of Warnock and Lee Johnson showed last season. David Warner breezed into bottom four Huddersfield, kept them up and has transformed the club.
All of them of course work for dedicated and passionately supportive owners but even at thousands of miles remove with a couple of patsies going back and forth, Cheston and the Rao family ought to be able to get their heads together and nip Coyle’s insane lemming-like dash for the precipice in the bud.
A public meeting this week will attempt to unite different factions and clans of Rovers’ support into some commonality of purpose and deed. I can’t be there but wish them well and anyone wanting to read further into one fan’s excellent suggestions can do so on my extended Blueyedboy@wordpress. com blog.
I differ slightly in my opinion from his (something which responses to my blog demonstrate is beyond the ken of many), in that I firmly believe the Venkys will exit precisely when they feel like it no matter how concerted, creative or clever the efforts to unseat or humiliate them.
I do refute, however, suggestions that this column has played no part in attempting to disrupt their tenure.
The Observer has a braver editorial policy than you will find in Rovers coverage anywhere and I’ve never been asked to amend a single word in years of sometime searing criticism.
I and we will continue to give our opinions without fear or favour.