Let’s get the review out of the way.
I didn’t see it and didn’t really need too.
We conceded a goal early in the second half, again from a stupid defensive mistake (this time on Guzan’s part) and then failed to score, albeit we apparently had some chances.
Swansea were dire and we still couldn’t beat them.
Review over.
Same old, same old and none of it’s a surprise is it?
In my opinion, we now have only one winnable game left, which is Newcastle at home.
And I really expect us to lose that.
Let’s clarify what I’m saying here.
I don’t think we’re going to get another point this season, the way things stand.
And that is just disgraceful.
Which is where you have to look at Remi Garde’s record.
And it’s simply atrocious, at any level.
The simple fact is we’ve won three games out of twenty-three. I make that a fraction over a 13% win ratio. Which to me says it all.
While I’ve made myself pretty clear that I’ve had serious doubts about Garde being the right man for a while now, I’ve also listened to the arguments that he was dealt a dreadful hand with the squad we have. It’s something I agree with.
And I’m also happy to bear in mind that he was stitched up in the transfer window.
It can’t possibly be fair to judge his merits as a manager and someone who knows decent footballers without having the chance to bring at least a couple in.
But it is fair to expect that something might change for the better, at least. That’s what a decent manager achieves in any job if he’s any good, surely?
Whether it’s merely improved morale, a more efficient way of working or better communication or whatever?
But it simply hasn’t happened, as far as I can see.
If you believe the stories that are going around, morale is lower than whale proverbial.
It’s been suggested that there’s a split amongst the squad for a while and today I’ve read that there’s a split between the top squad and the academy.
While you often can’t believe what you read in the media, my opinion says there’s no smoke without fire and there has to be some substance behind these stories.
In Garde’s defence, I suspect he knows full well what the problems are, but he lacks an “enforcer”, who can make Garde’s decisions happen, by being a more physical, dominant type.
In other words, Garde’s too nice a bloke to say what he sees. Or at least put it across in a forceful enough way.
Which is exactly what we don’t need.
I’m also now beginning to suspect that this is the reason why Garde never got any money to spend.
I reckon he can’t dominate the squad when things aren’t working and he frankly doesn’t know how to get round this problem.
It would certainly explain why there seems no discipline in the way we play, wouldn’t it?
Even if I’m miles off the mark in my guesswork, it doesn’t really matter.
The simple facts are Garde looks like a beaten man in charge of a team that is beaten before it walks on the pitch.
And it’s only a matter of time now before he leaves.
There are only two questions remaining for me now.
1) Will Garde walk or will he wait to be paid off? (my money says the latter. I’d take a world of crap over a few more months for what will be at least a £1 million payout).
2) Why the hell are we apparently considering Kevin McDonald to take over as the interim manager again?
I reckon I could do a better job than him and I’m not the sort who promotes himself, trust me.
Simply an awful choice when we have Brian Little amongst our ranks, in my opinion.
