My views on Sousa

[a_kick_in_the_blogocks]

Last week I went to watch Leicester at Fratton Park twice. I left on Tuesday night dreaming of Wembley and a cup run; 3 days later I was left fearing trips to Exeter and Yeovil and considering whether Paulo Sousa was the man to take us forward. When I got home that night I didn’t think he was. We had been battered by a Pompey team that struggled to even score in previous games let alone get a win and they had put 6 passed us! I thought maybe it was time for him to go. I wasn’t the only one as the world of social media and message boards were rammed full of “Sousa out” posts. A defeat to Norwich on Tuesday night and these had multiplied.

But why? Well the obvious answer is because we have looked very poor at the back this year and that we are bottom of the league. This led me to question others and my own expectation. What did we expect? Two seasons ago we were in the third tier of English football and last season our complete over achievement saw us within “chipping” distance of the top tier. Fans on message boards were saying that if Pearson would have stayed then we wouldn’t be in this mess? Maybe we wouldn’t, but would we be in the play off positions again? We’ll never know. My suggestion? file Pearson away with O’Neill.

Don’t get me wrong I am not delighted with our league positioning, far from it but I think that keeping Sousa out weighs getting rid of him. At times we have played some of the best football I have seen in my 28 years of watching City and we have a guy in charge that wants to play football the way the game should be played. I’d rather watch that than players hoof the ball and shout “latch on to that one”! That said I’d also rather be winning games!

The biggest issue Paulo faces is the fans expectations. His plan isn’t going to happen over night, but our expectation is NOW and that is a huge problem for all LCFC fans. Do you remember when Milan Mandaric arrived and he sacked around 54 managers in 4 weeks and we were all left questioning that? I even remember Gary Megson joking about it. The problem now is that although Milan is the man we all love to hate, we have all adopted this “success now” mentality and it is far from healthy. As I understand it the board and the silver suited one have a two year plan, in which case I think us fans need to be reminded of this and in some detail to help us understand how we are going to return to the promise land.

If we look at Ipswich Town last year maybe we can take some belief from them. They are now sitting pretty towards the top of the league, but last year whilst Roy Keane was building a squad, after 15 games they were sat in the position that our beloved Foxes occupy at present. After 30 games they were still only 21st. They eventually finished 15th.

So as City we fans we have two options.

1 – Support him and let him build a team, a style and a way of (hopefully) winning and accept that we will be playing in the Championship at very best next year

2- Call for our managers’ head after only 9 games and repeat this ad nauseum until we return to the promise land.

I’m going with option 1

Keep on smiling

[dandannieldanok]

The pie has forced you to go with option 1

[Trav Le Bleu]

Very eloquently put with some sensible comments.

[Webbo]

The pie has forced you to go with option 1

[Man Of Faith]

Last week I went to watch Leicester at Fratton Park twice. I left on Tuesday night dreaming of Wembley and a cup run; 3 days later I was left fearing trips to Exeter and Yeovil and considering whether Paulo Sousa was the man to take us forward. When I got home that night I didn’t think he was. We had been battered by a Pompey team that struggled to even score in previous games let alone get a win and they had put 6 passed us! I thought maybe it was time for him to go. I wasn’t the only one as the world of social media and message boards were rammed full of “Sousa out” posts. A defeat to Norwich on Tuesday night and these had multiplied.

But why? Well the obvious answer is because we have looked very poor at the back this year and that we are bottom of the league. This led me to question others and my own expectation. What did we expect? Two seasons ago we were in the third tier of English football and last season our complete over achievement saw us within “chipping” distance of the top tier. Fans on message boards were saying that if Pearson would have stayed then we wouldn’t be in this mess? Maybe we wouldn’t, but would we be in the play off positions again? We’ll never know. My suggestion? file Pearson away with O’Neill.

Don’t get me wrong I am not delighted with our league positioning, far from it but I think that keeping Sousa out weighs getting rid of him. At times we have played some of the best football I have seen in my 28 years of watching City and we have a guy in charge that wants to play football the way the game should be played. I’d rather watch that than players hoof the ball and shout “latch on to that one”! That said I’d also rather be winning games!

The biggest issue Paulo faces is the fans expectations. His plan isn’t going to happen over night, but our expectation is NOW and that is a huge problem for all LCFC fans. Do you remember when Milan Mandaric arrived and he sacked around 54 managers in 4 weeks and we were all left questioning that? I even remember Gary Megson joking about it. The problem now is that although Milan is the man we all love to hate, we have all adopted this “success now” mentality and it is far from healthy. As I understand it the board and the silver suited one have a two year plan, in which case I think us fans need to be reminded of this and in some detail to help us understand how we are going to return to the promise land.

If we look at Ipswich Town last year maybe we can take some belief from them. They are now sitting pretty towards the top of the league, but last year whilst Roy Keane was building a squad, after 15 games they were sat in the position that our beloved Foxes occupy at present. After 30 games they were still only 21st. They eventually finished 15th.

So as City we fans we have two options.

1 – Support him and let him build a team, a style and a way of (hopefully) winning and accept that we will be playing in the Championship at very best next year

2- Call for our managers’ head after only 9 games and repeat this ad nauseum until we return to the promise land.

I’m going with option 1

Keep on smiling

[Man Of Faith]

If only every fan though like this - 100% spot on!!!

[rico]

Good post mate

[Chrysalis]

what about goal difference for keanes team?

[caz05]

Last week I went to watch Leicester at Fratton Park twice. I left on Tuesday night dreaming of Wembley and a cup run; 3 days later I was left fearing trips to Exeter and Yeovil and considering whether Paulo Sousa was the man to take us forward. When I got home that night I didn’t think he was. We had been battered by a Pompey team that struggled to even score in previous games let alone get a win and they had put 6 passed us! I thought maybe it was time for him to go. I wasn’t the only one as the world of social media and message boards were rammed full of “Sousa out” posts. A defeat to Norwich on Tuesday night and these had multiplied.

But why? Well the obvious answer is because we have looked very poor at the back this year and that we are bottom of the league. This led me to question others and my own expectation. What did we expect? Two seasons ago we were in the third tier of English football and last season our complete over achievement saw us within “chipping” distance of the top tier. Fans on message boards were saying that if Pearson would have stayed then we wouldn’t be in this mess? Maybe we wouldn’t, but would we be in the play off positions again? We’ll never know. My suggestion? file Pearson away with O’Neill.

Don’t get me wrong I am not delighted with our league positioning, far from it but I think that keeping Sousa out weighs getting rid of him. At times we have played some of the best football I have seen in my 28 years of watching City and we have a guy in charge that wants to play football the way the game should be played. I’d rather watch that than players hoof the ball and shout “latch on to that one”! That said I’d also rather be winning games!

The biggest issue Paulo faces is the fans expectations. His plan isn’t going to happen over night, but our expectation is NOW and that is a huge problem for all LCFC fans. Do you remember when Milan Mandaric arrived and he sacked around 54 managers in 4 weeks and we were all left questioning that? I even remember Gary Megson joking about it. The problem now is that although Milan is the man we all love to hate, we have all adopted this “success now” mentality and it is far from healthy. As I understand it the board and the silver suited one have a two year plan, in which case I think us fans need to be reminded of this and in some detail to help us understand how we are going to return to the promise land.

If we look at Ipswich Town last year maybe we can take some belief from them. They are now sitting pretty towards the top of the league, but last year whilst Roy Keane was building a squad, after 15 games they were sat in the position that our beloved Foxes occupy at present. After 30 games they were still only 21st. They eventually finished 15th.

So as City we fans we have two options.

1 – Support him and let him build a team, a style and a way of (hopefully) winning and accept that we will be playing in the Championship at very best next year

2- Call for our managers’ head after only 9 games and repeat this ad nauseum until we return to the promise land.

I’m going with option 1

Keep on smiling

[Raj]

Ive a mate who supports Ipswich.

He wanted Keano out last season and used to slate him after every defeat.

Doesnt talk much about him at the moment!!!

Think we will see from the reaction of the players on Sat as to the future of Sousa.

Alot will depend on what they do.

[Edmund]

I must thank Mr Sousa for making my accumulator one pick easier each week.

[muzzy1981]

Good post. Breath of fresh air for www.ficklefoxesforum.co.uk

We have to give him a bit more time. My worry is the damage has been done, if he does turn it around and we become a force to be reckoned with (seems hard to believe at the minute, but as stated with Roy Keane things can take time), his loyalty will certainly not be with the club, firts opportunity he'd be off, quick sharp!

Let's not make the mistake of moaning Villa fans who pushed out the best manager they will ever have.

Lets get behind sousa and the team on saturday!!!! Get in to em fook em up!

[a_kick_in_the_blogocks]

what about goal difference for keanes team?

Ipswich finished on -11

Thanks for your kind words team

Keep believing but be realistic

[DB11]

Save your pie more like!

[Finnegan]

While I remain largely on the fence re Sousa and while we do have some terribly fickle fans (hello Dudley Campbell) - I'm not entirely convinced that one is fickle for seeing his position as untennable if we're still bottom and still shipping goals come the break.

[dandannieldanok]

The pie......did no-one think about the pie!!

Gonna have to be the piri piri paul pie for when Paul Ince rocks up.

[Bellend Sebastian]

The pie......did no-one think about the pie!!

I'll have them

[okie fox]

Sorry, I have lost faith in Sousa. Last season, Leicester conceded 45 goals in the league, Swansea 37.

So I never expected that City would have 22 goals against in 9 matches.

10 of these are in the last 2 games so things are getting worse!

Sousa is stubbornly imposing his system, one that doesn't fit with the current squad, instead of using the

4-4-2 that does suit the squad.

[JadeFalcon]

i had been saying as much during the past few matches on the java chat, cant expect players to completely change their game and style overnight, especially coming in when he did late in the closed season