Mr. Pearson is a adequate manager, no more..

[paulsherwood1]

At last a decent thread where people are not being abused for daring to question something about the manager.

I think a lot of pro Pearson fans are giving him ( rightfully ) lots of credit for our promotion season, and he has completely re-built our current side. I also think most are desperate not to have a managerial merry go round at the club.

For me, this is not about 'supporting' the team or manager. Nigel Pearson is employed to manage the team I love, and pay good money to see.

He has without doubt improved us from svens bunch of mercenaries, but is it good enough?

Tactically he is poor. As mentioned above, when teams close us down at home we have no answer. I also find the 'tactic' of throwing Wes Morgan up front total desperation and something that a top championship side should not need to do. Pearson has no answer when our wingers are closed out of the game, not when our strikers are firing blanks ( waghorn and Vardy are not the answer ).

He has brought a better brand of football, and steeled us defensively. We do look capable of whipping teams ( at home ), but we still have a soft underbelly where we lose at Peterborough or Ipswich.

Other teams ( Watford, palace and hull in particular ) are doing the business at the key stage of the season. They are pressing on, we are falling away. Our blinding inconsistency is still the issue. Win 5 in a row, don't win for 5 in a row.

All in all NP has improved us, but witnessing the way Zola and co have pushed their teams on in a shorter space of time is frustrating.

Time for a change? I really don't know. Sometimes be careful what you wish for..... But there is Nigel Adkins!

[teblin]

At last a decent thread where people are not being abused for daring to question something about the manager.

I think a lot of pro Pearson fans are giving him ( rightfully ) lots of credit for our promotion season, and he has completely re-built our current side. I also think most are desperate not to have a managerial merry go round at the club.

For me, this is not about 'supporting' the team or manager. Nigel Pearson is employed to manage the team I love, and pay good money to see.

He has without doubt improved us from svens bunch of mercenaries, but is it good enough?

Tactically he is poor. As mentioned above, when teams close us down at home we have no answer. I also find the 'tactic' of throwing Wes Morgan up front total desperation and something that a top championship side should not need to do. Pearson has no answer when our wingers are closed out of the game, not when our strikers are firing blanks ( waghorn and Vardy are not the answer ).

He has brought a better brand of football, and steeled us defensively. We do look capable of whipping teams ( at home ), but we still have a soft underbelly where we lose at Peterborough or Ipswich.

Other teams ( Watford, palace and hull in particular ) are doing the business at the key stage of the season. They are pressing on, we are falling away. Our blinding inconsistency is still the issue. Win 5 in a row, don't win for 5 in a row.

All in all NP has improved us, but witnessing the way Zola and co have pushed their teams on in a shorter space of time is frustrating.

Time for a change? I really don't know. Sometimes be careful what you wish for..... But there is Nigel Adkins!

Zola has the advantage of having quite a lot of an italian Serie A squad.

Pearson has his flaws there is no doubt about that but this season he has reduced the wage budget and made us more successful that last season. Surely there has to be some credit for the guy.

[paulsherwood1]

Zola has the advantage of having quite a lot of an italian Serie A squad.

Pearson has his flaws there is no doubt about that but this season he has reduced the wage budget and made us more successful that last season. Surely there has to be some credit for the guy.

I think I have given him a lot of credit for what he's done. I don't buy the Zola argument. I don't recall our owners saying no to any transfers... They are always happy to pay up, especially loans.

I also think that there has to be something to be said about how Zola is managing the loanees as a team.

[Vale Blue]

I have always backed NP because I dont like changing managers and his record is also very good overall. But I find him a very arrogant man. When we're doing well he smuggly looks up into the stands and really bigs it up. I'm afraid it maybe this attitude that sinks us this season because I believe it has spread to the players, as our recent performances suggest

[flowwolf]

Actually in this case you are wrong.......

Ipswich did not get in our faces and close us down the way so many clubs have done recently, they sat back and conceded ground which makes our inability to get after them all the more galling.

We set up like we expected to be put under pressure but it barely happened and not at all first half. We did not have the balls to take the opportunity handed to us and simply failed to attack with any purpose.

Had we gone adter them the way we did in midweek then we would have won, simple as that........

I stand corrected.

[Oxfordfox83]

I also find the 'tactic' of throwing Wes Morgan up front total desperation and something that a top championship side should not need to do.

I think I have given him a lot of credit for what he's done. I don't buy the Zola argument. I don't recall our owners saying no to any transfers... They are always happy to pay up, especially loans.

Throwing our best CB is not a tactic we like at LCFC. You'd never catch Walsh or Elliott doing that...

And you've not heard of the owners saying no to transfers? I'm not saying you're wrong, but why would you have found out? Press release from the Thais: "Pearson wanted Zaha, we said no dice"?

I find this all a bit tiresome. The last 4 weeks or so have been bad, and not because of results but because of our gutlessness and lack of imagination at points.

But we ALL (well, those of us who can breathe through our nose) know that stability is key. Criticise performance by all means, especially if there's something worth pointing out. But calling for Pearson to go, after all the evidence of the last decade (not just the good work he's done for us, but the horror of our merry-go-round) is just plain stupid.

For those about to trot out the 'you think anyone else's opinion is rubbish' argument, not true. I am able to evaluate opinions, as we all are. Some I disagree with but can see they have a point. Some (and at this point, anyone saying Pearson out) are just ridiculous. Those who want us to lose/stay down just to get Pearson out-well, words fail me...

[Guest Col city fan]

Throwing our best CB is not a tactic we like at LCFC. You'd never catch Walsh or Elliott doing that...

And you've not heard of the owners saying no to transfers? I'm not saying you're wrong, but why would you have found out? Press release from the Thais: "Pearson wanted Zaha, we said no dice"?

I find this all a bit tiresome. The last 4 weeks or so have been bad, and not because of results but because of our gutlessness and lack of imagination at points.

But we ALL (well, those of us who can breathe through our nose) know that stability is key. Criticise performance by all means, especially if there's something worth pointing out. But calling for Pearson to go, after all the evidence of the last decade (not just the good work he's done for us, but the horror of our merry-go-round) is just plain stupid.

For those about to trot out the 'you think anyone else's opinion is rubbish' argument, not true. I am able to evaluate opinions, as we all are. Some I disagree with but can see they have a point. Some (and at this point, anyone saying Pearson out) are just ridiculous. Those who want us to lose/stay down just to get Pearson out-well, words fail me...

Good post really and I do agree stability is important.

All isn't lost...

Two home wins and it's all to play for.

[paulsherwood1]

Throwing our best CB is not a tactic we like at LCFC. You'd never catch Walsh or Elliott doing that...

And you've not heard of the owners saying no to transfers? I'm not saying you're wrong, but why would you have found out? Press release from the Thais: "Pearson wanted Zaha, we said no dice"?

I find this all a bit tiresome. The last 4 weeks or so have been bad, and not because of results but because of our gutlessness and lack of imagination at points.

But we ALL (well, those of us who can breathe through our nose) know that stability is key. Criticise performance by all means, especially if there's something worth pointing out. But calling for Pearson to go, after all the evidence of the last decade (not just the good work he's done for us, but the horror of our merry-go-round) is just plain stupid.

For those about to trot out the 'you think anyone else's opinion is rubbish' argument, not true. I am able to evaluate opinions, as we all are. Some I disagree with but can see they have a point. Some (and at this point, anyone saying Pearson out) are just ridiculous. Those who want us to lose/stay down just to get Pearson out-well, words fail me...

That's exactly my point about throwing wes forward. That is something that teams did in the 90's / early 2000's. it's certainly not something you see top sides do nowadays. It's a desperation tactic.

[cc_star]

I think it's wonderful how you lable anyone who dares to have a different view to you as " Trolling or the biggest idiot around " that kind of scant regard for others opinions says what you really are a thick bully who thinks that your opinion and your opinion alone counts, well it doesn't . shut up and listen for a change.

You really think we're not better off than before he came back?

You really can't see an improvement, whether it be based on defence, on goals, on wins, on league position, on attitude, on value when we've long since spent more than the entire division added together or any other metric?

You're deluded, trolling or an idiot then. there can't be anything else for it

there's just no reasoning with posters from those 3 camps, they can only see it their way, they take no account of finances or building a team, you just don't listen.

Shedding 30 players who contributed nothing to the cause but sucked money out of the pot... there's still some way to go on this front obviously, but it's gonna be tough to get some of them out considering the deals they are on under the previous management.

Look what Malky Mackay & Brian McDermott were able to build... by being at the club for more than the blink of an eye

Both took charge of a team & took them to playoffs in first full season in charge... Didn't get sacked for not getting promotion and in second full season won the division building on the work they had done before it... What would have happened if were got rid of like you've been clamouring to happen to Pearson after each defeat? Their clubs go through yet more expense as players are sold, paid off & 20 new players brought in?

Nope, they saw a bigger picture that if you've seen an improvement... hold the course and more improvement will follow

With Pearson taking the midtable non-achievers, shipping a load out with some more more still to go, bringing in a core of young players who will still improve as individuals & therefore the team will improve, if we're not to make promotion... why not build on this instead of tearing it down and starting again with another 12 in -12 out

You don't shutup, you don't listen... it's all NP out! NP out NP out! you just change the language depending on the results, if it's a win it's rather muted, if it's a defeat you must have flags out in your living room knowing you've got a week of not having to mute your NP out! posts.

There's is no debate to be had, it's all your opinion & your opinion alone, you cannot contemplate a relatively stable summer (by our standards) with 4-6 out & 4-6 in & replicating the step up we've seen this season, by stepping up the next step again next season building on the base of this season, like so many clubs have done before including Reading & probably Cardiff too.

Do you only thrive in maelstrom, do you have to see 'all change, all the time' regardless of the fact that constant change has got us nowhere for a decade.

[Captain...]

That's exactly my point about throwing wes forward. That is something that teams did in the 90's / early 2000's. it's certainly not something you see top sides do nowadays. It's a desperation tactic.

And if he told to Wes to stay back, he would be criticised, I don't know why he didn't bring on Vardy or Waghorn, I know a lot of people slate them on here, but Vardy did snatch a goal to get us a point against Barnsley, Waghorn came on aganst Blackburn and stuck in a decent corner for King to score, I would have had Futacs on the bench to throw on in these situations, Vardy and Waghorn are very similar to each other, but I would have brought someone on, and brought them on earlier, i.e. not when 1 down.

I would also have told Wes to go forwards and stay forwards, we needed bodies in the box and a bit of luck, we didn't get it, but I'm not going to criticise NP for pushing up a defender, and you see a lot of clubs do it, centre backs, keepers, pushing the full backs forwards, of all the things you could criticise Pearson, this is not one I agree with, in fact I think he would have got more criticism if Wes had stayed back defending.

[MooseBreath]

He didn't bring on vardy or waghorn because we needed a goal and the two of them are absolute wank.

[marbelladave]

You really think we're not better off than before he came back?

You really can't see an improvement, whether it be based on defence, on goals, on wins, on league position, on attitude, on value when we've long since spent more than the entire division added together or any other metric?

You're deluded, trolling or an idiot then. there can't be anything else for it

there's just no reasoning with posters from those 3 camps, they can only see it their way, they take no account of finances or building a team, you just don't listen.

Shedding 30 players who contributed nothing to the cause but sucked money out of the pot... there's still some way to go on this front obviously, but it's gonna be tough to get some of them out considering the deals they are on under the previous management.

Look what Malky Mackay & Brian McDermott were able to build... by being at the club for more than the blink of an eye

Both took charge of a team & took them to playoffs in first full season in charge... Didn't get sacked for not getting promotion and in second full season won the division building on the work they had done before it... What would have happened if were got rid of like you've been clamouring to happen to Pearson after each defeat? Their clubs go through yet more expense as players are sold, paid off & 20 new players brought in?

Nope, they saw a bigger picture that if you've seen an improvement... hold the course and more improvement will follow

With Pearson taking the midtable non-achievers, shipping a load out with some more more still to go, bringing in a core of young players who will still improve as individuals & therefore the team will improve, if we're not to make promotion... why not build on this instead of tearing it down and starting again with another 12 in -12 out

You don't shutup, you don't listen... it's all NP out! NP out NP out! you just change the language depending on the results, if it's a win it's rather muted, if it's a defeat you must have flags out in your living room knowing you've got a week of not having to mute your NP out! posts.

There's is no debate to be had, it's all your opinion & your opinion alone, you cannot contemplate a relatively stable summer (by our standards) with 4-6 out & 4-6 in & replicating the step up we've seen this season, by stepping up the next step again next season building on the base of this season, like so many clubs have done before including Reading & probably Cardiff too.

Do you only thrive in maelstrom, do you have to see 'all change, all the time' regardless of the fact that constant change has got us nowhere for a decade.

Ignoring your rather unpleasant tone and your completely unwarranted view that anyone who dares to question NFP automatically wants him out, I do not think anyone would seriously quarrel with the rest of your post, in general terms NFP has done extremely well in his two terms at the club and the improvements over recent years are there for all to see......

Where the discussion really gets interesting is simply the point that, could NFP, with the resources at his disposal have done better specifically in terms of results this season?

My answer to that is yes, better matchday management could have made us a better side, away from home in particular, and given us a better shot at automatic promotion......

Now, that is an opinion only, but one that I have expressed on this board since about October and given many reasons and explanations as to why I believe is the case. Hell unlike many of the posters on here I have even given a fair number of suggestions on how that could improvement could be achieved.

The argument is as simple as that, at this stage of the season, given the resources he has, could he be doing better?

Once again I say quite clearly, yes he could!

[Bayfox]

And if he told to Wes to stay back, he would be criticised, I don't know why he didn't bring on Vardy or Waghorn, I know a lot of people slate them on here, but Vardy did snatch a goal to get us a point against Barnsley, Waghorn came on aganst Blackburn and stuck in a decent corner for King to score, I would have had Futacs on the bench to throw on in these situations, Vardy and Waghorn are very similar to each other, but I would have brought someone on, and brought them on earlier, i.e. not when 1 down.

I would also have told Wes to go forwards and stay forwards, we needed bodies in the box and a bit of luck, we didn't get it, but I'm not going to criticise NP for pushing up a defender, and you see a lot of clubs do it, centre backs, keepers, pushing the full backs forwards, of all the things you could criticise Pearson, this is not one I agree with, in fact I think he would have got more criticism if Wes had stayed back defending.

If he told wes to fcuking lump it, not bring it down on your chest when under pressure. That would be a start.

[Churchill]

We aint making play offs. even if we do we'll get ****ed. wake up people. Bringin on gallager???what a cock! Pearo out!

You been on the p*ss?

[Guest Col city fan]

You really think we're not better off than before he came back?

You really can't see an improvement, whether it be based on defence, on goals, on wins, on league position, on attitude, on value when we've long since spent more than the entire division added together or any other metric?

You're deluded, trolling or an idiot then. there can't be anything else for it

there's just no reasoning with posters from those 3 camps, they can only see it their way, they take no account of finances or building a team, you just don't listen.

Shedding 30 players who contributed nothing to the cause but sucked money out of the pot... there's still some way to go on this front obviously, but it's gonna be tough to get some of them out considering the deals they are on under the previous management.

Look what Malky Mackay & Brian McDermott were able to build... by being at the club for more than the blink of an eye

Both took charge of a team & took them to playoffs in first full season in charge... Didn't get sacked for not getting promotion and in second full season won the division building on the work they had done before it... What would have happened if were got rid of like you've been clamouring to happen to Pearson after each defeat? Their clubs go through yet more expense as players are sold, paid off & 20 new players brought in?

Nope, they saw a bigger picture that if you've seen an improvement... hold the course and more improvement will follow

With Pearson taking the midtable non-achievers, shipping a load out with some more more still to go, bringing in a core of young players who will still improve as individuals & therefore the team will improve, if we're not to make promotion... why not build on this instead of tearing it down and starting again with another 12 in -12 out

You don't shutup, you don't listen... it's all NP out! NP out NP out! you just change the language depending on the results, if it's a win it's rather muted, if it's a defeat you must have flags out in your living room knowing you've got a week of not having to mute your NP out! posts.

There's is no debate to be had, it's all your opinion & your opinion alone, you cannot contemplate a relatively stable summer (by our standards) with 4-6 out & 4-6 in & replicating the step up we've seen this season, by stepping up the next step again next season building on the base of this season, like so many clubs have done before including Reading & probably Cardiff too.

Do you only thrive in maelstrom, do you have to see 'all change, all the time' regardless of the fact that constant change has got us nowhere for a decade.

I personally think you make some salient points and actually always have.

I also agree with Flowwolf... You do dismiss others opinions massively too easy and whereas you appeared to have total disregard for Sven, you are very pro Pearson.

[Captain...]

He didn't bring on vardy or waghorn because we needed a goal and the two of them are absolute wank.

Vardy rescued a point for us late on against Barnsley, and Waghorn has the best delivery from corners, they may not be the best strikers in the world, but they were more likely to score or create a goal than say Drinkwater.

[5waller5]

You really think we're not better off than before he came back?

You really can't see an improvement, whether it be based on defence, on goals, on wins, on league position, on attitude, on value when we've long since spent more than the entire division added together or any other metric?

You're deluded, trolling or an idiot then. there can't be anything else for it

there's just no reasoning with posters from those 3 camps, they can only see it their way, they take no account of finances or building a team, you just don't listen.

Shedding 30 players who contributed nothing to the cause but sucked money out of the pot... there's still some way to go on this front obviously, but it's gonna be tough to get some of them out considering the deals they are on under the previous management.

Look what Malky Mackay & Brian McDermott were able to build... by being at the club for more than the blink of an eye

Both took charge of a team & took them to playoffs in first full season in charge... Didn't get sacked for not getting promotion and in second full season won the division building on the work they had done before it... What would have happened if were got rid of like you've been clamouring to happen to Pearson after each defeat? Their clubs go through yet more expense as players are sold, paid off & 20 new players brought in?

Nope, they saw a bigger picture that if you've seen an improvement... hold the course and more improvement will follow

With Pearson taking the midtable non-achievers, shipping a load out with some more more still to go, bringing in a core of young players who will still improve as individuals & therefore the team will improve, if we're not to make promotion... why not build on this instead of tearing it down and starting again with another 12 in -12 out

You don't shutup, you don't listen... it's all NP out! NP out NP out! you just change the language depending on the results, if it's a win it's rather muted, if it's a defeat you must have flags out in your living room knowing you've got a week of not having to mute your NP out! posts.

There's is no debate to be had, it's all your opinion & your opinion alone, you cannot contemplate a relatively stable summer (by our standards) with 4-6 out & 4-6 in & replicating the step up we've seen this season, by stepping up the next step again next season building on the base of this season, like so many clubs have done before including Reading & probably Cardiff too.

Do you only thrive in maelstrom, do you have to see 'all change, all the time' regardless of the fact that constant change has got us nowhere for a decade.

Yes - there's no arguing that we are 2 or 3 league positions higher. Very little else counts when the brief is to get promotion. Is that enough progress?? Debatable.

[Captain...]

Yes - there's no arguing that we are 2 or 3 league positions higher. Very little else counts when the brief is to get promotion. Is that enough progress?? Debatable.

But it is not just 2 or 3 league positions, it is a better squad, with a lot of ability, and the right attitude, and the potential to improve and grow as players and together as a team, also at a fraction of the cost of the team assembled by Sven.

[eddylcfc]

Its nothing to be ashamed of but that's the truth, deep down we all know it. Anybody really think he would be retained by the owners in the premier league for any length of time? In life we all have our limitations, as long as we strive to reach them ,we can ask no more. Im sure this post will be seen as another Pearson hating thread, its not meant to be, but as a top class manager Nigel lacks something when the chips are down, maybe my views are coloured by the o'neil years but this is my conclusion. please wait while I put my tin hat on, thanks..

Southampton and Adkins perfect example of why I disagree

[phillo]

No point sacking pearson now were 5th from top not bottom still alot to play for could get another loan in

[Oxfordfox83]

Ignoring your rather unpleasant tone and your completely unwarranted view that anyone who dares to question NFP automatically wants him out, I do not think anyone would seriously quarrel with the rest of your post, in general terms NFP has done extremely well in his two terms at the club and the improvements over recent years are there for all to see......

Where the discussion really gets interesting is simply the point that, could NFP, with the resources at his disposal have done better specifically in terms of results this season?

My answer to that is yes, better matchday management could have made us a better side, away from home in particular, and given us a better shot at automatic promotion......

Now, that is an opinion only, but one that I have expressed on this board since about October and given many reasons and explanations as to why I believe is the case. Hell unlike many of the posters on here I have even given a fair number of suggestions on how that could improvement could be achieved.

The argument is as simple as that, at this stage of the season, given the resources he has, could he be doing better?

Once again I say quite clearly, yes he could!

Dave, this post is great. It's exactly the kind of criticism we don't normally see on here, and I think the NP faithful would be happy to engage with arguments like this.

It's interesting because I'm 100% pro-NP, I think the progress he's made has been astonishing, but I definitely see your point. NP's training and recruitment have been pretty spot on, but there are times when you would question formation/selection/substitutions, and if those had been made slightly better, it might have been worth a point or two...

A point I'd also be interested in exploring is Knocky's fitness. Does anyone else think he ought to have a bit more in the tank second half than he seems to? For a young lad, I think I'd want him going all game...

[theessexfox]

Another question is, would these 'better managers' - Bruce, Zola, etc - have got more points at this stage in the season?

[marbelladave]

Dave, this post is great. It's exactly the kind of criticism we don't normally see on here, and I think the NP faithful would be happy to engage with arguments like this.

It's interesting because I'm 100% pro-NP, I think the progress he's made has been astonishing, but I definitely see your point. NP's training and recruitment have been pretty spot on, but there are times when you would question formation/selection/substitutions, and if those had been made slightly better, it might have been worth a point or two...

A point I'd also be interested in exploring is Knocky's fitness. Does anyone else think he ought to have a bit more in the tank second half than he seems to? For a young lad, I think I'd want him going all game...

Personally I think better matchday management would have seen us more than 'a point or two' better off but that is an opinion and unprovable one way or the other......

It is my impression that Knockaert has issues when he is not in the game as much as he wants and this tends to coincide with the team having a poor game, sometimes he gets frustrated, the body language is unmistakeable, verbals, arm waving, trying to do too much on the ball, the whole nine yards. Sometimes though he seems to become a bit detached from the game and in either case he is often subbed off.

When we are playing well and he is having a good game he seems to see out the 90 no problem....

Another question is, would these 'better managers' - Bruce, Zola, etc - have got more points at this stage in the season?

Irrelevant as they would not have this team, the real question should be 'would NFP have got more points at this stage of the season' if he was more flexible in his approach and better tactically?

I guess you know my answer to that.......

[dmayne7]

Personally I think better matchday management would have seen us more than 'a point or two' better off but that is an opinion and unprovable one way or the other......

It is my impression that Knockaert has issues when he is not in the game as much as he wants and this tends to coincide with the team having a poor game, sometimes he gets frustrated, the body language is unmistakeable, verbals, arm waving, trying to do too much on the ball, the whole nine yards. Sometimes though he seems to become a bit detached from the game and in either case he is often subbed off.

When we are playing well and he is having a good game he seems to see out the 90 no problem....

Irrelevant as they would not have this team, the real question should be 'would NFP have got more points at this stage of the season' if he was more flexible in his approach and better tactically?

I guess you know my answer to that.......

Well logically, if somebody has improved attributes then they are likely to do better than they are currently

[marbelladave]

Well logically, if somebody has improved attributes then they are likely to do better than they are currently

Sorry, not following you, care to expand...... ?