Nigel Pearson - Stay or Go?

[ADK]

81% say yes. I think that answers the question really. There'll always be pessimists and doubters, but 81% is pretty good backing. The fans are behind him.

[inckley fox]

81% say yes. I think that answers the question really. There'll always be pessimists and doubters, but 81% is pretty good backing. The fans are behind him.

 

Well, 81% of the 320 people who felt strongly enough to vote, on this largely pro-Pearson forum, back him. It was 40% in the Mercury back when 60% on here were still backing him, so there's a fairly large margin of error. I certainly don't get the impression that anything like 81% of fans back him.

 

Not to say they're wrong, but let's not get carried away. And as I said, if his support has leapt up by 20% on the basis of one win and a defeat over two legs, then I'd say that that support is very fragile. If they were to suddenly change their minds again after two or three games of the new season, then I doubt we'd be so sure that the backing is pretty good.

[Soar Fox]

Back him or sack him.

Me personally would like a decision either way by the end of the week if its possible and I'd hope it's that he's staying.

There's not one realistic manager out there that I'd want to replace Pearson and that includes Martin O'Neil.

Another pre-season clear out the deadwood bring in 3/4 players and go again next season.

[ealingfox]

Reading never sacked McDermott after there playoff final defeat.

Cardiff never sacked Mackay after there playoff semi final defeat.

 

 

This x 1000

 

Cardiff were in the play-offs consistently before Mackay took over. What if after losing in the play-offs in his first full season, they'd said 'well he's no better than we've done before' and chopped him?

 

That's two title winners in the last two seasons.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

My two biggest fears, by the way, are sticking with him but wanting rid after ten or fifteen games... or getting someone like Ince, Keane or Hughes in and blowing it all.

This is a real concern tbf

[ozleicester]

This is a real concern tbf

 

 

The time frame (assuming NP stays) will be most interesting, if we have another run like this years post xmas disaster, then i cannot imagine him being kept. 

 

I guess that then leads to part 2, how long does he get?

 

My guess is, if we are not in the playoff spots for most of the time... or not in the top 10 at any stage... then NP will probably be sacked.

[west country fox]

Pearson should go now,during his spells at as manager of Leicester City this arrogant man has led us to nothing but play off misery.The man has no tactical acumen,falls out with staff on a regular basis lost all respect for the man,there are much better qualified football managers out there that I'm sure could do a better job for us.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I think we should either get rid now or stick with him for the whole of next season irrespective of how we do (unless near the bottom etc) as getting rid after 10 or 15 games would waste another season? Maybe?

[Leicester Bean]

Personally I don't rate the bloke. Gets his tactics wrong on so many occasions. But then again I think the club needs some stability so I really don't know?!

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Personally I don't rate the bloke. Gets his tactics wrong on so many occasions. But then again I think the club needs some stability so I really don't know?!

I think your about right buddy, that's the dilemma

[hackneyfox]

We've just had 18 months of stability and in this division that is fairly generous.

We are no further forward.

[Burmesefox]

Well I voted to go but with the caveat; only if we can financially afford to release him and get a suitable replacement.

I have always been a Pearson admirer and I never thought he should have been sacked first time around. I thought it was disgraceful how he was treated with the courtship of Sousa whilst he was attempting to get back to back promotions. However, this time round is very different for me.

1. Surely demeanour and poor handling of the press. He needs to understand that this is a means of communication with the fans – not a flashpoint for arguments and point scoring with the schoolboy-esque fan that is Stringer.
2. His recalcitrance with his fellow professionals. He has fallen out with Hoos, Danns, St Ledger, Mills, Beckford, Peltier, Wellens, etc. There is a common denominator here. He is a manager, therefore, it is his job to manage players, egos, and situations. This is his major role, if he cannot do that then he cannot do his job. Dealing with personnel is the key to good management.
3. Tactical naivety at times. It has stared me in the face for 18 months that we have had the utmost requirement for a combative midfielder. We have lacked strength and bit in this department and all too often have been bullied out of games. He has had 18 months of his own men but plays a forward at left back. There are many other examples but we all know them ad nausem.
4. Empowerment of players. I’m now of the belief that NP is so much of an autocrat that he has failed to elect a leadership within his team – instead retaining power solely for himself. Under Ferguson there was Keane, his general on the pitch. Who is Pearson’s general? Well Kapser could be but as a keeper it is too hard for him to influence the players during the midst of a game.  When Knocky went down in the last few minutes and play was stopped for 4 minutes the players were wandering around like little boys lost. They should have been huddled together fighting as one. There should have been a general cajoling, hand clapping, putting a shoulder around players, talking, geeing them up, and calming them down. The leadership failed and so did we.

I think we have some great players and a good core but we still need that hard fighting midfielder, that calm left back, and dare I say it a better striker. Now Pearson isn’t a bad manager but I think that this is his level; a team that finishes 5th to 10^th. He certainly isn’t premiership quality and if we are looking at the long game then we need a stronger manager in now.

[Babylon]

Well I voted to go but with the caveat; only if we can financially afford to release him and get a suitable replacement.

I have always been a Pearson admirer and I never thought he should have been sacked first time around. I thought it was disgraceful how he was treated with the courtship of Sousa whilst he was attempting to get back to back promotions. However, this time round is very different for me.

1. Surely demeanour and poor handling of the press. He needs to understand that this is a means of communication with the fans – not a flashpoint for arguments and point scoring with the schoolboy-esque fan that is Stringer.
2. His recalcitrance with his fellow professionals. He has fallen out with Hoos, Danns, St Ledger, Mills, Beckford, Peltier, Wellens, etc. There is a common denominator here. He is a manager, therefore, it is his job to manage players, egos, and situations. This is his major role, if he cannot do that then he cannot do his job. Dealing with personnel is the key to good management.
3. Tactical naivety at times. It has stared me in the face for 18 months that we have had the utmost requirement for a combative midfielder. We have lacked strength and bit in this department and all too often have been bullied out of games. He has had 18 months of his own men but plays a forward at left back. There are many other examples but we all know them ad nausem.
4. Empowerment of players. I’m now of the belief that NP is so much of an autocrat that he has failed to elect a leadership within his team – instead retaining power solely for himself. Under Ferguson there was Keane, his general on the pitch. Who is Pearson’s general? Well Kapser could be but as a keeper it is too hard for him to influence the players during the midst of a game.  When Knocky went down in the last few minutes and play was stopped for 4 minutes the players were wandering around like little boys lost. They should have been huddled together fighting as one. There should have been a general cajoling, hand clapping, putting a shoulder around players, talking, geeing them up, and calming them down. The leadership failed and so did we.

I think we have some great players and a good core but we still need that hard fighting midfielder, that calm left back, and dare I say it a better striker. Now Pearson isn’t a bad manager but I think that this is his level; a team that finishes 5th to 10^th. He certainly isn’t premiership quality and if we are looking at the long game then we need a stronger manager in now.

 

Would you be bothered about point 1 if we got promoted? Ferguson is everything you mentioned, someone like Mick Mcarthy is also who people state quite often they would like instead of Pearson.

 

Point 2. Listing a load of people does not make any of them true.

[harpendenfox]

I think point 4 made by Burmesefox is extremely valid, and one I have made less eloquently elsewhere. I suspect NP felt he had to impose his will on a group of overpaid and in some cases undeserving ill-disciplined footballers, and he may well have been right, but in asserting that will he may have trampled upon their ability to lead during combat, and indeed to make good decisions.

 

He strikes me as being bright though. If I felt he could learn from his mistakes this season, and was prepared to admit he has made some, I'd keep him.

[Happy Fox]

For me it is a question of playing style ever since we reverted back to hoofball we dropped like a stone, we looked relegation candidates as opposed to automatic promotion candidates which our early form would of seen us there.

 

I am not sure NP has it in him to play football on the deck and persist with it that is they key question, if he does we will get automatic promotion no question about it, we have the players to do it so it isn't hard.

 

If not I would get a manager that plays this philosophy the club as per say doesn't have a philosophy of playing the game hence different style of mangers come in and results and players adaptibility takes time, I would go for a Gus Poyet/ Roberto Di Matteo type of manager.

 

Ric Flair's point about sentiment is true however MON is a great manager and if far better than NP so it wouldn't make to much a difference in decision making process should the owners go down that route.

[harpendenfox]

I'm too distracted to work at the moment. Can't we all just head to a pub and debate LCFC for most of the rest of this week?

[Burmesefox]

Would you be bothered about point 1 if we got promoted? Ferguson is everything you mentioned, someone like Mick Mcarthy is also who people state quite often they would like instead of Pearson.

 

Point 2. Listing a load of people does not make any of them true.

 

Yes agreed about Fergie with the difference being that he is maybe the best football manager ever in the british Isles. Point 2 it's hard to deny his falling out with people. Didn't stringer get put on gardening leave owing top Pearson for 2 weeks.

[Babylon]

Yes agreed about Fergie with the difference being that he is maybe the best football manager ever in the british Isles. Point 2 it's hard to deny his falling out with people. Didn't stringer get put on gardening leave owing top Pearson for 2 weeks.

But there are many awkward managers, if we were winning people would not be bringing it up. So in my mind it's something that doesn't matter.

 

So really the only one with any proof of is Stringer, the others were all denied or people know nothing of the other side of what may or may not have gone on.

 

What should matter is what's happening on the pitch, not all these side issues that people only have a problem with when things aren't going quite as they would like.

[Simmo86]

Style of football is the big one for me. His reverting to old NP type has left me with serious doubts whether he has the balls/nerve to get us up.

I know him and his team will recruit well this summer given the chance. Just whether he can get the best out of them and find a succesful style of play

[ealingfox]

For me it is a question of playing style ever since we reverted back to hoofball we dropped like a stone, we looked relegation candidates as opposed to automatic promotion candidates which our early form would of seen us there.

 

I am not sure NP has it in him to play football on the deck and persist with it that is they key question, if he does we will get automatic promotion no question about it, we have the players to do it so it isn't hard.

 

If not I would get a manager that plays this philosophy the club as per say doesn't have a philosophy of playing the game hence different style of mangers come in and results and players adaptibility takes time, I would go for a Gus Poyet/ Roberto Di Matteo type of manager.

 

Ric Flair's point about sentiment is true however MON is a great manager and if far better than NP so it wouldn't make to much a difference in decision making process should the owners go down that route.

 

AAAARRRRGH! What were we doing up until February? FFS stop pretending six months of our season didn't happen! Of course he has it in him.

[Happy Fox]

AAAARRRRGH! What were we doing up until February? FFS stop pretending six months of our season didn't happen! Of course he has it in him.

 

 

Okay we did play football on the deck granted but why didn't we persist with it?

 

Loss of form of players?

 

If you be so kind as to give me an explanation thank you.

[ealingfox]

Okay we did play football on the deck granted but why didn't we persist with it?

 

Loss of form of players?

 

If you be so kind as to give me an explanation thank you.

 

Loss of form in players, injuries and fatigue because of the small squad, some bad luck, lack of mental strength/experience, bit of panic. All a rich tapestry and we'll be better for the experience.

[lcfc1994]

Pearson should go now,during his spells at as manager of Leicester City this arrogant man has led us to nothing but play off misery.The man has no tactical acumen,falls out with staff on a regular basis lost all respect for the man,there are much better qualified football managers out there that I'm sure could do a better job for us.

but i'd rather be there than sat outside the playoffs, i think both spells he's had with us we haven't done too bad, We have improved on both occasions, 

1st Spell

08-09 - League 1 title.

09-10 - Championship 5th

2nd Spell

11/12 - Championship 9th

12/13 - Championship 6th

to me sticking with a stable squad and manager gets you improvement.

 

[ealingfox]

but i'd rather be there than sat outside the playoffs, i think both spells he's had with us we haven't done too bad, We have improved on both occasions, 

1st Spell

08-09 - League 1 title.

09-10 - Championship 5th

2nd Spell

11/12 - Championship 9th

12/13 - Championship 6th

to me sticking with a stable squad and manager gets you improvement.

 

 

Exactly. Considering Sven's season before we finished 13th, clearly over the last 18 months NP has improved results whilst performing under relative austerity. No reason why that won't continue.

[suffolk fox]

Okay we did play football on the deck granted but why didn't we persist with it?

 

Loss of form of players?

 

If you be so kind as to give me an explanation thank you.

Interesting and valid point.

Gonna be the turncoat here what about this theory the players were playing it on the deck first part of the season ala Sven Goran Ericsson then pearson got his claws into em and we started playing hoof ball again going onto that very bad run.