Leadership Talks: Will Jaissle Change Formation?

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On whether MJ might change formation...

If it's true he has asked the leadership group for feedback on the 4231 then he isn't doing that because everyone in the camp believes it is going well.

And Currently... It Isn't.

As a manager you only have those type of discussions, for example, when something new isn't working and you want to find out why the group thinks it isn't, and what they think should be done to get better results.

Only those involved and any flies on the wall will know what was discussed between the leadership group and Jaissle and what suggestions were made.

One thing I know from experience is that if the feedback is that the group say the squad are losing confidence in 4231 working, then not changing the formation will likely lead to heads going down quickly if we fall behind at Palace and end up losing.

That can lead to the dominoes starting to fall; mutterings of discontent and finger pointing often start a chain reaction that divides and demotivates the camp and causes a bad atmosphere that lingers over the training ground and in matches.

That's the last thing the club, the manager, the squad, and us fans need.

A comparison between the squads Howe and MJ inherited.

IMO Howe inherited a better squad that had also often played together, but Bruce had sucked the inspiration and motivation out of it and the players were lacking leadership, tactical organisation and direction.

Howe also came in on a wave of euphoria after the takeover and that would not only have inspired us fans but the players too.

Howe also had experienced players who were underperforming and probably lacked 100% fitness from Bruce's dire training sessions - Eddie immediately started working on the 'intensity is our identity' mantra and, even if it didn't get immediate results, we saw a definite improvement in performances.

Because of that we cut Eddie plenty of slack and it paid off as thoughts of relegation were put well behind us as performances and results propelled us up to an 11th place finish.

By comparison;

MJ inherited a squad that was probably bewildered at which direction both the club and their time at SJP was heading after Isak, Tonali, Gordon, Bruno and Tripps had all left, they saw top targets yet again turn us down, and unproven PL youngsters were signed as replacements for the top players lost.

And, on top of all that, a young unproven PL manager arrives with a system that is alien to the 433 that the existing players had been bolted into under Eddie.

MJ also inherited players who were undoubtedly scouted and signed as targets by Eddie and Wilson, only Dedic and possibly Nico were his choices.

How different might our signings have been if Eddie had stepped down earlier, as he wanted to, and Jaissle had been able to have a far bigger influence on Wilson?

And then, sod's law, the experienced older players the young newcomers needed out on the pitch; Schar, Burn, Jo - and PL experienced performers like Tino, Osula, Elanga and Ramsey - have all missed multiple games through injury.

Mix all of that together and IMO Jaissle has had his back to the wall from the start whereas Eddie from the day he stepped through the door was looking at jumping over it.

Plus; the euphoria of the takeover had fans in a totally different frame of mind to the one that has swirled round in our heads after the CL qualifying and LC winning squad was decimated as players deserted for the pastures of the so called elite clubs.

Despite wanting to be patient, the fact is what has happened over the past twelve months at SJP has left the patience pool almost dry for most most fans.

It wasn't going to take much to empty it bone dry - and we heard that on Saturday.

The Boo's after Villa Don't Help. At All.

I can honestly say in my 60 odd years of supporting the club I cannot remember ever booing during or at the end of a match.

Not because I haven't been sickened at some awful performances, players, and managers over the years - but because IMO it will just make things worse, not help to make things better.

I'll do my moaning and slagging off in the pub afterwards or during the week with mates, not at the match where a manager and players already brassed off at a bad performance and defeat are made to feel even worse as boo's ring in their ears.

MJ, and the young lads especially, hearing the reaction at the end of the Villa game won't be looking forward to going one down next time out at SJP that's for sure.

We don't want the Fortress on the Hill to become the Gallowgate where we hang our young manager and squad out to dry.

Is All Of This An Excuse For Jaissle?

No.

There is a difference between excuses and reasons.

The issues I have mentioned are reasons why Jaissle's system and performances especially of late have been concerning.

But I won't accept MJ trotting out excuses.

I want to hear in his pressers or see reactions out on the pitch that he is overcoming those reasons and getting the best out of the players he has available.

That is what good managers do.

Analysing reasons and finding the best solution is what MJ is paid for - and a mighty big wedge he and all PL managers get for achieving exactly that.

I for one, if I see obvious improvements, will cut Jaissle a good bit of slack to get us back on track for a huge task that I believe any manager would not find quick and easy.

If I don't see improvements, and I hear excuses, there will be no slack and a word rhyming it with it will take its place.

My desperate hope is that Matthias Jaissle is up to the challenge and any talk of his being replaced will disappear in a sack of points won over the coming weeks.

That's the only sack word I want to hear coming out of SJP.

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