who or what is changing our season

[Thomas L'Heureux]

The fact that Matt Mills is actually playing is a big, big factor.

Plus he is part of a consistant back four which is crucial at any standard of football. Griffin, Mills, Ingimarsson, and Bertrand are looking like a strong defensive unit which is what we've been crying out for all season. Playing well and keeping things tight at the back breeds confidence throughout the team as a whole and you can see that with the improved performances we've had recently.

[brendywendy]

its the fact that ive been taking the missus to games recently - shes seen both our home wins, plus one in the cup
and only ever seen reading lose once- to plymouth in the promotion year.

[rhroyal]

First 7 league games of B-Mac's tenure:

W2 D2 L3

Last 7 league games of B-Rod's tenure:

W3 D2 L2

What's changing our season? Nothing.

LOL exactly.....i think people are letting the cup run cloud their judgement on how well we're (not) doing.

The strengths we showed against Liverpool and Burnley have transferred to the league. We look like defending a lead now. We haven't thrown any games away quite like we did under Rodgers on frequent occasion. Plymouth has been the only real cause for concern, from which we have improved. Sheff Utd highlighted some issues in both boxes, but it could have been such a different story had we taken one of our chances at 1-0, notably the pen. Our draws against Bristol City and Swansea were decent results, considerably more so than our 1-1s with Scunthorpe and Ipswich at home. To criticize our result at Forest would be very harsh.

4 more things:

1) McD's first 5 games were played as caretaker manager. Howard, for one, came out and said he wanted the management issue resolved and more stability. The uncertainty of not knowing who your next manager is, and your performance having a bearing on the issue, is a burden for the players.

2) F.A. Cup results are not as important as the league. However, to overlook 3 good performances against Premiership opposition is unfair on Brian. It was still his team playing under his management and something from which we can assess his performance.

3) Look at form/table in the 7 games you used as an example. Rodgers had it much easier. Blackpool were only side in the top half at the time we played them we. McD, on the other hand, has had Bristol City, Swansea and Sheff Utd. 2 of those teams are currently right in the play-off mix, Sheff Utd having an awesome home record.

4) Rodgers had that run after months of working with the first team squad and understanding his "best" team, having built the squad himself over the summer. McD has come in and handled somebody else's team instantly. Whilst he has a decent indication of where they are at, having worked at the club, it wouldn't be as deep as Rodgers' who managed them for months.

All in all, he has done well since taking over the reins, especially since the humiliation of Plymouth. If he can exorcise that ghost tomorrow night, he will only have more support from the fans.

[andrew1957]

Managers get the blame when things go wrong so only fair they get credit when things go right so I have voted Brian.

Having said that Rodgers was incredibly unlucky with injuries and several key players have now returned to full fitness. This can only have helped McD's fortunes - but we all need a bit of luck.

Having said that about Rodgers, however, I thought a lot of his tactical decisions and substitutions were suspect whereas Brian has not put a foot wrong in either department so far as I am I concerned.

[SWLR]

No option for Mr Mad and the Squeaky One.

They should take the credit for not joining in the knee-jerk reaction brigade, and then backing the new incumbent (e.g. who sourced Griffen? probably the Squeaky One).

[fester_royal]

i think it could be all of the above but we'll never really know.
when buck took over he was handed a squad post 'fire sale' with nothing but shell shocked youngsters. who not only knew little of the tactics he was using but knew very little about the hard graft and fight you have to put into every game in this league. they were taken from academy/ reserve football and expected to perform as first teamers every week with a few added journey men.
no brian has made some good experienced loans which seem to be working for the time being and seems to have the team playing more as a unit.
but we're no way close to being free from problems yet and all this 'turning around of the season' after only two wins is just laughable!

[Dirk Gently]

A lot of it is going back to basics.

Br was trying to get the players to play tactics and systems that were well beyond their capabilities - BMc is playing a much simpler system (*) which the players understand and so they can concentrate on their roles instead of trying to play systems that confused them.

(*) except Saturday, but even that wasn't much of a change. I thought of it more as a 4-4-1-1 with Howard virtually a second, "link" striker than a pure 4-5-1. But in any case much simpler than a 4-2-3-1 ...

[Maguire]

FTR I should say (again) that I like McDermott and think his team selections are generally sound. The acquisition of Griffin to play in a position that's cause us problems all season was a very good move - he [Griffin] really knows what he's doing and the entire defence looks better because of it.

I'm a bit of a sucker for 4-4-2 to be honest, particularly at home and we look balanced as a side playing like that. Shame our strikers are shit, mind.

[Arch]

I'd agree that this is all very premature. It'll only take a couple of defeats - or even one defeat and a crap draw - to put us back where we were a month ago. Still the whole feel of the club is different than it was at any time during Rodgers' tenure. The cup wins do count for something. Four times in four weeks the players have gone into the dressing room after a morale-boosting win. Let's hope the momentum keeps going.

I'm backing Brian!

[brendywendy]

but we're no way close to being free from problems yet and all this 'turning around of the season' after only two wins is just laughable!

its not two wins, its 4-two Vs prem opposition, our defence looking settled solid, and the general feel of the club, and set up of the team thats got everyone thinking we may escape relegation, rather than being near certainties previous to BM taking over

[Tails]

Anyone have a snapshot of the league at the end of BR's tenure?

[CMRoyal]

First 7 league games of B-Mac's tenure:

W2 D2 L3

Last 7 league games of B-Rod's tenure:

W3 D2 L2

What's changing our season? Nothing.

LOL exactly.....i think people are letting the cup run cloud their judgement on how well we're (not) doing.

Don't know about 'cloud' but I for one am allowing it to inform my judgement because I see the FA Cup as a major part of the season. League-wise it feels like we are back to the just-good-enough-to-get-safe stability that Brendan had got us to before he was sacked, but with a more solid defensive basis for maintaining that form. Tomorrow is absolutely crucial in that respect - three league wins on the bounce with a 5th Round Cup tie to look forward (having disposed of two Premier League teams in the process) would be a clear indication that Maccy D has turned our season around in my view.

[Hoop Blah]

Personally I still don't think a lots changed.

The addition of Griffin has made the single biggest difference in my mind though. We conceeded far too many goals down the right side/right channel and Griffin (and the shift of Ingimarsson from right back to left side centre back) has shored that area of the field up.

We're still not scoring enough goals to turn our performances into results consitently enough, but we've got two good ones through sterling work from the back four and some wasteful finishing at the same time.

We're also now heading back into a run of the so called 'easier games' and so I think McDermott has a great chance of building on the solid start he's made so far.

I like the way he handles himself, and even though I don't think it was the right thing to sack Rodgers, I'm obviously right behind the new man. I do find a lot of the 'isn't it much better now Rodgers has gone' stuff a bit odd though. BUt considering we've always seen that over time under just one manager it shouldn't surprise me.

[brendywendy]

Anyone have a snapshot of the league at the end of BR's tenure?

lets compare once BM has had as many games

[Hoop Blah]

It will still be a bit of an apple and oranges comparison though.

McDermott took over a side almost getting there and has made some needed tweeks to get that extra bit of improvement.

Rodgers took over a decimated team and had to rebuild from scratch and was obviously looking at a bit of a longer term view than McDermott.

I don't care about comparing the two because they have quite different jobs to perform and at different times under different circumstances.

[brendywendy]

fine!

[howser]

I agree with many views on this thread that it is too early to say we have "changed" we certainly look more comfortable with the settled formation, apart from at Doncaster that is, and the obvious improvement in Shane Long has been a bonus.

But I would prefer to see how we progress through this month before making any judgements, and that is not including the cup match, hopefully that wont be a hinderance, the two wins over Liverpool and Burnley have been enjoyable, but I for one would prefer to see us pile some points on over cup success.

[Royal We]

Probably not Nick Griffin.

[Mr Angry]

What has changed is that by playing in a formation that the players feel comfortable with, we are looking more balanced.

Thats not to say that we have turned the corner (or any other cliche you can come up with) BUT the fact is that results are improving.

Of course the doom mongers would say that nothing has changed; shame that they can't see beyond their own prejudices.

[Ian Royal]

Personally I still don't think a lots changed.

The addition of Griffin has made the single biggest difference in my mind though. We conceeded far too many goals down the right side/right channel and Griffin (and the shift of Ingimarsson from right back to left side centre back) has shored that area of the field up.

We're still not scoring enough goals to turn our performances into results consitently enough, but we've got two good ones through sterling work from the back four and some wasteful finishing at the same time.

We're also now heading back into a run of the so called 'easier games' and so I think McDermott has a great chance of building on the solid start he's made so far.

I like the way he handles himself, and even though I don't think it was the right thing to sack Rodgers, I'm obviously right behind the new man. I do find a lot of the 'isn't it much better now Rodgers has gone' stuff a bit odd though. BUt considering we've always seen that over time under just one manager it shouldn't surprise me.

I don't think there have been big changes either. But I think there have been a fair few very significant small changes.