There has been a lot of negativity in the recent past, and some complaints directed at Cox. However, these past two performances have showed that he has the will to learn.
Many previous managers would have been too stubborn to change formation and/or tactics even when losing. However, Cox has and has clearly learned how to use his players. Just look at Eisa. From being sidelined in favour of the inferior Hippolyte at the start of the season, Eisa has become more and more confident and I feel it’s because of how Cox has been playing him.
I know some will say it could have been done sooner, but remember that Cox is fresh into management and is finding out about his own squad. There have been blips, like Bolton, but recent games has seen a general improvement in game management, performances and tactics. I think this is in part because Cox has realised the need to change, which others haven’t previously, and it’s this which makes me feel positive about the future.
Of course I might be wrong and Cox may be found out, but I feel like there is room for optimism and Cox deserves praise for seeing our form change from the horror show it was to something which is much better.
Yes plenty of credit due as he can be seen to be learning and, as BRI says, has shown flexibility in his approach.
Just a shame he doesn’t read Bru, he’d have got it right sooner!!
He’s done very well since getting the more experienced players back from injury. It’s nice that one of his biggest headaches now is how/where to fit McAtee, Taylor and Van Veen in this team.
I hope he’s realised 4/4/2 is the way….he tried to change it all up against Bolton and fecked up. As long as he keeps it 4/4/2 and plays the right players, he’ll be fine.
loft is getting himself in there now to score and we#re starting to get more players forward now in and around the box.
I’m optimistic. I just hope to god nothing happens to Beestin or Spence.
Where do you getthis “Cox deserves credit for us winning a couple of games from” we have been crying out for him to play his best team, play them in their best positions, and give up those stupid systems of his and play 4-4-2. So after his record of one win in 13 matches and eight defeats on the bounce, he desedves lpts of ctedit?????????, he had taken us into bottom of the League only a couple of weeks ago, and out of all three Cup competitions, I think you need to think before coming out with thisstatement. I n all fairness he is very fortunate not to have been bladdered with that record. I hope that I am wrong guys, but after just a cpo[le of keeping the same team and system, I do not beleive rgat he can resist applying some new method of his, lets just wait and see, two good wins, but we have got to keep it up. I would have thpught that with having two games per week, management will surely have eased up a bit on training schedules on order of keeping players fit and free of training injuries.
I’ve enjoyed the last 2 matches massively, I can’t remember when I last felt that way!
Full credit must go to Cox and the players… long may it continue!!!
Why oh why are you all so 1442, christ you lot bore me stupid. 1442 or nothing. We have to adapt, occasionally giving the opposition something to think about. I say well done Niel for believing in his squad. Yes I agree that when available, like today or last tuesday 1442 probably is our best formation. However, if the boss decides to change things pre match or during the game lets not hang him out to dry, it doesn’t have to be the same every game. A good manager will be able to adapt during a game. With the recent run of games…points gained and with the next couple of months fixtures, i think we should see where we stand come the end of January, 1442 or something different…points or the most important thing
Bound to be negativity when you’re hovering around the football league’s trapdoor to oblivion. Particularly when the manager throws inexperienced kids in, some playing out of position.
And when your talisman is out injured, returns only to get crocked again. Then when the team lines up in a formation you just know will be a disaster. You have to question what’s going on.
Then when you look back at previous managers and remember how their stubbornness to change the system ended up in the sack. Let’s face it, you’d be well within your rights to think “here we go again”.
If Cox has learned and is willing to rectify his earlier mistakes then he deserves credit. He takes a lot of credit from me today for sticking with the same starting lineup from Tuesday, when it would have been easy to change it. The rewards are there to be seen.
The upside is the comparison to so many recent managers who began sensibly enough before descending into a crazy, defensive mindset.
Neil appears to be going in the opposite direction to those. Yey!
He still needs to learn to leave a speedy man up as an outlet when we are defending set pieces.
Incidentally, can somebody please explain why we – along with many teams today – so rarely have a decent header of the ball racing in to meet crosses and corners from beyond the far post?
It was a standard tactic when I first watched the Iron. It stretches defences; draws penalties; causes greater threats to goal; increases chances in and around the six yard box; makes the GK’s life more difficult.
I had a strange conversation with someone in football who explained to me that ‘it is because there are no longer two wingers in every team’. (???) Well, there is in ours!
Where do you getthis “Cox deserves credit for us winning a couple of games from” we have been crying out for him to play his best team, play them in their best positions, and give up those stupid systems of his and play 4-4-2. So after his record of one win in 13 matches and eight defeats on the bounce, he desedves lpts of ctedit?????????, he had taken us into bottom of the League only a couple of weeks ago, and out of all three Cup competitions, I think you need to think before coming out with thisstatement. I n all fairness he is very fortunate not to have been bladdered with that record. I hope that I am wrong guys, but after just a cpo[le of keeping the same team and system, I do not beleive rgat he can resist applying some new method of his, lets just wait and see, two good wins, but we have got to keep it up. I would have thpught that with having two games per week, management will surely have eased up a bit on training schedules on order of keeping players fit and free of training injuries.
He deserves credit for being able to realise errors and change, which hasn’t been the case for the previous managers, who have often been as stubborn as mules.
Of course he has made mistakes and deserved criticism for it, and I made some critical comments at the time, but at the moment it seems like he’s learned some lessons. It gives some reason to be positive for the future.
This is his first managerial role, mistakes were always likely, so I am willing to be forgiving if he can turn it round. Recent performances have shown that he might be able to.
You conveniently forget Barton that he took the job with most of the squad already assembled, and what a shit show of a squad he inherited; Throw in half the team decimated by COVID for 2 weeks and it was a recipe for disaster.
Since getting his senior players back the transformation is there for all to see. His enthusiasm for hard work, team spirit and a genuine passion for the club comes through in the players performances and his interviews alike. The port vale performance proved how much the players were willing to put it on the line.
I think the COVID break did us good because we have only lost one since.
Positives since then.
Experienced keeper, will also help Rory Watson
Signing Junior Brown
Eisa and McAtee back in the first team
Clarke, McGahey and Van Veen back in the team or squad for some games
The emergence of O’Malley, Beestin, Onaraise and Rowe at league level
Finding a system that doesn’t totally isolate Loft
Spence getting some form in this league
And Gillihead being outstanding
And also 4 4 2 which I hope the manager sticks with
I wouldn’t have thought some of these younger players would have made the starting eleven at the start of the season let alone giving MoM performances.
Considering the clubs change in strategy, Neil’s managerial experience and all the other issues the club have faced this season surely makes the recent upturn in performance and results nothing short of impressive and long may it continue.
It’s making people smile again so lets embrace it while it’s here.
One thing that’s for sure is nobody can say our manager doesn’t show any passion from the touchline (which seemed a common bugbear for many on here with previous managers). You can literally hear him screaming all game…the most common line being “GO ON LOFTY, GO ON LOFTY!!”
It’s great to see that Cox is starting to get results, be in no doubt however…we are a long way from the finished article. We were deserved winners against Harrogate, and we very fortunate to win against Orient. Howard pulled off a couple of crucial saves early in the game. Throughout the match Orient looked the better team however, as is sometimes the way, their inability to convert their chances came back to kick them in the ass!
Oh yes, realising the supporters may just be right. But on the horizon do not be surprised to see the 3 CB’s return because he won’t like having to accept that 442 works for us.
At last we seem to have a midfield that can compete, beestin, spence, eisa and gillead are the best we have had since the morris, Holmes, adelakun and bishop midfield?
Along with a goalkeeper and defence actually defending properly (oniarise, Clarke, mcgahey and O’Malley were outstanding yesterday) and one that’s dealing with the ball foremost and not over playing we seem to be on the right track at last.
.
