I haven't been at many games recently, so can't comment on specifics. However, reading this thread, a few things occur to me.
First, when discussing a manager's "tactical deficiencies" in a game (eg dropping back too deep yesterday, wrong subs, inviting Donny on etc), fans frustrated with their manager invariably overlook one* crucial point. Namely, there is another manager and set of players out there, who are doing their damnedest to change the game, too. Taking yesterday as an example, if BFC were coasting up until 70 mins, say, but then saw the game turn against them, isn't it just possible that UR and the players were trying to resist that, but after an hour of being outthought and outplayed etc, the Donny manager and players finally figured out where
they had been going wrong and changed their approach? (And I accept that that may not apply to Donny specifically, but you get my point generally).
Two, when a team is playing tip-top stuff, then they will generally be so far ahead after 60 mins etc, that they'll be out-of-sight of any comeback. OK, BFC aren't scoring enough goals to have reached that happy situation yet, but it is blind (imo) to ignore the progress which is being made to at least get a good hour in.
Third, re Donny specifically, how many other times this season will they score a goal like their first one yesterday? At this level, if you're confining teams to shooting from distance/angles etc, it suggests that you're doing more things right than wrong. And if you keep doing that, eventually it must come good.
Four, sometimes people need to step back, so as to "see the wood for the trees". There is an enormous amount of work going on at BFC these days. This includes Scouting, Youth teams, Development Squad, 1st team, medical/sports science, training and facilities, the development of a BFC "coaching style" throughout the club, plus transfers and loans etc in and out. Now clearly UR's primary responsibility must be with events between 3 pm and 4.45 pm each Saturday etc. But he also has to have a major input on all the other aspects, too, in order for the club to grow coherently and consistently. Obviously an experienced manager like Ferguson or Wenger is going to be on top of everything at their clubs etc, but when you consider the enormity of what's happening at GP since Scott left, then UR must have a huge amount on his plate, which I fear is being overlooked. (And for those who point to all the support staff he has, I would remind them that it's not just a case of appointing them then sitting back and letting them get on with it - UR needs to manage them, too).
Fifth, if Sacking the Manager is the answer, then how come teams like eg Rochdale, Northampton, Bradford, Bristol Rovers etc are so shit? Because there is a clear correlation between the teams at the bottom of the table, and the number of times they sack their manager. And anyhow, which replacement could BFC get who would be pretty much guaranteed to do significantly better, quicker?
Finally, unless you're talking about a seasoned, consistently successful veteran,
all managers need time to learn their trade, and when I say "time", I mean more than a season and a half. On which point, I always refer back to the best of the lot, Alex Ferguson. When he went to MU, he had been a very accomplished manager in Scotland, was in his mid-40's, was inheriting a decent (if not outstanding) squad/team from Atkinson (Robson, Whiteside, McGrath etc), and was given reasonable money to spend. Yet it still took him SIX FULL SEASONS before MU won the League. During those six seasons, there were many MU fans who wanted him out.
Now I'm not saying that UR is the next Ferguson - he clearly isn't. But if even the great managers need time to build something consistent and enduring, then surely lesser managers need at least as much time, if not more?
* - As well as the fact that 90% have never managed so much as an U-11 schoolboys team
Originally Posted by Kettering Bee
emphasis on the 'some of' though, always room for improvement. i'd add forrester and logan to the list of good players he's brought in too, i liked what i've seen from farid but i think uwe used him wrongly, dallas has potential. 
