Manager/Coach KREXIT: The 'Robbo Out' thread.

[Berliner]

2-1 down and he brings on a crocked version of Taylor. Just about says it all.

Winnall came on two minutes before their second goal.

 

[Banbury2018]

KR shouldn’t get sacked, and I don’t think he will.

I still firmly believe he’s in credit, and he over achieved imo last season. Ok so did Ainsworth, and they went up! So be it. It happens with the play offs. So many times a team finishes 3rd let’s say 10 points clear of 6th, and end up on the losing side.

It’s been incredibly difficult this season, and I think KR thrives when fans are in attendance. His passion comes through, and that transfers to the players on the pitch to feed off.

If the takeover happens, then I think he will have an increased budget at his disposal, but if he starts poorly let’s say by mid November, then I can understand if the owner/s want to look elsewhere. Because the expectations will be high!

If Tiger doesn’t sell, then expect another season anywhere in the top ten, where in the top ten is anyone’s guess.

I certainly don’t believe it’s time to pull the trigger now or during the off season.

Please don’t be rational with your thinking because without reading any other posts on here but 1 other forum it’s hysterical overreactions as ever. I think we need to get rid of a few players and start again. McGuane is a cert for me if we can get him.

 

[Manorlounger]

Winnall came on two minutes before their second goal.

Beg pardon, it was Winnall that gave away the free kick leading to the second goal. I stand corrected!

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Robinson has assembled a team that lacks depth, lack the ability to trouble the playoffs and where those players do have the ability, has continued to P**s that ability up the wall with poor decisions and muddled tactics. For me, I'd happily see him go, I don't think he can improve us past where we are currently

Fancy paying his contract off then? He’s going nowhere.

 

[Common Villager]

I've gone back and forth a number of times this season on whether or not I want Robinson to stay/leave, but I'm much more in the out than in camp now. He just keeps getting things wrong. He tries to be too clever. He can't seem to get us doing the basics on a consistent basis. I don't understand his reluctance to give Agyei any meaningful time as a central striker (especially over the past-it Winnall). He (along with the rest of the recruitment team) has got far too many transfer windows wrong. We've started too many seasons badly, giving ourselves a mountain to climb each campaign.

I think we need some new ideas.

 

[WuTang]

Fancy paying his contract off then? He’s going nowhere.

I think it's common knowledge in football that in 90% of cases you rarely need to pay off a manager for the full length of his contract, there are usually clauses in place to lower the total required if they underperform etc. The "we can't afford to sack him" line is usually nonsense these days.

We have a board looking to build a new stadium, and the board coming in funded Inter Milan and a new stadium for DC United, they can afford to sack Karl Robinson from a League One football club if they wish to.

I think they'd look at things on paper at the end of the season:

Made the playoffs season before, lost some decent players, finished midtable the following season. They'll think with a bit more investment he'll get there again, so he'll probably stay.

However as fans we see the tactics, decisions, style of play and look more in depth, and when you do he really is frustrating at times. I don't think Tiger or the new board will see that though.

 

[Reynolds97]

People are rightly critical of points we have dropped as its what could potentially cost us a play off spot. Im still in the thinking of if we don't get play offs KR has massively failed this season and we should be looking elsewhere.

I still fully stand by this im just so confused by the decisions KR makes the Ageyi treatment I just find baffling. Taylors 1 or 2 effective games in 15 / 20 really means he cant be replaced by Ageyi? To only bring him on today for 10 mins is a disgrace.

 

[Yellowmania]

Does seem when Karl is under pressure he brings out of his top hat a nice furry rabbit to cheer us all up. This time it’s we’re looking to sign McGuane......

 

[Fat bloke]

For Karl big pre season coming up ?.
As clearly not good enough even to get to play offs to many defeats,
Never seems to play a settled team ,not knowing his best team this season with too much reliance on loan ins which have been not good enough.
Worst thing I see is Brannigan going in summer with nothing to help him out.
Distinct lack of quality players adding to the team poor recruitment from him.
If only we could recuit like Peterborough who seems to do well selling on and recruitment covering it ?
If I was Chairman I wouldn't be happy what I see inside and outside club he needs to better or go...

 

[Reynolds97]

For Karl big pre season coming up ?.
As clearly not good enough even to get to play offs to many defeats,
Never seems to play a settled team ,not knowing his best team this season with too much reliance on loan ins which have been not good enough.
Worst thing I see is Brannigan going in summer with nothing to help him out.
Distinct lack of quality players adding to the team poor recruitment from him.
If only we could recuit like Peterborough who seems to do well selling on and recruitment covering it ?
If I was Chairman I wouldn't be happy what I see inside and outside club he needs to better or go...

Agree with all. I do wonder if Brannagan regrets not going end of last season, I know hes had a rare injury but hes hardly looked levels above this season. Maybe knocked off a few quid on price tag?

 

[AbsoluteZero]

Don't mind if KR stays or goes. I stuck up for him last season and the season before when there were small indicators of good things ahead when things were not going well and things did improve. But there are clear deficiencies in his managerial ability especially with tactics and team selection which unfortunately are the main things you have to get right to be a successful club. But we can't afford another slow start to next season like we have every season under Robinson.

He probably is a neutral manager in that he is not good enough to get us promoted but probably has enough to ensure we do not get relegated. So it comes down to the board whether they have the ambition to really push for the next level immediately, knowing that if it goes horribly wrong it could end up going the other way and finding ourselves in League 2. For the money at the moment he is probably a safe pair of hands to leave the club in to keep hovering mid-table of league 1, but that view would be completely different if we were just about to move into a new stadium and the need for a better standard of football to be more financially successful was a must. But that means the fans will just have to put up with another 3-4 years of mid table mediocrity with a budget to match, which will be quite a dull and frustrating time to experience, but maybe necessary for the good of the club long-term.

Just a word about the coaches too. Having Mousinho alongside Short now seems like something too similar as they were both defensive minded players so naturally will both be defensive coaches. Maybe selecting an attacking coach is what is needed rather than 2 defensive coaches.

 

[Victor1986]

I said on here weeks ago that I fear we will lose Stevens. The current season changed dramatically when he got between the sticks. Mind you it will all be down to him as to whether he really wants a big salary to be a number 2 or even 3?
KR will be here until December when our (allegedly) mega rich directors call the tune.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

mid table mediocrity with a budget to match

This is a complete and utter myth. Categorically untrue. The fact that we spent £300,000 on agent fees alone (the fourth most in the entire division by far) means you don't even have to be 'ITK' to know that our budget is not mid-table.

I agree with much of what you say (at least to a point) but this narrative of us being average spenders at best is simply false.

 

[AbsoluteZero]

This is a complete and utter myth. Categorically untrue. The fact that we spent £300,000 on agent fees alone (the fourth most in the entire division by far) means you don't even have to be 'ITK' to know that our budget is not mid-table.

I agree with much of what you say (at least to a point) but this narrative of us being average spenders at best is simply false.

I agree with your point about us spending above average this season which is why I have said elsewhere we have underachieved this season by being mid table. Maybe it wasn't clear what I meant, it is in the next 3-4 years that I think we will have a mid table budget because the owners know Robinson would not do anything with a better budget (as proven this season), they would be content with mid table whilst the stadium shenanigans get sorted out and they know that with an average budget Robinson is the man to not get us relegated. A great manager could get us promoted with a mediocre top 8 budget. This is not Robinson. The ball is in the owners court now to decide which direction to go whether to stick and play safe let Robinson get on with it and not throw much money at the team for 3-4 years, or risk it and start spending on the team now which in turn probably means that you want a manager capable of spending the money properly and getting a successful team to get promoted which is not Robinson. I personally think they will stick.

 

[Banbury2018]

This is a complete and utter myth. Categorically untrue. The fact that we spent £300,000 on agent fees alone (the fourth most in the entire division by far) means you don't even have to be 'ITK' to know that our budget is not mid-table.

I agree with much of what you say (at least to a point) but this narrative of us being average spenders at best is simply false.

Where was our budget then.

 

[derek]

perhaps L1 stability until the stadium project is further along is acceptable in their eyes.

I wonder about this too. Keep treading water until the stadium problem is resolved, with a timescale in place. Then push the team on when there's a better chance of the investment delivering a decent reward.

 

[Oxford57]

He is clearly very passionate about the club and wants to succeed here, however the poor recruitment ,the poor start to the season , the usual number of gambles which hadn't paid off, a total lack of clear playing style ,and tactics which don't appear to have a plan b mean that mid table now seems likely , the players equally need to take a long look at themselves on how they respond to the game, they make it difficult for them selves at times. Too many attacks are built by sideways passing g which achieve nothing,

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I agree with your point about us spending above average this season which is why I have said elsewhere we have underachieved this season by being mid table. Maybe it wasn't clear what I meant, it is in the next 3-4 years that I think we will have a mid table budget because the owners know Robinson would not do anything with a better budget (as proven this season), they would be content with mid table whilst the stadium shenanigans get sorted out and they know that with an average budget Robinson is the man to not get us relegated. A great manager could get us promoted with a mediocre top 8 budget. This is not Robinson. The ball is in the owners court now to decide which direction to go whether to stick and play safe let Robinson get on with it and not throw much money at the team for 3-4 years, or risk it and start spending on the team now which in turn probably means that you want a manager capable of spending the money properly and getting a successful team to get promoted which is not Robinson. I personally think they will stick.

Fair dos. I get you.

As an aside, I just checked and if you split the league season thus far into thirds you get the following:

First 13 games: 13 points.

Second 13 games: 30 points.

Third 13 games: 13 points.

Essentially, it took that incredible mid-season run just to put us smack bang in 12th place. Which is also where we finished in his first full season in charge, by the way. For two thirds of the season thus far we have only just about averaged one point per game. That is relegation form. The facts don't lie - it's all there to be checked.

This backs up what I've said previously, that Robinson is a rollercoaster manager who lives off big moments that make you scream, rather than giving you steady and consistent results and with it, tangible success. Last season was an absolute dream for him, with the comeback and last minute winner just days before the league shut down. Before then we had gone from second on January 1st all the way down to mid-table, and then put together another run that ended with us bobbing back into the top six just as covid took hold. It was perfect, and we even got to the final and one game from promotion without winning a match in the semis. We barely even had a shot across two games. He very nearly pulled it off.

He's a man who knows that big bang moments, accompanied by lots of glitter and fireworks, are what form opinions and stay with people. Society is so overloaded with information these days that people tend to only remember the explosions, and he's perfectly equipped for that. Make the good moments SO good that they'll forgive everything else, even when it's actively poor, repeatedly and / or for extended periods. People will largely keep pointing at the explosion and waiting for the next one to go, "Told you so! He's brilliant and you're wrong!" It'll happen on this very thread every time we win a game from now until the day he's no longer here. It's populism at its core.

It's sexy and exciting, too, and the purple patches are SO bright that people just can't let them go. Throw in the odd game on the telly and a run in the odd cup and it makes people go, "Wow, how exciting! This is fantastic fun! Best ride we've been on in years!" But when you take a step back, and look at what he's actually achieved in well over a decade of management, it's distinctly average. The ride starts and finishes in the same spot. He isn't a serial achiever what so ever, just a guy who tells people they've got big willies and then throws in a few gold runs. He's done very well out of it, and most people are happy with the compliments and the occasional biscuit. He cares, and that means more than winning.

I fully expect we will see a good 4/5 game flurry of wins between now and the end of the season, which should mean that on paper we finish quite well and everybody goes into the summer buzzing, and talking about how exciting next season could be if we keep the momentum and make some new signings etc. That's pretty much a given. On paper that's kind of fine, we're broadly where most would think we 'should' be on paper, but when you know that so much more is possible it's frustrating. It's often such simple, nonsense things that seem to get in the way. Things that often seem to happen over and over and appear the easiest to fix.

I'm looking forward to people accusing me and others of being hysterical and wetting the bed, as usual, despite the fact that they're the ones doing that when they start crying and being insulting towards others due to them holding opinions that aren't the same as their own. They're probably the people who Karl says have the big willies. I'm perfectly calm about it all - I've got facts on my side. It isn't my sheets that need a wash.

Maybe next season will be the one. He has to get it right some time.

 

[derek]

Does seem when Karl is under pressure he brings out of his top hat a nice furry rabbit to cheer us all up. This time it’s we’re looking to sign McGuane......

I can't see McGuane staying if we're still in L1. I think it's more likely that the tidbit Karl was dangling was that he might be fit for a few matches at the end of the season. Presumably the playoffs (cough).

 

[brassmonkey]

Fair dos. I get you.

As an aside, I just checked and if you split the league season thus far into thirds you get the following:

First 13 games: 13 points.

Second 13 games: 30 points.

Third 13 games (only 12 played thus far): 13 points.

Essentially, it took that incredible mid-season run just to put us smack bang in 12th place. Which is also where we finished in his first full season in charge, by the way. For two thirds of the season thus far we have only just about averaged one point per game. That is relegation form. The facts don't lie - it's all there to be checked.

This backs up what I've said previously, that Robinson is a rollercoaster manager who lives off big moments that make you scream, rather than giving you steady and consistent results and with it, tangible success. Last season was an absolute dream for him, with the comeback and last minute winner just days before the league shut down. Before then we had gone from second on January 1st all the way down to mid-table, and then put together another run that ended with us bobbing back into the top six just as covid took hold. It was perfect, and we even got to the final and one game from promotion without winning a match in the semis. We barely even had a shot across two games. He very nearly pulled it off.

He's a man who knows that big bang moments, accompanied by lots of glitter and fireworks, are what form opinions and stay with people. Society is so overloaded with information these days that people tend to only remember the explosions, and he's perfectly equipped for that. Make the good moments SO good that they'll forgive everything else, even when it's actively poor, repeatedly and / or for extended periods. People will largely keep pointing at the explosion and waiting for the next one to go, "Told you so! He's brilliant and you're wrong!" It'll happen on this very thread every time we win a game from now until the day he's no longer here. It's populism at its core.

It's sexy and exciting, too, and the purple patches are SO bright that people just can't let them go. Throw in the odd game on the telly and a run in the odd cup and it makes people go, "Wow, how exciting! This is fantastic fun! Best ride we've been on in years!" But when you take a step back, and look at what he's actually achieved in well over a decade of management, it's distinctly average. The ride starts and finishes in the same spot. He isn't a serial achiever what so ever, just a guy who tells people they've got big willies and then throws in a few gold runs. He's done very well out of it, and most people are happy with the compliments and the occasional biscuit. He cares, and that means more than winning.

I fully expect we will see a good 4/5 game flurry of wins between now and the end of the season, which should mean that on paper we finish quite well and everybody goes into the summer buzzing, and talking about how exciting next season could be if we keep the momentum and make some new signings etc. That's pretty much a given. On paper that's kind of fine, we're broadly where most would think we 'should' be on paper, but when you know that so much more is possible it's frustrating. It's often such simple, nonsense things that seem to get in the way. Things that often seem to happen over and over and appear the easiest to fix.

I'm looking forward to people accusing me and others of being hysterical and wetting the bed, as usual, despite the fact that they're the ones doing that when they start crying and being insulting towards others due to them holding opinions that aren't the same as their own. They're probably the people who Karl says have the big willies. I'm perfectly calm about it all - I've got facts on my side. It isn't my sheets that need a wash.

Maybe next season will be the one. He has to get it right some time.

Great post!