Given the seeming impossibility of taking over a successful side halfway through the season and either improving on or continuing that success, due to all the excuses reasons listed above, it does rather make you wonder how some coaches manage to take over a side in an awful run of form, absolutely bereft of confidence, and without a pre-season (or even a transfer window sometimes) still massively turn them around…
I'd suggest, it's easier to take over and underperforming team and improve them, than it is to take and overperforming team and maintain them, especially when you've got some senior players sulking (according to
@Leysboy) because they didn't get the manager they wanted
Just looking back over our fixtures and the first thing that is clear is Greg Leigh has not been back 2 months as
@MustardYellow is claiming, and certainly not as a regular starter. His first appearence as a sub was against Carlisle on 13th Jan. he played the last 21 minutes of that game (which we won 3-1 incidentally - better than the result Manning managed after a full pre-season).
The next game after that against Barnsley, he managed 45 mins and that was forced after Joe Bennett went off injured. Prior to that incident, Sam Long had scored an own goal (was that the managers fault because of how he's being coached?) prior to being forced off after 35 mins to be replaced by Oisin Smyth...because there was nobody else who could remotely play at right back. We ended up losing 1-0 against the team currently sat in 4th.
Then Bristol Rovers on 27th January was Leighs first start, where injuries to both Bennett and Long forced our hand at the back, plus no Murphy meant Leigh playing in midfield, where he hadn't been very effective under Manning.
Next up was Portsmouth and a creditable draw against the leaders, despite both Cumming and Stevens being forced off with yet more injuries.
Neither featured in the next game against Reading. Negru at RB (cover your eyes) and still no sign of Murphy, where we drew and should've won - we even scored their goal for them - what on earth is Buckingham teaching them!!
Next up a draw against Blackpool - a promotion rival. Murphy finally back on the bench, but still missing Stevens and Bennett at the back. Mark Harris only denied a second by Marvin Ekpiteta's face on the line.
4-2 drubbing of Wigan next - First goal of the season for Murphy, coming off the bench. Other goals from Rodrigues, Brannagan and Goodrham. Decent enough performance.
Bore draw against Wycombe next. 0-0 and only 19 shots and 6 on target mustered by the two teams. Exactly what we expect from Wycombe's anti-football approach. We were also missing our captain Elliott Moore through injury and no Marcus McGuane either. Still no Stevens, Bennett an unused sub.
Next up Northampton, which we should've won, if it weren't for that inexplicable Sam Long back pass an the events that unfolded after that. What on earth was Buckingham thinking to train them to play like that???
Next up Leyton Orient. Absolutely fabulous team goal, scored by Goodrham. Still no Elliott Moore. Fin Stevens and Bennett unused subs on the bench. Matete looked ike he was wading through treacle for large parts, replaced by McGuane (returning from injury) on 75. SIX game unbeaten run brought to an end.
Then Portsmouth. Elliott Moore finally back. We outplayed them for the majority of the game - bad mistake from Cumming for their first to lose it in the sun and let it in (what has Buckingham been teaching him in training???) Buckingham said after the game that this is the way he wants them to play...and most fans seem to think that's a good sign. We had 18 shots on goal with 6 on target and 8 blocked. Portsmouth had 11. Everyone said Portsmouth aren't all that, but they have a habit of grinding out results, which is (funnily enough) what Champions do!