When I walked out of Bramall Lane on
Tuesday night, annoyed, frustrated and angry I never expected the events of the
next 24 hours to unfold as they have.
I had intended writing something about the disappointment of
yet another gutless, pedestrian and goal-less home performance. Of how a
majority of the players, displayed an apparent lack of commitment, care and a
will to win. Of how only one could face clapping the crowd at the end, Matt
Hill; the rest of the team shamefully scuttling off down the tunnel. And of
how, yet again, our manager had displayed a lack of initiative in getting the
best out of his squad.
I was growing sick and tired of teams coming to Bramall Lane
and passing the ball better than we can with pace and incisiveness, opposition
teams winning second balls when we are off the pace and then being told that we
were playing well by our manager. That the opposition had come to stop us
playing.
As Danny Wilson made changes with half an hour or so to go,
I actually felt pleased with the action he was taking. At last we were going
with two wingers playing on their natural sides and although the introduction
of Chris Porter left us lacking pace up front, both he and Dave Kitson would
give the wingers a target to hit from the by-line.
What followed was one of the most depressing half hours of
football I have witnessed at the Lane, as the team proceeded to aim long to two
big, immobile strikers, whose sole objective appeared to be winning free kicks
on the edge of the box. When the free kicks were won, they were thumped at the
wall or tamely at the keeper.
When a chance fell to Porter he put it high and wide and was
publicly castigated by his captain Michael Doyle in an embarrassing act from a
supposed leader, who ought to take a long hard look at his contribution before
criticising others. Although we had hit the woodwork twice before this point,
it soon became apparent that we were never going to score if we played until
midnight.
If this was the way our manager wanted us to play it was
terrible. If it wasn't, then why was he standing there impassively on the
touchline? Fans were castigated on the local radio phone-in afterwards, for
criticising a lack of passion from Wilson, a lack of demonstrable frustration
at what his players were doing.
"You didn't complain about him not waving his arms
about earlier in the season when you were winning."
"You are talking rubbish."
Callers were rudely cut off as the presenter, Paul Walker,
dismissed the possibility of the issue being discussed. But surely they had a
valid point?
If Wilson considered that performance acceptable, thus
standing there seemingly reluctant to direct or encourage change, then, to my
mind, that was unacceptable. As the game went on, mistakes were made and the
match slipped away. The crowd's passion and support turned to frustration and
most drifted out.
We were getting nothing from most of the players and seeing
nothing from manager to suggest he knew what to do to change it. His final
substitution, bringing on Barry Robson in the midfield felt like a token
gesture of a man who had run out of ideas.
Despite keeping the players in the dressing room for over an
hour afterwards, his post-match comments suggested it was bad luck that cost us
the game; two defensive mistakes and hitting the woodwork twice. He completely
ignored the paucity of other chances created, the better football from Crawley,
a magnificent point blank save from George Long to keep it 0-0 at the break.
So to Wednesday night's announcement and with the briefest of
statement from the club, the twitter rumours were confirmed and many questions
raised. Did he realise he wasn't up to the job and walk? That would have been
as gutless an act as that displayed by a majority of those in red and white
stripes on Tuesday night. Or, more likely, was politely suggested he stand
down?
The latter was confirmed today and to many, me included, is
a strange decision at this stage of the season. Or is it? Let's not forget we
have an owner who could be classed as the King of impetuous decisions.
Sack Neil Warnock after Premier league relegation when he
was probably best qualified to take us up?
Tick!
Replace him with Bryan Robson, a man who struggled to cope
with the Boro job and enlisted the help of Terry Venables?
Tick!
Wait 3 games into a season before sacking Kevin Blackwell -
a decision best made in the summer?
Tick!
I am not sure if Danny Wilson could have got much more out
of that team, only Danny and the players can comment on that. However, the
pedestrian and lacklustre performances of recent weeks have offered little
opportunity to think otherwise. Wilson was seemingly unable to find the right
formula at home, whilst scraping results away from Bramall Lane. Yet, as I have
previously said on this site, he was a jailed striker and injured/suspended replacements from taking us up last season, playing great football along the way.
Do I think a manager leaving now is good for the club or
their promotion hopes? No. Would it have improved under Wilson in the last few
games? I doubt it. Should Wilson have been allowed to see the job through? He probably
should. It is a difficult situation and a massive gamble by Kevin McCabe.
The fact he thinks an unproven manager can do a better job
than Wilson (his friend) suggests one of two things. Player power of some sort
has won out, or McCabe is taking a massive risk with the future of the club and
based on what? Fan disgruntlement? Home results? Observations on games (must be
of others, as he isn't often there)? Is it McCabe's call or is he letting
other's play with his money?
The club statement on the appointment reads; "Getting
promotion to the Championship is at the heart of the decision for a
change." What do they see changing to achieve this? Sadly as much passion
and hunger Morgan has got, that alone will not get us there. He can change
formation and tactics, but can he make them pass and move with fluidity and
pace? Can he install a passion and hunger that should be there? And if he can,
can he do it in five games?
It smacks of a panic measure to please fans ahead of the
season ticket renewal deadline at the end of next week. Get the fans gee'd up
by the appointment of a former captain and club hero. Make them feel all warm
about the club - Then if it all goes wrong Morgan stays at club, drifts back
into the background coaching. There is less of a fans backlash because the fans
won't hate "Morgs". If it goes well, it is a win-win situation
I loved Chris Morgan as a player and a captain. He handles
himself well with the media and fans. He is forceful, focused and determined.
But is he ready for club management? I could have seen him managing the club at
some point down the line. Just not in five games that will not just define our
immediate future, but where we find ourselves both financially and in terms of
league position for the next few years to come.
Results haven't been great, particularly at home. Previously
raised concerns I mentioned on here haven't gone away. But let us not forget
here has been a manager, the one with the best win percentage of any United manager
(albeit based on third division games), and has operated with both hands tied
behind his back, whilst someone stole his wallet….and his watch…and his rings. Yet
you could argue he still had more assets left than any of his other peers. Maybe
Danny's days were numbered, especially if he couldn't sort out the players, but
the timing is yet again poor from a board that blunder from one bad decision to
another
"We are confident we will not fail, we are not planning
to fail in our drive for promotion," says Kevin McCabe. I am reminded of
the phrase "failing to plan is planning to fail"; from the outside
looking in we have appeared to be a club without a coherent, plan or strategy
for quite some time. Therefore I think I know what follows. I hope they can prove me wrong this time.
Good luck to Chris and David. It is a big ask.
