[iwastherein68]

Well, I just read CC interview on the bham mail website and frankly I don't know what he was trying to say.
He likes the whole squad, he doesn't need to load the bench with defenders,
I am very confused by this

More worryingly, I think Carlos is confused mate. If he thinks Styles only opportunity is at left back then he has not got a clue.

[Hull Baggie]

More worryingly, I think Carlos is confused mate. If he thinks Styles only opportunity is at left back then he has not got a clue.

it was a little confusing as he has played Styles at left midfield, when he replaced Grant against Swansea. I think it's more of a case that he sees Styles as more of a replacement for Heggem than a replacement for Grant when he has options such as Johnston or  Diangana to play wide left.

Styles replacing Heggem means we could go to a back 3, using Styles more as a wide midfielder/wing back. I might be wrong but I'm sure we went to a back 3 when he came on against Boro.

[robnewbold]

We are surely crazy to be considering that CC would be sacked. There are no coaches out there with a magic wand who would improve us in our current situation. Given the constraints that the club has operated under over the last few seasons the fact that we’ve been challenging in the top six is a real achievement. There are probably very few fans in the Championship who are convinced they have a better coach than ours.

This X 1000,000. He is currently over-achieving, as he did last season and even more so this season given over predicament.

[ex coseley kid]

We have lost momentum and the break will do us the world of good IMHO.

 I think CC over-thinks and tries to be a perfectionist, in his attempt to eradicate mishaps and errors he abandons creativity for caution.

Still think he is a superb Manager at this level and loves our Club and all it stands for.

Does he make mistakes, yes he does, but those who don't make mistakes, don't make anything.

Spot on comments.

[KN22]

I have reflected on the general comments re Carlos and some of them make sense to me. The main issue I have is the continuing use of Wallace who, for whatever reason, looks miles off it currently. I also believe it is time to try some of the other squad players although for those who didn't realise, Holgate was not in squad on Saturday due to injury. I think he is also considering the use of Cole as was alluded to in a post from the Birmingham Mail yesterday. I would add at this stage that we do not know how good Cole is do we? When I then come back to the disappointment of not winning on Saturday, I conclude that comments such as 'this is all on CC' are totally wrong. I saw two ever present players combine to hand the equaliser to Oxford and have no idea of how the manager played a part in that.

[Standaman]

I don't think there should be any question marks about Corberan's future at the club not even in the context of a significant compensation fee were he to be poached by another club. Does that make him immune to criticism? No.

In terms of expectations my view prior to a ball being kicked was that this was going to be a transitional season but never the less the squad was good enough to have a decent shot of the play-offs (subject to decent recruitment in the closing weeks of the window and at no point being hit too hard by injuries).

We then started like a steam train. Everyone thinks Corberan is a genius and we are going to win the league by 20 points. but we have hit the buffers across the last 4 games and now Corberan is "struggling".

We seem to have some problems that are coachable (players being limited in some respect is not coachable least ways not in the short term). The chief of which is we are overly passive particularly when we are in the lead. we seem to give up on the idea of taking shots for great swathes of games.

I understand that Corberan wants control and containment which is why we don't play forward quickly in part because we aren't equipped to deal with counter attacks which is where Kipre and Yokuslu are genuinely missed. That is not a criticism of those that have replaced them but Corberan has identified an issue largely fixed it, but doing so has consequences. 

All that said any coach has to expect that his players will do the basics. We have dropped points because our players haven't done the basics. There was a litany of errors that lead to the Oxford goal and I really don't want rake over the Sheffield Wednesday debacle but some of the same offenders were culpable for that. If there aren't alternatives in the squad  a coach can shrug his shoulders and moan about a lack of options, but Corberan can't do that.

Corberan is slow to trust new players and doesn't pitch them straight into the starting XI (Heggem was this year's exception but he didn't have alternative). However I think it is time for he him to start making a few tweaks to the line up. The next couple of team selections will be interesting. If he doesn't make some changes and if things continue to drift then if I were Andrew Nestor I'd be asking a few questions of the Head Coach.

[zippyandbungle]

I don't think there should be any question marks about Corberan's future at the club not even in the context of a significant compensation fee were he to be poached by another club. Does that make him immune to criticism? No.

In terms of expectations my view prior to a ball being kicked was that this was going to be a transitional season but never the less the squad was good enough to have a decent shot of the play-offs (subject to decent recruitment in the closing weeks of the window and at no point being hit too hard by injuries).

We then started like a steam train. Everyone thinks Corberan is a genius and we are going to win the league by 20 points. but we have hit the buffers across the last 4 games and now Corberan is "struggling".

We seem to have some problems that are coachable (players being limited in some respect is not coachable least ways not in the short term). The chief of which is we are overly passive particularly when we are in the lead. we seem to give up on the idea of taking shots for great swathes of games.

I understand that Corberan wants control and containment which is why we don't play forward quickly in part because we aren't equipped to deal with counter attacks which is where Kipre and Yokuslu are genuinely missed. That is not a criticism of those that have replaced them but Corberan has identified an issue largely fixed it, but doing so has consequences. 

All that said any coach has to expect that his players will do the basics. We have dropped points because our players haven't done the basics. There was a litany of errors that lead to the Oxford goal and I really don't want rake over the Sheffield Wednesday debacle but some of the same offenders were culpable for that. If there aren't alternatives in the squad  a coach can shrug his shoulders and moan about a lack of options, but Corberan can't do that.

Corberan is slow to trust new players and doesn't pitch them straight into the starting XI (Heggem was this year's exception but he didn't have alternative). However I think it is time for he him to start making a few tweaks to the line up. The next couple of team selections will be interesting. If he doesn't make some changes and if things continue to drift then if I were Andrew Nestor I'd be asking a few questions of the Head Coach.

I agree with almost all of this ,and I’ll add I’ve not asked for the coach to be changed,but I did say that should the current run of 2 points from 12 become 4/24 then I’d expect some form of action…
However I can’t agree that there should be no consideration of replacements,in fact all well run clubs should always have considerations on a list….corberan needs to be more flexible and be able to use/coach improvements in his squad,if not then someone should make a decision ?

[miggybaggy]

I can't see anything other than a defeat tonight (2 - 0 is my forecast), and then its Cardiff at home. They've won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 games....its going to be interesting how CC approaches that game. Trying to defend a 1 goal lead for 40 minutes with tippy tappy football and it all going inevitably wrong again could result in a big change of opinion by our (still largely loyal) fan base. Interesting times again!!

[NJS]

...
We seem to have some problems that are coachable (players being limited in some respect is not coachable least ways not in the short term). The chief of which is we are overly passive particularly when we are in the lead. we seem to give up on the idea of taking shots for great swathes of games.

...

Wasn't this the case with Southgate and England?  Maybe a team should leave a runner on the half way line so that the oppositions backs can't advance 3/4 way up the pitch and hem the defenders in.  Attackers playing as defenders sometimes give away soft fouls in dangerous positions anyway.

As to this season's squad; Racic is no replacement for Yokuslu and Bartley has always been weak at LCB.  Only Heggem for Townsend has been a definite upgrade.  Maybe he ought to be LCB and try Styles at LB.

[Hull Baggie]

I can't see anything other than a defeat tonight (2 - 0 is my forecast), and then its Cardiff at home. They've won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 games....its going to be interesting how CC approaches that game. Trying to defend a 1 goal lead for 40 minutes with tippy tappy football and it all going inevitably wrong again could result in a big change of opinion by our (still largely loyal) fan base. Interesting times again!!

We don't sit back and try and defend a 1-0 lead. The match stats just don't back that idea up. We've  continued to create chances in the games that we've won 1-0.

[Droitwich Baggie]

We don't sit back and try and defend a 1-0 lead. The match stats just don't back that idea up. We've  continued to create chances in the games that we've won 1-0.

We haven't got the defensive qualities to sit back and defend. Need to keep playing in their half. Best form of defence is attack, always has been, always will be.

[timdon]

I agree with almost all of this ,and I’ll add I’ve not asked for the coach to be changed,but I did say that should the current run of 2 points from 12 become 4/24 then I’d expect some form of action…
However I can’t agree that there should be no consideration of replacements,in fact all well run clubs should always have considerations on a list….corberan needs to be more flexible and be able to use/coach improvements in his squad,if not then someone should make a decision ?

Do you mean the sack? Or do you have some other form of action/decision in mind?

[Standaman]

I agree with almost all of this ,and I’ll add I’ve not asked for the coach to be changed,but I did say that should the current run of 2 points from 12 become 4/24 then I’d expect some form of action…
However I can’t agree that there should be no consideration of replacements,in fact all well run clubs should always have considerations on a list….corberan needs to be more flexible and be able to use/coach improvements in his squad,if not then someone should make a decision ?

There should always be a "list" and the club should always know who the potential replacements are but right now I think that exercise is still largely a precautionary.

[zippyandbungle]

Do you mean the sack? Or do you have some other form of action/decision in mind?

I’d definitely have him in the office and ask what he’s playing at …esp with his best mate Wallace getting appearance fees for 67 seconds work…
We are now 3 points from 15……everybody still happy because he isn’t Bruce?

[Droitwich Baggie]

Players' need a bomb up their backsides occassionally. He needs one too. He needs to be told...Either change or be changed.

[gazberg]

I’d definitely have him in the office and ask what he’s playing at …esp with his best mate Wallace getting appearance fees for 67 seconds work…
We are now 3 points from 15……everybody still happy because he isn’t Bruce?

I don't think Patel and Co. will tolerate it too long. I don't mean sack him but i do mean 'pull him in for a word'

Under Lai he was on easy street. no one gave a damn, these Bilkul guys do.

THere is also clearly a disconnect in the mutually team-worked transfers which worries me.

[iwastherein68]

For goodness sake ................give Styles a game. Just to help you.....he is not a left back

[zippyandbungle]

I don't think Patel and Co. will tolerate it too long. I don't mean sack him but i do mean 'pull him in for a word'

Under Lai he was on easy street. no one gave a damn, these Bilkul guys do.

THere is also clearly a disconnect in the mutually team-worked transfers which worries me.

There definitely is
We were after Styles all Summer, now he just sits there, whilst Cole might be late night shopping at the bullring….something definitely doesn’t feel right.

[gazberg]

There definitely is
We were after Styles all Summer, now he just sits there, whilst Cole might be late night shopping at the bullring….something definitely doesn’t feel right.

CC even publicly stated he wanted Styles. Now he can't get a sniff on a 4 year deal.

[wba_1996]

Think he’s gone too far on the safe side and it’s backfiring massively atm. Everything about the way we play and the decisions he’s making is about minimising risk, and we’ve ended up extremely predictable and easy to play against

Every game feels like a continuation of the previous one, only the quality of the opposition changes. We’re playing a lot of nothing football, particularly when we aren’t losing, and it’s inviting pressure because we aren’t positive enough on the ball.

[paulosull]

 Cautious Carlos is starting to give me the hump with our pedestrian style of play and seemingly every player playing below their potential. What is the master tactician doing on the training ground? Passing the ball forward and zipping it to one another must be low on his agenda.

[beechyboy90]

He needs to shake it up. Grant has been the pick of our wide men this season (despite Fellows 5 assists) I want to see him either as a second striker or in number 10 because Diangana and swift have not impressed.

5 without a win is that his longest win less streak for us?
He is his own worst enemy he want switch formations and doesn't trust half of his new players and in most games makes too many changes midway and kills momentum. He isn't bullet proof and has done a good job in past but he will get under pressure from fans and new owners if we don't begin to entertain and turn it around

[baggies_24]

1 goal in 4 games isn’t good enough however you want to look at it. I love the bloke but we are starting to border Val territory of stubbornness with Carlos. The system isn’t creating enough clear cut goal scoring opportunities,we have averaged under 1 XG for 3 games running now.

A change of system, playing style & personnel is needed. We play walking football at the back because the 2 cb’s he’s stuck with all season arent great passers of the ball, we’ve also got a centre half playing left back in Heggem. Fellows has been pretty poor for a few weeks now as had Jed all season but both are still getting in ahead of Dobbin, no back up striker on the bench again.

We seem to lack a real identity of play style which is very worrying, the subs & decisions at times have been baffling to say the least. I still love the guy & I think he will get it right eventually but I agree Carlos should start shouldering some of the burden with the decisions he’s made recently.

[WBAinDEVON]

his football is boring me, just like Southgate's

[miggybaggy]

The Cardiff game is massive now for CC. The fans are turning in increasing numbers.