DA

I think out season will be defined from November through to Boxing day when we have our easyiest(on paper at least ) stretch of games against the likely  basket cases (Morecambe ,Swindon and Accrington ) + 4 or 5 more very winnable games , especially if we have a fair number of our injured players back .

We're obviously talking after a magnificent win at Carlisle, a game in which we did something that we'd never previously done under Artell and that's to win a game from a losing position.

I would also add, though, that the grumbles were probably legitimate at the time. The club had recorded a sequence of terrible home results, and we were all rightly nervous about getting dragged into a relegation dogfight when I'm sure we all hoped for better things once he took the reins.

I guess you'd call me a sceptic rather than an 'Artell out' guy. I think some measure of scepticism is healthy, and my feeling was that he talked a good game, seemed to have the intelligence, the tactical nous, the creativity to succeed at this level... but couldn't get it to translate to the players on a consistent basis.

And while we're continuing to be inconsistent this season (we could quite easily lose our next two) I'll freely admit that he's forcing me to eat a bit of humble pie. There was something about that performance yesterday that felt a little different; like something clicked a bit more than normal (because I was feeling a little down and frustrated at half time).

We showed guts and fight and bravery. My main criticism of DA has been that he seems to be 'over coaching' the players. Clearly, he's got ideas and is trying to impart a certain style, and from what I've seen on match days is players looking a little confused, caught between two modes of thinking — do I follow instructions, do I think for myself — and maybe some of them can't carry possibly elaborate instructions for what is fundamentally a simple game.

Anyway, long story short, it's taking time and he's been afforded time that other managers don't necessarily get, but it looks like his methods are being carried out with a little more consistency, accuracy and, most importantly, confidence, by players throughout the squad. Because we've had to use the full squad already!

Like I say, I've never called for him to go, but also I don't think someone who presided over some pretty awful results gets a free pass. Another poster put it better than me — on the fence in a healthy way. Things can change quickly in football, but the general trajectory is good and I'd be delighted to look rather foolish for ever doubting him!

I think the owners mantra is spot on. A model of continuous improvement is the way to a sustainable future right. We fans can feel the squad is better this year. We're 2 points better than this time last season.

Granted it's only 2 points, but we've been sh!t out of luck with injuries let's be honest. And despite a few big scorelines not in our favour l, notts county the anomaly because of crap officiating (though they played well on the night)

Footballs so fickle and it's all about short term outcomes. I got one are more than Happy with this season. Because I'm confident we will be an improvement from last year. Which in my eyes is progress. How other perceive that, well that's their right. But we're on an upward trend. UTM

Quoted from RichMariner

We're obviously talking after a magnificent win at Carlisle, a game in which we did something that we'd never previously done under Artell and that's to win a game from a losing position.

I would also add, though, that the grumbles were probably legitimate at the time. The club had recorded a sequence of terrible home results, and we were all rightly nervous about getting dragged into a relegation dogfight when I'm sure we all hoped for better things once he took the reins.

I guess you'd call me a sceptic rather than an 'Artell out' guy. I think some measure of scepticism is healthy, and my feeling was that he talked a good game, seemed to have the intelligence, the tactical nous, the creativity to succeed at this level... but couldn't get it to translate to the players on a consistent basis.

And while we're continuing to be inconsistent this season (we could quite easily lose our next two) I'll freely admit that he's forcing me to eat a bit of humble pie. There was something about that performance yesterday that felt a little different; like something clicked a bit more than normal (because I was feeling a little down and frustrated at half time).

We showed guts and fight and bravery. My main criticism of DA has been that he seems to be 'over coaching' the players. Clearly, he's got ideas and is trying to impart a certain style, and from what I've seen on match days is players looking a little confused, caught between two modes of thinking — do I follow instructions, do I think for myself — and maybe some of them can't carry possibly elaborate instructions for what is fundamentally a simple game.

Anyway, long story short, it's taking time and he's been afforded time that other managers don't necessarily get, but it looks like his methods are being carried out with a little more consistency, accuracy and, most importantly, confidence, by players throughout the squad. Because we've had to use the full squad already!

Like I say, I've never called for him to go, but also I don't think someone who presided over some pretty awful results gets a free pass. Another poster put it better than me — on the fence in a healthy way. Things can change quickly in football, but the general trajectory is good and I'd be delighted to look rather foolish for ever doubting him!

Spot on - who the Manager is has/will never bother me - agree totally he has been King of the Castle whilst we were pretty mediocre but I have enjoyed more of the season than not this year and I do not think we are in any kind of danger - you are only as good as your last result - funny old game, eh?  I get a sense of more humility this season - but that is an opinion and I know how some feel about opinion on here   maybe he tried to run before he could walk with the players.

Quoted from Watch and Shoot

Spot on - who the Manager is has/will never bother me - agree totally he has been King of the Castle whilst we were pretty mediocre but I have enjoyed more of the season than not this year and I do not think we are in any kind of danger - you are only as good as your last result - funny old game, eh?  I get a sense of more humility this season - but that is an opinion and I know how some feel about opinion on here   maybe he tried to run before he could walk with the players.

I recall that after DA's first training session with the squad after he took over he said something on the lines of how he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the players. I think this gave him a false belief that they could take on board how he wanted them to play and show that in match conditions. Sadly we saw that they couldn't and it took a few games for things to " come to a head" and the subsequent " meeting". He now has the players of his own choosing, recruited with the knowledge that they can play his way. It will take time but the evidence that we are getting there is plain for all to see. I think a upper mid table finish this season will be achieved. Two more transfer windows and I think we will have the squad and playing style to be serious promotion contenders.

If a slow improvement in playing standards can be combined with players returning from injuries, then there is every possibility of reaching and staying somewhere near the play off places.

The current bugbear is the ease of teams scoring against us, especially the near post corners !!.

Eradicate that problem and we will be a much stronger team.

I wonder if anyone on this thread wants to change their minds. 3 wins out of 3 and 2 of those on the road, 1 being the league leaders.

DA has had his doubters, me included, but I can only say that the man knows what he's doing. Yep, we are going to lose a few but I can't help thinking it's our year and promotion is in the air.

UTM

Quoted from DB

I wonder if anyone on this thread wants to change their minds. 3 wins out of 3 and 2 of those on the road, 1 being the league leaders.

DA has had his doubters, me included, but I can only say that the man knows what he's doing. Yep, we are going to lose a few but I can't help thinking it's our year and promotion is in the air.

UTM

Last time you came out with that we did get promoted I recall Dave 🤞

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Last time you came out with that we did get promoted I recall Dave 🤞

I hope it's a good omen.

Quoted from DB

I hope it's a good omen.

Speaking of omens, I saw this somewhere on Twitter... Prior to last night, Town had only ever won 4 games at Gillingham. Those wins were in 1971/2, 1979/80, 1989/90 and 1997/8. Now what else do those seasons have in common?