How Do You Judge SG So Far?

[simplythebest 11,453]

He's still got plenty to prove for me but on the whole he's earned the right to be backed and given us hope that we haven't felt in a long time. Europe was obviously good, although I think we missed a real opportunity to go further in it I never expected us to get through all those qualifiers so you have to be fair there. 

Domestically there's been many avoidable poor results in the league and cup, the last few weeks in particular have been difficult, it did raise questions if he could get us out of that rut. Yesterday while it was only one game was massive, if we'd lost I'd say we were looking at an embarrassing gap opening up again but Gerrard got an amazing performance out of everyone and not one that I could have seen us producing in the last couple of years regardless of how much the tarriers have regressed.

So there's plenty of room for improvement, I was saying that before yesterday and I don't want to do a complete u-turn but the circumstances of yesterday's win puts a much brighter shine on things and deservedly so.

[TMB 14,167]

I want to see what happens in January and beyond.  He needs to bring in a few quality players and get this team winning more consistently. 

[Prso's headband 35,440]

Like he said yesterday, we’re literally 2 results away from where we wanted to be. 

Not bad when you consider we’re fighting out with the greatest team to grace the planet

[andyhrfc 2,242]

Excellent start but plenty of work to do.   Fergie took a while to get going at United and Klopp finished 8th in his first season at Liverpool.  Hopefully we can rest players over the break and pull in a couple of extras in the window. 

[BlueMe 25,327]

Draws have fucked us, mostly. 

You need that bit of luck in some games, the Aberdeen and Motherwell games still piss me off tbh. But overall, all thing's considered, I'm happy with the progress being made, definitely.

[Brian Fantana 28,894]

Still in our hands despite a rocky first half of season. If he can keep that fight in the players and get money in January we could still win the title on the first go of SG being in charge. 

[saintbob1969 1,459]

I'd say SG really needed this win. He's been unlucky with injuries: Murphy and Dorrans and whatever has happened to Katic and the off-on stop-start with various players but he has got us about half the way there. All the dropped points were really stacking up.

Now we have Europe off the fixture demands we could see some overall consistencies coming in and they will drop points I'm certain. A young striker is needed, maybe even just bringing back loan players but also another player like Arfield that can open up teams that park the bus. 

Just going to enjoy the moment.

 

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

4 minutes ago, simplythebest said:

He's still got plenty to prove for me but on the whole he's earned the right to be backed and given us hope that we haven't felt in a long time. Europe was obviously good, although I think we missed a real opportunity to go further in it I never expected us to get through all those qualifiers so you have to be fair there. 

Domestically there's been many avoidable poor results in the league and cup, the last few weeks in particular have been difficult, it did raise questions if he could get us out of that rut. Yesterday while it was only one game was massive, if we'd lost I'd say we were looking at an embarrassing gap opening up again but Gerrard got an amazing performance out of everyone and not one that I could have seen us producing in the last couple of years regardless of how much the tarriers have regressed.

So there's plenty of room for improvement, I was saying that before yesterday and I don't want to do a complete u-turn but the circumstances of yesterday's win puts a much brighter shine on things and deservedly so.

I think that's fair. 

Warburton said something about chance, or luck or some shit and got ridiculed. I think the timing of it and the way he said it weren't great but I understood what he meant and yesterday was a great example. We were incredible and should have been out of sight. We were desperately unlucky and have been a few times over the years. However If McGregors goal stands and they nick a  winner the season is all but over. This place would have went into meltdown.

The lines of success and failure can be so fine at times but thankfully we've got this monkey off our back. Not only that but it was the manner in which we done it. We were excellent. The perfect way to end the year. I think for the first time in a long time the majority of us dare to genuinely believe.

 

[Sket 13,610]

He has plenty to learn. Getting that win yesterday was absolutely fucking massive though,it gets that monkey off our back and should give the players the belief they need to start winning consistently. 

[KBOO72 4,372]

Par. 

[Glory awaits 284]

Football & Liverpool fc is in gerrards blood & there can be no doubt his managerial goal is to be a successful manager of Liverpool, in order to have a chance at doing that he must leave Scotland with league titles to his name, leaving here in 3 years with 2nd place finishes to his name & his managerial career at the top level is over, he knows this. He will succeed here of that I’ve no doubt. 

[chris182 6,292]

8/10 for me

Some big big positives in the Europa qualification, the solidity of certain positions in the team and the beating of the paedos.

There are negatives though; the stupid dropped points the lack of ruthlessness/creativity in the team and the cup semi against the Sheep.

The good thing is tho, that he is still learning the trade to an extent and that he can improve on the lack of spark in the January transfer window - injuries to key players haven't helped which must be considered. 

It COULD be a great second half of the season if we can find that last gear in matches and recruit well (but hanging on to AM and JT). Fingers crossed he gets the backing; I will understand if a stupid money offer comes in for either Alfredo or Taverner but it will undoubtedly damage the title charge.

[gogzy 31,195]

Joint top of the league and a good respectable run in Europe, and has us beating the tarriers again.

I don't really think we could have asked for much more than that 6 months ago.

He gets 9/10 for me so far.

Some silly dropped points and we would be sitting pretty at the top of the league.

@Laudrup1984 summed it up perfectly.

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Made some glaring mistakes that have probably cost us around 6/9 points. 

Couldnt get the job done against Spartak when they were there for the taking. 

That aside he’s improved us no end, if he can just cure our inconsistency then he will win this league at the first time of asking. 

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,540]

Still has it all to prove, yesterday was a shot in the arm that he, the club, and we the fans needed, but too often we get the shot then fuck it up next game, an OF win is fantastic, really, the feeling this morning is unreal, i love it, but the 4 OF games have never defined a season, walters last season we only took 4 points off they bastards and still won it

If he can iron out his mid game flaws, then he will succeed at us because his drive and determination flows through the players, but he has to learn quickly, 

[Bigdave30 8,701]

If we stopped dropping daft points we could be top of the league and if we had put the Russians out their misery like we should have we would be into the knockouts in Europe 

Other than that he has given me something I’ve waited about 5 years for and that’s to outplay and take 3 points off they bead rattling manky bastards, for that I’ll always be greatful.

[STEPPS BOY 73,898]

Exceeded expectations in Europe which was fantastic.

At home, the aggression and tempo we showed yesterday should be the same for all teams.

Psychologically yesterday was huge for the players but no point beating them and then dropping points to Kilmarnock or Livingston the next game.

Still crying out for quality in the middle of the park, a playmaker and goalscoring midfielder..

[Bristol loyal 6,248]

1 hour ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

In your eyes do you look at the league table? Maybe the European run or more than likely the both of them together. 

But for me the best way to judge the manager so far is something that isn't talked about enough imo, and that is the difference we're seeing in certain players who were already here. 

The transformation in Halliday, Tavernier, Jack, McCrorie and Morelos has been nothing short of phenomenal. 

Discuss. 

Agree 100% the way he has improved the players is a massive sign that he will be a very good manager, and while there’s been some ups and downs all the signs for me show we’re heading in the right direction. 

We have to accept he will make mistakes, same as anyone who’s learning but they key is he is learning, yesterday proved it. The first OF game he got his tactics all wrong imo, showed them far too much respect, allowed them to play their game with the hope of hitting them on the counter and it didn’t work. Yesterday was the exact opposite we went out to bully them, to dominate them, to show them no fear and they couldn’t cope with it. 

Hes got more to learn, and he needs to be backed in January, it will probably take another couple of transfer windows to assemble a squad with the quality and mentality we can see he demands. But clearly we’re on the right track, as long as we give him time I’ve no doubt he’ll stop them doing 10.

[shaka 1,673]

If you consider how poor we were last season, he's came in and done brilliantly.  No one expected us to qualify for the Europa group stages but we not only did that but nearly got to the next round.  The league form has been inconsistent but we're still competing and absolutely dominated celtic yesterday so gets a pass for that too.  Gerrard is new to management but he's getting better and better and it looks like the players are learning from him and getting better too.  Just needs a good January transfer window and we'll win the league!

[plumbGER 24,518]

Who was it on here was telling us how a former team mate/manager called him tactically braindead?

[plumbGER 24,518]

On 26/12/2018 at 18:39, gsa said:

 

He was known as a player, by Capello amongst others, for being tactically braindead but at least he had ambition, dig and he positively affected games. He's still tactically braindead but he's lost the ambition and positivity.

Also calling him Slippy G in that thread, @danger ranger was worse right enough.

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,717]

1 hour ago, Laudrup1984 said:

There is so much to debate however what are the key components.

Are we still in the title race?

Has he signed good players? 

Has he improved players? 

Has he restored our credibility in Europe on and off the park?

Is he learning from mistakes?

Has he brought a smile back to our faces?

Has he given us pride, hope and belief?

I would say yes to all of them.

Has it been perfect? No. Of course not. However there are so many factors to consider. Turnaround of about 30 players, new manager, Europe, fatigue, expectation, bad officiating but admittedly we have to be honest with ourselves. There have been poor performances individually and collectively. There have been poor results and Gerrard obviously has made mistakes. That said we have to be realistic and put everything into context. We are in a great position.

It's all about your best players though. It's no coincidence that we've struggled in games when in particular Morelos, Kent, Arfield and Jack have been out. Keep our best players fit and add to the group and I see no reason why this can't be a great season.

 

Spot on, great post.

Last week those factors to consider you mention were being deemed 'excuses' by some. I hoped it was just anger and emotion, but fear it is impetulance and lack of realism.

Yesterday though imo demonstrated what he and the players can bring, if top players are available and we evolve from the expected inconsistency this particular squad and manager was always going to bring.

We've undoubtedly improved, and are building in blocks as we go. A long long way to go, but it's a solid and largely pleasing 8/10 for me.

[Skyson1872 2,923]

I'd say 8.5/10 for me. We have dropped incredibly silly points and some of the football at times has been poor, but the schedule is largely to blame for that. Playing 40 games in 5 month coupled with injuries, a new team and philosophy, it was never going to be perfect. So to be sitting joint top at half way, come inches away from the last 32 of the Europa (making us £10m into the bargain) and to have beaten the filth means it isn't far off the ideal scenario. 

[Sparkle 53,576]

He’s a young first time manager with an unrivalled reputation as a player on a massive learning curve at a huge club with some of the most unforgiving fans in a country where the media are primed to negativity before he even walked in the door. 

He’s up against managers with more experience (managing in Scottish, English and  European football), one of whom has had millions to spend and has been lauded as a messiah for years.

No pressure eh? 

Of course he will make mistakes and learn from them.  He is exceeding all realistic expectations with bells on.

 

 

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

1 minute ago, SeparateEntityMyArse said:

Spot on, great post.

Last week those factors to consider you mention were being deemed 'excuses' by some. I hoped it was just anger and emotion, but fear it is impetulance and lack of realism.

Yesterday though imo demonstrated what he and the players can bring, if top players are available and we evolve from the expected inconsistency this particular squad and manager was always going to bring.

We've undoubtedly improved, and are building in blocks as we go. A long long way to go, but it's a solid and largely pleasing 8/10 for me.

If you give a reason most people ignore it and say it's an excuse. You can have no excuses but have valid reasons why something has not gone quite to plan.

It's all ifs but and maybes but if we had no Europe there is every chance we would have been less fatigued, had less injuries and we could very well have been clear at the top. 

Last season we couldn't cope in the league and that was without Europe, but this season we are trying to do something that even the great European teams fail to do and also great Rangers teams of the past have failed to do. Trying to compete in so many competitions is so tough. Real, Bayern, Man Utd to name a few this season have not found it easy. There has to be an acknowledgement, especially with our young and inexperienced squad that we're going to struggle at times to go Sunday, Thursday, Sunday without encountering difficulties. Again it's not an excuse but it's a pretty valid reason.

We now have one main goal (Scottish Cup too) and our primary focus should be all over the league. We have an unbelievable chance here.