Fitzhugh Fella

I have just spoken to a friend who has been watching Leeds home and away 60 years. He said the fan base was about 50/50 about wanting him sacked. His two weaknesses were the narrow preference and wait for it …..no plan B. On the plus side he said he was a likeable manager. My mate wanted to him to stay longer. I originally thought all fans wanted him gone. Seems I was wrong. I’m still not keen but can’t really think of anyone else who would come and stay following relegation. Can’t help think the club needs a total reset and rethink though and I’m not confident in a SR/Marsch combo being capable of that.

Well I can’t get everything right with so much Football stress. The window has only just slammed ffs. Apparently the spying is commonplace in Argentina and I note Bielsa paid the resulting £200,000 fine from out of his own pocket.

Bielsa. There’s a chance he’d come ( he spoke to Everton). He’s available. Great pedigree. Knows the Championship and the PL. Wouldn’t get poached (too old). Pep rates him the best in the world for improving players. He turned Leeds into an entertaining exciting team (no easy task). Would be his own man so wouldn’t take all that analytical shit. No ego. Wouldn’t embarrass us at pressers. And finally because he looks like Jack Duckworth so deffo not a hipster.

So a big cheese in a Micky Mouse environment basically while flopping in his two big appointments. He’s a poor man’s Hasenhuttl

Player morale is a bit different to liking or disliking the manager. You can dislike someone but still respect their managerial abilities. Towards the end the players didn’t like Ralph and didn’t respect him. He was very aloof and distant and they had stopped listening to him which is why we are where we are.

You are assuming SR have a degree of competence. So far we have seen little of it.

Less than one season actually. In my opinion he’s a poor man’s Ralph and I have yet to hear a Leeds fan talk positively off him. The Athletic article last week published after his sacking was very damning too. I know we are scrabbling around the bargain basement pile but surely we can do better than this?

No he didn’t. Read that Athletic article posted a page or so back. He would just be a slightly better than Jones appointment.

Wasn’t a rumour. The Board said player morale was “rock bottom” under Ralph at Tuesday’s forum. The Ralph cultists have chosen to ignore this.

Frightening read

Oh well I reckon we had five hours of blissful ignorance in between Jones being sacked and Marsch’s name entering the frame. Happiest 5 hours of the season.

Che will be delighted. Marsch has been chasing him for a year now which probably tells you all you need to know

Che will be pleased. Hasn’t Marsch been chasing him for a year which kinda tells you a lot about the Yank’s judgement.

True. But Marsch? Played all his “soccer in US Micky Mouse leagues and then managed in a franchise. And then he really sorted Leeds out. No thanks but this has got SR all over it and the fact the Athletic are running it fills me with despair.

Well first of all beggars can't be choosers and we are right down there with the lowliest beggar. In fact someone has nicked our bowl. I know nothing about managers outside this country but Bielsa had something about him at Leeds. They played great to watch football, suicide at times but my God did he have them playing for the team and each other. He knows the Championship and how to get out of it and didn't spend that much as far as I remember. He probably wouldn't come or he might want the same deal he was refused at Everton but as CB Fry has pointed out we are all but down, so why not? Another reason for Bielsa? I really can't think of anyone else with a smidgeon of pedigree who would come here. We lost our last chance of attracting someone decent or on their way up in November. Now we must look for someone on their way down. Plus of course no compo would be due. #clutchingatstraws

He’s gone, wrong man wrong job but let’s at least let him leave with a bit of dignity. He did what he thought was right but it wasn’t and I hope he reflects on things.

“The end of an error”. - Lewis Coombes tweet

I know people say (probably correctly) the fans should not be let anywhere near the decision making process at a club but this is one occasion where the fan base, almost to a man and women, saw the writing on the wall a long time before the Board. In fact some from Day One knew the appointment to be reckless and stupid. Sports Republic have let the fans of this football club down, big time, and need to cut out the arrogance and smugness that makes them think they always know best. They - and they alone - should shoulder the total responsibility of relegation as it is or very much on their watch.

Not sure Ankersen should be given the remit of picking the next manager. Selecting Jones has to be one of the biggest Board cock ups of all time.

For me the overriding problem is no longer Jones, as bad a manager that he is. The bigger issue is Rasmus Ankersen who, after making a truly catastrophic decision has failed to recognise or rectify it.

For me the biggest problem is no longer Jones, it’s Rasmus Ankersen who has made a disastrous decision and then criminally has failed to recognise and rectify it.

Er that’s because I still am the club historian Manji. But when did you ever get anything right? Ha ha. I’ll leave a little picture for you

I get your answer. I guess a plastic fan wouldn't really care that much to want Jones gone. When Saints drew at home to Port Vale in the FA Cup and they sacked Branfoot I was pleased we hadn't won. So I celebrated by going to the replay. Got very wet.

Devil's Advocate: OK we win tomorrow 2-0. Ankersen smugly tells Alfie House/Jacob Tanswell "we've turned a corner, Jones will have the rest of the season come what may, the win vs Wolves has convinced me he has what it takes which I always thought he did". We lose our next 7 games (which we might have won a couple had we a new manager). You see where I am coming from here? It's not that unlikely a scenario.