I agree with the first half of your statement but not the second. What the game showed are the areas where we still need to strengthen and they need to be addressed rather than expecting the manager to polish turds

Unlikely to happen.

Boardroom talks this week - undoubtedly. BUT they will be about getting the last targets over the line before the window closes.

You only needed to look at our bench yesterday to see how short we are of options.

The Board are not going to sack Vieira when they haven't even completed putting the squad together yet.

Yes the squad will look better once Eze, Olise, Ferguson and Luka are back and match fit but we need at least 2 more before the end of the month.

According to the man himself, he hopes to be playing again in a month...so hopefully he'll be available come October.

Old, Ungifted and White

There are some differences to the FdB situation here.

First of all PV has got a point on the board in the first 2 games and I don't think the game against Chelsea was one to judge our progress by.

For me, the biggest difference is I believe the squad are buying into what PV is trying to do. FdB had a different, more antagonistic, approach and was maybe not a very good man manager.

We struggled for goals last season, have signed no strikers and unsurprisingly are still struggling for goals.

This is a project and it will take time. I do believe we will bring in at least 2 more players and we have some talent to come in once they have recovered from injury.

The board will give PV more time and rightly so. We just have to hold our nerve for a bit longer and accept it may feel uncomfortable for a while.

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.

If it's up to him I think Vieira will at least see out his contract with us (i.e. another 2 years minimum).

It’s great to read the early pages of this tread and how some seemingly, got caught in the headlights on Vieira’s appointment.

In our 9 years in the Premier League, apart from Zaha, nobody was wanted our managers or players so, I just hope Steve and Dougie have some coaches in mind who play in this brand of football and are also scouting players of that ilk that can step in as replacements and keep this model going forward because if we have a good season next year, the bigger clubs will come knocking.

I went back to read what I thought about the appointment as I remember not being too excited about it at the time. However by skill or luck I feel we've landed with a manager who is currently the perfect fit for us. Eager, ambitious but realistic and a born leader. I've been really impressed with how he's transitioned the team from complete opposite styles. He comes across so well in all the interviews and the players really seem to like him.

I know he did the dirty on us by walking out and taking over at Bolton, you have to give Dougie lots of credit for the recruitment made. I always think back to what he and brought in during his tome as manager. Just about all his signings worked out back then.

Edited by LeftWing11 (08 May 2022 5.24pm)

I’ve always been surprised how he comes across as being quiet and well spoken and quite a gentleman. Because on the pitch he could be a bit of an animal, a real nasty streak, as Roy Keane would confirm.

I’m impressed with how he’s managed the squad at times. Had me scratching my head once or twice, but for instance pulling Mitchell after a couple of dodgy games was sound judgement. Then giving him some minutes Saturday. Taken his time with Eze.
Hands up wasn’t sure, but wrong again.

I agree and this has been the biggest takeaway for me.

I have to admit I was... underwhelmed when he signed, I felt he hadn't done enough... to warrant it, however, I am not a director of football.

This was once a quality forum....