Rs Under Marti

[Abseits]

Where he is being “trashed?”

On your other point, if players didn’t buy into GA, then it’s not hard to see why given his overall management and football style. Take for example, his management style. GAs own self-promotion was that he was Mr Positive. But in reality, he was far more Mr Negative.

Trying to Gee players up with an underdog mentality (translation: we are second best in quality, but we will out work you instead), may have worked at little Wycombe who recruited non-league players, but to a group of largely ex premier league academy players, it was never going to generate buy in. In fact it probably eroded any respect and buy in. Baffling approach from a man who claimed he was big on culture. He needed to read the room, and adapt his Wycombe experience, but he didn’t, and couldn’t.

“The championship is scary” - before a ball had been kicked.

“It’s tough” on repeat, literally every interview.

“I think we are the underdogs against Wigan, even though I know they are bottom of the table” - alarm bells ringing loudly at this point. How NOT to inspire confidence, mind-boggling really.

And upon every defeat, the solution…. “We have to work harder”. Nothing about patterns of play, keeping the ball better, tactics, quality. Imagine being a player and hearing this as the go-to solution. A complete and utter turn off.

Good managers inspire, poor ones don’t. Unfortunately, GAs inferiority undertone that was evident in all communications, was probably the primary result of any lack of buy in. And that’s before we even begin to discuss his attritional long ball football style- choosing to enforce this upon a group of largely technical players was just utter madness.

He signed his own death knell on both counts - choosing the wrong management approach, and choosing the wrong football approach. You can choose to blame the players all you want, but the data comparing GA and MC does not lie. It’s not hard to see where the problem was.

That's a very fair assessment I think. Thing is, and without wanting to rake up old history, it did seem that most fans wanted him in - particularly as things were not going well under Critchley. I felt it was a cowardly appointment, pandering to the noisiest fans and designed to deflect heat from the board. Oh well, they were grim shambolic times - things have improved and fingers-crossed we can avoid defeats in last two games or others do us a favour so Marti can start next season in Championship on equal points with the rest.

[FurtiveFox]

We were in a pretty desperate state and I assume the powers that be thought we needed a motivator type who could gee up the team and see us through the season and maybe beyond. A kind of crazy gang persona and he had done well on a limited budget previously. GA looked like he could fit that brief. The problem is the game has changed a lot since the crazy gang and generally that kind of approach doesn't work any more, certainly not in the top two divisions.

No doubting GA's effort and desire and he had a great run at Wycombe. I mean who survives anywhere for 11 years these days? He showed he was a good and consistent manager at league One level. It just didn't translate higher up.

I hope he can find a good home again somewhere.

[scaz_QPR]

There are rumours that GA is a favourite at was my hometown club of Stevenage after Steve Evans leaving.
Think it would be a good fit for both.

[Jonny]

You've made a good argument for thrashing him there.

I can only reiterate what I've already said. The players didn't buy in to what he was trying to achieve and clearly Marti is the better manager at this level.

I never argued against GA's sacking but I was sad he couldn't make it work. We are in a better place and the end justifies the means.

PS.......great hoof up field by Begs for Dunne's wonder goal the other week. As a keeper he does like the odd long ball these days.

Football is a game of fan-based opinions and criticisms. When it goes well people are lauded. When it goes wrong, players and fans come into criticism. It’s quite normal.

In addition, football beyond the surface is all about analysis. Every successful business needs critical analysis and critical thinking skills. And QPR are no different. By analysing and breaking things down, we learn what went wrong and critically, why it went wrong, so we do not repeat it.

However, you are quick to label my assessment as trashing, perhaps to try and prove your point. However, it is simply an accurate appraisal of GAs weaknesses. At the end of the day, there is not much positive to speak about when it comes to GAs time at QPR. It is inherently negative by definition.

And the fact you are not willing to concede any negative press in GAs direction, and wish to jump on posts, and try and stamp out people talking about GAs time at QPR, is a bit suspect. Perhaps you are a family member or friend.

If so, GA would do well to self-reflect why it went wrong at QPR, because there are some great learnings to be had if one has an open mind. A lot of what I wrote and analysed could be taken on board. Or he can also do what you are doing, and just deny his weaknesses, and shift blame to players! And swot down fans who speak of the subject…

[SheepRanger]

Football is a game of fan-based opinions and criticisms. When it goes well people are lauded. When it goes wrong, players and fans come into criticism. It’s quite normal.

In addition, football beyond the surface is all about analysis. Every successful business needs critical analysis and critical thinking skills. And QPR are no different. By analysing and breaking things down, we learn what went wrong and critically, why it went wrong, so we do not repeat it.

However, you are quick to label my assessment as trashing, perhaps to try and prove your point. However, it is simply an accurate appraisal of GAs weaknesses. At the end of the day, there is not much positive to speak about when it comes to GAs time at QPR. It is inherently negative by definition.

And the fact you are not willing to concede any negative press in GAs direction, and wish to jump on posts, and try and stamp out people talking about GAs time at QPR, is a bit suspect. Perhaps you are a family member or friend.

If so, GA would do well to self-reflect why it went wrong at QPR, because there are some great learnings to be had if one has an open mind. A lot of what I wrote and analysed could be taken on board. Or he can also do what you are doing, and just deny his weaknesses, and shift blame to players! And swot down fans who speak of the subject…

You really do not want to listen to me do you?

- I'm not jumping on peopon's opinions, im merely replying giving mine, it's called debate
- Not all the players bought into Gareth's approach and Im sure youre right, they thought he was a football dinosaur
- Many think GA played hoof ball, but I would disagree with that as my definition of that is aligned to what John Beck did. But GA did play longer ball football to get the ball away from our nervous defence
- I was not a fan who was crying out for his appointment, but it seemed the right move with, as Les called it, "a toxic squad" after Beale left and Critchley couldnt reverse. It seemed a roll of the dice by the Board to gell the squad. That succeeded by retaining our championship status in 22/23 which seems to have been forgotten
- As a decent bloke and former player I was sad he got sacked, but I didn't disagree with that decission
- Marti is the better manager for the squad we have, but also benefited from four additional players in Jan

Can I make anything clearer for you?

[QPROslo]

I am agreeing with all the arguments brought up in this topic, and I particularly sympathise with Sheep's statement of feeling sad about the harsh criticism of GA, which I also think is undeserving.

I have always stated that the failure was not GAs fault. GA is a musician, so I use an example from his own world: If you employ a successful rock vocalist, such as Mick Jagger, to perform on the opera scene, singing in front of a symphony orchestra, you are bound to flop. The vocalist will be perfect in his own environment, on stage in front of his Rolling Stones mates, but he will fail to impress those that work in the orchestra in the Opera House of Sydney and those attending the opera concerts. This does not prevent Mich Jagger (or a younger version of him), in the right setting, doing an amazing job for thousands of bands though out the world.

I understand Amit was behind picking Gareth. For our set of generally technically gifting players, often with a Premier League background, you could hardly find a poorer match. It was such a shocking choice that it borders insanity. Amit and the rest of the board, that did not prevent this appointment from happening, needs to take the blame. I think Ferdinand resigned mainly because of this appointment. He deserves credit for it. If you have some standards, where professionalism is more important to you than the good salary you get paid, you simply have to leave if your bosses overrun you and make such a shockingly bad decision.

I think GA wanted it desperately to work. He should have turned down the job, knowing that his style did not have a chance in hell. But his love and passion for the club might have made him blind. I don't blame him.

To me, the blame fully rests with QPR and the board. I think, in the right setting, that Gareth will have success, as much as younger versions of Mich Jagger will find that many bands and fans will love him whatever rock band he fronts. I am not very fond of Gareths style of play, but if he signs for a lower league or none-league club, with a tiny budget, that rely on free transfers, I will look out for their results every week and hope they succeed, because Gareth is such a great bloke and a man I thoroughly respect.

[Jonny]

You really do not want to listen to me do you?

- I'm not jumping on peopon's opinions, im merely replying giving mine, it's called debate
- Not all the players bought into Gareth's approach and Im sure youre right, they thought he was a football dinosaur
- Many think GA played hoof ball, but I would disagree with that as my definition of that is aligned to what John Beck did. But GA did play longer ball football to get the ball away from our nervous defence
- I was not a fan who was crying out for his appointment, but it seemed the right move with, as Les called it, "a toxic squad" after Beale left and Critchley couldnt reverse. It seemed a roll of the dice by the Board to gell the squad. That succeeded by retaining our championship status in 22/23 which seems to have been forgotten
- As a decent bloke and former player I was sad he got sacked, but I didn't disagree with that decission
- Marti is the better manager for the squad we have, but also benefited from four additional players in Jan

Can I make anything clearer for you?

I’m reading you loud and clear. I’ve been reading you loud and clear for months, which is the reason for my response.

And despite your claim to the contrary , you really ARE jumping on others opinions by saying they are “trashing” GA. You have been doing it for months. Regularly trying to police any negative GA press.

On the topic of long ball. GA openly admitted in the press he idolised John Beck and modelled his style on him. In almost every statistic going, even when at Wycombe, the data (= fact, not opinion) showed GA as a manager with the most direct and long ball style in League 1 with Wycombe. It was further demonstrated at QPR, both through the eye test, and statistically.

So it just seems you see things very differently from others, often in spite of the obvious. Which is fine, but don’t label others as “trashing” GA for having a point of view which is far more nearer to the cold hard truth than your own alternative viewpoint.

As for keeping us up, that really is pushing it. It’s not remembered because it’s not really true. GA wants it to be true, but taking over a club 8 points clear and mid-table, and ending 1 point clear of the drop zone by final close of play, is not a success, it’s a regression.

[SheepRanger]

I’m reading you loud and clear. I’ve been reading you loud and clear for months, which is the reason for my response.

And despite your claim to the contrary , you really ARE jumping on others opinions by saying they are “trashing” GA. You have been doing it for months. Regularly trying to police any negative GA press.

On the topic of long ball. GA openly admitted in the press he idolised John Beck and modelled his style on him. In almost every statistic going, even when at Wycombe, the data (= fact, not opinion) showed GA as a manager with the most direct and long ball style in League 1 with Wycombe. It was further demonstrated at QPR, both through the eye test, and statistically.

So it just seems you see things very differently from others, often in spite of the obvious. Which is fine, but don’t label others as “trashing” GA for having a point of view which is far more nearer to the cold hard truth than your own alternative viewpoint.

As for keeping us up, that really is pushing it. It’s not remembered because it’s not really true. GA wants it to be true, but taking over a club 8 points clear and mid-table, and ending 1 point clear of the drop zone by final close of play, is not a success, it’s a regression.

I'll consider myself well and truly told off