BHmfc wrote:Sorry, I didn't realise it was a job interview, I will send you my CV. Little Shrimp, MY opinion is that Robinson did make a mistake changing the defence around, many times in a season right footed players play on the left and left footed players play on the right, they are professional footballers, not young kids on a muddy field. Bennett looked completely 'off pace' in the centre, it probably didn't help with just arriving at the club the day before. Out of interest, do you think we would have been relegated if Robinson had stayed with us until the end of the season, I do. Also, if Robinson had changed the teams fortunes around before he left, why did Adams make changes to the team as soon as he arrived, if it's not broken, leave alone. A second also, if Robinson was so confident in the team staying up, why did he not stay until the end of the season and then leave. HE would have got far more respect from myself and many others if we had stayed up and yes, I would then have said he did a good job, however he jumped a sinking ship with no consideration for the club, players, fans and the board who had backed him all the way on his 'three year plan'
Of course players can play on the opposite flank to their foot. However, it would seem a better idea to put Bedeau (left footed, quick, mobile, good at 1v1 duels on the deck, good with the ball at his feet) at left back than Mensah (right footed, not played a minute of league football this season, not previously played above National League level). I agree those last 15 mins of the half Bennett looked off pace. Could make an argument for putting Mensah at CB, but it wasn't exactly like he was bristling with match sharpness. It was a bit of a lose-lose situation. Robinson opted for L1 experience, and in fairness Bennett had a good second half. Also not exactly his fault the ref didn't see O'Sullivan hugging Carson for their second goal.
Good question about whether we would have stayed up under Robinson. I think there's a good chance we would have. Had a pretty settled XI, good CB partnership and keeper, Wildig and Ayunga both fit and playing regularly. Performances looked good watching them, and underlying numbers backed this up (massive improvement from Nov/Dec). Unfortunate with results, although if we'd have kept up those levels of performances I think it's relatively likely the results would have followed.
Adams didn't really make immediate changes. He said he wanted to keep the same set-up as against Rotherham, which was already planned by Robinson according to Roche. He did that against Ipswich, and persisted with the 3-5-2 which I'm not sure was the best move overall as the 3-5-2 tended to be a one off tactic from Robinson in games when we'd be under the cosh (eg, Sheff Weds away). I felt it was kind of a halfway house between what Robinson was doing and what he wanted to do and it just didn't really work. Worth remembering we had those shocking defeats to Cheltenham and Shrewsbury! After the international break he just went fully 'trademark Adams' (Fane sitting behind Wildig and Phillips, very similar to last season) and that worked a treat.
Why did Robinson leave? Because someone offered to massively increase his salary. Can't say I really respect him over the manner he departed as you're right, the club had invested a lot in him. But the reason he went is pretty simple - lots of money!
