Paralex, Sun 17 Nov 13:21

Keep the faith Berkey, it won`t be the first time a manager on the verge of the sack, spectacularly proved the doubters wrong. Alex Ferguson comes to mind, as does Unai Emery. It may just be that we are providing a good base to build on.

wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58

On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?

wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58

On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?

wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 15:06

Most fans accept that the main determining factor of success at a football club is the quality of the players. That`s why Celtic and Rangers have dominated here, Barcelona and Real Madrid have dominated in Spain, Man City in England, etc. If a manager hasn`t been able to sign the players he wants he is likely to be restricted in what he can achieve. Eventually though, as far as the fans go, the buck stops with him and it`s easier and cheaper to sack him and his staff than a board of directors or a squad of players. He becomes the focus of criticism and every single decision he makes is questioned and claimed to be contributing to the lack of progress. After any defeat the `McFake out!` thread will be resurrected. It`s a lot more complicated than that.

DA-go Par Adonis, Sun 17 Nov 14:19

Aye, I thought McPake got an easy time at the start of the season, given what was getting served up with the players available.

The narrative seemed to be that he had a thin squad, which was fair if you were looking ahead and we weren`t going to add anyone, but was irrelevant when judging his performance at the time.

Not your average Sunday League player.

DJAS, Sun 17 Nov 14:12

wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58

On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?

I think it has been quite clear that McPake hasn’t been solely blamed. There has been threads about the board, Meggle and Cook over the past year.

GG Riva, Sun 17 Nov 15:17

DA-go Par Adonis, Sun 17 Nov 14:19

Aye, I thought McPake got an easy time at the start of the season, given what was getting served up with the players available.

The narrative seemed to be that he had a thin squad, which was fair if you were looking ahead and we weren`t going to add anyone, but was irrelevant when judging his performance at the time.

Ironically, the squad is probably too big now. The problem for the manager now is not with those players who are starting regularly, but those who are not getting a game, especially if results and performances are poor. It`s only natural for them to become unsettled and complain that they`re training all week and not getting a look in. It`s not easy in that situation to be all philosophical and say "Oh well, it`s the manager who picks the team - I just have to be patient. "