WTF should we do

[Staffs White]

Honestly I don't have a clue been on both sides of the Marco in or out debate don't like how we've been left hanging around don't like the negative football over the last 6 months but don't trust the powers that be to upgrade on Marco

It's all a bit meh to be honest but the way we've been treated as Marco's back up is enough to push me to the thanks and let's move on side of the argument

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I honestly don't know.

What I do know is that it's difficult to watch clubs like Sunderland being confirmed with European football and we have nothing.

It really, really stings.

[Surlyc]

I don't think it's difficult. Marco has been our best manager since Hodgson and the third best manager of my lifetime (after Tigana & Hodgson). He deserves respect for that, however he has been stringing us along all season.

Marco could have negotiated a 3 year contract with no/reduced break costs for certain teams; managers leave mid-contract all the time. I think we should have forced the issue in December, but now I think we have to sack him tomorrow and move on.

[SerbianLad]

I really hope Marco stays, I'm shocked there are as many people as I've seen online that are against him staying.

[Colinwhite]

really hope he stays .get him a striker 2 decent midfielders and hang to our best players and he will definitely push on

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I really hope Marco stays, I'm shocked there are as many people as I've seen online that are against him staying.

I love Marco but we really do need to address this bizarre hoodoo in the final third of the season.

[Colinwhite]

A win against Bournemouth and we would have finished 6th !! 

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

A win against Bournemouth and we would have finished 6th !! 

Or Wolves would have given us Europe.

[Staffs White]

I really hope Marco stays, I'm shocked there are as many people as I've seen online that are against him staying.

I agree but his refusal to commit to a new contract which is what he is entitled to do contractually makes me disagree and proves he's not committed with the rules set out by our board

We all want more in our lives but sometimes life and circumstances get in the way and we need to either accept the status quo or move on

The management of the club won't change if I was Marco I'd move on but he's not had the bollocks to commit to a decision so shows a lack of belief in his ability if nothing else and that we are his comfort blanket

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

What more could he want though? It's not like we've spent no money. Aren't we right up against the FFP rules or whatever? Khans can't really magic breathing room out of thin air.

[demeant0r]

I honestly don't care if he stays. We've been turgid for most of the season. Today showed we can play well, but only if there's zero pressure. We're such a soft touch.

[Jules]

A win against Bournemouth and we would have finished 6th !! 

Thank Mr Andersen for that one. Honestly I think we are much better and more solid with Diop alongside Bassey.

[Whitestone]

If Silva had nailed his colours to the mast months ago I'm convinced we would have got the points needed for European qualification. There's no doubt in my mind that the scenario of 'will he wont he' that we've all been a part of has disrupted the season. The negativity amongst fans has been in evidence all over this forum and with people I've spoken to at matches. It surely must have rubbed off on the players. Someone persuade me I'm wrong with my opinion?

[Staffs White]

If Silva had nailed his colours to the mast months ago I'm convinced we would have got the points needed for European qualification. There's no doubt in my mind that the scenario of 'will he wont he' that we've all been a part of has disrupted the season. The negativity amongst fans has been in evidence all over this forum and with people I've spoken to at matches. It surely must have rubbed off on the players. Someone persuade me I'm wrong with my opinion?

All supposition and guess work but for me he should have signed at Christmas or been told to leave, no business can run successfully with their leader not committed and bought into the "project"

[Somerset Fulham]

If Silva had nailed his colours to the mast months ago I'm convinced we would have got the points needed for European qualification. There's no doubt in my mind that the scenario of 'will he wont he' that we've all been a part of has disrupted the season. The negativity amongst fans has been in evidence all over this forum and with people I've spoken to at matches. It surely must have rubbed off on the players. Someone persuade me I'm wrong with my opinion?

All supposition and guess work but for me he should have signed at Christmas or been told to leave, no business can run successfully with their leader not committed and bought into the "project"

So to be clear, you would have paid him up and told him to go at a time when the team were 13th in the table, one point ahead of Spurs and with nobody in line to replace him.

Is that right?

[Twig]

If Silva had nailed his colours to the mast months ago I'm convinced we would have got the points needed for European qualification. There's no doubt in my mind that the scenario of 'will he wont he' that we've all been a part of has disrupted the season. The negativity amongst fans has been in evidence all over this forum and with people I've spoken to at matches. It surely must have rubbed off on the players. Someone persuade me I'm wrong with my opinion?

All supposition and guess work but for me he should have signed at Christmas or been told to leave, no business can run successfully with their leader not committed and bought into the "project"

So to be clear, you would have paid him up and told him to go at a time when the team were 13th in the table, one point ahead of Spurs and with nobody in line to replace him.

Is that right?

It would have been a slightly bizarre decision I agree.

[Twig]

In terms of the future, I could be persuaded that another three years of Marco would work, if and only if, we returned to the more adventurous style he played previously. The recent turgid dross has been painful to watch.
Equally I could be excited by a new manager but please, please not a poor man's Pep disciple who has us playing possession based, sideways, walking football.

In all seriousness I do think this is where the absence of an experienced football director is significant. There is really no senior person at the club (that I am aware of) who can discuss football philosophy with our current and future managers to ensure some sort of "FFC" style that permeates the club from the top to the juniors.

[Staffs White]

If Silva had nailed his colours to the mast months ago I'm convinced we would have got the points needed for European qualification. There's no doubt in my mind that the scenario of 'will he wont he' that we've all been a part of has disrupted the season. The negativity amongst fans has been in evidence all over this forum and with people I've spoken to at matches. It surely must have rubbed off on the players. Someone persuade me I'm wrong with my opinion?

All supposition and guess work but for me he should have signed at Christmas or been told to leave, no business can run successfully with their leader not committed and bought into the "project"

So to be clear, you would have paid him up and told him to go at a time when the team were 13th in the table, one point ahead of Spurs and with nobody in line to replace him.

Is that right?

You know it's more nuanced than that

The last year of anyone's contract and the club should be all over it if they want them to stay not throwing silly offers around at the last minute

We should have been more clinical and proactive in our negotiations

I would have told him in August there's the contract negotiations can be ongoing with a deadline to sign by Christmas or it's withdrawn and we will look for a new manager in the summer

This could have happened for all we know but they should have communicated it to the fans to avoid all the will he won't he nonsense

Your comment  "pay him up and go at a time when the team were 13th in the table, one point ahead of Spurs and with nobody in line to replace him" would depend on the previous 6 months of negotiations and is not as black and white as you make out

Had he refused the contact offer and shown a lack of interest in renewing and/or proposing unrealistic demands that the board couldn't promise during those negotiations then yes I'd get rid, either paying up or the more likely and professional outcome is all parties agree to see the season out with full commitment

[HV71]

In terms of the future, I could be persuaded that another three years of Marco would work, if and only if, we returned to the more adventurous style he played previously. The recent turgid dross has been painful to watch.
Equally I could be excited by a new manager but please, please not a poor man's Pep disciple who has us playing possession based, sideways, walking football.

In all seriousness I do think this is where the absence of an experienced football director is significant. There is really no senior person at the club (that I am aware of) who can discuss football philosophy with our current and future managers to ensure some sort of "FFC" style that permeates the club from the top to the juniors.

Twig has identified the biggest problem that we have
The chain of command is the core issue. Marco has no one above him who can question his style of play - tactics etc. if someone like Tony Bloom was above him there would be discussions like that . The respect would be both ways but one would be able to call the shots if the other didn't fall into line.

[Somerset Fulham]

You know it's more nuanced than that

The last year of anyone's contract and the club should be all over it if they want them to stay not throwing silly offers around at the last minute

We should have been more clinical and proactive in our negotiations

I would have told him in August there's the contract negotiations can be ongoing with a deadline to sign by Christmas or it's withdrawn and we will look for a new manager in the summer

This could have happened for all we know but they should have communicated it to the fans to avoid all the will he won't he nonsense

Your comment  "pay him up and go at a time when the team were 13th in the table, one point ahead of Spurs and with nobody in line to replace him" would depend on the previous 6 months of negotiations and is not as black and white as you make out

Had he refused the contact offer and shown a lack of interest in renewing and/or proposing unrealistic demands that the board couldn't promise during those negotiations then yes I'd get rid, either paying up or the more likely and professional outcome is all parties agree to see the season out with full commitment

I am not going to get drawn into a long conversation about this, I am totally done with that on here.  But you have (at least I think it was you!) metnioned supposition and guesswork and if I am honest then most of your response is continuing in that vein.

Which is totally fine of course, I do get what you are saying.  But ultimately could have/should have/would have doesn't really matter.

I also get that you/lots of people are frustrated this evening. Although not feeling like that myself, we were so close! 

Maybe next season, eh?!