Ref watch v Bluenoses (A)

[StensonRam]

How much of the improvement is down to Rooney or Macca though?

[Andy_Faber]

How much of the improvement is down to Rooney or Macca though?

A bit of both, and all credit to them for whatever they've brought. However the step change IMO was the inclusion of CKR, an accidental talisman if ever there was one.

[macstheman]

How much of the improvement is down to Rooney or Macca though?

Most Managers need someone who they can respect and trust, someone whose opinions and thoughts they can accept and take on board in a positive way and who they can bounce ideas off. Wayne and Steve go back along way and that long standing relationship can only be beneficial for a rookie Manager.
After the Preston disappointment a good result and performance today keeps us on an upward curve. All round very good, more for 2021 please.

[MadAmster]

The ref wasn't as poor as the PNE ref but he still wasn't good. Sibs' yellow was just wrong. He seemed to be more lenient on them.

[ramAnag]

Most Managers need someone who they can respect and trust, someone whose opinions and thoughts they can accept and take on board in a positive way and who they can bounce ideas off. Wayne and Steve go back along way and that long standing relationship can only be beneficial for a rookie Manager.
After the Preston disappointment a good result and performance today keeps us on an upward curve. All round very good, more for 2021 please.

100% agree with that. Rooney has taken a great deal of stick for some decisions and hesitancy during his post match interviews but the facts suggest otherwise. Results have improved massively but more importantly so have performances and the willingness of this squad to suddenly start working for each other.
It could, of course, still all go to hell in a handcart again and, imo, we are heavily dependent on the presence and form of Bielik and the example of CKR. For the first time in a while this side looks to have a proper ‘spine’ and whether this new attitude is more down to Rooney or McClaren doesn’t really matter as long as it works.
As for Rooney’s post match comments...I’ve been increasingly impressed. He’s no worse than many others - Clough and McClaren included - and although it must be relatively easy to be interviewed immediately after a 4-0 away win it was his comments in the light of the enormously disappointing defeat by Preston that really surprised and impressed.
Time to get behind him and see where this season goes imo.

[Andy_Faber]

100% agree with that. Rooney has taken a great deal of stick for some decisions and hesitancy during his post match interviews but the facts suggest otherwise. Results have improved massively but more importantly so have performances and the willingness of this squad to suddenly start working for each other.
It could, of course, still all go to hell in a handcart again and, imo, we are heavily dependent on the presence and form of Bielik and the example of CKR. For the first time in a while this side looks to have a proper ‘spine’ and whether this new attitude is more down to Rooney or McClaren doesn’t really matter as long as it works.
As for Rooney’s post match comments...I’ve been increasingly impressed. He’s no worse than many others - Clough and McClaren included - and although it must be relatively easy to be interviewed immediately after a 4-0 away win it was his comments in the light of the enormously disappointing defeat by Preston that really surprised and impressed.
Time to get behind him and see where this season goes imo.

The big conundrum is what to do about a new striker. My guess is there are better goalscorers about than CKR but who would dare to discard the other aspects, especially his infectious enthusiasm, and drop him to the bench?

Edit yes Rooney and the team esp Schteeve have my vote for the season at least, and I think the last two months show just how adrift Cocu had steered us

[ramAnag]

The big conundrum is what to do about a new striker. My guess is there are better goalscorers about than CKR but who would dare to discard the other aspects, especially his infectious enthusiasm, and drop him to the bench?

Edit yes Rooney and the team esp Schteeve have my vote for the season at least, and I think the last two months show just how adrift Cocu had steered us

Although I defended him, I have to agree with that comment about Cocu, Andy. Maybe he just never really understood the English/ Championship game. He did make some surprisingly good signings in the circumstances though.

Still be interested to see Marriott alongside CKR and suspect we need some cover for Bielik. He does have a history of being injury prone and I do think we’d have seriously struggled without him.

[swaledale]

"looks as if I might have been wrong" the above was said by Swale two posts up. Just wanted to emphasise it in case anyone missed it! 363 days into the year and finally.....

Well what a surprise, a football thread and you have to have a dig, albeit your wrong in your assertion, but doubt your sentient enough to recall.

But seeing as my thoughts on Rooney were purely an opinion, I have no issue with recognising that matters have improved since he became interim - how much Mac is influencing things, how much the dead weight of Cocu and his attempt to get the players to play tactics and in a way they didn't comprehend has affected things who knows? Kazim-Richards seems to provide an influence that Rooney as a player didn't. May be its a combination of all these things and Rooney is riding the positive wave?

What's clear is that Rooney has been more successful in changing the decline than that the old experienced hand Pulis who has just been sacked up the road. Thems the facts, can't argue with that.

[swaledale]

The big conundrum is what to do about a new striker. My guess is there are better goalscorers about than CKR but who would dare to discard the other aspects, especially his infectious enthusiasm, and drop him to the bench?

Edit yes Rooney and the team esp Schteeve have my vote for the season at least, and I think the last two months show just how adrift Cocu had steered us

CKR won't IMO be able to play every game in what is a packed season, so another striker is required, but good management will find a way I'm sure.

[swaledale]

Although I defended him, I have to agree with that comment about Cocu, Andy. Maybe he just never really understood the English/ Championship game. He did make some surprisingly good signings in the circumstances though.

Still be interested to see Marriott alongside CKR and suspect we need some cover for Bielik. He does have a history of being injury prone and I do think we’d have seriously struggled without him.

But wasn't it you who said Cocu was hamstrung by Lampard in not being able to sign players?