AB-solutely Dire Full-Stop

Aidy Boothroyd’s recent record at Coventry doesn’t make for pretty reading. Over the last few pieces I’ve asked a few questions about his transfers, tactics, team selections, ability to change games and motivate the players, and most damningly of all, his statistics.

A number of people have argued that the CCFC can’t afford to get rid of Boothroyd, that the club needs stability as changing the manager never works and that there’s no-one who would be willing to take the job on. 

Maybe the club is short of cash, but the current situation is driving even more fans away, with even fewer people willing to commit to season tickets than after last year’s utter debacle under Coleman, which at the time didn’t seem possible. And should this run continue relegation is a very real threat – how much would that cost the club? It doesn't matter how long a contract is or how much they earn - if it's the wrong person at the helm change them. I couldn't care less if we change managers five times a season if it means finding a decent one in the process. 

I'm also amazed at the number of people who seem to genuinely believe the key to success in football is keeping faith with the manager. Doesn't matter if he's actually doing a good job - give him time and it'll all fall into place.

Stability is something you look for when you're successful, or at the least looking like you're heading in a successful direction. If you're not it's not a worthwhile thing to do - if you're not successful now and change nothing you won't be successful after either. If stability is what you look for when heading down then it borders on lunacy.

As for no-one wanting the job – how on earth do all those clubs below us get a manager?  Every time the job comes available we get told there are at least 50 serious applicants. There are a few experienced managers currently out of work like Big Sam or O’Neill - maybe a bit optimistic but Sven took the Leicester hotseat… Looking at the lower divisions there’s a few people who may like to try their hand higher up, like Tisdale, Hill, Clark or Poyet. 

I really don’t see how we’ve moved on under Aidy from last season at all. Apart from a couple of 45 minutes here and there he’s even somehow managed to make the football we play even more insipid than Coleman, which I hardly thought was possible.

I really am starting to think it may be time for AB to go*. His statistics are terrible, but even then you might just give him some leeway if it looked like he had some sort of plan, but he doesn’t. I don’t see this run ending anytime soon with him at the helm, despite us having some favourable games coming up.

Now watch us go and beat Burnley and Preston…

* Article sent, rather obviously, hours before Coventry City did the decent thing!