lost that loving feeling - Megson deserves time at least

Another weekend passed and another two points dropped = disaster again for Megson. Or does it? If you said this two weeks ago, then yes, it would have been a disaster and the chants of “Megson Out” would be heard for miles. But alas this is no longer the case and the doubters have spared the manager guillotine-treatment for now because all of a sudden we have picked up seven points from a possible 12, performances are improving, the successful comeback of Jack Lester coinsiding with the dropping of Taylor and Holt have seen us finally perform to acceptable standards, and the season has finally got going.

This, after a start which could only be seen as catastrophic; a number of below par performances, rumours of dressing room unrest and the unfounded media stories of players allegedly hating the manager. It’s easy to blame the manager when things go wrong. Ultimately he is responsible for the team, he picks the players, the formation and tells the players what to do. We have already seen managers depart other clubs this season, so why should we start our annual sacking now?

For a start the players can and must accept some of the blame. They are, after all, the people that make it happen – or not happen, as the case may be. They are paid to perform on the pitch and some would say that performing has been the last thing on their minds of recent time. And then you have the fact that this manager is the fourth man in charge in two years and still has the same old problems.

Megson has been refreshing and honest. He has instilled some discipline in the team and he has made some wise and decent signings. He has also made mistakes, however. Formations have been questionable and should any of the rumours of dressing room unrest be true then there certainly is a case for questioning his judgement. What is unfair is the time he has been given. A new team like ours needs time to gel, you cannot honestly judge a season within the first seven games.

Megson came out after the supposed dressing room bust-ups stating he may have been approaching this job in the wrong way and would try a different approach. Firstly he gave the players their first day off and has apparently lightened up in training. He changed the formation, dropped Taylor, brought Lester back into the team after a long injury lay off and all of a sudden the will to win has been found. Points, which were previously so hard to come by, are now trickling through and we are now only three point from a play-off spot – and we have still only played less than 15 games in the season.

The doubters may have gone quiet, some of them may say it’s all down to Jack’s comeback. But the performances and results have improved and that is what matters. One thing I know is for certain is that you need to give a manager time before you hound him out. Megson may not be our cup of tea, he may not be our number 1 choice, but his honesty has to be respected, so let’s give him the time he deserves.

Personally I have been sitting firmly on the fence since his appointment and various credible rumours have made me think that he is not the man for this job. But performances and results of recent times remind me of my gut instinct that patience is the key and time is what the manager deserves.