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leetufc wrote:Without wanting to be negative, I can't help but get that feeling more and more as the weeks go by.

I thought Knill did a good job when he came in last season under the circumstances, and was very positive after his summer transfers. On paper they looked like improvement on what we had let go, with the exception of possibly the loss of Howe. But on the whole it all looked good.

However as the season has gone on, there have been many niggles with the way Knill has operated
- Despite having an attack heavy squad, the football has been almost as dire this year as it was last season under Ling.
- Having no defensive cover despite the fact one of our two senior centre halves is known to have a history of injuries.
- The unwillingness to make any changes (personnel or system) despite the fact something didn't seem to be working.
- The decision to give certain players contracts (Yeoman and Benyon) but then not play them and choose to loan in players instead - an unnecessary waste of our playing budget.
- His substitutions. A couple of times now he has brought off one of better players, and he persists in making like for like substitutions that have no impact. However he did make a good decision against AFC Wimbledon in brining on Thompson at right back - I remember thinking what a change it made to have a manager willing to make a risky change to try and impact on the game, but since then he's played it too safe.
- The unwillingness to use our squad and youth players - just highlighted by today's transfer. Lathrope or Craig should have been given at least one game to make an impact and see what they're about. I thought Ball went back because we needed the budget for O'Connor, yet we've now signed McCourt. Sullivan had a very good pre-season but has barely had a look in during competitive matches, and why has Knill not put Hutchings on the bench recently? Our most defensive player on the bench at Newport was Nathan Craig. He may be young and inexperienced, but we should have at least one defensive option available.

Having said that, I'm still confident Knill can turn things around. I think we have a comparatively better first team than last season, but that we aren't playing anywhere near as well as we can or being set up in the right way to play. I'm not going to jump on the 'Knill out' bandwagon, but if the next ten games are anything like the first ten then I'll certainly be starting to worry.

On another note, I want to wish the new lad well and hope he has a storming game tomorrow. Knill's loan signings to date for us (with the possibly exception of Ball) have all been excellent additions, so here's hoping he's added another little gem.

wodger of awabia wrote: You are obviously a big Knill fan, so why don't write something positive on this forum about why you consider him to be a good manager, instead of running down other peoples opinions, & calling fellow forum members Exeter City fans.
Where do you think the team will be at Xmas? Where do you think the team will be at the end of the season?, Do you think that Knills team will start to improve & play entertaining football? Will Knill be able to get the team into the play offs next season. It would be nice to hear what you thinK.
Come to think of it, it would be nice to hear from other forum members who think that Knill is doing a good job.

forevertufc wrote:What are some of banging on about,slagged AK for not having defensive cover,Harding injured he has done nothing more than bring in cover, sensible thing to do, who says McCourt is even playing tomorrow.

The reaction of some is now bordering on the pathetic.

brucie wrote:Calling someone an Exeter City fan just because they don't agree with your opinion is about par for the course for you.
Why do you hate Exeter so much - I guess its jealousy I suppose. They have no money (like us) but have a better manager (than us) and are consistently better than we are.
Knill has an odd way of managing this group for sure. No doubt we will have an inexperienced subs bench going into todays match.
Yet we have Yeoman and Thompson - two players with more first team experience who could have provided the manager with some viable options today farmed out on loan.

PhilGull wrote:Well I will always welcome new players to the club. Anyone any idea on the length of the loan? Long term or a gap filler before the myth officially signs?

Mods - Any chance we could have the transfer in/out thread updated with these signings, it's quite good to be able to keep track...

gullintwoplaces wrote: Calling the manager a "clown" and describing the team as "crap" is not an "opinion" but a juvenile insult. Still, you would know all about juvenile insults Brucie. Everything that this fool "Wodger" writes is just idiocy. If you don't accept that Knill is a "clown", then you must apparently (according to "Wodger" anyway) regard him as the "Messiah". What cobblers, he is the current manager, and I am behind him for that reason only, I honestly believe that there are fans of other clubs who post on here as gulls fans just to wind us up.

We are all concerned about the form of the team, and we all worry about whether Knill has it in him to turn things around. Schoolboy insults don't help at all though. "Wodger" comes over as a very silly little boy.

TeenageGull wrote:Wodger, your opinions are unjustified

wodger of awabia wrote:Yes just as I thought, no opinions of your own but quite happy to condemn other peoples opinions. In any case I am fed up & bored with this thread now as I am sure everyone else is.
Goodnight!