1. We
2. Don't
3. Know
4. How
5. The
6. Championship
7. Will
8. End
9. Until
10. Next
11. May
12. Preston
13. Bristol City
14. So
15. Stop
16. Making
17. Predictions
18. So
19. Early
20. You
21. Fools
22. Please
23. Stop
24. (Wayne Rooney's) Plymouth Argyle
#pafc#efl
Let this season be a lesson to clubs about the value of experience.
First Joe Edwards, now Ian Foster.
Both pitched in way above their level.
Foster is clearly an intelligent guy and a good coach.
He has a philosophy. Knows how to put on a training session. Knows his own mind and has a commanding presence.
But he didn't know the first thing about the Championship.
The reality of the day-to-day experience in the professional game at that level.
A non-league player who made big strides in the serenity of St George's Park.
No direct experience of going head to head against Daniel Farke, Mark Robins, Carlos Corberan, David Wagner, Ryan Lowe.
The hours of focus you put in for preparing to play against their teams. And then the 90 minutes of real-world feedback.
The little nuances that don't seem relevant but get stored away as data points in your subconscious. Just in case one day you have a hunch about something.
No. This was just Foster, his philosophy, his presence and a whole world of blind spots.
Things he didn't yet know. A thousand creases that needed ironing out.
We seem to have entered this weird dimension where it's considered regressive to tout a manager for a job on the basis that he "knows the division".
To the point that clubs are now prepared to overlook the obvious.
Reminder: Nathan Jones was available until February. Twiddling his thumbs for a year.
He was clearly itching to get back in when both Millwall and Plymouth got carried away by the idea of something new and different.
Luckily for Millwall, they had an old dinosaur they could call upon at short notice.
Someone who "knows the club" and "knows the division" and not much else.
But for them right now that's enough. Beggars can't be choosers.
Meanwhile, Plymouth seem to think that rolling the dice is all they need to do to preserve 3.5 years of wonderful progress.
That another former development coach can step into the dugout, be a different voice and take advantage of the mythical bounce effect.
One point above the drop zone with 6 games to play.
You have to worry for them.
2 incredible games of Test cricket unfolding at the same time but I think I speak for everyone when I say I’m looking forward to the 94 match, 3.5 month season of the IPL in 2027