Under pressure - but don't write Donachie off

By Ian Toal on September 11, 2007 12:00 AM |

Tagged with:

WE MAYonly be seven games into the season and really far too early for managers to be sacked purely on their team's results. But make no mistake about it, Willie Donachie is under pressure to get better results soon.
Supporters have so very frustrated by the poor start to the season and in particular the pretty inept performances, that invites are being sent out to join Facebook groups 'We Want Donachie Out' and 'Sack Donachie'.
This is a massive turnaround from last season when Donachie was pretty much hailed as the Messiah and everyone was looking forward to the start of this season. What has astonished most supporters is that the slump has seemingly been self-inflicted by Donachie. It seems obvious to our supporters that the personnel being used is not the best team that we could and should be playing.

Ryan Smith should be playing left wing and not right wing. His cutting inside onto his far stronger foot has not been productive and playing him there must be denting his confidence. Chris Hackett must start on the right wing. He is the best crosser at the club and not playing him drastically reduces the chances we can create in front of goal. Then a combination of either Alexander and Simpson or possibly Harris and Simpson needs to be used up front to put some pace there.
Then there are the players starting regularly who are not performing in supporters' eyes. Alan Dunne and Ben May have come in for a lot of criticism from supporters who are amazed they are starting games ahead of other players.
Our new left back Andy Frampton has also had a poor start to his Millwall career - so much so that supporters coming home from Brighton were calling him the worst left back seen at Millwall in the last 20 years. It is also debatable as to whether goalkeeper Chris Day should be replaced by young hopeful Preston Edwards.
It just seems that Donachie has gone mad with his team selections just like Mark McGhee did before he got the sack. Despite this, it is important for supporters to have a touch of realism about our club and the managers we can attract.
Making managerial changes after just seven games will not help the stability of the club and you don't become a bad manager overnight. Therefore supporters have to give Donachie more time to arrest the decline. He surely earned that chance from the miracles he worked last season. But it is obvious to everyone that the period of grace will not last forever, so results and performances need to improve - and quickly.
--------