Vitor Pereira - Our Manager

[wassy04]

The results have improved a little, 7 unbeaten in all comps and 5 unbeaten in the league including Villa and Man City.

That said for me, the main difference is just the overall performance level has gone up. Not that we've necessarily maintained that level in every game but I think that is to be expected given the rotation/extra Europa matches. He's tinkered regularly with tactics both pre game and in game which is also great to see and something that neither Dyche or Nuno did really aside from bringing a 3rd CB on.

I still feel like that performance in Denmark and what he got out of that team was the most impressive performance and gave us real momentum.

Side point on the Dyche v Vitor, why did Dyche pick Morato over Cunha? Cunha has just looked so comfortable whenever played under Vitor, maybe you could say it's easier playing CB in a back 3 rather than a 4 but he just looks clearly better than Morato in all areas. Was one of those things that most fans were getting frustrated by when Morato was making mistakes and it seems like that was correct.

(I fear we may see both Morato and Cunha on Friday)

At the risk of being seen as someone regularly defending Dyche, the only argument for Morato is in a relegation fight do you go with the older player with PL experience or gamble on the 20 YO? Its a gamble Vitor is benefitting from, certainly. 

On that point, I'm very much with Salv, Dyche does what Dyche does, the stick he's getting seems a little bit much a times given his record whilst uninspiring was certainly not in the same bracket as Chris Hughton which many compare him to. I think you're right Wassy, Vitor certainly seems to have them playing better at times but the same failings all season have been there for all managers, finishing and sometimes throwing in sub-par performances like the first half vs Burnley.

It depends if you think Dyche was lucky to get the points he did or that was about par for the level of performances. Personally I think we were lucky to beat Brentford and West Ham. He was unlucky vs Wolves and Palace though.

[Username]

The results have improved a little, 7 unbeaten in all comps and 5 unbeaten in the league including Villa and Man City.

That said for me, the main difference is just the overall performance level has gone up. Not that we've necessarily maintained that level in every game but I think that is to be expected given the rotation/extra Europa matches. He's tinkered regularly with tactics both pre game and in game which is also great to see and something that neither Dyche or Nuno did really aside from bringing a 3rd CB on.

I still feel like that performance in Denmark and what he got out of that team was the most impressive performance and gave us real momentum.

Side point on the Dyche v Vitor, why did Dyche pick Morato over Cunha? Cunha has just looked so comfortable whenever played under Vitor, maybe you could say it's easier playing CB in a back 3 rather than a 4 but he just looks clearly better than Morato in all areas. Was one of those things that most fans were getting frustrated by when Morato was making mistakes and it seems like that was correct.

(I fear we may see both Morato and Cunha on Friday)

The Morato v Cunha debate happened a fair bit on the Leeds match day thread, it’s been baffling for some time but that issue also existed pre-Dyche (Morato played six games under Ange despite Cunha having a good game at Swansea in the Cup)

[Paplane]

We have a lot to thank Dyche for. He definitely made an impact, he improved us and he steadied the ship. But performances were beginning to dip, we could see it. He may have been able to turn it around but having listened to what he's said since, he doesn't even acknowledge that.

I just find it so refreshing to have a coach that can tinker with things and change the outcome of a game. I was mightily impressed with the way the Porto coach shuffled his pack last week too.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

We have a lot to thank Dyche for. He definitely made an impact, he improved us and he steadied the ship. But performances were beginning to dip, we could see it. He may have been able to turn it around but having listened to what he's said since, he doesn't even acknowledge that.

I just find it so refreshing to have a coach that can tinker with things and change the outcome of a game. I was mightily impressed with the way the Porto coach shuffled his pack last week too.

I am going to have to disagree here Pap.

We perhaps have a little bit to thank Dyche for but certainly not a lot.

Most of the players won't thank him for anything at all in all honesty.

[wassy04]

We have a lot to thank Dyche for. He definitely made an impact, he improved us and he steadied the ship. But performances were beginning to dip, we could see it. He may have been able to turn it around but having listened to what he's said since, he doesn't even acknowledge that.

I just find it so refreshing to have a coach that can tinker with things and change the outcome of a game. I was mightily impressed with the way the Porto coach shuffled his pack last week too.

I am going to have to disagree here Pap.

We perhaps have a little bit to thank Dyche for but certainly not a lot.

Most of the players won't thank him for anything at all in all honesty.

I agree, results wise was around par probably, slightly above earlier and slightly below post Spurs win. Performance wise was below par and then other factors such as development of the squad and squad rotation were non existent. His inability and experience managing a team in Europe was always the biggest issue surrounding the appointment.

I was happy with the appointment at the time personally though so can't really complain. Thought the other options that were in the media at the time were and probably still are worse choices. Obviously with hindsight, at that point Vitor would've been a better appointment.

It's nice having a coach that you can actually find previous teams fans and journalists think is actually good (which was similar to Nuno and Cooper actually, although obviously not all their previous roles/fans!). Not sure there was many people coming out to bat for Dyche.

[Username]

I must be in the minority on Vitor but I’m some way off thinking he should be here next season and the only thing that would change my mind is if he wins the Europa and keeps us up.

I don’t buy all this tactical genius commentary around yesterday, the match was dire and we won because Morgan stepped up in a 15 minute period to bury Burnley.

It’s interesting reading the comments from Wolves fans in particular, the overwhelming view is that he has “failed up”, and having kept them up was poor the following season and ended up recording less than a point per game by the time that he was relieved from his position (some will point to the sale of Cunha etc, which is a fair point albeit we may lose a star player or two in the Summer, it’s what happens at our level).

[Paplane]

I must be in the minority on Vitor but I’m some way off thinking he should be here next season and the only thing that would change my mind is if he wins the Europa and keeps us up.

I don’t buy all this tactical genius commentary around yesterday, the match was dire and we won because Morgan stepped up in a 15 minute period to bury Burnley.

It’s interesting reading the comments from Wolves fans in particular, the overwhelming view is that he has “failed up”, and having kept them up was poor the following season and ended up recording less than a point per game by the time that he was relieved from his position (some will point to the sale of Cunha etc, which is a fair point albeit we may lose a star player or two in the Summer, it’s what happens at our level).

Harsh but an interesting viewpoint.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Vitor certainly giving EM food for thought.

Glad it's not me who has to make the decision at the end of the season with EM's favourite coach finally to become available.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

He is definitely the right person at the right time for now.
Just his CV says he is someone for the short term only. Lets see where we are in the summer. Maybe Silva makes the decision for us and goes elsewhere. Maybe Vitor himself decides to depart in a blaze of glory.

[Jimmygordon]

Silva is as interesting as concrete

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Silva is as interesting as concrete

Tend to agree. Safe pair of hands maybe which given our upheavals is no bad thing and perhaps a season where not much happens would be a blessed relief. But nothing about him makes me excited.

[wassy04]

This is always the issue with getting someone in late for a boost, when it works you feel like you need to stick with them.

I'm struggling to see how Vitor isn't our manager next season though. He's shown tactical flexobility, attacking football, an ability to get a performance out of the likes of Mcatee, Bakwa and N'Doye in Denmark, ability to manage his squad and he seems a likeable guy. I really don't know what more we'd want although his record suggests things do tend to go stale after a while.

Anyway, win the Europa and this isn’t even a debate.