Certainly gives that impression, very often. I don’t think it’s lack of knowledge, it’s nativity and stubbornness. He is a clever chap, and has spent a couple of hours every day for decades being ordered around by some of footballs greatest ever managers, and was part of a tough and successful group of leaders in the changing room. Then done his coaching badges (which from the little I’ve seen of it is unlikely to build a better manager, just exposes you to the different things you will encounter).
He is also a fantastic communicator, and I imagine players will listen and try to follow his lead given his career, and the way he talks.
His biggest failing this season is refusal to accept the low quality of the resources he has available, and more important the mental fragility of our entire squad. These players are crying out for a formation and style that removes pressure from them individually. As soon as our ok start wobbled, it should have straight back to solid, simple, safe. E.g. First thing in the bin should have been passing out from the back. Not all the time obviously, but our gentle warriors would be much happier setting up on the halfway line with Pickford launching goal kicks into the middle of their half. Then the only instruction is fight, harry, push, clatter if near the touchline. Playing little wall passes with Onana near our penalty spot in front of 39000 groaning fans is not what our centre backs need. They aren’t technically capable, and are all terrified of doing a Godfrey slice, or a Gueye back pass.
He tries to install confidence in players by telling them he trusts them, go and express yourself. Yes, lie to their face, but then set the team up with simple instructions, no players isolated etc. Ugly ugly footy, but we’d have been mid table easy. He isn’t the first manager to do this here. They say they know what the fans want, then play tippy tappy turd in our half, terrifying the crowd. The only one that openly said we were crap and played accordingly left of his own accord and won the Champions League. All the others are in the bin (or flying high with Fulham).
