The Ultimate Super Ayr Thread

[itzdrk]

46 minutes ago, D'Jaffo said:

Bit of a broad statement that.

He’s done enough in his career to show that if he’s given time he can do good things.

 

What's he done since he left Livingston? 

[HMIP]

7 minutes ago, itzdrk said:

What's he done since he left Livingston? 

Seems like there are pretty big question marks over what he did at Livingston.

[D'Jaffo]

What's he done since he left Livingston? 

Why are we discounting what he did at Livingston?

Bradford was of course a disaster but I did say he needed time to get things right. Morton wasn’t nearly as bad and theres nothing definitive to say they would’ve gone down had he stayed but we can agree they were largely a poor team who finished above poorer teams. I’d go so far as to say that his decision to even go near those clubs was as bad as some of the decisions he’s made. Morton are a complete dumpster fire of a club but it was very obvious an emotional decision to try and heal after what had happened at Morton.

However I go back to what I said about needing time to get it right. It’s the same for all managers and probably would’ve been the same for Kerr although there’s a high chance he would’ve been managing us in League One next season. Hopkin clearly has a way of playing. Call it hoofball or Hoppyball or whatever you like but it isn’t as simple as some people saying it’s just shelling it to Moffat and hoping for the best. It’s about getting the ball very quickly into certain areas high up the pitch and everyone pushing up so they can either get on the end of it or win the ball back in the opponents third. Now it’s plainly obvious we don’t have a full squad suited to that but it’s the only way he’s done things so he won’t change. He’ll also see it as his way of finding out what players in this squad he can rely on to do it properly. If that empties the likes of Chalmers and dare I say it Walsh then all the better. My gut feeling right now is it’ll be enough to see us to probably 8th by a point or two and we can accurately judge him in November-ish based on how we’re performing and also his signings.

Was he in my top 3 or even 5 picks to replace Kerr? No. Do I think he’ll take us forward? I do not know and it could genuinely go either way right now but until I see things going wrong that I can actually blame him for then he’s going to get my backing.

[D'Jaffo]

Seems like there are pretty big question marks over what he did at Livingston.

Yes David Martindale signed some players for him and even more players for Gary Holt. I do not believe he had anything to do with how they played though.

[vikingTON]

Morton are absolutely a dumpster fire at boardroom/ownership level, but that doesn't mean Hopkin wasn't backed enough to meet expectations - not least given a significant fan ownership drive that was underwriting the budget throughout his tenure. The main reason why we're in a relegation conversation this season is not because of the ownership situation but rather that Hopkin took a tight budget in the summer and sprayed it across 22 first team players, including 10 midfielders but no credible centre forward or indeed any sub goalkeeper at all. His overall transfer record was straight down the middle mediocre by the standards of our 17 different managers under the current regime. I wouldn't place your mortgage on him doing much better once he gets the chance to build his own side then.

Ayr have made a two year commitment so he's obviously not going to get binned, but your current situation simply underlines the lack of underlying logic behind the choice in the first place. It's not a good fit of a squad for Hopkin's tactics on paper, and there's nothing to suspect that he'd do a better job starting afresh than at least some of the other candidates who were in the frame.  

Edited April 3, 2021 by vikingTON

[wuffster]

2 hours ago, ayrunitedfw said:

You really hate Hopkin, don’t you? 

Thanks @ayrunitedfw that made me laugh.

Spoiler

I hope Hopkin can get a win (or two) and secure Ayr in the Championship. Today was rubbish.

 

[HMIP]

7 hours ago, D'Jaffo said:

Yes David Martindale signed some players for him and even more players for Gary Holt. I do not believe he had anything to do with how they played though.

Martindale was in charge of recruitment, so it seems his role went far beyond signing “some players”.  Which is a concern given the biggest criticism Morton fans have of Hopkin was his awful recruitment.  The exact nature of Martindales role is a bit of a mystery, but it seems his role went way beyond an assistant manager and certainly included coaching the players he signed.  Kenny Miller chucked it after about 8 weeks because he discovered he wasn’t allowed to sign players, appoint his own coaches and was even told, by someone, to stop picking himself as player/manager.   All seems very dysfunctional , and given that Hopkin did nothing in ten years of coaching before he went to Livingston and has done nothing since he left, it is reasonable to ask what he was or wasn’t doing during that period.  

[TheScarf]

Tam Walsh is a great player when things are going well but he’s an utter shitebag when they aren’t. He completely hides.  And he’s injured most of the time. 

Chalmers is the most beige, bland average Championship player you can get.

 

[Trogdor]

51 minutes ago, TheScarf said:

Tam Walsh is a great player when things are going well but he’s an utter shitebag when they aren’t. He completely hides.  And he’s injured most of the time. 

Chalmers is the most beige, bland average Championship player you can get.

That's a good description of Walsh. His good moments have been few and far between. 

I'd empty the pair of them at seasons end. Unfortunately Chalmers is on a two year deal and I can't see any sane club taking him off our hands.

[BukyOHare]

I hope the Hopkin supporters aren't going down the "Kerr was taking us down anyway route" so that's in someway mitigation if Hopkin does exactly that.

He's his own man, who by the season end will stand or fall on his own decisions and tactics. He will have had enough games to have saved our Championship status as well with a squad who shouldn't be getting relegated full stop. He didnt come in and we were cut adrift at the bottom of the league.

I'm not against direct football being played either, played well it can be really effective in this league, the problem clearly is that the players we have just don't look comfortable or capable of playing it. 

3 games at home and away trips to Inverness and Arbroath don't fill me with any growing confidence either. As has already been said, can we just get this season consigned to the bin as though it never happened?

[HMIP]

2 minutes ago, BukyOHare said:

I hope the Hopkin supporters aren't going down the "Kerr was taking us down anyway route" so that's in someway mitigation if Hopkin does exactly that.

He's his own man, who by the season end will stand or fall on his own decisions and tactics. He will have had enough games to have saved our Championship status as well with a squad who shouldn't be getting relegated full stop. He didnt come in and we were cut adrift at the bottom of the league.

I'm not against direct football being played either, played well it can be really effective in this league, the problem clearly is that the players we have just don't look comfortable or capable of playing it. 

3 games at home and away trips to Inverness and Arbroath don't fill me with any growing confidence either. As has already been said, can we just get this season consigned to the bin as though it never happened?

Mark Kerr will be a get out of jail free card until at least Christmas.  Funnily enough, we showed a hint of some spirit with Davie White in charge (not than I’m suggesting he should have got the job) which suggests there is a bit of something in the squad somewhere.  Hopkin seems to have smothered that petty quickly with the switch to “direct” football.  

[BukyOHare]

37 minutes ago, HMIP said:

Mark Kerr will be a get out of jail free card until at least Christmas.  Funnily enough, we showed a hint of some spirit with Davie White in charge (not than I’m suggesting he should have got the job) which suggests there is a bit of something in the squad somewhere.  Hopkin seems to have smothered that petty quickly with the switch to “direct” football.  

There is as you say "something in the squad somewhere", you only need to look at the Dundee game under Hopkin to see that. It's just not been seen often enough as the ball gets consistently shelled from back to front, something that wasnt apparent against Dundee or Elgin.

Edited April 4, 2021 by BukyOHare

[AyrExile]

1 hour ago, BukyOHare said:

I hope the Hopkin supporters aren't going down the "Kerr was taking us down anyway route" so that's in someway mitigation if Hopkin does exactly that.

He's his own man, who by the season end will stand or fall on his own decisions and tactics. He will have had enough games to have saved our Championship status as well with a squad who shouldn't be getting relegated full stop. He didnt come in and we were cut adrift at the bottom of the league.

I'm not against direct football being played either, played well it can be really effective in this league, the problem clearly is that the players we have just don't look comfortable or capable of playing it. 

3 games at home and away trips to Inverness and Arbroath don't fill me with any growing confidence either. As has already been said, can we just get this season consigned to the bin as though it never happened?

Kerr got a free pass for around 12 months before criticism was acceptable then further can kicking waiting for a transfer window to fix his errors.  Would have thought Hopkin might have got a bit more latitude than this tbh

[North British]

Need to all stop greeting like wee boys about what Hopkins did or didn’t do at Livingston , Bradford and Morton . He’s at Ayr now and on a two year contract . Last week many were saying get this cup tie in the sea , well now it is . We have five games left three at home if we can’t man up for that then we deserve a spell in the pub league . Time to focus on what’s in front of us , the next six days are probably the most critical we have faced in years .  I’m guessing most of Saturdays bench will be starters on Tuesday , some of Saturdays team have had their chance and blown it in spectacular fashion . At least Hoppy now knows the level of rot he is dealing with . I’m guessing of the eleven deals expiring in May only McKenzie will be around for pre season in June .

[BukyOHare]

1 hour ago, AyrExile said:

Kerr got a free pass for around 12 months before criticism was acceptable then further can kicking waiting for a transfer window to fix his errors.  Would have thought Hopkin might have got a bit more latitude than this tbh

It's not a Kerr v Hopkin debate though really is it? If its being angled like that then it really shouldn't be.

It's about us failing to be riding the wave of optimism that a new manager should bring (regardless of who that manager is)

It's about us failing to garner any sort of momentum from game to game with players looking to be lacking in confidence.

It's about us looking to be fairly predictable in our play and an apparent lack of a plan B.

It's about there being 5 games left and us being one point off the relegation playoff.

Hopkin might be the new messiah, the guy who leads us to the promised land and I sincerely hope he is. I am allowed meantime to voice my concerns when what would appear to be the obvious is staring right at us.

 

Edited April 4, 2021 by BukyOHare

[D'Jaffo]

It's not a Kerr v Hopkin debate though really is it? If its being angled like that then it really shouldn't be.
It's about us failing to be riding the wave of optimism that a new manager should bring (regardless of who that manager is)
It's about us failing to garner any sort of momentum from game to game.
It's about us looking to be fairly predictable in our play and an apparent lack of a plan B.
It's about there being 5 games left and us being one point off the relegation playoff.
Hopkin might be the new messiah, the guy who leads us to the promised land and I sincerely hope he is. I am allowed meantime to voice my concerns when what would appear to be the obvious is staring right at us.
 

If we’re talking about Hopkin this season then Kerr inevitably comes into the discussion given the team we’re watching is largely of his creation.

[BukyOHare]

1 minute ago, D'Jaffo said:

If we’re talking about Hopkin this season then Kerr inevitably comes into the discussion given the team we’re watching is largely of his creation.

Kerr bought the chess pieces but it's now up to Hopkin as to how he moves them. That's what's concerning me.

I've got nothing personal against Hopkin, it's all about results first and then about performances second. Both are making me feel very uneasy.

We've got fewer league games left than games Hopkin has had in his time in charge. People are entitled to be concerned at our overall profile surely?

[ayrmad]

Can't really comment too much as I've been working when we've played but it worries me that any manager feels that our squad is made for hoofball, I'd have thought he would have been asked if he will be playing a similar style to that of his previous clubs when he was interviewed. 

It was bad enough that Kerr was allowed to career towards that style of football without employing someone that specialises in it. 

[Trogdor]

23 minutes ago, BukyOHare said:

Kerr bought the chess pieces but it's now up to Hopkin as to how he moves them. That's what's concerning me.

I'm not sure I like this analogy. If we accept the football season is the equivalent of a chess game. I'd categorise the situation as follows:

1) Kerr leaves the board a piece down and Hopkin takes over. Hopkin is left scrambling, only really playing for two results a draw or a loss.

2) Or Kerr walks from the board with the position in zugzwang. Hopkin takes over and has to play a move that results in the position collapsing.

In my view, If we keep scraping for points as we have since Hopkin took over (He's got 5 points from 4 league games).  Then we'll be fine. At that hit rate we should pick up 6 points and finish on 31 points. It's gonna be squeaky and it ain't gonna be pretty but it is what it is.

Finally, irrespective of what happens this season the majority of the blame is with Kerr. Even if we are relegated, Hopkin will get next season to show what he can do. He's on a two year contract.

[Jeff Venom]

I'm hesitant to add that Hopkin has gotten us league results that (and this is obviously conjecture) I could not see Kerr getting us at this point.
He'll hopefully shine the turd enough to avoid the flush.