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“Play has improved but not enough” – Jury still out on new Salford City Boss

By on in Football, Salford City, Sport

Salford City fans have had their say on manager Gary Bowyer, who was appointed last month on a deal until the end of the season.

Bowyer, 49, left his role as Derby County under 23s boss to replace Richie Wellens who was sacked just 9 days after winning the EFL Trophy.

Ammies supporter Paul Turner says the dismissal of Wellens came as a ‘relief’ and was ‘surprised he lasted as long as he did.’

“The direction of travel under Wellens had been clear for some time, downwards. I don’t think Wellens stamped his mark on the team as evidenced by his inconsistency in both team selection and formation and playing established players out of position.

“Watching Salford, I often got the impression it was a team of players that had never met each other.

“Secondly, his inability to accept responsibility as evidenced by his post-match interviews. I suspect the final straw came with his post-match interview after the Cheltenham game when he declared that the game was lost in the warm-up! Unforgiveable to denigrate the coaching staff in this way.”

Andy Thurston agrees it was the correct decision to relieve Wellens of his duties saying ‘the writing was on the wall’

“As soon as he called out for the warm up, and after 20 games it was the 1st time he had seen the team warm up.

“We struggled to create chances, switching to wing backs when we didn’t have any at the club was bonkers, Ash Hunter as a Right Wing-Back was a heads gone.”

Bowyer has made a steady start to his Salford career, with two wins, two defeats and two draws in his opening six games in charge. Andy and Paul along with Dave Farrar have voiced their opinions on the new man and how he has started life at the Peninsula:

Paul: “I hadn’t heard of him. I think it was a good move to appoint Bowyer as an interim measure and thus giving the club more time to consider a more permanent replacement for Wellens.

“He’s stopped the downward trajectory but has been hampered by some dismal displays from the forward players. He’s been unlucky with losing Wilson to injury.

“He appears to have instilled a little more fight and determination in the team as evidenced by the Bolton and Tranmere games.”

Dave: “I would give him 7.5 out of ten.

“Play has improved but not enough, players are enjoying playing, that is obvious. But he can do nothing about the quality of the squad.”

Andy: “Not going to lie, it was hardly an eye opening appointment it didn’t fill me with confidence that our performances would improve.

“My original thoughts on the appointment were proved wrong I’m happy to admit that.

“he switched to a back four, perfect for the squad of lads we’ve got and as a result performances have been much much better. The final 3rd is letting us down we’re creating chances just not putting them away.”

Gary Bowyer boasts a wealth of managerial nous on his CV with championship experience in his three years at Blackburn Rovers as well as spells with Blackpool and Bradford City. The question is can Bowyer get Salford City promoted this season?

Paul: “I think that at this stage of the season we should have settled on our best eleven and formation. Like Wellens, Bowyer hasn’t done this.

“The midfield is especially changeable resulting in, I believe, fewer opportunities for our strikers.

“Reaching the play-offs would be an achievement for Bowyer, but promotion is beyond us.”

Andy: “I’m going to say yes, as we cant be having a 5th manager.

“Seriously though he has got us playing some good footy, we’re competing thats all we can ask for as a fan.”

Dave: “Difficult to say if he will be kept on even if we were miraculously promoted.

“Promotion is a long shot but with everything that is going on who knows. But hey this is the Ammies anything is possible!”

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