To be fair, there are two separate points in what I said: some managers plainly need time to build a team, and other appointments simply don't sit right from the off. I thought about Martin for a bit, but it became clear quickly he wasn't the right fit. Even I wouldn't have given him longer.

When you know it's wrong

Not every appointment will bed in. Sometimes you can see from the way a team moves or the selection how it's not going to work. I accept managers need time, but time isn't an automatic right if the fit is visibly poor. You can be patient and still call it as you see it. There are moments when persistence becomes pointless and change is the only real option.

Clement's case — timing and backing

With Clement it's different. He never seemed to get the right rub of the green. The board removed a lot of funding and he ended up doing non-manager tasks that shouldn't have landed on him. That's a fact that colours the whole judgement. If he'd been in place at the start of the season, Martin likely wouldn't have been, and Clement might have had the time and resources to bring in the players he wanted. You can imagine how that would help a manager set a tone and a shape from day one.

Why patience still matters

All teams go through bad patches and throw up shock results. It's part of the game. We ought to be more patient when that happens, not because managers are above reproach, but because squad building and coaching take time. Changes in season are disruptive and often make things worse before they get better. The bigger picture should count for something.

At the end of the day, Clement feels like the one who didn't get what he needed. Others will disagree, and that's fine. Football's full of 'what ifs', but the takeaway for me is simple: judge appointments fairly and give managers the basic backing to do the job. If that doesn't happen, the result often tells you everything you need to know.

Written by Angus1812: 11 March 2026

Tags: tactics