What positions? I personally think we need cover at left back and a striker bit the latter isn’t a typical to secure via loan.

We have central midfielders but Roy prefers to play Richards. Ozoh shouldn’t be blocked from developing- play him. We have attackers sitting on the bench unused.

I'm not comparing them as managers, I'm comparing their records when Vieira was sacked to now and, it has to be said, they are similar.

Things were bleak at the end under Vieira but that run of games which he endured were horrendous and Roy benefited from an immediately easier run.

If Luton win their game in hand on us, and they have Sheff Utd up next, we'll be four points clear of the relegation zone. We really really need 3-4 points from our next two games against Chelsea and Brentford because it's Arsenal away after that and I don't much fancy us winning that one.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Roy will keep us up - playing s***, turgid football.

Finishing 15th or 16th with absolutely nothing to get excited about.

Make the change now, give the new manager half a season where we have a decent head start on Burnley, Sheffield Utd and Luton and let them make a start.

Let them work with our squad, improve it in January and then have a full pre-season having already settled in.

Late in the year, but not too late for me to consider this as a candidate for most ill informed rubbish post of 2023.

Old, Ungifted and White

Yes, this.
I agree that Roy's career, aside from the odd success, is littered with failure, but somehow his longevity has him considered as some sort of wise old owl who knows his stuff. I would say that his football is a relic of the past, and to be fair to him I still wonder as to why he took on this extra year.
But this situation also reveals Parish does it not? Which manager in their right mind would come to work for him, look at what is on offer and the history of previous managers in the last 11 seasons.

Many people have tried to be football managers and most have failed. There are a small group who make a career out of it and an even smaller group who win stuff.

Roy is a pragmatist he has found a way for his teams to play that achieves just enough that he is wanted when out of a job.

At the highest level he has been found wanting never the less at our level he is a success. We may never win trophies but we are not Moan United who expect to do so and with style.

My guess is that Roy is doing exactly what Parish expects that is keeping us in this division.

I see Parish as Mr Micawber hoping that something good will turn up e.g. investors with deep pockets, and until that time his job and Roy's is to keep the club stable and in the PL.

When Roy goes at the end of the season unless the board suddenly decide to spend money Parish will be looking for a younger Roy.

I still think David Moyes if available will be our next manager.

One more point