In many ways, Curle is a competent lower league manager. He knows how to organise a defence and he's better than Austin, Hasselbaink and quite a few other incumbents we've had over the years. Despite the dire quality of the football from an aesthetic point of view, as the manager of a team in a play-off spot he's a long way from being in any danger.
To play devil's advocate, I think that he envisaged Warburton and Lines as providing the creativity this year, with Martin providing crosses as a left-wing back to match Adams' output on the right. The fact that none of these signings has so far worked out could be ascribed to inadequate scouting or it could be ascribed to bad luck. Goode, Wharton, McCormack, Adams and Oliver have all been strong signings who have improved the squad, so he's got more right than wrong - it's just a shame that the duds have been in the creative positions.
The big test is what comes next. Can he make it second time lucky and bring in the playmaker and left-wing back we desperately need? Can he evolve the team into a unit which can play both efficient L2 direct football and something less predictable, more varied and more entertaining? Can he deliver that elusive first career promotion?
His contract is up at the end of the season and that is the time to evaluate these things. In the meantime, he ain't going anywhere, we've had far worse and we may as well get behind him, remain constructively critical and see where he takes us.
Great post, I agree totally with this.