WINTER NEWS

You can't blame the fanbase for being disappointed yet again though Lyndie. In Simon Hallett I trust to do the right thing so agree it will be sort of seamless and onwards we go. I am not going to dwell on today too much because frankly it is a waste of time.

 

What we don't need is Schumacher trying to take players with him in the January window....we need to bring players in... not see them go out the door.

 

If Stoke are that much bigger with this so called bottomless pit of cash then why would they come calling at Argyle for players? He supposedly can go out and buy what he wants now. If he did come knocking then the price would go up and we would do very nicely out of it no doubt.

 

I fully understand the Argyle system Lyndhurst and endorse it. I have faith in Simon Hallett and the rest of you

Given that, what the fans including me can’t understand is why Stoke? Listen out for a song asking that question on Saturday!

We saw their team only a couple of weeks ago and it looked antediluvian compared to ours. They’re backed by big money but that hasn’t helped a string of managers over recent years.

They’ve had FFP problems, They wrote off £120m of debt recently and converted another £20m of debt to equity. That does show support of a sort but how much more do they have the stomach for? How much is needed to reshape that team? It’s only addressing historic problems anyway and does not inject new cash.

What they have done is bring cash in by selling the ground and training ground out of the club into Bet365. That’s a red flag issue in most people’s books. How many clubs have suffered because they don’t own their own ground?

That compares to Simon Hallett who’s backed the club via equity, which leaves the risk with him, not the club.

Compare that too with debt free Argyle and its plans for a new training ground and academy.

It all makes you wonder what Stoke’s plan is. Whatever it is, it’s a club where the manager will take the fall. It’s six in six years I believe not five in five as I said earlier. There will be uproar at Stoke if he’s not in the top 10 by Easter.

Stoke wasn't too kind to a then young rising star manager Nathan Jones was it? He lasted just 10 months. Stoke fans are already referring to Stephen Schumacher as “The New Nathan Jones”.

Premier League or top 6 Championship we’d have understood. But Stoke for crissake? In football you fear the career ending injury. This looks like a potentially career ending appointment.

I know you can’t comment on any of the above Lyndhurst but fans’ exasperation comes as much from believing Schumacher (and Plymouth Argyle) was a lot better than Stoke City, not peevish outrage that he’s left per se.

 

If Stoke are supposed to be a" big" club with cash available....how come they have had six managers in six years....and why are they struggling at the wrong end of the league....and not just this season.

They might have better facilities and structure than PAFC....so why are they then in such a mess....who owns them.....and how come they keep getting their choice of managers wrong....is there interference in how the manager goes about his job from above ?

Maybe I'll have a look into what has been going on there.....I think Schumacher might regret his move.....what is obvious is that Stoke are not run as efficiently as Argyle ......we have had to compensate for the lack of big money by being savvy how we go about are business.....does that show that Stoke have just thrown money at the problem expecting that to solve their lack of success.

 

I see Gary Megson was Stokes manager for only 4 months in 1999.....since then they have had including Schumacher 18 managers ?

Tony Pulis twice covering about 10 years.....and Mark Hughes nearly 5years......that means the other 9 years has seen FOURTEEN MANAGERS...until Schumacher arrived yesterday.

Which means that 14 managers literally didn't have time to unpack their suitcases and put down roots....what turmoil what a mess....it's amazing they are still in the Championship.

Tony Pulis's time wasn't without drama being thrown out and coming to PAFC....and then returning when the new owner took charge.

Now if Steven Schumacher has done his homework and read all that managerial swings and roundabouts and still taken the job then he is a bigger idiot than I thought.

He has not got much managerial experience under his belt as yet....and I think he will come into contact with shenanigans he would never have come across at Home Park.

 

Stoke City is owned by Bet365 - which in turn is controlled by the Coates family. Jogn Coates and Peter Coates are joint chairmen. As i noted above, Bet365 now owns the ground and the club's training facility.

 

One way to make a bit of money is to a small amount and be savvy how you use it. One way to make a lot of money is to take big money and be savvy how you use it.

Any other combination results in a loss! It's the savvy that counts!

 

Maybe are next manager should be called Prudence Savvy.

 

Prudence and Savvy aren't always compatible. Prudence is risk averse whereas Savvy relies on taking controlled risk.

 

Reminds me of Gordon (Prudence) Brown who tried to prove he was a better PM than Blair....and failed miserable.

 

The man who destroyed UK pension schemes. And hardly anyone noticed.

 

It seems that there is a possibility of continuing the Everton link......Leighton Baines 39 yrs old....at present there U18 manager seems to be the front runner.

Played regularly at left back for Everton .....so knows a bit about defending.....and had a good record of not getting injured....something else that might be of value for the present Argyle team.

Highley rated by many....he might be the young modern thinking manager to continue what is developing at Home Park.....might be worth a gambol ?

 

I remember him as an skilful, intelligent full back, perhaps a bit ahead of his time. He has an impressive playing record including 400 appearances in the Premier League with the last as recently as 2020, 25 in European club competitions and 30 full England caps. He shouldn't lack credibility in the dressing room!

PS His career path also crosses Neil Dewsnip's when a player at Everton and also when in the full England squad while Neil Dewsnip was coaching the Under 17's and 18's.

 

Those are probable reasons why he is down as an odds on candidate for the job....Neil Dewsnip would have informed Simon Hallett surely of his abilities and experience.....and being not an established manager he might not cost an arm and a leg to get.....and Everton would be aware of the progressive set up at PAFC....helping to bring on maybe a future Everton manager.

 

I'd vote for him. Don't want the next manager to fall off the merry-go-round as a lot normally do.

 

i hope Mr showmaker does ok but not against us.. it could be another Olllie ? remember him going to Leicester ... greedy

 

Derek Adams rough up feathers up in bonny old Scotland....by saying the quality of football up there is rubbish.

 

Michael Cooper will not be going anywhere during the January window....unless it's for treatment.

He will be out for 10 weeks having strained his medial collateral ligament.......this is not related to his previous injury....he did it in training during the week.

 

Not our year is it? Cooper out again, Bundu and Hardie out and Schumacher MIA.