Could that have been to do with Beale being brought in, ive said before that I think Still was the preferred option, when that wasn't possible till the summer, one option was to keep Dodds till the summer or the club looking at Beales coaching attributes might have been a good idea working along side Dodds, that is why he wasn't allowed to bring anyone with him. I honestly believe there will have been a clause in his contract where if we fail to at least hit the play offs he was out anyway, if him and dodds were a success that's a bonus, I don't think the club believed for one second the reaction from the fans we have been so bad. I think they bring Still in the summer, that I think was always an option, however there are rumours of Cooper in the summer, that probably wasn't in their plans but if the option is available they could very well have changed their minds. Whoever comes in the summer I'm confident he will be allowed to bring at least an assistant in, and Dodds and Proctor will go back to their original roles, I think the club know, no decent coach would come without his assistant. Beale was an experiment that went horribly wrong, the only other option at the time was Dodds till the summer, looking at how things are going with that it was maybes worth the gamble. I watched stick to football podcast the other week, JC was asked how Liverpool do so well in the transfer market, he responded by saying the don't sign second best, if the player they want isn't available, they wait till he is, they won't just sign an alternative. If that's what the club are doing with Still and that is who they really want then I'm happy to write this season off than employ an alternative now and miss out on our main target in the summer
Funday Sunday with the lads today and one of them must have had a few beers for his breakfast because his answer to our problems is give it to Mark Hughes till the end of the season. If I didn’t love the fella I would bounce a stool of his head
Getting onto injuries it seems like we have all the bad luck with them, I don't notice any other team that has so many first choice players out all at the same time. Am I wrong or just ignorant of other teams woes. Maybe we should be looking into this as the past 2 seasons have been horrific for us
Is it not going to be difficult to essentially demote Dodds when a new coach comes in? He was promoted to assistant head coach and was in the papers last week saying he wouldn't have agreed to take the interim role if it would cost him his job at the end of the season. Could be hard sell to Dodds to say "thanks for helping, your being demoted"
Vincent Kompany currently proving how difficult it is to employ the right manager ... ... 12 points adrift, playing route one football and more defeats than every other club. Pep last season ... ... Pap this season.
We get you don't like him for whatever reason, but he's not exactly camera hungry, we don't get that many interviews from him
Dodds job title is effectively the number 2. I really dont see any coach accepting him as his number 2, and that is not a reflection on him. If it were Still or Cooper on the shortlist both would bring their right hand man/men. I suppose Dodds might keep the title, and maybe we have two with the same title, but I doubt he will have the influence he would expect. It is just human nature to rely on the team you have worked with so long and had success with.
That's my point, we made a big announcement that he had been promoted to assistant head coach, I can't see him being happy with losing that after 6 months and after stepping in as interim
So he is unsackable? Mike Dodds are we on about here who has done what, exactly in professional football? It's insane this model thing.
I have no idea mate, all I'm saying is getting was promoted to assistant head coach and it will be a difficult sell for the club to say "thanks but go back to your old role"
3 years ago we beat Swindon 1-0 with a team that included Max Power, MacFadzean, Winchester, Scowen, Wyke, Jordan Jones (whoever he was). Aiden O’Brien and Maguire came on as subs. I think we’ve come a long way in three years. Still a long way to go but we’ll get there.
Mike Dodds position has absolutely nothing to do with the model tbh (but it’s worrying he’s in the position he is with essentially no exit route, for all the reasons felltop says)
My hope is that he will do what he’s told and appreciate his luck to be back as “just” a first team coach at a club like us
I was only pointing out we promoted him and it will be difficult to then demote him after 6 months. He might not take it well
yeh I agree with you completely. mind you it’s the business he’s in. He was appointed into that role the same time Beale was appointed head coach, and now Beale is unemployed. So he’ll know he’s the lucky one. Not many assistant head coaches survive when the main guy goes
We do need to be careful not to overplay his experience and achievements because of Bellingham. I know from first hand accounts how highly regarded Dodds was and still is at Birmingham. So I am not calling him out as unfit for a senior coaching gig at all. I do though wonder whether his progression from head of individual player development to that of assistant head coach has been one of necessity rather than design. My guess is he was to be the head of individual development for the long haul here, because of the success attributed to him with the likes of Bellingham and others. The key for me is he was to focus on individuals, now he is focussed on a squad. There is a world of difference. I hear as a coach he is good, but is he better at player development? I think the role of individual player development is going to be a massive growth area in the game. Individualised training regimes are so important these days, whatever your position, not just a keeper. Dodds could probably name his price in that role because of Jude. Are we wasting his real talent, when he could be working on Jobe and Rigg for example in a 1 to 1 way. In all likelihood he wants a crack at the glamorous gig. Being on the touchline is a tremendous feeling whatever the level. If I were Speakman though come the summer I would be trying to convince him of the value of his old role if a new man only wants him as a first team coach, rather than one of his main assistants. I would happily pay him accordingly too, no reason such a crucial role isnt on a par with the number 2 role. Could even incentivise it based on player sales, as you could with many roles in the background and I would not be averse to.
