The football has progressively got worse since TM left though, whilst both of the coaches have still been involved. And the football under Alex Neil wasn’t possession based like Mowbray so I don’t think we have a set in stone identity. There’s only really so many tactics/formations and then adaptations on those so it’s not as if we’re looking for a manager who plays in a 1 in 1000 style of football. I don’t have anything against Dodds and Proctor I’m sure they’re both nice lads and half decent coaches at the beginning of their journey and they’ll only get better but in my opinion it would be better for the club and a much more attractable vacancy if we were to allow the new manager to bring in his own team.
Surely that's irrelevant though, we're not going to be relegated ... ... and he's only been asked to be caretaker for another few weeks. It's not like at Birmingham, where Venus admitted he couldn't cope. They're actually in a relegation fight with relegation form. We're in an extended pre-season, getting players fit and trying out players like Alese.
Agree with pretty much all of that and especially with your last paragraph. I'm not sure it's possible to assume that any foreign coach is going to be more dynamic or forward thinking than a British coach. There tends to be this perception that age and Britishness brings with it a certain rigidity in approach and I'm not sure that's always accurate.
I agree the standard of football has got worse, hence the reason the club acted and are seeking a new head coach. People seem tied up with Dodd's and Proctor neither of whom were, or are, Head Coaches, they are just lads learning their trade, they may go on to be head coaches in future but are not ready yet. As to allowing Coaches to bring in their own team, if this was successful why then do we see the likes of Ancelotti and Mourinho going from club to club to club along with their own team. They don't seem to last that long before being moved on. Yes, I know totally different standard to where we are, at the moment but hopefully you get my point, I'm just looking for some growth, progress and continuity
I wish clubs would start and look at the bigger picture and realise when managers hit bad spells it doesn't mean they need replacing. Look at Robins at Coventry took him a couple of years to get out of L1 but he's been given time. Look at Arteta, Arsenal were in free fall after he first joined, and Ferguson nearly got the sack early on. All the successful managers have had sticky patches but the club has stuck with them. Then again fans probably don't help that much as soon as a team loses 3 games they want a new manager in
I'd love nothing more than a head coach to come in and stay for years building and growing with the club, creating a real legacy for the future, but I don't think football really works like that at most clubs
Ferguson was clever though. Once he had established himself he changed his first team coach on a regular basis. The new coach brought new and fresh ideas whilst Ferguson provided the stability.
I wasn’t really sure mate, proctor seemed to appear from nowhere onto the bench ha. If they’re good coaches etc let them be that, hopefully the new man is allowed to bring some people with him.
What about someone like Paul Clement? An older head than someone like Still, worked extensively in Britain, but also plenty of experience working abroad. Reputation still seems to be quite high as he was reported to be under consideration for the Ireland job recently. Might be considered to be both suitably dynamic and older and steady.
Sorry, I wasn't ignoring this, it was after my bedtime ... ... quite a few points there but I'll do my best. 'Plodder' isn't about ability or knowledge, it's more about attitude. I've had enough of our managers taking the job then moaning about aspects of it when they struggle. And I cringed every time our managers mentioned how they can't communicate with the foreign lads, it makes us look stuck in the past. That's why the likes of Heckingbottom don't appeal tbh whereas Still, or someone like him whether British or foreign, would hopefully cope better. I've only said Still out of the options I've seen mentioned. The main two are him and Heckingbottom who I'd see as another Mowbray ... limited game plans and unreasonable favourites in the squad. As to us being light years ahead of France, I'm not sure I see England winning a World Cup any time soon tbh. The best of English players seem to be from clubs with foreign managers so I'm not sure how much credit we deserve for that. The main thing I want is someone with real fire and enthusiasm after the glum atmosphere with Mowbray, Neil, Beale, etc. Whatever the case my wishes are irrelevant ... ... I've no say and have no fixed opinion either way. I just want someone with the passion to match the supporters, not someone who looks bored at press conferences.
Just seen that Ancelloti's son has been his assistant for the best part of a decade. Wonder if he is any good. If he wins 20% of what his dad has over the course of his career, he's head and shoulders above most.
I always cast my mind to when we played some of the best football I have seen at Sunderland - last season under Mowbray. Who did we have on the coaching bench? Dodds & Proctor. It’s not a problem having them on the coaching team. The problem starts if a new man asks for 3-4 of his coaches to come and we go ‘no, only one.’ then the talks break down and we scrape the barrel again. Rohl brought in 4 coaches and has completely transformed Sheff Wed (he’s the one I want), if he asks for 4 and we counter it with 1 he’ll tell us to **** right off. Still might be an option if he’s only wanting his brother with him (assuming his brother is happy to move too). I’d be okay with him. Heck doesn’t excite me in the slightest, an aura of Parkinson about him for me. Rohl or Still please.
We have quite a few talented foreign players we're not making the most of imo, that needs to change. One way to look at it is, would Heckingbottom be capable of moving to France and managing a L1 club. TBH I think he'd struggle to move out of Yorkshire ... ... he only managed 9 months in Scotland
Good point. A lot of foreign players who may need different motivation techniques. Still managing overseas gives him a plus point compared to Heck imo.
Heard from somebody at the match Saturday, who has a good source apparently, that Speakman basically picks the team and has done for a while. Has been meddling with team selections the tail end of Mowbrays tenure aswell.
Can't say I know a lot about Davide Ancelotti but I've just had a little read up on him. Seems he's very much seen as an equal partner with his dad, which suggests he's got something about him. What I did find interesting was that he worked very closely with Duncan Ferguson, who was also an assistant during the Ancelottis' time at Everton, and who had been at the club for approximately 5 years before they arrived. It wasn't a problem for them that an existing member of the coaching staff had to be incorporated into their team.
