Who Will Be The Next Knapper Wonder Choice

Duffy will just carry on being Duffy. No manager will ever change him especially as he is nearing the end of his contract.

 

Ever the optimist!

 

I hear you, but equally JDT wouldn’t be without huge risks and Clement on paper has a significantly stronger record. His teams on the continent seem to have been fairly attacking reputation, so it remains to be seen - but if we are being honest about our squad we probably need a manager better suited to a less creative mindset…

 

Are you referring to Jonny McFarlane, from the Rangers Review, interviewed by Connor Southwell in yesterday's Pink'Un? If so, I think it needs pointing out that the reference to lack of creativity was in the specific context of playing against weaker teams intent on thwarting Rangers by setting up in a 5:4:1 low block for 90 minutes. The general point McFarlane was making was that Clement was a perfect fit for the Championship, a much more competitive league than the Scottish Premiership, with few teams being reduced to "shutting up shop" as their strategy, even against the top sides in the division.
Having difficulty breaking down teams devoting all their resources to keeping you out is a problem for any manager/head coach; Farke's Norwich v Nigel Clough's Burton Albion at Carrow Road comes to mind.

 

Good summary. That's the way I read it as well, Robbie.

 

Afraid I'm not sure, only briefly saw it scrolling a site.

But isn't that what we've struggled to do, basically since Hoolahan and more recently Steiperman left? Many teams come to Carrow Road or lesser teams at their home and sit 10 behind the ball for vast periods of the match and we've repeatedly failed to break them down, create chances and end up knocking ball square-square-back-back; then lump it up the pitch.

So how is it any different? Sure it's not going to be the whole division, but I suspect a good proportion will look at his history from Rangers and think, we'll give it a shot, we've nothing to lose. Especially against a 'big team' as Norwich.
I'll give him a chance, but I just don't see his previous style and our current players working terrifically well. Which if it does occur, will go back to the player recruitment policy of the S.D. (board team) and therefore him/them needing to leave.

 

This is Clement on his overall approach:

"In all the clubs that I have worked, it has always been based on playing attacking football with high intensity, with the team pressing, being aggressive and playing in a style to score goals. Of course, it's important to also have structure, to not concede goals and that's what I've seen here; the team is conceding too many goals, so those are also points to work on, but I want to play in an offensive way of playing."

The key phrase is "attacking football with high intensity". This means attacking quickly, with two second 'one-two' exchanges to move the ball quickly to wrong foot opponents rather than passing the ball around laterally in our own half waiting for space to open up. For him the quickness is more important than trying to keep possession at all costs, which has often been the case with previous HCs. This should be music to the ears of Sargent, Kvistgaarden, Makama and other attacking players who want the ball before the opposing defence is settled. Quickness is the key to unlocking stubborn defences.

 

Hellberg looks to have turned down Swansea in favour of the Middlesborough job

 

I saw a Press report claiming JDT was first choice but turned down Norwich’s offer

If that’s true then I think that puts to bed the idea this process wasn’t well run: it looks like an encouragingly professional job and if JDT wasn’t prepared to accept Norwich’s terms, then they simply moved on swiftly and decisively - good.

We may rue that decision in time, but right now I’m feeling more positive than at any time since about 2/3rds of the way through last season

 

That report would match JDT's agent saying he turned down the offer. It could be that JDT and Clement were considered equally good candidates so Knapper and the owners went for the latter at the price they considered was right. Time will tell, but I like the tactics that Clement is advocating.

 

It would likely match as the paper would be reporting what the agent said surely?

 

It has been mentioned that given the expedite nature of the interview process, terms has been shown before a decision was made to see if they matched candidates requests. Possible JDTs agent dint want to go any further after seeing the terms but before a decision