Bob - if the cap fits and all that.......... On the "in awe of Tan" remark - I suppose I am (on times ). I can't stand what he epitomises in the game, particularly being involved with us, but the guy sure displays some single-minded approach to his businesses that few on this side of the globe can match. Nothing to do with football, I hasten to add - in fact I wish he wasn't at our club, but he is for now. Until we (or he) can find an alternative, let's just see what happens.
I wish he wasn't here, but I'd rather the last 4 or so years we've had compared to, say, Portsmouth...
Back to the thread then......... If we can leave Tan out of this discussion, does Malky deserve a shot (and be the right guy for the job) at the Wigan post in preference to the other prominent contenders like Steve Clarke or Hughton? A couple of abject Championship years in charge at Watford followed by a similar but well funded period with us taking us up is his CV for the job. His first task would be to turn Wigan's immediate fortunes around and keep them up - I've no doubt he could do that. It's still early and he could be a huge influence on where they finish - maybe even playoffs are not out of the question. From there on in, would Whelan's money in his kitty ensure he'd take them back up next year if not this?
free 2move on ......and there was me thinking the end of the world was upon us with them isis members spreading that ebola about
Best of luck to him. Bet Don Cowie is over the moon to se his prodigal father back as his manager. Watch Wigan fly up the table.
He certainly deserves another chance but Whelan is clearly going to face some flak taking him on. Four basic possibilities for Malky then. A......He gets them really sorted, and they've some decent Championship players there including former Bluebirds Don Cowie, Andrew Taylor and Leon Barnett, they could still mount a serious top 6 challenge. B......He does enough to keep them safe with good defensive tactics to finish maybe top half mid-table comfort zone with a view to challenging next season. C......It just doesn't work out as planned and they go on flirting with the drop zone and just manage to scrape a place in the Championship next season because three other teams are actually worse than them. D.......He f**s up completely. They struggle for the rest of the season and go down finding out that there are actually not three teams that are worse than them. Anyone want to fast forward to May and predict which one?
B would be my pick out of those 4. I'm certain he wont do D and think just about any manager would have achieved C with the squad they have. I think A is unlikely as it's a harder division than when he took us out of it. They have got a squad to challenge, but you can say that about a lot of teams in this league.
B Spark! Good foundations at the club. He will be under an immense amount of pressure to succeed in the job from all quarters, something that he should now be used to. If he's allowed to strengthen in January A is a possibility, but B in mid-table for this season should see him safe. Good luck to him.
B for me too. The Don and Tayls know and can play his system and tactics but hardly going to set the world alight. Pity our game there is on Tuesday 24th Feb. We are hardly going to fill the away end on a Tuesday night. It would have made for a good away trip if on a Saturday. There's always the cup I suppose. That would be the sort of ironical draw to come out of the bag.
Playoffs minimum. he as the players and he has the knowhow, even automatic is not out of the question...
I see Malky is having Diversity training ... would have thought he might have eased himself in on Strictly before launching into street dance
big furore over Whellan's comments playing down MM's texts and actually using similar language himslef. Gold unhappy about his 'Jew reference'. Not got off to the best of starts with the Wigan shirt sponsor pulling out as well.
Or E....... The FA charge him for his texts and hes instantly sacked (apparently that clause is in his contract). To be honest though, hes easily the best choice to try and get them promoted, its like when you take a great player with an attitude problem, your always going to be taking a risk.
Valid point, but makes an assumption about the moral standing of Whelan. Having the option to sack Malky if the FA enquiry finds him at fault doesn't necessarily mean Whelan would. In fact, and unless there was an FA ruling against Malky's immediate involvement in the game, Whelan wouldn't give a toss if he was doing well at the time. Whelan would stick two fingers up at the pressure groups and tell Malky to carry on. On the other hand of course, if they were still struggling, it would give him a very easy get out. Love him or loathe him, Whelan is a survivor and is as hard as nails despite his portrayal of the grandpa image.
