I don't want another wrangle Supers, as we disagree about how much risk is involved with Neil, who has a lot of attractive attributes as a manager but is still relatively unproven. McAvoy I know nothing about either as a player or coach, except that he coached the Hamilton youth team. This may well work out fine and I hope it does and we go on to gain promotion as we did with Lambert.
Agreed 100% and I've a Phelan, that the 'Scottish Mitchell Brothers'(thanks jwm!!!) will get the best out of our misfiring squad <getscoatemoticon> Good post RER - especially whilst most of us (me included) are wearing 'rose tinted glasses'!!!
The point is, this isn't a stab in the dark. We know these guys work well together - and successfully - therefore the risk is lowered. Had he 'gone it alone' so to speak and worked with Phelan, we have no idea if it will work, so risk increases.
I think that's harsh. Agree he might not be involved in first team matters and as I've said on here before, I'd be astonished if he ever gets offered a management post again, but he had a good bond and did a decent job with the youngsters and I see no reason why he shouldn't continue to do so in future.
I never said 'a stab in the dark'. I said it is a risk, and one I hope works. Neil's only experience though is as player-manager for the team he played for over 8 years. He was one of the boys up there. McAvoy was promoted from youth team coach to assist him. The situation down here is different and very much out of their comfort zone. Don't get me wrong, I hope this works as much as you do, but there is a big risk factor involved.
But you seem to be making out that this is a bigger risk than keeping Phelan or even keeping Adams. Any appointment is a risk but at least this is an exciting risk on someone who appears to have huge potential and who has already got an astonishingly good track record. The risks are far outweighed by the potential and that's why people are so positive at the moment. It could all fall in on itself - any appointment could.
Phelan wanted an assistant managers role but was told he'd be a first team coach, a new regime comes in and McAvoy is going to be appointed as assistant manager, I can see why Phelan would want to leave it's a pride thing and it's understandable in some ways. To be honest as fans we should of really spotted what was going on with Phelan, was speaking to my Dad earlier today and he said he doesn't half look sulky sat there on the bench, you never know perhaps Neil intervening during the Bournemouth game pissed him off or it's just a simple case of too many chiefs. It's a shame because I think Phelan would of offered the players a lot and has been on the management team of a world class club, so he would of had the skills and experience to bring to the table.
Agree with that Northampton, and I just think it's a shame to lose his experience. Hopefully it'll work out fine, but the honeymoon won't last forever if results start going wrong.
Last Saturday, for the first time in about 18 months, I was looking forward to going to Carrow Road. Long may it continue.
From what Phelan has said in the past he sorted man utd's defence out and let fergie manage the team and pick attacking options. If that was his role here he didn't drastically improve the defence. We've looked as shaky as ever in my opinion. I know it's hard to change much in 2 months but a man who is having no drastic immediate impact coupled with a lack of interest in being inferior to our new manager is an unsavoury situation. It's for the best, lets get behind Alex Neil and his team and keep the feel good factor going.
Even the first few weeks of the second season under Hughton? I was looking forward to see how the signings panned out. Then i wasn't.
Ok. First time in 15 months My lack of enjoyment last season was as much to do with the atmosphere as anything. Same this season to be fair. Never felt like any of us were pulling together for the team. Saturday did so that was pleasing. Been different at away games.
Quite frankly Phelan said a lot of crap about when he was at Man U. None has ever been backed up by anyone else involved. He's a good coach and has a lot of experience but his claim that he "basically managed" United for 5 years was blatantly false otherwise he would have been considered the natural heir apparent there. His body language has been pretty poor since Adams left, clearly he was expecting to get the job. I think he decided to go when Neil turned up at 60 minutes into the Bournemouth game, that was his opertuniti to show what he could do and AN swept in to seemingly save the day. For someone who wants to be a manager that's pretty embarrassing.
Surprised nobody has commented on Paul Scholes claim that Phelan 'did no coaching' at United. Surprised me!
Did he say it in a 'he did no coaching' or 'he did no meaningful coaching' as in they didn't benefit from it or it was non existent. He may consider him a substandard man utd coach but adequate for the championship. Or he may not be able to coach. This does surprise me as Adams said straight away Phelan was putting cones out and excited to be back out on the training pitch. I think i read that Muelensteen had almost taken over coaching at united in the final fergie season anyway, not sure how accurate that is but could explain Phelan not coaching.
Win against Brentford on Saturday and we will be five points behind Bournemouth and no one will be talking about Phelan.
