That, I think would be my ideal set up. I wonder about this. Can`t help thinking something`s wrong. Attitude maybe? Don`t know but that`s 3 managers now? Odd.
Dick has explained his rationale, re Watmore, and I get it. based on recent results, who are we to argue? he and the coaching staff know the lads character better than any of us. why rush him if we don't need to? the U-21s is a completely different level to first team EPL.
If we stay up I'd like to keep Dick with an assistant with experience of management. ie Nigel Clough or Ali McCoist. Both have done well at different levels one or two seasons under Dick then take over as number one. I think McCoist played under him so there may already be a relationship, although he's only managed in Scotland He has experience of huge games. Clough Sunderland born did a great job at Derby keeping them compeditive while cutting the wage bill by 70%. One or two seasons with an old head and we could have a gem.
My maths is laughably bad added to which I've had a couple of drinks, but according to my calculations under Advocaat we've got 10 points from 6 games, which equates to 60+ points for the season? Bearing in mind when he took over we were in a complete shambles I think we should do everything we can to keep him as long as possible.
He has done enough already to get my vote, very good with both team selection and use of substitutes, he seems to be a very steady hand on the tiller has a sense of humour and is getting the absolute maximum from the players. The only question would be how much he would cost and what would his relationship with the DOF be, if this is workable I see no reason why we would look elsewhere tbh.
You don't have to be a football genius manager to watch a few videos of how we played under Gus and recognise that the style did not suit the players abilities. If we had got him earlier then we would be level(ish) with the likes of Stoke and WBAwho get by on half of our support. As regards any new manager, I think ES should avoid appointing another young coach with football theories and make a more pragmatic choice, but regardless of everything else we are due for our annual reality check.
Going into the last year of his contract and his father is drawing attention to this. That's why. We can't use every player on the bench. Give him some match day experience. It's ok for Agnew and Honeyman but not for Watmore it seems. Strange. Anyway he'll be off if we carry on ignoring him simple as that.
Don't think it's likely to be up to us - think Dick will decide. If we stay up we'll offer - not convinced he likes relegation scraps - can't see him staying but hope I'm wrong
He certainly seems to be enjoying this one mate! He celebrates every goal like a teenager. For me its a no-brainer. There can't be that many managers out there with the level of experience old eggnog has. But you're right, it won't be up to us. Sounds like his wife will have the casting vote.
so his contract coming up plus some arbitrary tweets by his Dad (or has his old man publicly stated we play him or he's off?) vs our premier league survival are good enough reason to 'rush him'? I'll stick with Dick's decisions on whether he's ready or not. Dick has said there's a time and a place for his involvement when the relegation pressure is off. Apparently Duncan sits his Uni (economics) finals in 2 weeks, so there's one reason not to distract him. plus he has publicly stated he wants to break into the first team next season. he doesn't seem rushed by his contract coming up to me.....
I don't want him next season. He's here to do a job, keep us up over roughly a quarter of a season or however long it is. I just get the feeling he has come with that remit only, especially given the situation with his wife. And that if he stays, at this stage in his life and career I'm not sure he'd have his heart in it long term. Short term though, great. And can I just say how ****ing refreshing is it to have a manager in who's actually proven, experienced and composed.
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick with me fella, I've accepted Dicks decision ages ago, just passing on what I'm reading. This has **** all to do with our season, it's bigger than that. It's about the way we run our top grade academy without producing anything and without showing any respect to our youth products an underlining problem that spans season upon season. There's no way you'll convince me that he can't have a place on the bench because of the 'risk' when we're putting two younger less develops players on the bench. His dad was drawing attention to the last year of his contract in response to someone asking about what he has to do to a call up to the seniors fella. You have to remember we've had managers going back over a decade who've said we'll give youth a chance and how many managers have actually done that? We're getting a bad rep. I'd want a move to a club that does give youth a chance, not claim to then never do it like us. It's not that he hasn't been given a chance. It's we've just let a year of his development rot. Players don't develop well playing above their standard, The lad and his dad wanted him out on loan for first team football, the request was denied more than once as he told he was in the first team plans. That never materialized and he's lost a year because of it. His dad actually understands and accepts Dick's reasoning, but the damage could already have been done by Gus. He does have is finals in two weeks, but he's had more then enough time to juggle both. Mig completed his degree playing in the first team for us and Liverpool. So how do you explain Dick contradicting himself saying the young players aren't ready yet because of the situation then the very next match putting two youth lads on the bench who are literally seasons behind Watmore in development. Two young CM on the bench we didn't need. What message do you think that sends to to the lad? I don't blame him for having his head turned, he's been treat like **** this year. We've stunted Connor and now we've robbed this lad of a year of his development. It's the wrong message. It's called burning bridges mate and it's got nothing to do with the first team plight, it's got to do with the treatment of our younger players which again has fallen short of what our facilities suggest. I'd leave if I was Watmore, he's 21 and can't afford another year wasted. Connor could have been great but he's ****, that's our fault
Personally not for me. I know he's done a good job (so far) but he's pretty much at the end of his career. I'd rather we take our time at the end of the season appointing a new manager/head coach. Too often we've jumped in when a new manager gives us a boost at the end of the season.
I would have him as Director of Football, with Clement as coach and get rid of that joke Congerton before he signs anymore useless deadwood - amazed he has survived the shambles that has played out under his so called directorship the last 18 months.
Remember he broke his leg this season, which stuffed his chances of first team or a loan - would have made no difference with Gus in charge though. thankfully Watmore himself has stated he is happy to wait until next season, but if he doesn't get a place next season then yeah, he should seek a move.... and its another nail in the academy coffin. why did Dick put two other youth players on the bench ahead of him? i've no idea, but he clearly had his reasons. fair enough re the Mig, but he was established first team and we were pushing for 7th at the time! probs distance learning too. shame we don't have a young Socrates on our hands.
The leg break didn't happen till December fella and he was back playing in two months. What about the whole of the season before that? You know the first half of the season where we weren't relegation threatened? He wasn't allowed to go out on loan for that time, we didn't give him first team experience he was told he'll get and the reason for not letting him go on loan. Gus to blame for him losing a season of development. There's no doubt in mind of that. Clearly? You'll have to explain it to me fella because it's anything but clear in my mind. Dick said Watmore wouldn't be part of a match day squad because he believed it was too much pressure for development squad players, a few games later two development cm's are on the bench despite there only being the need for one cm on the bench. I might be really thick here but there's no clarity in that what so ever, it's contradictory and doesn't make sense so over to you if it's clear to you. I want to understand. Mig wasn't established. He was a young reserve keeper who pushed into the first team way before intended thanks to a Westwood injury. Even Mig said himself he'd expected to finish his degree before breaking the first team, but circumstances made him juggle both and he managed fine, despite moving uni from Sunderland to Liverpool for the final year. Everything has happened incredibly fast for Mig since coming to England.
Another book and a half Funky Charles Dickens only used to publish one chapter a month. There's a lesson there mate! You got some good points there though Funky! I wasn't aware the lad was studying as well. I'd like to think that he and his dad will wait to see what happens regarding our filling the managers spot before they make any potentially rash decisions on his future. We gave him his chance and he's now just slotted the U21s Player of the Year under his belt. Any club willing to let a player with that potential walk out the door would be a ****ing stupid one! So someone at the club has to make sure that doesn't happen!
I don't think they're looking for a summer move, more hinting at moving at the end of his contract if he doesn't get his shot. It's that final year contract situation all over again, this time with one of the best players in the U21 league. A tribunral will give us next to nowt. He could make a first team impression and we could still lose him too. He should have been out on a season long loan at the start of the season. Gus dropped a bollock.
I hope we keep him mate. We've found a real diamond in the rough there. We just need a couple of strong strikers he can learn and feed off. That is , once we've confirmed our PL status and can start re-building. Again.
I he's born for a counter attacking game. Love seeing him carrying the ball 50-60 yards up the pitch. Speaking of watching him. Chelsea tomorrow night for the U21s, there should be a stream for that as Chelsea show their u21 games live.
