Some of you will recall that I was not a great fan of LJ as a player here. That said, I have absolutely nothing against him as a person and I understand that he is a very pleasant and likeable lad. I have no issue on that front, kudos to him but as for being a manager here, well the title of this thread tells you all you need to know as far as I am concerned... Why...? Not because of what I think of him, he may indeed do a great job, but because of the approach taken by the club. Many on here constantly (and sometimes gratingly) refer to us taking "the cheap option" however unlike some of the more sceptical, I do believe that we probably actually DID at least possibly speak to the likes of Pearson, Moyes and their ilk HOWEVER, there was never even the remotest of possibilities that any manager of this calibre would come here with the policy as it is in terms of recruitment. Can you really, honestly see the likes of Pearson being told "right now here is a list of players you can choose from Nigel " - this was never, ever, EVER going to happen, this quality of manager would NEVER accept having the autonomy of player recruitment removed. What it would seem is happening is that we are looking to recruit a young and promising manager but crucially, one who will also accept players NOT OF HIS CHOOSING (the harsher amongst us might refer to this as a yes man). On that note, I think back to the comment by SL that he never turned down any player put in front of him. My question though is, put in front of him by whom...? IT's time to face facts. This club will NEVER attract a manager of the quality that we (and I expect SL) would like as long as we have a director of football with responsibility for recruitment in place There is a stark choice facing the owner, if you want a top echelon manager, you have to trust him to recruit the right players OR, if we stick with the recruitment by committee, we will never, ever recruit a manager of any note. The choice, as they say, is yours.... SL owns and funds this club so it is his decision but just to put my cards on the table, if we go down the route suggested, I will sever all connection with the club that I have supported for 4+ decades forthwith.... This is my choice...
' SL owns and funds this club so it is his decision but just to put my cards on the table, if we go down the route suggested, I will sever all connection with the club that I have supported for 4+ decades forthwith.... This is my choice...' There are a lot of people whose thoughts are not far away from yours Prem, I have had a number of PM's expressing similar thoughts believe it or not.. This decision really is a boneshaker and it shows that our very own suits are as slimy and shifty as our politicians, I no longer have faith or trust in any of them and if it goes through I wouldn't trust a word they say regardless of the millions they pump into the Bristol Sport project, stuff them.
Strong and to the point,full respect,i'm not sure i would cut my ties with BCFC,but i have and still question what SL says and then does. Fancy stadium very nice,but lets have a manager and team to fill it.
I would prefer to see a normal manager who has responsibility for recruitment (not this Head Coach malarkey)
There was a very good phone in on Nicky Campbells show this morning where the question was raised were we being treated as fans or customers by clubs- The more and more clubs are run like businesses, this will happen. Bristol Sport is going down this line, the ground as a complex is a business and we are only a small part that uses the pitch once every 2 weeks- Its more noticeable in the premier league but I can see most clubs being run this way eventually-
IT's time to face facts. This club will NEVER attract a manager of the quality that we (and I expect SL) would like as long as we have a director of football with responsibility for recruitment in place. Your earlier point is clearly an opinion, not a fact. Swansea and Southampton have had roles such as the Director of football etc. Its a loose term. Its my perception that both clubs are progressive, and attract quality Coaches/Managers. Interestingly the quality = BIG name criteria used on this forum would rule out a Martinez or Moyes early in their Coaching/Managerial careers.
Silly statement if you ask me, those two are now experienced coaches and have been successful, hindsight is a wonderful thing.......We did have Pulis, who at the time for me, was one of the worst managers at the gate........would I have him here now? No, can't stand the guy!! However, I'm still not sure regarding weather having a director of football works or not, but seeing SL likes to have an input on players but hasn't got a clue, for our club, it maybe the way to go!
Whenever results start going the wrong way (it always does) for LJ you will never see more vitriol, hatred and abuse he and the Board will receive. For the life of me, I cannot see a reason why the Board want this inflicted on our club. It's an absolute disaster waiting to happen.
Yes I have a wish list - and LJ isn't on it, or Pembs, but whoever is appointed - whether it's Lee J or anyone else - I'll give him a chance and I will support him. As I said on another post; the most important thing for me right now is maintaining our championship place. Nothing else matters - I'll worry about the longer term and next season when we are confirmed as safe.
Like others LJ was never on my list but the way I'm looking at it now, every manager starts their first 2-3 years inexperienced and then what? Some make it and some don't. Guardiola started as youth coach for Barcalona went on to be possibly the most in demand manager and still young. Mourinho started lowly at Porto Fergie was assistant at some lowly Scottish club. Now I'm not comparing LJ to any of these, apart from they were all banded as young up and coming managers. Who I am comparing him to will be someone like Nigel Atkins who most of the other teams fans laughed at Southampton getting him. Brian McDermott is another example I can think off, took Reading to the Prem. All managers have to start somewhere and you can write a list of great managers and they have all started low and went onto being good / great managers. Maybe it's Bristol City's time to find this young up and coming manager that could take us to the higher league, I would be happy with survival and then years in amongst top half championship. One thing I do know in life following my dad into the same profession, was the determination to go on and be better than he was. Maybe LJ will see that as an incentive to work to be better than his dad. Also one more thing, will these fans that said they won't be renewing their season tickets, announce they are coming back if it does turn out good or will they sneak in and pretend they've never been away?
You are correct, it is an opinion but, one that I suspect will be confirmed by the reality. If there was ever even the slightest possibility of a high profile name coming here, they would probably find it offensive after having managed at the top level to be given a choice of players selected by Keith and Mark... sorry, who are they again....? It is symptomatic of how the club has tried to do things from the moment we were promoted. The thought pattern (by owner and fans alike) was that the team is good enough to survive comfortably in this division however with the exception of Wilbraham, we have a team with virtually ZERO experience at this level and that thought pattern has now been well and truly exposed as being TOTALLY FLAWED The importance of proven experience at this level has become crystal clear and the club has realised and done something to address this now with the latest recruits however bugger me, if we aren't going to go and do the same bloody thing again, this time with the manager - it truly beggars belief.... Interestingly, Keith Curle and Moyes were both on the Danny Baker's 5Live show this morning (but not together). Keith talked about the 2 Freight Rover finals and also how we lost the 2nd one when Moose missed his penalty in the shoot out (which I had forgotten) and tongue in cheek, called Moose a "limited player" but Moose didn't bite... Although he did not talk about us, it would seem that Moose is only waiting for his next Premier League opportunity so I don't think that there was ever any chance, unless of course, SL said here's my wallet, off you go...
