My view on things is this. We have Four months to save this season. This season which the parachute money is at its height. The squad of players who imo have under achieved but on paper are arguably the strongest in the division will no doubt be ravaged come the summer by all insundrie if we fail to go back up, putting the club firmly in the championship mire for the foreseeable future while another "Transition period" arises from potentially another managerial appointment . This is why I feel very disappointed by the news tonight Rob, imo this was the time for tried and tested not another gamble.
Really hope this comes to fruition. A young manager that puts trust in youth and gets results? Gold dust. Really quite excited about this actually - which would be the first time since Lambert, and probably only the second time that a managerial appointment has me feeling so positive. True, I couldn't tell you too much about the team he'd put out or the style we'd go but on paper, certainly something to get the fans excited again.
Fair enough, though I believe the parachute payments are in equal installments of £15m over the four years, not stepped any longer. While I accept that we probably will sell a lot of players if we fail to go up, I'm not sure that's necessarily wholly a bad thing. I still think we would have one of the stronger squads in the division, I also think looking at some of the egos we brought in we could do with a bit of a shake up of the squad. And the new manager may have his style. And for all their mistakes, the one thing the board have always been honest about is reinvesting every penny they get back in the squad so every sale (like say Snodders) is used. Also, even though our squad personnel may be weaker next season, I get the impression this is a guy who gets more out of a team than the sum of their parts. It may well suit us better not to have the "strongest squad in the division", somewhat oddly. Long term, if we fail to go up next season, but manage it the one after or the one after that, I still think we will have significantly better squad depth and club resources than where we were when Lambert took us up. Don't get me wrong, I understand your concern, but I am not convinced there are many managerial appointments in the world that could have assuaged them.
Not really. It's **** or we have to try it again next season time, which will be mighty annoying but pretty much what we expected after the poor October/November run.
Looking forward to see what he can do. Exciting appointment a lot more interesting than just going for a warnock run of the mill 'experienced' character. I am an optimist though.
He's been used to managing a team in front 2000 fans in what I think is a piss poor league and a dreadful standard of football. I believe from what I've read he's been in management for 74 games. Hamilton finished second in div 1 last season and went up via a pen shoot out, hardly tearing up trees? Who if the majority of our fans haven't heard of him is he going to attract in terms of quality signings or loans? Unless we are to expect a flood of crap Scottish imports? I hear your views and respect them but for me this would be a disaster in the making.
I'm not saying it won't be a disaster. I agree it could be. It's high risk. But I also think it could be high reward if he's got anything like the potential his career so far implies. I'm also just not entirely sure what better you were hoping for?
Have just found this article on Alex Neil on the web, hope it gives a better insight to the type of manager we might be getting if he agrees to take over the reigns at Carrow Road http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...oks-build-Hamilton-s-superb-start-season.html
Went up in a play off (which is our only likely route to promotion this year) playing a team In the league above them - massively unfancied and on sod all money playing a very young team. This year, has somehow steered them to 3rd in the Scottish prem, which for a team like Hamilton is incredible. We really don't need any loans - we've got a bloody good team here, we just need someone who can get them to play and to get more out if them. Aside from a left sided player I'm not really sure I want any arrivals this month - I just wanted someone who could put to use their talents. What I'm reading about this style of football is also very encouraging.
As Rob says Chippy, you're of course entitled to your opinion. I have to say that I'd have been content with Phelan, disappointed with Sherwood and absolutely devestated with Warnock or another manager-go-round hack. As for the players Neil might attract, Accies' French midfielder Tony Andreu could be good (25 goals in 53 matches for the Accies). Much will depend on Phelan staying on as the experienced mentor and Holt as the first team coach on the training pitch. I'm content enough if this comes to pass.
Hi bors, just announced on Scottish TV Sports News that Alex Neil is moving to Norwich as a player then becoming manager. Still subject to official confirmation from Hamilton obviously.
Canarian has said it all really. Bizarre but interesting! It's not a name I'd have even considered but reading the few snippets we can find about him he seems like the right sort of character we need and in terms of style of play, seems to fit snuggly into the board's 'Norwich Way', which frankly doesn't bother me in the slightest, but many of our fans certainly are bothered by it. He's done a tremendous job for someone so young at Hamilton. Whether he will get the required reaction from our players we shall wait to see but its such a leftfield appointment, its hard not to be a little excited - it really is a step into the unknown. People may say that was the case with Adams but it really wasn't. We knew exactly what we'd get from Adams. But this guy? I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next!
He sounds like a good fit in terms of personality which is very important. I like the comments about self assuredness. There is no real evidence he is capable of managing at this level however, but, unlike Adams you can maybe see something in him that might work. I genuinely don't think McNallys picked him as a cheap option, he must have seen something in him through interview he really likes. Have no idea how he plays the game but being Scottish doesn't fill me with much confidence,
This is definitely not the product of 48 hours worth of searching, if the reports about McNally's pretty much instant flight to Edinburgh are true then this was planned. I think this would have happened after Reading (the first time) but he wanted to continue playing, so it has to happen in January hence Adams is forced out pretty much as the window opens. I think far more has gone on behind the scenes than has been said. I very much doubt McNally would have made a move without seeing a couple of steps ahead.
