Alex Neil

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Dave - can you ask the mods to check out a technical hitch. It seems that everytime an Ipshit supporter tries to get on their own board they end up on ours This is supported by the fact that their own board is as dead as a dodo. It seems wrong that an Ipshit supporter is credited with 5177 messages when over 5000 of them have been on our board.
 
Good points, but I sincerely hope we are not paying through the nose for him! I'm tentatively excited about this appointment, but as we all have said (much as the Binmen would prefer to ignore) we all recognise this remains a big risk (albeit I think with high reward due to the AN's obvious potential).

So given where he's come from, I suspect his costs are not high. It's kind of beside the point, of course, but the likes of Warnock should be much more expensive.


Is anyone else finding the Alex NEIL and NEIL Adams slightly confusing?! <laugh>

Of course, he's not going to break the bank! But 'cheap' doesn't just mean monetary does it. It can also indicate the easy option. Ultimately we are poaching a highly rated young manager form a currently successful club. There's nothing cheap about that.

And yes, it is confusing. Throwing in Hamilton doesn't make it easier either!!
 
Surely 'making bold claims made up of sheer arrogance or blind bias' is what Warky does...


Supers, I understand your scepticism, I really do. But I can personally vouch for Guru's honesty. There is no way the he would say anything so obviously hypocritical without carefully considering the situation and basing it on clear, hard evidence. No way at all.

I just don't know what Guru and I can do to persuade our fellow Norwich fans of his integrity. If only he could back up his manifold statements with some sort of evidence, would that be sufficient?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rich44 and Resurgam
Supers, I understand your scepticism, I really do. But I can personally vouch for Guru's honesty. There is no way the he would say anything so obviously hypocritical without carefully considering the situation and basing it on clear, hard evidence. No way at all.

I just don't know what Guru and I can do to persuade our fellow Norwich fans of his integrity. If only he could back up his manifold statements with some sort of evidence, would that be sufficient?

I shall wait with baited breath
 
  • Like
Reactions: Canary Rob
I think his first priority should be to get these players to bond and show some desire! A bit basic? Sure. But it'd make a big difference immediately. Big enough to propel us into the top six

I agree which is why I highlighted the points I did, there are others, but these are the main 3 priorities for me. If you look at the collective quality of our individual players it is far greater then the quality of the team. With the players we have, we should be doing better than we are, which says to me that something is not right. How do you get players to bond and show more desire ? For me its about being fair (no favorites), competion for places and the right leader on and of the pitch. Yes the manager makes a difference and whilst I liked Adams and think he has potential to be a future manager (He just couldn't make the adjustment from development coach to manager quick enough for us) I think from what I've read Neil would be a much better appointment. Neil is not going to be able to come in and carry on doing the same things, albeit maybe motivating the players a bit more. I think he's going to have to crack a few eggs.
 
Of course, he's not going to break the bank! But 'cheap' doesn't just mean monetary does it. It can also indicate the easy option. Ultimately we are poaching a highly rated young manager form a currently successful club. There's nothing cheap about that.

And yes, it is confusing. Throwing in Hamilton doesn't make it easier either!!

Agreed - yep this was not the easy option at all.

If you've seriously tried to read anything between the lines in that piece you're even more stupid than I thought.

This is a strong character, bright and articulate.

Joking aside, Guru has something of a point (I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that this is what he was meaning) in that it is somewhat telling that the very first interview AN has given is to emphasise his independence. That doesn't mean it's not true what he's saying. But it is obvious that this is, in his and his adviser's views, his and possibly the Norwich fan base's major concern with any appointment.

So I think it's fair to keep an eye on this situation and see how it pans out. Because as I have said ad nauseam a number of times is that our new system brought in with or for (or more likely both in my view) is designed so that there is substantially less power in the first team manager's hands. It's the modern model of football clubs, more like what you have on the continent and I like it. But I still hope that AN is right that he has plenty of independence.

I've no doubt that's what Guru meant.
 
Because as I have said ad nauseam a number of times is that our new system brought in with or for (or more likely both in my view) is designed so that there is substantially less power in the first team manager's hands. It's the modern model of football clubs, more like what you have on the continent and I like it. But I still hope that AN is right that he has plenty of independence.
Surely this was a deliberate ploy to afford Adams some 'protection' or support as he was so raw?
An existing manager may well feel like he'd have one hand tied behind his back if asked to operate this way, so credit to Neil for mentioning it before any firm commitment is made on either side <ok>
 
Dave - can you ask the mods to check out a technical hitch. It seems that everytime an Ipshit supporter tries to get on their own board they end up on ours This is supported by the fact that their own board is as dead as a dodo. It seems wrong that an Ipshit supporter is credited with 5177 messages when over 5000 of them have been on our board.

Midway, it is something we have set up on purpose, they are so worried by our impending appointment that they are spreading malicious lies about all things NCFC. We just like to have them keep us amused, please don't scare them away! ;)
 
Surely this was a deliberate ploy to afford Adams some 'protection' or support as he was so raw?
An existing manager may well feel like he'd have one hand tied behind his back if asked to operate this way, so credit to Neil for mentioning it before any firm commitment is made on either side <ok>

I quite like the continental approach. The problem is, it limits us enormously as to who will work under such conditions. Adams was just desperate for the job he'd probably have signed up to anything! I don't think we should totally dismiss the concept but there need to be certain tweaks. Hopefully this doesn't put Neil off because if it does, we are going to be in a real mess.

Agree though. Fair play to him. He should stick to his guns. He is highly thought of because of the approach he has taken - why take on a new challenge that you don't feel 100% comfortable with?
 
Surely this was a deliberate ploy to afford Adams some 'protection' or support as he was so raw?
An existing manager may well feel like he'd have one hand tied behind his back if asked to operate this way, so credit to Neil for mentioning it before any firm commitment is made on either side <ok>

Yes, I'm sure that was part of the thinking. But they were talking about it before Adams was confirmed. IMO, it's chicken and egg. But I think there was a definite interest in changing the model.

And I really like that model, but as I have also repeated ad nauseam, I think it really limited who we could appoint over the Summer and, depending on how flexible the board are prepared to be with it, could really restrict us with appointments in the future. Unless of course the football management culture in England changes in the same way (which I think there are some hints of, but nothing concrete - we're not alone in bringing in DoF type roles, etc)
 
Agreed - yep this was not the easy option at all.



Joking aside, Guru has something of a point (I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that this is what he was meaning) in that it is somewhat telling that the very first interview AN has given is to emphasise his independence. That doesn't mean it's not true what he's saying. But it is obvious that this is, in his and his adviser's views, his and possibly the Norwich fan base's major concern with any appointment.

So I think it's fair to keep an eye on this situation and see how it pans out. Because as I have said ad nauseam a number of times is that our new system brought in with or for (or more likely both in my view) is designed so that there is substantially less power in the first team manager's hands. It's the modern model of football clubs, more like what you have on the continent and I like it. But I still hope that AN is right that he has plenty of independence.

I've no doubt that's what Guru meant.

One thing is for sure, he's extremely confident in his own ability. This sort of talk, from a man who manages a small club, is basically earning peanuts, yet he's laying it on the line to our club that he will only join if he gets things exactly how he wants.

It does put to bed Guru's unfounded 'puppet man' claims as far as I'm concerned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Canary Rob
I agree which is why I highlighted the points I did, there are others, but these are the main 3 priorities for me. If you look at the collective quality of our individual players it is far greater then the quality of the team. With the players we have, we should be doing better than we are, which says to me that something is not right. How do you get players to bond and show more desire ? For me its about being fair (no favorites), competion for places and the right leader on and of the pitch. Yes the manager makes a difference and whilst I liked Adams and think he has potential to be a future manager (He just couldn't make the adjustment from development coach to manager quick enough for us) I think from what I've read Neil would be a much better appointment. Neil is not going to be able to come in and carry on doing the same things, albeit maybe motivating the players a bit more. I think he's going to have to crack a few eggs.

carrowcanario - An excellent post, especially the bit I've highlighted. For me, what's been missing from the team ever since Holt left has been 'a leader on the pitch'. IMO, Johnson or Howson would be my choice.
Exciting times ahead!!!!
 
Just want to know will he be known as "Sir Alex" or Alex the Great if he gets us promotion?