And so, the inevitable has happened. It was no secret that I was vehemently against the appointment of Adams but I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to him for being honest with both himself and us, the fans, and falling on his sword before the board took the decision. He gains respect from me for doing so, just as Peter Grant once did. I’m sure I speak for most when I say had we been offered the chance to manage the club we love, we’d take it too, whether up to the challenge or not! I’m also pleased he will be involved with the club again as of next season, though hopefully this will be at youth level. He did a very good job and had a decent raport with the youngsters - it would be a shame to see that all lost. Though never up to the first team job, its nice to see he’s not cutting all ties. I will never get my head around the logic of appointing him in the summer but I won’t rattle on about the validities of his appointment or tenure now. It’s done, its dusted. What’s happened has happened. The big question is, where do the club go from here? No doubt some will clamour for the likes of Eddie Howe (an absolute non-starter). Will the board scour the nearests galaxies for managerial talent or go for the bloke who has been sitting next to Adams over the past few weeks? Would they gamble on a lower league gaffer such as the potentially excellent Karl Robinson or go for someone with Norwich connections such as the loose canon Tim Sherwood? Would a Warnock fit the bill? Well, unfortunately, I expect they will give the experienced coach, but completely inexperienced manager Mike Phelan the gig - thus making virtually the same mistake as they did in the summer. But what if they don’t do what I and indeed most suspect they will? Who would I like to see in charge? It’s very simple for me. And he is available too. Uwe Rosler. Now some people will no doubt smirk that he ‘failed’ at Wigan. He certainly had a poor start to the season, I can’t argue against that, and therefore he is not ‘flavour of the month’ like Howe for example. However, let’s look at what he would bring to the table rather than focus on that small spell. For starters, his methods all adhere to things I like and admire. He is fiercly driven and ambitious. He makes sure his teams are aggressive, fit, press hard and high up the pitch. They play out from the back but he is adventurous in his systems, sometimes playing three at the back. He makes brave and bold decisions during games. He likes his teams to attack. Ok, it didn’t work out at Wigan this season - I have no idea why - but big Malky is struggling up there too. Maybe there is something fundamentally wrong behind the scenes? I’m not too concerned by that. Up to that point Rosler had barely put a foot wrong and sometimes managers need a little ‘bad patch’ in order to hone themselves (Eddie Howe himself may testify to that). Everything I’ve seen and heard from the guy makes me feel he’d be a positive fit. He’s full of surprises and he certainly wouldn’t give the board an easy ride though, much like Lambert, and that is ultimately why he won’t even be considered. Rosler is a talented coach and manager. He’s been a success everywhere he’s been - even Wigan last season (nearly got them promotion and another visit to the cup final) until the opening few months of this current campaign. But, like last summer, I doubt I’ll get what I want. Either way, we couldn’t carry on down the route we’d plundered with Neil Adams and co. It was only going to end one way. Might as well end it early. Was an ultimatum given? Perhaps ‘some’ lessons were learnt from the previous managerial situation? The cynic in me thinks that they’ll pray that Phelan gets a positive reaction against Bournemouth in order to justify the ‘easy’ appointment. The cynic in me also notices that we are only a matter of days away from the new season ticket renewal launch... Regardless - the right decision has been made. Let’s make the next appointment a positive one. Plus, he'll always have a 100% record against 'that lot'. OTBC Ps. Roy Keane attended the Preston match. Just thought I'd mention it! Scared?
I didn't want Adams to get the job but, like the Board, couldn't come up with a better alternative and therefore supported the view that although a management novice everybody has to start somewhere and with his knowledge of the Club represented the best of a bad bunch and was worth a chance. Others on here just kept saying who they didn't want, including Adams, without ever coming up with a viable alternative. I just wish all of those on here who continually refer to the ' gutless appointment by the Board ' would enlighten us on who should have got the appointment at the time. Everybody is now saying we should have got Pullis. To do that we would have to have sacked Adams before the Reading game when in the previous 4 games we had won 5-0 and 6-1 at home, 1-0 away and drawn 2-2 away at what many consider to be the best team in the league having outplayed them for most of the game. Great grounds for sacking a Manager!! As the ranting and raving against Adams increased some of us were saying' be careful what you wish for' as we could not see an obvious contender for the job. Those who wanted him out have got your wish but not one of you have come up with a sensible suggestion as to a replacement. We are back to square one and if you look at the list of candidates on Skybet then god help us as IMO they could all turn out as bad as Adams if you want to call 7th in the league and only 3 points off the playoffs bad. Still any of them, if appointed, would give some of you more ammunition to hurl at Delia, McNally and the Board which seems to be all some of you want to do. Phelan will get the job short term and long term if he does reasonably well but that will be greeted as the cheap option and any other obvious contender would, at best, split opinion and unless he hits the ground running the Board will again be targeted for a bad appointment. Look at the other recent appointments in the Championship arrived at after careful consideration. I wouldn't want any of them yet they were considered by the Clubs involved to be the best available which adequately sums up the rest of the available candidates. I personally feel that unless McNally can pull a rabbit out of the hat as he did with Lambert we are in a bit of trouble.
You paint a rosy picture of Rosler Supers but the facts suggest a bit different. Managed 3 Clubs in Norway but sacked from 2 of them without winning anything. Did a good job at the third on a short term contract lasting 8 games but was not given the job on a full time basis. Did a good job at Brentford but they have done better since he left. Had a decent half season at Wigan but sacked the next season with Wigan in the bottom 3 with suggestions of bad buys and ' lost the dressing room ' I wouldn't want him but probably no less than most other candidates on the list
Adams should have been sacked after the Reading home game. The only thing that saved him was the appointment of Phelan. Despite those two hefty wins (against two of the worst teams to visit Carrow Road in living memory, it has to be said), it was obvious to most that his tenure would end in the near future. With this decision, whether its been instigated by Adams himself or the board, we've given ourselves a kick up the backside. The next appointment will decide whether we've kicked ourselves back up again or down to the ground.
If you get all your information from Wikipedia you'll never find a manager you'll want. Except maybe Sir Alex!
As just pointed out on the radio, the statement was worded as "Neil agreed to resign", which does rather sound that he was told he could keep going, get sacked and never work at the club again, or fall on his sword and return to the youth setup here. I wouldn't necessarily be against Colin for about 12 months. I know that's easier to say as a long distance fan as I probably get to watch us less and wouldn't have to put up with his football. But, he knows how to get out of this league, and can get teams to gel. I think he'd get us in the playoffs at least, and right now I think promotion is more important to the future of the club than the style of play. At least we'd play coherently, which we haven't under Adams.
That's interesting., didn't realise that. So he was given an ultimatum. He was a dead man walking. frankly, any manager who can organise will be a huge step up on Adams. If they can motivate, likewise. If they have any tactical sense, yep. To be fair to Colin, he ticks at least two of those boxes.
Anyone but warnock, don't want him anywhere near norwich. If it's true what Jason Puncheon alleged i'm not sure how any board can look at him with any respect. In regards to Neil - seems an unfortunate situation which i do not blame on him. Had some good results but maybe a tenure as assistant as Mcnally wanted would have been the appropriate step. He was dropped in at the deep end without a float and the Phelan appointment undermined any credibility he had to head the management team. I hope he comes back and does a cracking job in whatever role the club assigns him as the passion is there.
I like Robinson, I think he's 'got something'. The issue with him is that he is tied down to MK Dons so tightly that it would take many millions to prise him away along with his backroom staff who have played an important role in his career. I think its extremely unlikely that we'd fork out that kind of money on a management team, especially given he's not managed above League One level. We did for Hughton but we were Premier League back then.
Why all the hype around Karl Robinson!?! He's won fook all at MK Dons always the nearly man! So please go for him!
