New Head Coach

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TBH that's my problem with him.

Staying, all those years, with a club that's clearly lacking ambition makes me think he just wants a cosy life where he's well liked ...

... he seems happy in the lower leagues, which is fair enough, but I want Sunderland to look a lot higher.
He looks like a coach driver.
 
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He is an interesting coach for sure. I am just not sure everything he seems to believe in as a coach matches up with ourselves. I also think some of the Reims achievements are a little overblown, personally.

In terms of achievements we talk about Reims punching above their weight and Still as the leader of that. I read somewhere recently they have the 12 biggest budget. They look likely to finish 7th - 10th. So they are punching but is it really that big an achievement? How do Brest compare in looking capable of finishing second? Last year he had the benefit of Balogun on loan, who was a but like Diallo for us in terms of impact. The PSG results often get talked up but I am sure the first was against a second string and one was against 10 men. He produced a great unbeaten run when he first took over there. I do get the impression though he hasnt been intune with the club and has been openly critical. He has bemoaned the need to sell his better players, and the loss of his main midfielder in Jan really irked him. I wonder if that really fits into our way of doing things.

In terms of his style of play he relishes crosses into the box, which arguably we dont have the players for. He likes a hard running number 9 who will work the channels. Again we dont have that. He is very aggressive out of play, with high numbers of fouls and tackles (Trai likes this <laugh>).

Only my view, but I wouldnt be rushing to bring him in based on the admittedly little evidence available. But if he does then it will be a welcome home Will from me.
I think you're right about Reims and how much they are or aren't punching above their weight. Stade Brestois are certainly more impressive on that front. I think Reims have the 6th richest owner in Ligue 1 in Jean-Pierre Cailot and I think they are about 6th or 7th in how much they spent on transfer fees last season (they did make a profit in terms of transfer fees mind). Although they don't get big attendances (don't think the ground is huge) they are historically one of France's most successful clubs. So it's not like he's dragged some backwater club up from nowhere.

I haven't watched them that much and keep meaning to but something else always comes up.
 
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Tell ya what though, they've transformed the womans team. Lot of giid work going on there

The womens team were languishing near the bottom of the league last season. We signed a new CB, 3 new midfielders and a new striker and now stand top of the league.

For those of you in despair, there's no reason why we can't sign 5 or so players for the men's team and be right up there next season.
 
Every appointment is a risk tho, hes an exciting young coach and done well so far in his career

Sometimes the biggest risks can reap the biggest rewards
I think what appeals to me about him is that he hasn't taken the traditional route to where he is. That could suggest that he thinks about things in a slightly different way to other coaches. That doesn't necessarily make him any better or any worse than a coach who has come to it off the back of a long career as a pro but it makes him more interesting to me.

(And it means I can still fantasise that I could manage at that level! <laugh>)
 
I think I've said before, I'm keeping counsel on the new coach and whom it may be, because 9 times out of 10, its someone thats never been mentioned.
Like I have mentioned before I am intrigued by Marek Papszun. The way he seems to like to play and how he sets his teams to attack and stifle oppositions at the same time. Big risk I know but would be interesting
 
If us lot on here are anything to go by then whoever we get will have doubters. People seem underwhelmed by Heckingbottom who less than 12 months ago got promoted from this league. I have suggested Mark Robins and folk said no way. If those 2 names arent good enough then I am at a bit of a loss to be honest. Still keeps getting mentioned but I would not be keen on him at all personally. So in reality we wont agree. I hope we accept whoever it is though. If it is Still then fair enough he gets my full support as always. I think we have seen though some coaches will never get a chance with some supporters.

Robins would be a great appointment imo.
 
I don't agree with Robins. It only seems to work for him at Coventry, like they fit each other well. Other than his first job at Rotherham in league 2, he's lost more than he's won at the three other clubs, (one of which he left after a disagreement with the board - sound familiar?)

Some managers (and he is a manager, not head coach) just seem to work at one club. Darren Ferguson at Peterborough is another example of this.
 
I don't agree with Robins. It only seems to work for him at Coventry, like they fit each other well. Other than his first job at Rotherham in league 2, he's lost more than he's won at the three other clubs, (one of which he left after a disagreement with the board - sound familiar?)

Some managers (and he is a manager, not head coach) just seem to work at one club. Darren Ferguson at Peterborough is another example of this.
That’s a good argument. Robins might not be keen on changing clubs because he is clever. The odds of coaches being successful at new clubs is probably not great so why give up a good thing to go to a club that is only 20% better, for example?
 
That’s a good argument. Robins might not be keen on changing clubs because he is clever. The odds of coaches being successful at new clubs is probably not great so why give up a good thing to go to a club that is only 20% better, for example?
He's been building something for a little while there. My theory is that longevity is the key to success so I reckon he'll get them somewhere sooner or later. Would be hard to miss out on that. Hopefully we can hit on a DoF/Head Coach combo of equal longevity.
 
He's been building something for a little while there. My theory is that longevity is the key to success so I reckon he'll get them somewhere sooner or later. Would be hard to miss out on that. Hopefully we can hit on a DoF/Head Coach combo of equal longevity.

He's been there for 7 years,and has a contract for another 3. It's been strong and steady progress.
They finished in the play-offs last season. If they don't finish in the top 6,are the club and their fans going to think that they've made no progress and they need a change....I think not.
An example we need to follow.
 
There's a lot of names being mentioned on here, I have to admit that I know virtually nothing about any of them so I will place my trust in the club to make the right decision. Regarding the new person bringing in their own 'team', it seems to be the way so fair enough. Many have mentioned a Goalkeeper Coach, can we please make sure that at least one of the team is a Goal Scoring Coach, or perhaps more correctly, as Shooting Coach, as despite the lack or a traditional number 9, almost mythical these days, if only Dan Neil and co could hit the target, we'd be riding high now!
Just my opinion of course.
 
There's a lot of names being mentioned on here, I have to admit that I know virtually nothing about any of them so I will place my trust in the club to make the right decision. Regarding the new person bringing in their own 'team', it seems to be the way so fair enough. Many have mentioned a Goalkeeper Coach, can we please make sure that at least one of the team is a Goal Scoring Coach, or perhaps more correctly, as Shooting Coach, as despite the lack or a traditional number 9, almost mythical these days, if only Dan Neil and co could hit the target, we'd be riding high now!
Just my opinion of course.
Don’t really understand why Dan Neil can’t shoot on target when his passing can be pin point accurate.
 
Don’t really understand why Dan Neil can’t shoot on target when his passing can be pin point accurate.

To be fair our finishing has been absolutely abysmal overall this season, especially from around the edge of the penalty area.

Even watching them practice shooting in the pre-game warm up was bad, the number of times the ball went over the bar into the crowd was incredible.
 
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Gets anxious,sees a chance,rush of blood,snatches at it......he'll learn.
I think this is about right. He isnt the only one in our side though, Ekwah is a bad, Roberts too and Adil is poor at shooting from distance as well.

I have watched Neil in particular. I think he is more selective now. IE he doesnt take a shot on which isnt on. He was a bugger for that last year. This is where Adil needs to improve now, decision making. Neil is a bit calmer when shooting, but not enough. I dont actually worry too much about him as I see him as the deeper player still, a Rodri type. If he bags 4 or 5 from that position in a season it would be good enough for me.

As for coaching shooting it is really interesting. I have run loads of finishing practices and watched loads. It nearly always looks awful in training and they cant hit a barn door. Footballers get competitive and they all want to see it bend into the top corner. Drives me mad. I would bring the keeper coach in ask him to explain whete keepers hate shots, which is always the bottom corner. Even in my aged coaching days I could have the ball played to me on the edge of the box and I would hit the bottom corner and score every time. Like someone else said earlier it is like passing to a team mate. I used to say to players just pass it into the bottom corner, and they would for a couple of times then back to doing all sorts of weird techniques to get the ball swerving in the air.

I once watched Stuart Pearce take a training session. He did something about pulling the ball back for a later runner at the edge of the box. These were u21 elite level players and they kept smashing it over. He lost patience and decided to show them. Absolute rocket, right into the corner. I chuckled to myself and thought good luck lads <laugh>
 
I think you're right about Reims and how much they are or aren't punching above their weight. Stade Brestois are certainly more impressive on that front. I think Reims have the 6th richest owner in Ligue 1 in Jean-Pierre Cailot and I think they are about 6th or 7th in how much they spent on transfer fees last season (they did make a profit in terms of transfer fees mind). Although they don't get big attendances (don't think the ground is huge) they are historically one of France's most successful clubs. So it's not like he's dragged some backwater club up from nowhere.

I haven't watched them that much and keep meaning to but something else always comes up.
Cheers mate, good info.

There is definitely a media interest in him, which I dont really believe that much down to his footballing achievements, more down to the route he has taken. I really do respect that too. He jumped into video analyst routes and has kicked down doors to get himself into positions. He has been well trusted by Garcia too. I am just really wary he doesnt have the knowledge or experience, it might all be emporers new clothes with him. There was an interesting piece in the Athletic a little while back, glowing about him, but again when I read I wasnt seeing much substance.

All that said of course everyone has to start without experience and he may well be the next big thing. Plenty of cleverer people than me think he is. My issue isnt so much with Still, it is with the sort of coach I think we need. I think experience is critical. We have the youngest squad, youngest coaches, youngest owner and in reality a pretty inexperienced DOF. Somewhere I feel we need an older head, somebody who has years under their belt dealing with the ups and downs of a football season and 20 odd players with all of their individuality. It is the pivotal role at the club, none more important in my opinion, and having the right mentality, personality, drive, experience and know how is key to a clubs success.