Makes the winter transfer window interesting. Spend big, go down, and we're ****ed. Remain frugal and go down, and it'll be another "what if" all over again. I don't see this team having the same grit and determination to get out of League One as the class of '21 did.
Also anyone else thinking of a certain hull lad who played for Scarborough when ever Neil and Selles are written together?? Just me? Fair enough that was the days when you could earn more playing for Scarborough and work in a bakery than you could playing for city!!
Much like the bloke at Ipswich, based on last season fans would give an arm and leg to have him as manager. No so much this season.
Joining them in Feb also meant he couldn't bring any players in and was stuck with the squad he inherited, which would have made his job all the harder.
Yeah, but that's why I added "but to me it feels right this time". It's nothing like the Shota appointment (so far left field, obvious communication issues, etc) , Walter (gamble having never worked here, also communication and 'unique philosophy' red flags, etc), and even Rosenior (not wanting to go there yet again!!). Only natural to have underlying concern, we are literally bottom of the division, but don't you agree that it somehow does feel right this time... or at the very least a LOT more right?
No I don’t He’s been a journey man assistant at some weird outposts hasnt he?! Couldn’t make any difference at Soton for all his coaching credentials Has done ok at reading Hopefully he does great for us but I wouldn’t have a bet on it
That's really harsh and negative imo. Hardly a "journey man assistant". More like a young man repeatedly going out of his comfort zones on a mission to build wide, varied experience to prepare himself for the sort of role he now has. All the coaching credentials in the world weren't going to save an already doomed Southampton when he took over in mid-February. Some are understandably comparing Selles to Marco Silva with us; at least Silva had the benefit of bringing in several of his signings in January ... and still 'failed'. Most would say he's done more than just 'ok' at Reading (including their fans). I wouldn't bet on it either, partly as I don't bet, but partly coz nobody knows how things will pan out in practice. Only time will tell.
I think he was just holding the fort at Southampton after Nathan Jones ****ed up royally. But I agree with the rest of your post, he seems quite a left field appointment when we need stability. I'm hoping he is a new Silva - the first match Marco managed sticks in my mind, we were incredibly organised very quickly and did that thing where N'Diaye pulled wide left and played raking through balls. He was a man with a plan, and it was a decent one.
But this isn't an Acun "type" appointment really. An "Acun type appointment" would be someone who has never managed or coached in this country before, but has done well in the Azerbaijan third tier
I can see both sides. When you're an aspiring football coach who hasn't ever been a player, you're gonna lack contacts and probably going to go wherever there are clubs that will take you. His first assistant job out of coaching kindergarten was at Shinnik Yaroslavl in Russia, under a Russian manager. Nice city, but must have been a culture shock for him, probably why he did so well in Azerbaijan. Then he was in Greece and Denmark, so yeah he's been around, but he'll have built up some decent contacts and learned a lot. Incidentally, while he was at Neftci in Azerrbaijan, he was the assistant when they qualified for the Europa League group stage where they drew with Partizan Belgrade twice and held Inter Milan to a goalless draw at the San Siro. They are, however, owned by the state oil company and are therefore the richest club in that league by quite some distance. But, as to your point, I guess being a manager isn't the same as just being an assistant where there's less pressure and culpability. I mean how often do you see clubs sacking their assistant or coaching staff but not the manager? Once in a blue moon at best. So him only managing for half a season at Southampton (where he did beat Chelsea away and draw 4-4 with Liverpool using a demoralised and ****ty Southampton side) and holding Reading together at the seams isn't the best resume. But like Rosie, he's gotta start somewhere and it might as well be here. If we go down, we've got Millar and Belloumi at least. Be fun watching them tear the likes of Burton Albion and Exeter a new arsehole.
Or somebody who has never managed or coached in this country before, but hasn't done well in the Azerbaijani third tier.
Too early to be talking about going down,although it is a possibility along with staying up. 'If' we did go down,I would imagine Millar and Belloumi would be keen on having their names added to the fire sale list..?
Neil had all the potential to be another 'Dean Windass' at the time. Pity he could earn more baking bread and playing for Scarboro then he could playing for Hull City. He was one of, it not the best amateur player I've ever seen, and played against locally. Another lad who wasn't picked up is Chris Hartley. Think he made it to City juniors and why those two never turned out for their local club at a time when the standard we were playing in wasn't the best, is beyond me.
