Like most of you (I suspect), I still can't quite believe the turnaround in our results, performances, and handsome points tally as Del has only been around for 6 games. So what's his secret and what do you think he has that Millen didn't ? As I've said recently, I think if Millen was still here we would have taken just a single point or so from the last 6 games, we'd be bottom of the league, and we'd be almost odds on certainties for the big drop into L1. So is Del's secret discipline, instilling self belief into the players, his training methods, his tactics, overall preparation ? Discuss
I think Del boy has simplt set the team up to play to their strengths, he's allowed Killkenny more freedom to find that killer pass, seems to be working. He's got the team passing and looking for space behind the opposition for Nicky and Albert to exploit again seems to be working. He has also used his subs well, every replacement has effected the game in a postive way. I think he has installed discipline he demands respect (something Millen could never do) and has with his own determination and confidence let the players believe in them selves again, he has let the players play football again. Onwards and up wards Del boy, i think January will be interesting with a few players going and a few coming in then we will start to see Dereks team. Happy days ahead i think!!
He trains the players instead of inviting them round to watch DVD's It has to be his discipline, if rumours are true he bombed JCR and Spence out for messing around. Also he likes to praise the team not individuals as he stated in a recent interview. I also think he knows how to change things with players in the correct position.
Agree with all of the replies so far. I also think he has the presence of mind and stature/personality to be able to distance himself from being too pally-pally with certain players. A manager shouldn't be anyone's close mate until they've either left the club or retired.
Before he joined us I took the time to read about him on several sites and there was not a single negative comment anywhere. His former team mates, managers,fans and media were all so positive about his commitment to the task at hand and his ability to inspire others around him, be it as a player or manager. He has provided inspiration to his team mates, and players under his command, wherever he has gone and quite clearly is continuing that credo at Ashton Gate. Players at BCFC are quickly learning what good management is all about under DM and regrettably some players (silly spoiled overpaid underperforming idiots!) were not prepared to follow our new messiah and have paid the price for their stupidity - but does anyone care about their demise? Not me! I think it became very apparent that the inmates were running the asylum under previous managmers and how nice it is to see the changes rung and the underperformers hung out to dry. We have finally found the right man for the job and the future looks brighter than for many years down at the Gate. The moment I read about him on the internet I wanted him to be our new boss and we all owe him a vote of thanks for taking the job and restoring the faith of us all and you only have to look at the results and increased attendances to assess his worth to our club. Thanks DM!!!!
I too was one that also wanted him from the beginning and had a few posters saying why do you want him,what has he done apart from manage a small team in Scotland. Well, I liked the fact that he came with "no baggage" and hasn't been a failure at other clubs in our division.No fans from St Johnson had anything bad to say about him and all wished him good luck and that we were lucky to be getting him.I can only agree with them. Finally he has put the pride back into the club and the smile on the faces of the fans.I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but you wonder where we would be if He came earlier. Thank you Del and Doc.
Pretty much echo the comments on here but to me, the most important thing is that DM has transformed a bunch of players who really looked like they had no idea what to do on the pitch and just made it up as they went along making aimlessly passes into the box in the vague hope that someone might make a run (which rarely happened) into an organised outfit who can pass the ball to each other with PURPOSE and more over, keep it...! We are, at last, playing "joined up" intelligent football again, something I have been pleading for on here for years and on that front, I think that there is plenty more to come in terms of either new "smarter" players or our existing squad learning/improving as we remember more and more how to play the beautiful game again. Nicky has already asked Albert to look up a bit more and find him and its when we have players that can either play that throughball (NK) or get to the line and pull the ball back for the strikers that we will REALLY become a major force in this division. We also need to master using the spare men when Albert has 2 or sometimes 3 men on him which of course means that others are unmarked and are in space We CAN still make the play-offs, if we can keep this run going against some entirely beatable clubs, we can strengthen in Jan and keep the charge going. I sincerely hope that DM has already identified his targets (sounds like it) and we get them in on the 1st January instead of playing the usual stupid games trying to save a few quid and end up signing player(s) who don't really add value on the 31st AGAIN. We have 4 games in Jan so we need whoever DM has identified to come in and take part in ALL of these to maximise our chances.... The fans are beginning to believe again and as I predicted, the Red Army is already mobilising, carry on the run to Christmas and we will comfortably take 4, 5 or 6,000 or however many they allow us to Coventry on Boxing day. The most important thing of all is to keep the momentum going... p.s. coming from Paisley, DM doesn't strike me as a man that you want to cross or get on the wrong side of....
Very doubtful, he is Scottish after all..... At best they'd be plain Hobnobs, but more likely the Aldi own brand equivalent.
Football common sense and great man-management - Easy to say but hard to implement. Take my hat off. Watford sussed us the other night, eg NK closed down much quicker and the teams we play from now on will also have a different view. Can't wait for Saturday - DM to out-think Mowbray. Fingers crossed.
Scots make excellent managers, and always have. Paisley, Shankly, Stein, Busby, Graham, Fergy, Moyes, Wallace...the list goes on and on. Its about fierce determination, canny man management, wily tactical nous. Its about that Mel Gibson tap of emotion which can inspire the hoards to run up hills and attack when certain death awaits (ok, thats a bit far fetched but I guess you can see where this thread is going). McInnes is going to take us to the Premiership, in the fullness of time. With or without star players, he will take us there.
He did show loyalty to St Johnston and said he took them as far as he could, he knows that to achieve what Owen Coyle done he needs to take a team into the prem so here's hoping we are that team
Will be interesting to see how quickly he can lift the team after we were robbed of a deserved point last night. We have 3 absolutely massive games coming up against Derby, Forest and Coventry and I reckon we need a minimum of 4 points, preferably 6, from those three matches.
