Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Michael Appleton wants Albion job
Wednesday 9th February 2011, 11:00AM GMT.
Caretaker boss Michael Appleton today threw his hat into the ring in the race to become Albion’s permanent new head coach.
The former Baggies midfielder would like to succeed Roberto Di Matteo after being placed in temporary charge following the Italian’s shock sacking.
Appleton looks set to take charge against West Ham on Saturday, with no appointment expected in time for a new boss to take the reins.
And the 35-year-old said: “I have not hidden the fact I want to be a manager. I’d have liked it to be under different circumstances but, like anything in life, when an opportunity arises it is up to you to either take or not take it.
“If we get three points on Saturday and my situation changes and it puts me in a strong position, then so be it. If people want to talk about that type of thing then fantastic.
“But all my focus is on three points.”
The caretaker, who took his first training session as boss yesterday, believes Chris Brunt (ankle) and Boaz Myhill (dead leg) will be fit to face the Hammers, while Graham Dorrans (ankle) and Marek Cech (groin) could also return.
Appleton said: “Dozza is getting there. He has had the knock on his ankle but he had a light session yesterday and hopefully we can pick things up later in the week.
“The longer the week goes on, the more aggressive we can be in terms of the training time we give him and hopefully he will be available for selection in some capacity.
“Marek had a little bit of a knock, but I have been told by the medical staff that they are hoping he might be available for Saturday.
“It is quite positive from an injury point of view, but some of the boys are playing international games this week and we don’t know what state they are going to come back in.”
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Looking at the other names being bandied about, I think Appleton is probably as good a shout as any, except for maybe McInnes. I can’t believe some fans are still talking about the two Martins, Jol and O’Neill, you ain’t gonna get them. The Albion job is still a big job in football, but we have to be realistic. Basically we’re a stepping stone club for managers. Players too, to a certain extent. I wish Appleton well and hope he can lift the players and get some results, because clearly, as the dust settles on RDM’s exit, it’s clear he had lost the dressing room and there was no confidence. If MA can do this and gets the job then good luck to him.
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Goodluck to you Mr Appleton I hope saturday shows your true qualities just as it did as a player for us.
We need someone who has a passion for the club. In an ideal world you would take over as you know the club inside out.
Come on you baggie boys!!!
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Good luck to you Appy. Right Albion fans, lets get behind the team on Saturday and blow away the Hammers bubbles. Lets get the Hawthrons rocking in a positive mode.
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Well I guess he knows the players. Lets hope he can get us 3 points on saturday. If so I will have to change my name to Apples do it better. lol. Good luck Appy.
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Good luck to you Michael…it does not look like a new manager is going to be appointed this side Saturday so to give yourself a chance for the top job will depend on the players you choose for the game (and subs), how “they” perform and the result. We all you wish you well and I hope everyone will get behind you and the team as a win is vital.
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Tell JP you will take a wage cut and the jobs yours,thats if Maradona turns it down of course aye boing boing
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I forgot to mention one thing. Having been at the club for ten years, Michael Appleton appears to have at least one very rare quality, which is seldom found in football these days. Loyalty. Now there’s a breath of fresh air .
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appy n houghton would be a good combination both hungry for sucess ,and to prove themselves both ex pros who know player mentality how to get the best out of a player and all so know the players position and streghnths and know how to play to them streghnths houghton got it at newcastle and made the best of what he had and he could do this at the baggies alongside appleton i think an instant sucess and a sure survival in the prem plus a respectable league position to boot
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Good luck Appy.
And if you’re still in charge for the Wolves game, Mad Mick has just done your team talk for you over on the Dark Side.
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May as well give it Appleton to the end of the season because no one else is going to want to work with Peace and Ashworth.
Four Managers have left us under Peace and all have left with their relationship with the chairmen in tatters , it would appear there is a common thread.
To be totally honest the Albion will never consolidate in the Prem while Peace rules the roost and for some reason this suits him fine , i could hazard a guess but it would never be printed.
I also find it strange that Ashworth is not judged on results as well , it is after all Mr Ashworth who is responsible for assembling a squad of players of which three quarters are not good enough to play Premiership football.
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Its got to be Appleton or Mcinnes, as we all know they are going to be the two cheapest out of all the names mentioned.so come on peace stop trying to fob us off with all these other big names floating around, just get it over with name one of them Appleton or Mcinnes.oh and if it is one of these two then why has rdm really gone because these pair together will never be as good as him
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I see Appy has said he intends to use the influence of the three managers he played under, Ferguson, Moyes and Megson. That should be okay then.
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I know yuo lot don’t appreciate us coming on and commenting on your posts and I very rarely do.
I just wanted to say that I was totally flabbergasted to see Di Matteo go – you had a blinding start to the season but how could it possibly be expected to maintain that given your squad of players? (no disrespect intended there BTW). Given the fact that you can’t bring any new players in now, could any manager come in and transform your fortunes at this point in the season?
I think DiMatteo did a great job for you and although you’ve had a poor run of forms you have played some quality stuff, like many former championship sides though, your defence is your ultimate downfall – it’s not good enough for the premier league (I’m not saying ours is any great shakes either)
You’d expect me to say this as a Wolves fan but I honestly think that could be an act of premier league suicide.
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10 M Max.
I posted a reply to this on the previous thread. I think I must be getting premonitions of what your posts are going to be now and answering them before you write them. Spooky.
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PS. I also seem to be developing a stutter.
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I am in agreement that Appleton may as well be given the job until the end of the season.He was a passionate sort of player and hopefully he can instill that mentality in the players and give them a lift.
Come on lads give us something to cheer!!!!
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It will be very interesting to see how the players perform on Saturday.
According to Steve Madeley of the E&S,a ‘respected’ rival coach claimed RDM had ‘lost’ the dressing room,which basically means they no longer wanted to play for him.
Now that he’s gone,will we see a difference in their performance and attitude? I certainly hope so.If not,they won’t be able to hide behind any excuse in the future if they look dis-interested,or are not pulling their weight on the pitch.
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I wish Appy well and hope he can do the job for us.
I doubt we’ll see an appointment for a few games so at least he should have a decent amount of time to prove if he can do the job or not. If he can get the passion back into the team and make some good selections i see no reason why he shouldn’t get the job at least until the end of the season.
Best of luck (we could do with some going our way for a change)
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we need to wear the badge with pride to many performances, where to many players have not turned up!
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12 TRBH-
This should be interesting.If Appy is going to use Megson and Sir Alex as his role models for Management,he should do OK.
It means that,combining the personalities of these two Mentors,he will probably have bust-ups with a few players,but no damage will be done,because they won’t understand a word he’s saying.
Just don’t give him any hairdriers or tea cups when he’s in the dressing room.
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I should have added-
Not that Appy is likely to use an hairdryer.
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Just a couple of points:
a) “A respected rival manager,” erm who would that be then?
b) RDM lost the dressing room – don’t know about you but I like to go to work each day and do the best job that I can – and I vary rarely like my boss – but I have pride in the work I do – footballers get paid too much and want to act like divas! They need to quit throwing their rattles out of their prams and get on with the job they’re paid for.
c) whoever becomes manager they’ve got to enforce discipline – that’s the difference between the beginning of the season and now. Players knew their job, knew where they were suppose to be etc – now they wonder all over the field, get red carded for stupid incidents – start giving them fines – don’t bow to their wants – focus on their needs – they need a kick up the you know what and tell them to grow up!!!!!!!!!
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Good luck Appy if you can drum into player’s half of the commitment you gave week in week out we will survive.
Boing! Boing!
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On a lighter note, i’m amazed at all the potential candidates who have ruled themselves out of the running for the head coach job. Zola is the latest. It’s easy to rule yourself out guys but, have you actually been asked if you would be interested?
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I heard JP was resigned to losing RDM, whether we stay up or go down. Megson wanted to take Appy to Sheff Weds so JP and DA decided that they would move to keep Appy as he is so highly rated. Elaborate I know, but a well crafted tale.
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24 Morskie.
I hate to add to the bad news but I’m ruling myself out as well.
Surprised at Zola, after working for the Piranha brothers even JP would seem cuddly.
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The Appy situation is much the same as when Nigel Pearson held temporary charge with the fans behind him. Ultimately it will be Peace’s decision who takes over as the stakes are high. He must get the best experienced manager available to give the team a realistic chance of survival. If he fails not only will the fans and shareholders be up in arms but maybe the bank as well.
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Spot on 22.
It doesn’t matter who the gaffer is, you do the job to the best of your ability.
Should be no excuses, they get paid well enough.
The players need to take a long hard look at themselves because they have let RDM down,the club and the supporters for a few weeks now.
We know that they can do it, because of the early season stuff.
It’s been a few days since it happened now and no player has spoken out in any way.
i.e. normally someone comes out and makes a statement about the players regrets about letting the manager down?
Think most of this stems from suspensions and injuries.Players playing out of position.If that’s the case well sorry but we have been strapped and you play where you’re asked to.
Has it anything to do with Bednar? Sent through back door about the same time.
Still think JP should try for Ray Wilkins till end of season, if he’s as serious as he makes out.
PROVE IT.
BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES
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12 points from 14 games should see up stay up. If we can keep PO, Mulumbu and Olsen free from injuries and suspension WE CAN DO IT ! Hopefully Appy can achieve this but I do think maybe a bit too soon for him to be the manager permanently ?
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come on lads all get behind appy and the team let me hear you roar from darlo
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Robin Brittan – Good point made and remember Pearson doing a good job and getting us some good results but sadly never happened there after.
From reading his well publicised thoughts my initial reaction is he is a little naive, but has his heart where it counts.
He a lot bigger than what he was but remember him bulldozing through players back then.
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Every manager worth his salt is going out of his way to distance himself from the job. Even if they look in danger of being asked they are turning it down. Shame on them, because until the 22nd of May you are still a premier club. Why though ? Could it be cus it sounds like the tail is now wagging the dog down there. We will see the strength of the player power on sat if Carson gets a start. Two massive games comming up. I sincerely hope you beat West ham for many reasons. Because after that, looking at your remainding fixtures, i can only see 8 points ( and thats giving you 2 draws against us ) 37 may be enough, but it will be close.But what do i know ? I thought RDM was a good manager/coach
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Right I wanted you to hear this straight from me and not in the tabloids on Saturday morning………….
“The REAL Baggie Boy has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managers job at West Brom”
I know some of you may be devasted but with my window cleaning dutys and lawn cutting dutys(during summer and autum)The Mrs says I cant apply
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Appleton is not experienced enough we should of got irvine, appy will be gone in 3 months
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Looking at current form and predicting an end of season table the situation appears very grim indeed and certainly may account for the panic sacking of RDM.
Knowing how many games remain(x) and using points gained from the previous x league games a possible final table may me determined. Taking in to consideration goal difference over this period the final table would be
15. Birmingham 43 points
16. Blackpool 41
17. Wolves 39
18. West Ham 39
19. Wigan 37
20. WBA 36
I hope this will not turn out to be the case but I fear the worst.
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29 Hatfield.
Your point made me wonder. How much of the backroom staff, ie medical have gone and how will we be fixed for keeping players fit?
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26, Bully, thats a shame because i see you as a good no.1. The Rocket, in my opinion, and Mrs Lones, is definitely a NUMBER TWO !! Put Sir Tel in charge of the second 11 ( have you got a second 11 ? ) Jack could be in charge of security and double as a good will ambassador for the club, While Cyril could half the oranges and make the half time tea. And wozza could sit on the fence outside and tell you all where you are going wrong. THE DREAM TEAM !! Oh, and put Kev in charge of the ladies 11. ( only kiddin Rocket, your off mrs.Lones list now so relax )
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There are too many posters on here taking what that idiot Steve Madeley spews out as gospel. Maybe every blog should have the writers name attached, so we know who to trust and who not to.
Madeley gave out a wild story of how Roberto was dismissed, without one shred of evidence.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH..
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Bully hoo,jack hat,happy braggie,cantello rock,kev in tipton i told you 2 weeks ago this was going to happen,but just as always you think you know best,anybody that dares to disagree with you is called a dingle,so now what you got to say for yourselves,and how many of you went to manchester city.
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No.7 Smethwick,
Agree about the loyalty bit, also the club were very good to Appy by offering him a chance to get on the 1st rung of the ladder in a coaching capacity after his career was sadly and abruptly ended by injury. I’m sure Appy appreciates that gesture, and if he is given it and makes a real success of the job, maybe, just maybe, when other clubs try to poach him in the future, he may just remember that and stick with us. Okay, so i’m getting well ahead of myself here, but you see what i mean – the man does seem to have some loyalty/humility about him
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Looking forward to singing the old Ren and Stimpy classic “‘Appy ‘Appy Joy! Joy!” on Saturday
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Those that say squad is nt good enough im sure
they were not saying this first part of season
many pundits had us easily surviving.However
a culmination of well documented happenings sees us struggling will Appy be able to get
self belief back in players time will tell.
Now RDMs gone everyone should have an equal
chance of a start hopefully no favourites.
Two home games to come couldnt be better it
might have been a top club or Stoke if we cant
beat West Ham then we have little hope.
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The King is dead. Long live the Prince Regent!
Can’t make my mind up about Saturday. It will either be a stroll for West Ham or they’ll wonder what hit them, crowd and all. Someone said it’s time for our luck to change. I’ll say, ‘Please Lord’ to that.
On a previous board I tried to say what a superb post from Garth Pearce and several others we haven’t seen before. It was, he said very modestly, quite the best post I’d ever written too, but I forgot to put my name on it before ‘Send’ so you’ll have to take my word for it.
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Mick on the dark side says he doesn’t mind being in one of the bottom three places!, but us who aren’t in there should be terrified!. Well Mick, you sound terrified, so if you don’t mind, we’ll do our best to keep you there. Roll on High noon, at the HAWTHORNS.
Forward Albion, “Happy” and “Psycho”.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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It’s been amazing reading all the comments over the last 3days about how Peace and Ashworth are to blame for managers leaving and big names not wanting to come. But lets be fair they know the score when they sit down at the interview it’s no big secret. Which leads me to believe that some of these managers are as big a premadonas as some of the big names on the pitch at your United’s and chelsea etc. They sit there and say they can do the job with what resources they’ve got and then when they dry up ideas wise they blame the chairman, players and anyone else involved in the club. I’m proud at the way our club is run, you’ll never see the administrators knocking at the east Lane gates while Peace is there. I’d love to see big name signings walking through the door but not at the cost of the clubs security. Keep it to buiseness men to run buisenesses and the romantics to run off at the mouth. Good luck Apples I’m a lot more hopeful of the next 2 results going our way now your in charge.
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appleton should be given 2 games, then make a decision, that would give us 11 games still to get away from the relegation zone, im all for wilkins, appy is a good bloke, and loyal with lots of time in at the club, but would his inexperience be enough in such a short time with not many games to go, if it goes wrong it wouldnt be fair on the bloke, any way best of luck to him and us for saturday,COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!!
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45.Realistic Rob. My point precisely on a different board. Can you imagine JP NOT crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ on the contract offered to the candidate?
Appleton has been the choice to be caretaker Chief Coach. He knows EXACTLY what is expected of him. If he delivers precisely what is needed, he will get a chance to apply for the main job on a contract. If he doesn’t, he may stay on in his lesser role or he may move to play with Meggo. Either way, the man has earned the right to try his hand. We should give him our full support. He deserves that much.
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WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO APPY TILL END OF SEASON,THATS THEN J.P.WILL BE HAPPY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP,ITS HURTS ME TO SAY ALL ALBION FANS BOYCOTT NEXT SEASON I HAVE IF THIS BORAD IS STILL IN CHARGE,SHIFNAL BAGGIE.
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38 JtH-
I don’t know about the others,but I mentioned what Steve Madeley said sarcastically,because you read in the tabloids everyday about ‘a reliable source’ saying this and that,but no one has got the faintest idea who it supposed to be.
As far as I’m concerned,the only reliable source is HP brown.It’s never let me down.
44 JtH-
Mick says he’s quite happy being in the bottom three.He says you supposed to worry if you’re higher in the table.
Isn’t this the same guy who used to be in charge of the Irish team?
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43 Cyril.
I read that post from Garth Pearce and I agree it was one of the best I’ve ever read on here. Unfortunately I’m sure it’s length will have meant that many will not have bothered reading it.
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39 ajm.
I can’t say I remember your post but if you say so that’s good enough for me. There are too few genuine mystics in our modern world so I’m fully in awe of a true shamen. Well done.
I could say I went to Man City, did you? I imagine the answer is yes so that’s two ways you’re a better person than me. Well done again.
Look forward to hearing more of your predictions on here and I’ll never dare put my own point of view forward again for fear of being wrong.
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37 Lonely.
At first reading I thought you were putting Mrs Lonely forward as my No2. I have a tyre pump, would I need an adaptor?
Nice to know you have so much faith in me and if the call should come I will insist on you being my No2 as I know your heart lies in the Hawthorns.
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32 lonely-
Considering you said ‘what do I know?’,you still sure as hell have a lot to say for yourself.Does that mean we shouldn’t take too much notice of your wise words?…really?…..
Anyway,I’m having the position of ‘Assistant Chairman’,then I can be Number Two over everybody,whenever I feel like it.
By the way,when Bully comes up to Madchester to have a drink with you,I’m coming on the same train to take Mrs. Lone out.Tell her she’s guaranteed a ‘steak meal’,and I’ll make sure I splash on me Aramis.
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In all the hoo ha of the weekend, I forgot all about our friend Phil Dowd’s great refereeing of the Arsenal v Newcastle game.
He wasn’t against Arsenal as they believe, he was just his usual buffoonish self. The amazing thing is he seems to have some invisibility cloak as far as the authorities are concerned.
His crowning moment of many was when having sent off an Arsenal player for two pushes after he nearly had his leg broken by Barton, Newcastle score Dowd watches the Arsenal keeper pick the ball out of his net, he is pushed by Barton and then Nolan puts a headlock on him and throws him to the floor. This was Arsenal’s kick off so they had no right to do this. If as he wasn’t but if the keeper is time wasting it’s up to the ref to deal with. What does our hero Dowd do? No action against Barton or Nolan but books the Arsenal keeper for being assaulted.
I thought I was watching a Monty Python sketch. It’s restored my faith in Phil Dowd though. Obviously he has no vendetta against us, he’s just a total idiot and has no idea what he’s doing.
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JP has hired the last 3 managers , all of which got us promoted but also relegated.
JP then admitted his choice had failed certainly in 2 cases and sacked them.
At what point does JP come under the spotlight as a man who fails to support his choice of manager both in the transfer market, and giving them time to build and learn from some of their mistakes.
For me this time JP should go, as both his last three have failed by his standards, and his dictatorial style can never produce a balanced leadership/view on the board to allow the club to develope in the longer term.
As the majority shareholder within excess of 50% of the shares, who else gets a say.
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Looks like Hughton then,personaly i think its the wrong choice,IMO not enough expierence for the dilemma we are in,i really do hope im wrong as i cant be doing with another relegation,i will give him my 100% backing as always,but i think its the wrong man at the wrong time.aye boing boing
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Let’s be honest lads, JP’s not a complete idiot. With RDM I think we would have definitely gone down – 13 losses out of 18 says it all and there was no way he could have turned that around. Bearing in mind most other managers will look at the situation and feel they wouldn’t have enough time to do anything I think JP will stick with Appy till the end of the season and then bring in McInnes tp partner him (can you have 2 head coaches??) regardless of what division we are in…although I fear we will be back where we usually are every other season.
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(39)
I’d love Happy to get the job. his knowledge of the club is a big plus for him. Our new Head Coach needs Premiership experience and that is where Happy would come unstuck. He is still an invaluable part of our back room staff. In the future, eh.
AJM,
A blind man on a “gallopin oss”, could see this coming, with the results we were getting. So your wild swing at it wont earn you brownie points. Of course the afore named on your post know more about football than you dingles.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Jack 58 – many thanks for the vote of confidence but I’m ruling myself out…. Appy is much better than me !!
Seriously though – just read through the E&S profile of Houghton and his experience is almost second to none – he worked with 10 manager at Spurs so he would have seen so many styles and ideas – and he has experince of both top and bottom of the prem.
He got newcastle promoted last year, but more impressive is that he kept the squad together.
I will be pleased if he does come in – and we keep Appy.
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55Tony.
I assume you’re pointing out his ‘lack of success’ in appointing managers compared to our triumphs of the years before he took over.
Getting the right man is always a gamble, just look around at other clubs, even clubs considerably richer than us get it wrong. His appointments have on the whole been very successful
The reason we’ve yet to crack the PL is the same reason that Wolves, Leicester, Derby and endless other similar size clubs without a billionaire benefactor haven’t. Lack of money.
I’m really getting tired of asking this question now but you say he should go. Where should he go? Should he just hand his shares over? If so who to? Should he sell them to this mythical benefactor? If so why doesn’t our Sheikh make himself known.
None of you long range snipers have answered these questions yet so I won’t hold my breath waiting.
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(59)
Happy,
It’s just me, mate. I try to talk posh I doo, but it “doe weark, duz it”. These aiches, yo con stickum onny wheer bar Hunderneath, cor ya.
Still say we need a Gaffer with Big PREMIERSHIP skill. We shall all be behind APPY on Saturday. How’s that bud’.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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SAMS our man, we must get SAMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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(62)
Happy Louse,
Have you informed MICK yet?, dingle. Just after beating Utd un-all. Disgusting.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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60Bully
HI Bully, The point I dont like at WBA is a new manager approx every 2 years, then all change again, the same merry go round.
I was glad Robbo went, but I liked the style of RDM.
He wasnt given any real help in Jans transfer window.
The one player we have missed was ollsen, and why we didnt get some cover for him, If he get injured we would be in serious trouble at the back.We tried all the combinations and the cover players we have are simply not good enough. We even had to change the midfield to shore up the defence. Didnt JP see this and move to help the manager.
With regard to Jp shares he obviously wants his money for them as and when he can cash in on them, BUT in the meantime he could run the club more democraticly.
Finally football is a buisness like any other buisness, and if a CEO changed his production man every 2 years surely his ability to choose the right man would come into question.
But I liked your reply.
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64 Tony.
I broadly agree with a lot of your points but as we all do, you have been selective with your facts. As Happy has already pointed out JP has only sacked one of his two appointments over his almost ten years in charge, which by today’s standards is very conservative. This still doesn’t mean I agree with it, I was very down when I heard the news.
I liked RDM as well and as JP gave him the job I’m sure he was hoping he’d be our manager for years to come. I don’t think we know a tenth of the behind the scenes intrigue and will probably never find out because everyone that does know has an agenda. The last thing JP wanted was to have to get rid of a manager at this critical stage of the season. HIS INTERESTS ARE NOT SERVED BY US GETTING RELEGATED.
I was interested to see your point of football being a business. Yes it is but it’s unlike any other business except in certain ways the entertainment industry. You want the club run on commitee lines? In business there has to be a strong man. Does Rupert Murdoch let other people make major decisions for him? Does he b*****y, he listens to them and then does what he believes is right.
As for bringing in a CH as cover for Olsson. If we sold Jonas, how much would you expect to get for him, £4 mill? Then that’s how much a replacement would cost. Not forgetting that you will then need to leave one of them out when Olsson is fit. Apart from exceptional circumstances we have a lot of cover at CH for a club our size and if they’d all stayed fit we would have trouble keeping them all happy as it is.
In JP’s defence, the team selection at Man City was a bit strange. Why not have Pablo with Olsson and Scharner as the screen, at least to start with? I don’t know the answers but I do try to give the questions a fair airing.
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PS.
Hello again Tony.
I think I’ve been selective in my facts. Looking back it seems I’ve imagined that post from Happy. Anyway apart from the facts I stand by everything I said.
Cheers Bully.
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