William Henry Foulkes
Big Member
Always worth listening to - but this one is in particular goes over interesting and important ground. Spends a fair chunk of time talking about his understanding of the club, his commitment, long term vision and short term goals.
NB alcoblade steer clear - he mentions having a philosophy two or three times*
NB alcoblade steer clear - he mentions having a philosophy two or three times*
- RS: Have you seen the reaction you wanted? NA: We've got to respond
- desperately want to do well
- trained well but measured in the arena
- mentions not scoring in the last two games
- working hard - but we should be working hard
- got to get results, performances and give the crowd something to be happy about
- Doncaster play a couple of ways: three CHs or a diamond
- looking forward to the derby game
- long discussion on the short term need for results over a longer term desire to have a play through the thirds philosophy at the club, play quick dynamic football, score loads of goals, good possession, need the right players, and a spirit, takes time to stamp that authority, developing juniors to fit that pattern, aim for 50% academy players in the first team gets another mention [that's three times at least, I reckon]
- can do that if you have time but we need to get out of this division which involves scrambling points
- moving the ball quickly and brightly gets another mention [this is a real issue and has been since Gillingham - it might even have been mentioned then]
- my philosophy is good football, attacking football
- right now it's about winning games
- RS: Do you feel a need to change? NA: Keep same team? Stick with it? Change the formation? Those are the decisions you have to make
- got to take your chances
- we've had more goalscoring opportunities and George has had less to do than a lot of teams
- it's about getting a balance
- can talk about philosophies for ever and ever but we want to get promoted now
- mentions listening to the supporters and recognising the frustration of being down here for so long
- RS: Has eight managers in eight and a half years had an effect? [Interesting that there's a good, stock answer to this and it takes him a few seconds to find it] NA: It's not for me to say [found it, I'd've thought that would be a reflex response] but it does take time to build
- mentions being employed bc of his his track record
- need a plan, a strategy
- understanding the club more and more
- wants to be in the PL with Sheffield United, wants to get promoted with Sheffield United
- LMA [League Managers' Association presumably] stat is average tenure is ten months
- need a clear idea of what does a Sheffield United player look like?
- he has a very clear vision of that
- mentions that the supporters have experience of success of a team playing direct football
- talks about toing and froing between managers and playing styles and the need to develop
- SAF took a while, Wenger did, Neil [Warnock] did
- mentions the supporters again wanting to see attacking hardworking football
- Do we need a long term approach? Both owners very supportive
- need a period of time to work through it
- I feel for the football club, not as though you're looking to jump elsewhere
- big challenge but exciting [I think this is not just a platitude. The club has enormous potential (obviously) and I think he can see that. It takes a certain amount of bravery, confidence, and experience to face up to and embrace the challenge of building a team and a club playing his style of football in front of 33 000. Sounds to me like he's up for it. I hope so. Let's see.]
- want to get promoted? find a solution
- letting in goals playing expansive football gets a mention
- we want hard working players, flair, and possession with a purpose
- players nursing ailments
- squad will get utilised
- Bob gone through the 45' 60' 90' rehabilitation - good to go
- recruitment? need to balance 93 days if they come in now won't be available for the play-offs
- it'd give everyone a big lift to bring someone in
- have to put them in the first team and they have to do the business
- big desire to do something [the way this is talked up it sounds a lot like they expect movement, thought of course I might be misreading it]
- sure the supporters will be behind the team making noise
- (alluded to gets it's first use I think after nearly 17')
- wants to get us winning games of football and making everybody happy