Ouch!

[Highbury_Blade]

Subtle dig at Bryan Robson from Fergie in the guardian today.

"It can be difficult to pinpoint who would make it as a manager. For instance, nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years, and we all thought Bryan Robson was a certainty to be a top manager."

Just goes to show that even the know everythings get it wrong sometimes.

 

[bottletree]

Yeah, it must be difficult to manage a team with the worlds biggest budget for the last few decades. It must also be very difficult being able to get who you want cause you're such a big club like Manure. Boy that fergie really has had it tough.
Lets face it, ANYONE and i mean ANYONE could be a top manager at that club.

 

[Bladesway]

Yeah, it must be difficult to manage a team with the worlds biggest budget for the last few decades. It must also be very difficult being able to get who you want cause you're such a big club like Manure. Boy that fergie really has had it tough.
Lets face it, ANYONE and i mean ANYONE could be a top manager at that club.

Possibly the most ridiculous thing ever said. Ever. Look at how Rafa has spunked millions up the wall and look how Real Madrid and AC Milan have done likewise. Hasn't brought them anything guaranteed.

You don't have to like the man or the club but when he took control they weren't the biggest and they weren't the best. They are arguably now.

 

[ghandi]

Possibly the most ridiculous thing ever said. Ever. Look at how Rafa has spunked millions up the wall and look how Real Madrid and AC Milan have done likewise. Hasn't brought them anything guaranteed.

You don't have to like the man or the club but when he took control they weren't the biggest and they weren't the best. They are arguably now.

Agree entirely. Fergie was a successful manager in Scottish football, broke the Old Firm duopoloy in Scotland and won the Cup Winners Cup against the mighty Real in the final with Aberdeen. Prior to that he took a mediocre side in St Mirren from the second division to first divsion champions. All without a "chequebook" in sight, I can't think of anyone else who earned the privilege to become a manager with millions at his disposal. Love or hate Manchester United (or Fergie) he is the most successful manager in terms of trophies and longevity than anyone else in the modern era.

 

[happyhippy]

Agree entirely. Fergie was a successful manager in Scottish football, broke the Old Firm duopoloy in Scotland and won the Cup Winners Cup against the mighty Real in the final with Aberdeen. Prior to that he took a mediocre side in St Mirren from the second division to first divsion champions. All without a "chequebook" in sight, I can't think of anyone else who earned the privilege to become a manager with millions at his disposal. Love or hate Manchester United (or Fergie) he is the most successful manager in terms of trophies and longevity than anyone else in the modern era.

Not that I'm a Fergie fan, but don't you dare forget the short time at The Shire as well!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

 

[Wilnecote Blade]

No, nay, never. Not in a million years or a million alternative realities

 

[Bladesway]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

Possibly, you can't predict the future can you. However, the shoes off brigade got their man.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

Not a chance.

How's about this then. If he'd been a welcome signing and accepted by the fans from the start, do you think he would have succeeded?

 

[Autumn]

It's not about money, it's about how a man can conduct himself, his team and club politics.

If you have a chairman offering a fairly competant manager loads of money, he will go nuts buying top draw players, without thinking how that player will actually fit in the team and gel. (mark hughes as an example)
Now if you have a very competant manager, he bides his time, nurtures players and gets his team tactics ready in advance. (fergie)

Then there's the poor buggers who have no money allowed, have players sold from underneath them and have a chairman that domineers. (Laws)

Robson is more of a people pleaser, hence why he's not a great manager. Blackwell stands his ground when the pressure is put on, he just doesn't scout other teams enough for me, when it comes to tactics.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

No never not whilst his arse hole points at the ground.

Still can't believe Bob the builder had him in.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Robson is more of a people pleaser, hence why he's not a great manager. Blackwell stands his ground when the pressure is put on, he just doesn't scout other teams enough for me, when it comes to tactics.

He managed to attract a better quality of player than we've managed to sign since. He just couldn't manage for shit.

Personally I think the section of the fans turned and the nastiness of it probably cost us getting a half decent director of football who seems to have the knack of getting McCabe to part with the clubs money and attract a better quality of player.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Robson as a player was unbelievable leading from the front with the talent and ability to pull every member of his team with him.
But as a manager it is different talents like motivation through teamtalks, man management, dealing with individuals egos especially in todays highly paid player situations, encouragement and empathy, the narrow line between success and failure Robson didn't have the character or personality to deal with such things!
Perhaps when you look at the succesful managers many are from the old school like Fergy and perhaps intellence such as Wenger is very limited amoungst ex footballers!

 

[Revolution]

How's about this then. If he'd been a welcome signing and accepted by the fans from the start, do you think he would have succeeded?

I remember Robson getting a great welcome before the 1st game. People were unhappy with the appointment but went with an open mind. As at every club, things went bad when results did, not the other way round.

Personally I think the section of the fans turned and the nastiness of it probably cost us getting a half decent director of football who seems to have the knack of getting McCabe to part with the clubs money and attract a better quality of player.

This would be of no use even if he were any good given we now have no money.

 

[JohnDenver]

He managed to attract a better quality of player than we've managed to sign since.

McCabe's decision to spend big money is what attracted the players.

The idea that a player like Beattie would drop a division for the sake of playing for a once-great footballer is risible.

Remember when Robinho joined Man City? The plank didn't seem to know where his agent had sent him, other than towards the great big pile of money.

 

[JohnDenver]

However, the shoes off brigade got their man.

Which was a very sad state of affairs, and a terrible example to set for the future. The undignified mob-like hounding of Robson will just encourage impatient fans to behave in a similar manner in future.

Yes his team was truly awful, but did everyone really believe abusing the manager of their own club, preventing him leaving the ground is acceptable behaviour?

McCabe has millions tied-up in the club. Was he really a latter day Nero, complacently disregarding the situation? Did the rabble save the day? I think not.

A proportion of fans will always be opposed to the current manager whoever it is, but it's absolutely no excuse to piss in your own back yard. There are far better ways to make your case...

 

[raul]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

Yep. Heath would too.:fishy::fishy:

 

[Bladesman]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

Not really and also I think it was shown (on this forum or possibly another) that had results continued they way they were under Robson we would of ended the season dangerously close to the bottom 3 by just a few points.

 

[Ted Danson]

A proportion of fans will always be opposed to the current manager whoever it is, but it's absolutely no excuse to piss in your own back yard. There are far better ways to make your case...

I think in Robsons case there was every excuse to piss on our own back yard, the only problem was we didnt do it soon enough. It was obviouse he was destroying our club and he had to go. If behaving like children was what it took to get rid of him then so be it. I really am not a fan of things like that but I made the exeption for Nobson.

I agree though that it has set a president and now people are far too quick to jump on the managers back and get their shoes off.

 

[Revolution]

Which was a very sad state of affairs, and a terrible example to set for the future. The undignified mob-like hounding of Robson will just encourage impatient fans to behave in a similar manner in future.

McCabe has millions tied-up in the club. Was he really a latter day Nero, complacently disregarding the situation? Did the rabble save the day? I think not.

Aren't the above two statements contradictory? The fans hounded him out, but McCabe was not influenced by the fans? It can't be both.

A proportion of fans will always be opposed to the current manager whoever it is, but it's absolutely no excuse to piss in your own back yard. There are far better ways to make your case...

Which are?

I agree though that it has set a president and now people are far too quick to jump on the managers back and get their shoes off.

It would be a precedent if it was new. I fail to see how it was any different to what happened at the end of McEwan, Porterfield and Heath's reigns, to give 3 examples.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

This would be of no use even if he were any good given we now have no money.

I would point to the loan signing of Gary Cahill, again a better quality loan signing than we have seen since.


BTW I am simply playing devils advocate. I didn't particularly want Robson to stay, however I did find the mob mentality distasteful and unnecessary.

 

[JohnDenver]

Aren't the above two statements contradictory? The fans hounded him out, but McCabe was not influenced by the fans? It can't be both.

Which are?

It would be a precedent if it was new. I fail to see how it was any different to what happened at the end of McEwan, Porterfield and Heath's reigns, to give 3 examples.

Three Qs...

1, I don't think I was making contradictory points. I'm just stating the belief that McCabe would have dealt with the Robbo situation before it started to hurt his investments. The protests undoubtedly hastened the exit, but I don't think the vitriol was justified because McCabe (imho) isn't too proud or daft to make the necessary decisions.

2, Protest doesn't have to be threatening or abusive or undermine match days. It's the manner as much as the method.

3, My personal view of the Robbo protests (I was there at both Heath's and Robbo's final games), was that the vitriol was unjustified for the reasons stated above, and at a level beyond what went before. When Heath left, the whole club was a joke and needed purging. When Robbo left, only the manager was a comedian.

In some ways I think it was pent up frustration with the previous twelve months' misery, not all of which was Robbo's fault (Scudamore et al were largely to blame).

 

[Highbury_Blade]

How's about this then. If he'd been a welcome signing and accepted by the fans from the start, do you think he would have succeeded?

I remember Robson getting a great welcome before the 1st game. People were unhappy with the appointment but went with an open mind. As at every club, things went bad when results did, not the other way round.

But had Robson been a popular appointment wold thefans have given him longer? I think they would. I remember been on the boards after the first two games and people were saying get rid then.

 

[Revolution]

I didn't particularly want Robson to stay, however I did find the mob mentality distasteful and unnecessary.

So do I, generally, but sometimes the mob is right.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I didn't particularly want Robson to stay, however I did find the mob mentality distasteful and unnecessary.

So do I, generally, but sometimes the mob is right.

Mobs can be in the right, but it doesn't make it right.

The way some of the booboys wear this like a badge of honour that they got rid of Robson sticks in the throat. As has been mentioned to think McCabe would just let us sink lower and lower seems foolish to me.

 

[super_pig]

>sometimes the mob is right
and they have more votes.. so it must be right.. that is democracy?.. heh..

 

[JohnDenver]

>sometimes the mob is right
and they have more votes.. so it must be right.. that is democracy?.. heh..

They don't have more votes. They do have bigger gobs.

 

[happyhippy]

Not a chance.

How's about this then. If he'd been a welcome signing and accepted by the fans from the start, do you think he would have succeeded?

No, but he may have got more time to dig a deeper hole. I honestly don't think that performances would have been any different.

 

[happyhippy]

Does anyone think that given another till the end of the season Robson might of turned it around? Just out of interest.

In a word, no.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

I was one of those in the car park protest that led to Robson's resignation.

I wasn't overly excited about his appointment - but recognised my scepticism and made efforts to give him time to prove himself. Yet over the weeks, the failings I had given him time to resolve became all the more evident. In particular I couldn't accept -
1- the way he seemed to undermine the (recently relegated and therefore presumably already lacking in confidence) team
2- the way he singled the Captain out for criticism
3- the way he took no time or care to understand the culture of the club and it's following
4- the way he blamed everyone else for the team's problems and failings.

In effect I couldn't accept his lack of ability to man-manage or to take responsibility for his own failings.

Many might say this sounds all too familiar at the moment - yet I've generally been supportive of Blackwell - and although I do recognise his failings in these very same areas, I feel that Robson was in a different league of incompetance. That's why, for me, "direct action" in the car park for Robson was acceptable - for Blackwell it's not.

Having said that - some of the content of the car park protest was unacceptable. The protest should have been about his failings as a professional football manager - not as a man - and the personal abuse was unwelcomed and unneccessary.

I accept that our actions on that day have set a precedent in the eyes of some younger Blades who now feel they only have to take their Nikes off on Cherry Street to change managers - but as a wider set of fans we need to recognise that protests like that should only happen in extreme circumstances.

Some will argue that Robson's was not that extreme - others will argue that Blackwell's is already extreme enough. For me I have no regrets about being in the car park that evening - and no regrets about challenging the kids who protested about Blackwell a few weeks ago.