Arnold f'ks us off

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Blade58

Blade58

Once a Blade, always a daft ****
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And it doesn't make good reading

''I had a video conference with three directors and (football director) Dave Bassett, and to be honest I was shocked with what I heard,'' Arnold says. ''When I started talking about how I liked to play out from the back, it became clear pretty quickly that wasn't the way they thought football should be played. Sheffield United are a big club, with big support, but I couldn't see myself progressing in that kind of environment.

http://m.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Arnold-slams-outdated-mentality-in-England/68331


Apologies I've done this from my phone
 



Full article

After knocking back an offer to coach Sheffield United, Graham Arnold has warned Hyundai A-League players against migrating to the English lower leagues, saying he was 'shocked' by the outdated football culture.
Since taking Central Coast Mariners to a maiden championship, Arnold has been in growing demand and the Blades - who have a long-standing partnership with the Gosford-based club - were hoping to entice him to Bramall Lane. But while Arnold remains keen to broaden his horizons, he quickly discovered the English third-tier club was not for him.
''I had a video conference with three directors and (football director) Dave Bassett, and to be honest I was shocked with what I heard,'' Arnold says. ''When I started talking about how I liked to play out from the back, it became clear pretty quickly that wasn't the way they thought football should be played. Sheffield United are a big club, with big support, but I couldn't see myself progressing in that kind of environment.
''What it showed me is that our football here has advanced a lot further, and a lot quicker, than we tend to appreciate. I've been as guilty as anyone of underestimating our league. The whole experience has taught me something, that's for sure.
''While I've made it clear I have ambitions to go overseas, I also have the ambition to go somewhere where there is a good philosophy, where the league is building. I didn't see that at Sheffield United.''
In the aftermath, Arnold has issued a warning to Hyundai A-League players looking to progress their careers abroad. ''After what I've heard, I would say to any player, any agent, even parents, don't go there,'' he says. ''Playing in the English lower leagues is not going to improve your game.''
At this point, Arnold is poised to see out the final season of his contract with the Mariners, although Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, as well as clubs in South Korea and Japan, have continued to show interest in his services.
Click to expand...
 
Upanatem!
 
If true and a big' if'; this just further confirms how embarrassing the whole process has been from start to finish.

Dave Bassett was a legend for this club and responsible for some of my best ever days as a fan but is so far removed from the modern day game and his ideas also are somewhat simple in terms of how football was played. Everything this Arnold chap says contravenes what we have heard before. Of course he may not have been offered the job and thus sour grapes but no reason to doubt anything he says.

''After what I've heard, I would say to any player, any agent, even parents, don't go there,'' he says. ''Playing in the English lower leagues is not going to improve your game.''

That alone is pretty damning. What could they have possibly said to make him think that? Sadly this does not seem to be about budgets/money which was sticking points with many of the others allegedly. More worryingly its about how they see the club moving forward and its footballing philosophy.

I will look at the other way though and say what an odd response from Hey Arnold to such a process.

Added to this I would say is surely if McCabe has any clout over there with Central Coast Mariners then the guy should be hauled up on the coals really (it says he is remaining there as manager)? Whatever we think about SUFC and this seemingly flawed process of finding a new manager, the interview processes is surely in many ways confidential (both ways) and for him to come out slate a club (of which the owner has a financial stake or his company in his current employer) is risky at best.

Sadly despite his unprofessional response to his erm unprofessional interview (video conference? - could we not fly him in?) I probably believe him and just adds credence to an ever increasing cock up of the biggest variety.

If reports are to be believed we may have offered the job to about 4 or 5 candidates and they have all told us to do one.

What an utter mess.

ps - Love to believe there is a plan and the board know what they are doing but the fact the process is now in its 4th week (add another 3 or 4 to that when Wilson had gone); we have now gone nearly 2 months and still no closer to appointing anyone with any kind of pedigree.
 
Thats a damning insight into our football club but what can you expect when you have Bassett on the selection panel, dont get me wrong he was a great manager at the Lane and I respect him for that, but football has changed it looks like Bassett is still back in the 80s.
What I dont understand is that Winter has said we wanted to follow the Swansea, Southampton, Norwich model as a football club they all play football and Swansea have an ethos and have selected their managers to go along with that.
It appears to me we dont know what the fuck we are doing
 
20 mins on the phone to DB and he advises an entire nation not to go to another entire nation? What a throbber.
 
"Play out from the back"... is that the 20 passes, forwards, sideways and backwards, before they cross the half-way line?

I thought we'd tried that.
 
Great lets revert to Hoof ....................... I despair
 
broomhillblade said:
"Play out from the back"... is that the 20 passes, forwards, sideways and backwards, before they cross the half-way line?

I thought we'd tried that.
Click to expand...


We tried it last season and deserved promotion.

We tried the other method this season and deserved nothing but scorn and stagnation.
 
It would be interesting to hear or see the entire transcript of the interview. Was he told we don't play that way and are more direct, or was he told we may not have the budget to bring in players of the necessary quality to play that way? Certainly the current bunch couldn't play out from the back and anyone wanting to play that way would need to evolve the system and compromise a bit initially. I think more likely he was erroneously (IMHO) told that the robust Division One is not conducive to a short passing game from the back. His further comments to players about the English lower leagues tends to back that up.

Worrying whatever the circumstance leading to those comments. Arnold was always a longshot because of the circumstances, but that doesn't lessen the comments!
 



What on earth did anyone expect with Dinosaur Dave on the interview panel? Unbelievable, utterly incredible and says everything about the wretched ethos of our club. How can our Chairman and CEO talk about a new model and change of culture and then take advice from football's answer to Austin Powers?

Bassett was a man for his time and he was great while it lasted, but that gives him no right to saddle this club with his last century "football philosophy" for the rest of eternity. Hoof off Bassett, you are now an embarrassment.

I didn't particularly want Arnold but this is a damning indictment. I wonder how our S2 Hoofwaffe feel when an outsider tells it like it is? Probably just shout "Upanatem" even louder.

I really wish I could support some other team.

I truly, truly despair.
 
I'm really trying to still love my club but this whole shambolic process is just endemic of SUFC, and it makes me sick. How many of us really expected us to follow a simple process with the minimum of fuss and end up hiring a decent manager that can get the team playing attractive, winning football?
 
It is a bit of a strange thing to come out with really and again, smacks a little of knowing it's not going to happen and wanting to save face rather than "turning down an offer".

When I started talking about how I liked to play out from the back, it became clear pretty quickly that wasn't the way they thought football should be played.
Click to expand...

Kevin McCabe is a director at Central Coast Mariners, is mates with Peter Turnbull and they were classed as very much a part of the "Blades Family" idea (and property side). Therefore, he'd know without doubt, Arnold's style of play... even if he's been nowhere near, he'd have been told.

Would we really go to the hassle of interviewing him, only to tell him his style and philosophy are wrong but offer him a job anyway?

Being a video conference, you'd think that Kevin McCabe would be involved (he's not been present for all of the interviews in London) and you'd expect, being involved in Central Coast Mariners that he'd have some form of "control" over what came out about the interview. Even if not directly involved, he'd still have some form of opening/closing dialogue being a common link between the two.

''After what I've heard, I would say to any player, any agent, even parents, don't go there,'' he says. ''Playing in the English lower leagues is not going to improve your game.''
Click to expand...

So he's decided the entire English lower leagues shouldn't be considered by anyone, from a video conference?

I think the bit about him wanting to broaden his horizons and being keen on developing football/going overseas is a little over-egged if that's the case!

On the face of it, it's obviously worrying... But like the comments that have followed the others no longer involved in the running... I'm taking it with a pinch of salt and I'm glad he's out of any running.
 
Deadbat said:
If true and a big' if'; this just further confirms how embarrassing the whole process has been from start to finish.

Dave Bassett was a legend for this club and responsible for some of my best ever days as a fan but is so far removed from the modern day game and his ideas also are somewhat simple in terms of how football was played. Everything this Arnold chap says contravenes what we have heard before. Of course he may not have been offered the job and thus sour grapes but no reason to doubt anything he says.

''After what I've heard, I would say to any player, any agent, even parents, don't go there,'' he says. ''Playing in the English lower leagues is not going to improve your game.''

That alone is pretty damning. What could they have possibly said to make him think that? Sadly this does not seem to be about budgets/money which was sticking points with many of the others allegedly. More worryingly its about how they see the club moving forward and its footballing philosophy.

I will look at the other way though and say what an odd response from Hey Arnold to such a process.

Added to this I would say is surely if McCabe has any clout over there with Central Coast Mariners then the guy should be hauled up on the coals really (it says he is remaining there as manager)? Whatever we think about SUFC and this seemingly flawed process of finding a new manager, the interview processes is surely in many ways confidential (both ways) and for him to come out slate a club (of which the owner has a financial stake or his company in his current employer) is risky at best.

Sadly despite his unprofessional response to his erm unprofessional interview (video conference? - could we not fly him in?) I probably believe him and just adds credence to an ever increasing cock up of the biggest variety.

If reports are to be believed we may have offered the job to about 4 or 5 candidates and they have all told us to do one.

What an utter mess. Agree and it is worse than what we thought.

ps - Love to believe there is a plan and the board know what they are doing but the fact the process is now in its 4th week (add another 3 or 4 to that when Wilson had gone); we have now gone nearly 2 months and still no closer to appointing anyone with any kind of pedigree.
Click to expand...


McCabe shouldn't be hauling him over the coals but publically thanking him for pointing out our failings, buy him a ticket over here and get him on the selection committee.

Whilst he’s waiting for the flight to arrive he should be getting the dross who think like this out of the club even if they are family/friends.

Take the bull by the horns McC and take us forward.
 
Foxy said:
Being a video conference, you'd think that Kevin McCabe would be involved (he's not been present for all of the interviews in London)
Click to expand...

You have to pay extra for conference calls on Skype with more than two sets of video windows.
 
Foxy said:
On the face of it, it's obviously worrying... But like the comments that have followed the others no longer involved in the running... I'm taking it with a pinch of salt.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to hear the panel's response to his comments.
 
Ashtonsmashton said:
Same with Heskey
Click to expand...
Really ?

There aren't many people who have scored over 100 Premier League goals. Even smaller number of English players.

He's on his last pay day but you wouldn't have wanted to mark him in his heyday.
 
I am sure Arnold has more than a point here, however unprofessional his comments have been.

Trouble is, and this is where I must agree with Rio Ferdinand's most recent comments, the footballing infrastructure in this country in terms of developing talent is, in all honesty, hopeless. It might be improving but we are miles adrift of our peers.

FAR too much emphasis on teenage lads physical attributes to the extent that genuine technical ability is often largely ignored. I can tell you, as a fact, that it has been said by a prominent member of the coaching staff of a club not very far from here that "if your lad can do the bleep test to a high level, he is in" !!

Tells its own story.

In short, the English game is now reaping the seeds that were sown 5-15 years ago. The fact that the Premier League gets its talent from anywhere bar England in the main is further evidence of this. Our nations footballing heroes of the last decade or so have been the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney and a few others. Players of great quality in many ways but light years away from the very best the world has to offer.

Getting back to the OP, Bassett is a personal favourite of mine and has been for yonks. However, football has moved on and it seems neither he, nor UTD have done, if Arnold's comments are to be believed.

Desperate times for UTD and English football in general :(
 
Deadbat said:
More worryingly its about how they see the club moving forward and its footballing philosophy.

I will look at the other way though and say what an odd response from Hey Arnold to such a process.

Added to this I would say is surely if McCabe has any clout over there with Central Coast Mariners then the guy should be hauled up on the coals really (it says he is remaining there as manager)? Whatever we think about SUFC and this seemingly flawed process of finding a new manager, the interview processes is surely in many ways confidential (both ways) and for him to come out slate a club (of which the owner has a financial stake or his company in his current employer) is risky at best.
Click to expand...

I think it may be good for us that this comes out, although the panel should be allowed to respond. In general I think we should decide on a footballing philosophy and be more open about it.

Speaking of which, press interviews with our managers are generally rubbish. They say nothing in detail, and you wonder if they're trying to keep information from opposition, underestimating fans' knowledge of the game, or that they're clueless themselves.
 
UnitedBlade said:
Really ?

There aren't many people who have scored over 100 Premier League goals. Even smaller number of English players.

He's on his last pay day but you wouldn't have wanted to mark him in his heyday.
Click to expand...

when was the last time he scored in 2 games in a row
 



An Englishman, an Irishman and Sheffield United walk into a bar...
 
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