Do not forget.......

[itsinyerblood]

.....the contribution of Alan Knill.

Quite rightly Chris Wilder takes the spotlight, the supporters want to hear their manager and CW does a great job of letting everyone know exactly what the state of play is, within and outside of the squad and club. I just thought a few words about Knill were necessary as he's Wilder's right-hand man and confidant, so his presence and contribution will be crucial to the momentum the squad is beginning to build.

I'm not one for talking about promotion as a given, it smacks too much of S6 arrogance, and between now and the season end there are hurdles to be crossed, unforeseen injuries for example. Also, we've still no idea if EEL will remain here, and as much as wins against Shrewsbury are a marker for the potential we have within the club, all the positive stuff can be put on hold for me at least until we enter February and March. Naturally, if we've won a fair percentage of games by then I'll be ecstatic, but so much of what might happen seems to have become an absolute in some poster's minds. Things look good at the moment, and long may that continue. In Wilder and Knill we seem to have a management team comparable with the better managers who've been employed at United, but let's first look as if promotion is ours because we've gained enough points, not because we're fourth in this division in October. I'm not seeking to put a dampener on anyone's exuberance, it's long overdue and we all recognise the joy that a good United team can create. Just recognise the long road that's still ahead, and what we may have to overcome during the remainder of the season.....sorry for wandering off topic, Mr Knill, your contribution is welcomed by one and all UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Here here.

UTB

 

[Stretch]

Completely agree. Been impressed with how Knill handles himself from day 1. Wilder described him as an 'outstanding coach' and we are starting to see why.

I think Wilder knows how to put the fire in the player's bellies but Knill's cool approach and focus on technique is just as important.

Great combination.

 

[coaxingstar71]

There appears to be a "good cop, bad cop" scenario with Wilder and Knill. Might have read it on one of the threads on here, but I understand Knill is the one responsible for our much improved set-piece routines.

I agree with your sentiments about our current form, although it's difficult not to get excited about recent form and particularly the last 2 resounding victories. I felt a few weeks ago that the Scunthorpe game would serve as a marker as to how far we'd come and we came through that test with a lot of credit, now I feel that if we can get a result at Bradford, especially a win, and keep this run going it will be another huge boost.

You just have a nagging feeling about the ambition of the board, I think that will be tested in January.

 

[Balham]

It's the combination of Knill and Wilder which is doing the business: Wilder was a solid if unspectacular lower league manager until he combined with Knill at Northampton. At that stage, Northampton were in the bottom 2 of League 2; fast forward 18 months and they'd won the division with 99 points.

They're a great team and it's a privilege to see the output working so well at the moment.

 

[itsinyerblood]

There appears to be a "good cop, bad cop" scenario with Wilder and Knill. Might have read it on one of the threads on here, but I understand Knill is the one responsible for our much improved set-piece routines.

I agree with your sentiments about our current form, although it's difficult not to get excited about recent form and particularly the last 2 resounding victories. I felt a few weeks ago that the Scunthorpe game would serve as a marker as to how far we'd come and we came through that test with a lot of credit, now I feel that if we can get a result at Bradford, especially a win, and keep this run going it will be another huge boost.

You just have a nagging feeling about the ambition of the board, I think that will be tested in January.

Good observations mate. We always come back to the aspirations, or lack of them, of those who are meant to want this club to be successful. If, just before the next transfer window, and of course it depends on whether Wilder feels he needs new recruits, Wilder wants player A or B, or possibly both, then we'll get to see whether this board shares the ambition that Wilder clearly has for his United. As I've stated, injuries are always a constant, and should one, two, or three, of our important players get longish term injuries Wilder will need to react in exactly the way he did before this season's start. Of course there's a world of difference between who can be signed in January than in pre-season, but given who Wilder brought in (players that many supporters had no familiarity with), then I trust in Wilder's knowledge of who he might feel he needs to keep this momentum going.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Without wanting to put the mockers on us, but at the moment what is nice to see is that each of the players seem to be robust enough to avoid a serious injury.
Thankfully, those brain dead dangerous tackles are becoming a thing of the past, so injury will be the odd pull, twist or tear. And each of the players are looking fitter, stronger and more athletic in every game.

Of course a settled side also helps, we are winning too so the players have a spring in their step. But for the first time in a long time our players look stronger and quicker than our opponents.
Some of it will be down to the conditioning coach, but for me it is simply down to the players working harder and harder in line with the game plan and their strength and fitness getting better and better as a result.

Really is a good time to watch the blades at the moment, and for the time being we look like a side which is going to be very hard to beat for anybody due to the confidence. The run we are in is such now that we could lose one, but be confident that we would bounce straight back and do it again.
But I don't see us losing more than 3 games before January and then being in a good position to add a couple of players just to finish the job off.

 

[Barney]

Let's not kid ourselves, the results are coming in so praise is being given.

If Alan Knill did absolutely fuck all regardless, when we lose he'd be slagged off and when we win he'd be praised.

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Let's not kid ourselves, the results are coming in so praise is being given.

If Alan Knill did absolutely fuck all regardless, when we lose he'd be slagged off and when we win he'd be praised.

Anyone would think you're suggesting we're a fickle bunch Barney

 

[Ecco1889]

he's never looked back since he ditched the blue suit

 

[LenTednTony]

Wilder amd Knill........the new Clough and Taylor?

Discuss.

 

[GrayBlade]

I see Knill a bit like I saw Blackwell. Probably a bit too good to be an assistant manager/ coach at this level, but for whatever reason not really good enough to be a successful manager in his own right.

It's a win-win all round really because it seems he's doing what he's good at and Wilder is his perfect foil.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

.....the contribution of Alan Knill.

Quite rightly Chris Wilder takes the spotlight, the supporters want to hear their manager and CW does a great job of letting everyone know exactly what the state of play is, within and outside of the squad and club. I just thought a few words about Knill were necessary as he's Wilder's right-hand man and confidant, so his presence and contribution will be crucial to the momentum the squad is beginning to build.

I'm not one for talking about promotion as a given, it smacks too much of S6 arrogance, and between now and the season end there are hurdles to be crossed, unforeseen injuries for example. Also, we've still no idea if EEL will remain here, and as much as wins against Shrewsbury are a marker for the potential we have within the club, all the positive stuff can be put on hold for me at least until we enter February and March. Naturally, if we've won a fair percentage of games by then I'll be ecstatic, but so much of what might happen seems to have become an absolute in some poster's minds. Things look good at the moment, and long may that continue. In Wilder and Knill we seem to have a management team comparable with the better managers who've been employed at United, but let's first look as if promotion is ours because we've gained enough points, not because we're fourth in this division in October. I'm not seeking to put a dampener on anyone's exuberance, it's long overdue and we all recognise the joy that a good United team can create. Just recognise the long road that's still ahead, and what we may have to overcome during the remainder of the season.....sorry for wandering off topic, Mr Knill, your contribution is welcomed by one and all UTB

Keith Edwards paid tribute to Alan Knill last night recognizing his part in the transformation of Paul Coutts.

 

[Old Skool]

Fair point - good managers rarely if ever succeed without having a superb support staff - those people may not get the airtime or headlines but you can bet your bottom dollar that all good managers know their worth......well done...so far......do not let up....and do not let the players forget what is working..... UTB.

 

[sheffielder]

Keith Edwards paid tribute to Alan Knill last night recognizing his part in the transformation of Paul Coutts.

I found that interesting. He asked Knill what they had done to transform Coutts and his reply was that and it was just an arm around the guy. I am sure it's more but we don't need to know what it was and that's the way it should be.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I see Knill a bit like I saw Blackwell. Probably a bit too good to be an assistant manager/ coach at this level, but for whatever reason not really good enough to be a successful manager in his own right.

To be a good coach you need intelligence and methodical planning. With hard work it can be taught.

However being a good manager is more about natural personality, leadership and charisma.

These qualities can't be taught. You either have them or you don't. It's a bit like attending college to be the best parent ever. Theory doesn't often work, it's much deeper than that.

Warnock is 2 faced and manipulative. He'll slag players off and fall out with them but he also has the charisma and likability to get them back inside.

I think that's where Blackwell went wrong. He's in the same mood as Warnock but when he fell out with players laying down the law he didn't gave the likability to get them back inside. Blackwell knows his stuff though.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I see Knill a bit like I saw Blackwell. Probably a bit too good to be an assistant manager/ coach at this level, but for whatever reason not really good enough to be a successful manager in his own right.

It's a win-win all round really because it seems he's doing what he's good at and Wilder is his perfect foil.

Interesting point Gray, that you can probably extend to most walks of life. To use an inappropriate metaphor, sometimes it's enough to accept that you'll never be Coke but that being Pepsi isn't such a bad exchange. Knill's influence, understanding of the game, as well as how player's tick, will be essential to the improvement we've all witnessed. As I've commented on elsewhere, a long way to go, but we have drive, what the Yanks refer to as 'juice', and this momentum should take us far if the players want this bad enough.

 

[Silent Blade]

Here here.

UTB

Where? Where?

 

[BushBlade]

Wilder amd Knill........the new Clough and Taylor?

Discuss.

Been thinking about that for a while. Not like for like but possibly in that they are likely to be more successful as a team than as individuals. Didn't Taylor have a couple of goes at management and realise he wasn't that suited to it?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Where? Where?

John Bishop just shit himself.

UTB

 

[Hodgyman]

Perhaps for those that weren't aware, Alan Knill was mostly responsible for the rise in footballing fortunes of Rotherham United that Mark "Bobbins" took the credit for. Mark was head hunted for other jobs. Robbins was found lacking in future managerial appointments without Alan. Alan had stayed on at Rotherham when he was chosen to succeed Robbins. Sadly Alan seems to lack the man-management skills but excels at coaching. What a formidable pairing he makes with with Chris.
Long may it reign!

 

[Silent Blade]

Didn't Taylor have a couple of goes at management and realise he wasn't that suited to it?

Yes, Burton (1962-65), Brighton (1974-76) and Derby (1982-84)

 

[coaxingstar71]

Good observations mate. We always come back to the aspirations, or lack of them, of those who are meant to want this club to be successful. If, just before the next transfer window, and of course it depends on whether Wilder feels he needs new recruits, Wilder wants player A or B, or possibly both, then we'll get to see whether this board shares the ambition that Wilder clearly has for his United. As I've stated, injuries are always a constant, and should one, two, or three, of our important players get longish term injuries Wilder will need to react in exactly the way he did before this season's start. Of course there's a world of difference between who can be signed in January than in pre-season, but given who Wilder brought in (players that many supporters had no familiarity with), then I trust in Wilder's knowledge of who he might feel he needs to keep this momentum going.

You'd like to think that if we're still doing well around Christmas and like you say, perhaps because we might have a few injuries later in the season, that the manager will be given some decent backing if he feels the squad needs strengthening for the final push for promotion. Unfortunately we know only too well that the opposite is just as likely and we could end up losing some of our best players if someone came in with a big enough carrot.

I don't know what the terms of the loan agreement for EEL are, but you'd hope that we could at least compete to sign him if someone else came in for him, though obviously it's still partly down to the player.

I still think we're light in the central midfield area particularly with really just Fleck, Bash and Coutts. If two of those were out for any length of time, we'd need some better back-up.

 

[Cheets]

Cough ="Silent Blade, post: 1131539, member: 2270"]Yes, Burton (1962-65), Brighton (1974-76) and Derby (1982-84)[/QUOTE]
Clough and Taylor fell out when Taylor signed John Robertson for Derby from Forest. Clough bitterly regretted this when Taylor died.

 

[Harry's Game]

The good old BFG