New coach

[Fulwood Blade]

I think you maybe at bit harsh there Fulwood.Wilder has brought a way of playing which is exciting and a winning formula. Obviously it is not unique but to be effective through out the club he needs coaches who believe in it.
Judging by the article he wrote in the Guardian ,he Wilder,Knill & Co are on the same page (winning ethos ) he obviously is known to Wilder and coaches who have a similar beleafe in the way to play
.Only time will tell if he's any good , we have to trust
Mr Wilder he's done a great job so far.
The Spanish way has been very successful,go out to win not just play pretty tippy tappey football,which Spain do of course but with a winning attitude.

The problem for me is some of our fans are waxing lyrics about a coach who is joining the academy. I and a few others haven't heard of him before and it was a simple question of "who is he". I personally don't give a monkeys who he supports - question is: is he any good?
Of course, I and many others trust Wilders judgment - it would be nice to know actually who he is instead of all this bladey bladey stuff.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

You're not sticking to the mantra of in wilder we trust when posting this!

Indeed I am not - some of us still remember 5 games in from start of last season.

Just a simple question really as it might stop all the bladey bladey stuff.

UTB

 

[Northyorksblade]

Ok you win!!. I've got some bloody long away trips coming up from here either way as all other exiled blades will testify!. Utb

I am one of them, although Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Leeds are close for me.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Has anybody actually ascertained what role he is actually taking at The Academy? I've seen 'coach' mentioned and there are a few of those up there.

Aside from the sarcasm of the opening few posts on this (which are swoosh moments for a few on here) he seems to be a local lad schooled in the Spanish and Italian baller methods.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I think this is AlexBlade. Looks like him from the twitter profile picture. I know he works as a coach/trainer. Played forum footy with us and he didn't put a foot wrong all game. Top lad and 100% Blade. If it's not him, I'll just shut up!

 

[larkymasher]

Your an avid development watcher Larky
The policy is to push players through above there age group this new coach falls in line with that way of thinking ( Guardian article ) to much fannying about at youth level these days as you know we take them out of there comfort zone to sink or swim,this guy it seems falls into line with this policy which Wilder has pushed through.
He needs his own men to see it carried out properly,as I said in an earlier post time will tell. Just cus he's relatively unknown in this country doesn't mean he's out of his depth wilder obviously thinks he has something to offer.

I don't mind him being relatively unknown. If he is the man to administer CWs plan then it's all good.

Any young player at our club knows that they will be pushed and tested to see what they are made of physically and mentally.

 

[Westran]

The fact he is good enough to work in Spain should be encouraging. More importantly he has spent time out of the English game absorbing other systems and styles of play. Surely this can only be a good thing, by offering a more flexible approach as required.

Any knowledge of particular players is unlikely to be a major benefit as it is difficult to see Barcelona insisting that some of rising stars go and play in the English 2nd tier. Still a slim possibility though...

The only downside of the 'Blade' thing, is the risk of 'trying too hard'. It hasn't happened to CW, so let's trust his judgement again with this one.

I agree, although there are more teams in spain than just Barca and Real Madrid, if he's been coaching at lower levels he may bring with him knowledge of players that would like to move to England because they don't get the opportunity in Spain, at the same time he might not bring so much knowledge of coaching styles from top clubs, just other ways of doing things

 

[GrozzaTheBlade]

Maybe this is how Xavi has heard of us

 

[1danewhitehouse]

http://thesefootballtimes.co/author/alexclapham11/

Seems an insightful guy with a focus on winning mentality.

 

[Torrix1889]

Sounds like a very forward thinking coach, very much in the Wilder/Knill mould, sure the youngsters at the academy will learn a great deal.....before they are sold for peanuts to Everton.