Saunders anyone??

[alcoblade]

Harry Haslam was very good at Luton (their average attendances were terrible) and you know how he did with us. No thanks to Gary Johnson.

On that basis alone, we would rule out managers that have done wonders on tight budgets. I'm sure that's not what you mean, but in itself, it's really not a good reason.

I don't think we should underestimate managers who have done it several times. The vast majority just fall on luck, and that probably applies to everyone in the list of favourites for the job. Doing it several times rules out the luck element, and few have.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

True, but like Howe at Bournemouth, he has an affinity with them and if they go up, no chance, if they don't, he'd still be safer staying with them, the same way S'OD used to think when he was at Donny.

The problem we have is that it's not as simple as having limited resources. It's sometimes easier to build a 15 man squad spending £300K on wages than if you need to do the same when 10 of the squad already take up £280K of it as is / was the case with us.

He didn't have an affinity for Bristol City when he left Yeovil for them, and then took them up.

UTB

 

[Kenilworth]

I think that many managers who have had success at clubs with much lower levels of resource will struggle to get anywhere with a club the size of United in it's current state. We might be a "great challenge" for someone - but the size and complexity of the running of this club dwarfs the likes of Yeovil, Bournemouth, Peterborough or Oxford. It's just a different ball game with the expectation, the dead wood, and the millstone of failures past - that's one of the reasons why cheap options like Micky Adams failed so miserably - he was way out of his depth - it's not Port Vale (having said that I reckon we will get dicked again by his team next year if we take the cheap option for the manager and "only add one or two players").

This job needs some balls and a no nonsense approach (not to the way the football is being played but the management of the playing staff as well as the back room staff). It needs a leader with a strong character, someone that will not take any bullshit. Someone that will carry on with the courage of their convictions and do what they believe to be the right thing without worrying or giving a toss what other people think.

Sadly, I don't think there is anyone available that fits that bill - certainly no one stupid enough that would take on this mammoth task with the constraints likely to be imposed, where the only certainty is that the rug will be pulled from underneath their feet mid season, every season.

So, if that style of appointment is not available you can guarantee that the fall back will be a low cost option, either someone too naive or someone too close (past Blades connections) to see the position objectively. The result will be inevitable and we will be in the same position again this time next year (looking for a new manager - not just having failed in the play offs - I don't think we will even flirt with them next year).

The selection of the next manager of Sheffield United will define the fortune of the club for the next 5 or so years.

Don't hold yer breath.


.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

For grins:

Of that lot could I have Gary Neville? It would mean a total shake-up of things.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

For grins:

Gary Neville please

 

[Silent Blade]

On that basis alone, we would rule out managers that have done wonders on tight budgets. I'm sure that's not what you mean, but in itself, it's really not a good reason.

I don't think we should underestimate managers who have done it several times. The vast majority just fall on luck, and that probably applies to everyone in the list of favourites for the job. Doing it several times rules out the luck element, and few have.

UTB

Gary Johnson did well at Yeovil first time and is doing well second time but he was poor at other clubs who are bigger than Yeovil. Managing the Blades is totally different and his style of football is too similar to Wilson and Haslam

 

[scouseblade]

Kenny jackett

 

[alcoblade]

Gary Johnson did well at Yeovil first time and is doing well second time but he was poor at other clubs who are bigger than Yeovil. Managing the Blades is totally different and his style of football is too similar to Wilson and Haslam

He took Bristol City from the arse end of our division and established them in the Championship. He's doing it for a second time after 2 previous promotions with Yeovil.

This is not luck - something that can't be said with certainty about any of the managers we are likely to get.

There doesn't seem to be an awful lot wrong with the way Yeovil have played this season, something that can't be said about us under Wilson, with probably more than quadruple the resource.

UTB

 

[AdelaideBlade]

***enter the name of any no-mark sacked manager here*** anyone?

 

[Bladesway]

Gary Neville please

I'd take him just to see Rauls face when it was announced.

 

[shorehamview]

Dean Saunders is eminently qualified. He's an ex-Blade, and he did that trick with the throw-in once. What's not to like?

 

[Houso]

He took Bristol City from the arse end of our division and established them in the Championship. He's doing it for a second time after 2 previous promotions with Yeovil.

This is not luck - something that can't be said with certainty about any of the managers we are likely to get.

There doesn't seem to be an awful lot wrong with the way Yeovil have played this season, something that can't be said about us under Wilson, with probably more than quadruple the resource.

UTB

He's an odd one. Loathed by Peterborough and Northampton supporters, loved by Brizzle and of course Yeovil.

We don't know which Gary Johnson we'd get, but I tend to fall in the camp that says I'd like to see him here if Yeovil didn't go up.

That said, he may not fancy coming this far north given his previous employment...

 

[Billyblade]

***enter the name of any no-mark sacked manager here*** anyone?

Keith Hill

 

[TopBoy]

Can't help but think the best manager for the job is the one we sacked just last month.

 

[kingston RAWW]

Can't help but think the best manager for the job is the one we sacked just last month.

I agree. Stupid decision.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Can't help but think the best manager for the job is the one we sacked just last month.

As mentioned at the time, it's hard to argue against the fact that he seemed to be fighting a losing battle on all fronts but could he have got the 4 wins and a draw / 5 wins that would have taken us up ? Possibly not but still a ridiculously timed decision.

 

[Darren]

Gary Johnson did well at Yeovil first time and is doing well second time but he was poor at other clubs who are bigger than Yeovil. Managing the Blades is totally different and his style of football is too similar to Wilson and Haslam

As a counter example I give you Dave Bassett. He took Wimbledon from the 4th to the 1st on misiscule attendances and did rather well at United.

 

[secretchief]

I'd like to think a manager exists that could get us out of this division, and that's certainly not a description of Wilson.

 

[Bladesway]

As mentioned at the time, it's hard to argue against the fact that he seemed to be fighting a losing battle on all fronts but could he have got the 4 wins and a draw / 5 wins that would have taken us up ? Possibly not but still a ridiculously timed decision.

You can't see into what would have happened but you could have written it the minute he was sacked. This is the same OWNER who sacked a manager 3 games into a season after letting him spend what little money we had. What next, not bother having a manager at all and he picks the team?

 

[Bladesway]

I'd like to think a manager exists that could get us out of this division, and that's certainly not a description of Wilson.

Problem is we were better placed when we sacked him than we were 3 games later or any time following that.

Wilson should have been given the season, end of.

 

[Eskimo]

What a shambles- has no one at the club given a clue to what happens next - what the process is likely to involve before there is a new manager?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

You can't see into what would have happened but you could have written it the minute he was sacked. This is the same OWNER who sacked a manager 3 games into a season after letting him spend what little money we had. What next, not bother having a manager at all and he picks the team?

Indeed, which goes back to my point on the other thread, it's OK having a 10 point plan but it all means nothing if you can't trust the person doing the selecting of the implementer.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

What a shambles- has no one at the club given a clue to what happens next - what the process is likely to involve before there is a new manager?

Agreed. The other problem McCabe has given himself is that if Morgan and Unsworth are now overlooked for the top jobs, will they be happy to simply go back to doing their previous jobs with the Academy /U 21s?

It seems unlikely that they will to me, which means that McCabe now has to recruit and fund replacements for Wilson, Barlow, Morgan and Unsworth. All change again for the Academy when Unsworth has only been here a few months and the likes of Hoyland have already commented on how there has been no continuity. If McCabe had just left Wilson in place until the end of the season, he'd probably only need to have replaced him and Barlow.

Short-term, knee-jerking decisions made by a man who doesn't even see most of the matches (try watching on Blades Player Kevin!). He flies in for a few days twice a year, sells a player/sacks a manager and then scuttles back to his Belgian lair. Let someone else make this decision please Mr McCabe, they can't do any worse!

 

[blade too long]

just a thought if Moyes leaves Everton to replace Fergie 2 of the managers in the top 4 longevity stakes are gone and for probably the first time in history the average length of service for managers (and k jackett 6 years gone too) of all 92 managers will average under 12 months, how weird is that

 

[Jostein Flo]

Short-term, knee-jerking decisions made by a man who doesn't even see most of the matches (try watching on Blades Player Kevin!). He flies in for a few days twice a year, sells a player/sacks a manager and then scuttles back to his Belgian lair. Let someone else make this decision please Mr McCabe, they can't do any worse!

Just on this point about McCabe. Assuming that he doesn't watch most games and the he relies on the chairman/board members to feed back information on the football side, would someone in a position of Director of Football actually be a good idea for us? I'm just thinking along the lines that footballing knowledge of board members in general seems to be poor and senior business positions in our football club seems to change with the seasons, a director of football with actual knowledge and valid opinions on how the team are progressing could be of great worth.

Provided we got in someone competent who knows their stuff this could provide a level of stability behind the scenes, aid in managerial transitions (like Swansea/West Brom as has been mentioned), help with scouting, player acquisition etc... As has been mentioned before it's very hard to find a managerial candidate who ticks all the boxes, so why not split the responsibility.

Of course all of the above is based on appointing the right person to that role... and that would mean McCabe appointing someone who may have to tell him things he doesn't want to hear... so it'll never happen.

 

[blade too long]

job titles dont win titles

if someone comes in as Supreme Emperor of the Universe and we didnt go up he gets a shoe thrown at him

 

[Jostein Flo]

Well yeah... appointing someone as "Grand Poobah of the John Street" isn't going to make us world beaters obviously, and I'm not suggesting it would.

My suggestion was based more around someone with actual footballing experience who could act as a liaison between the manager and an owner who doesn't see the games. I'm pretty sure it's McCabe who does the hiring and firing rather than whatever puppet chairman we have installed.

Was just a suggestion for change which might put an end to the knee jerk reactions we've seen with managers and maybe relieve some pressure from managers who are perhaps better at the coaching side than the 'admin' side of the job.

 

[mpjacko]

Can't help but think the best manager for the job is the one we sacked just last month.

Not at all. He deserved to be sacked.

 

[mpjacko]

Wilson should have been given the season, end of.

Wilson should have motivated his players, end of.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Agreed. The other problem McCabe has given himself is that if Morgan and Unsworth are now overlooked for the top jobs, will they be happy to simply go back to doing their previous jobs with the Academy /U 21s?

It seems unlikely that they will to me, which means that McCabe now has to recruit and fund replacements for Wilson, Barlow, Morgan and Unsworth. All change again for the Academy when Unsworth has only been here a few months and the likes of Hoyland have already commented on how there has been no continuity. If McCabe had just left Wilson in place until the end of the season, he'd probably only need to have replaced him and Barlow.

Short-term, knee-jerking decisions made by a man who doesn't even see most of the matches (try watching on Blades Player Kevin!). He flies in for a few days twice a year, sells a player/sacks a manager and then scuttles back to his Belgian lair. Let someone else make this decision please Mr McCabe, they can't do any worse!

Why would they not want to stay and continue working at the Academy?

If United actually interview this time round and appoint a manager with experience and a plan of attack then I see no reason why Morgan and Unsworth can't continue working together with the youngsters, preparing them for the 1st team which they will be a part of.

I can't see them choosing unemployment.