Sky sports 1 now

[Sensiblade]

O'drisscoll footballing wise would be a good choice, but he has less personality than Robson!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Do you think O'Driscoll would be worth the £1.5 million it would probably take to buy out his contract?
You know we are in agreement about SoD being a great choice but is it realistic?

Finally do you think Speed has had a large say in the tactics and first team we've seen under Blackwell. I would say Ellis had more input than just a coach.

£1.5M would be recouped in ticket sales over the season IMO. 22K yesterday for the opening game of the season with the Warnock/Paddy factor should send alarm bells around the boardroom and they have to get the fans back on side. Many of the rumoured potential candidates wouldn't do that which is why IMO we have to go for O'Driscoll and show that the club wants to change its style for good.

 

[lenners]

Do you think O'Driscoll would be worth the £1.5 million it would probably take to buy out his contract?
You know we are in agreement about SoD being a great choice but is it realistic?

Finally do you think Speed has had a large say in the tactics and first team we've seen under Blackwell. I would say Ellis had more input than just a coach.

But what's the cost of another appointment which ends the same as Blackwell or Robson? What price do you put on re-invigorating United from top to bottom and making people genuinely enthusiastic about going to the Lane again?
Short-term I'd suggest an increase in gates would help financially but longer term you could be setting something in place worth millions to the club.
Not that I really want it to be all about money. I'm sick of United only being discussed in terms of £s and want to be able to just enjoy watching 11 players actually enjoying themselves, having a go at expressing themselves, loving possession and keeping to those principles.

 

[lenners]

Len, would you be anti-Speed from the off or can you see what he might have to offer?

Not really anti-Speed but relative to the likes of O'Driscoll I can see a big difference. Speed will also have the inevitable problem of being linked to what we've seen since he's been on the coaching staff.
It would feel like a gamble which may well result in him having to leave (and another pay-off) and being back to square one.
We have to make the right appointment and I'm not sure he has the credentials.

 

[lenners]

O'drisscoll footballing wise would be a good choice, but he has less personality than Robson!

There must be something in his personality which works with footballers - which would appear to be the most important element of any manager's personality.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

But what's the cost of another appointment which ends the same as Blackwell or Robson? What price do you put on re-invigorating United from top to bottom and making people genuinely enthusiastic about going to the Lane again?
Short-term I'd suggest an increase in gates would help financially but longer term you could be setting something in place worth millions to the club.
Not that I really want it to be all about money. I'm sick of United only being discussed in terms of £s and want to be able to just enjoy watching 11 players actually enjoying themselves, having a go at expressing themselves, loving possession and keeping to those principles.

You know what Len, that is the best thought out and balanced post I think I've ever seen you make.

The only thing it relies on an assumption that SoD will be an success, and pretty quickly.

I can see Speed given the reins till the end of the season before SoD is considered at the end of the season at the earliest.
I believe Donny were sounded out about his release clause though in the summer when there was a very strong rumour that SoD was being considered.

 

[alcoblade]

There must be something in his personality which works with footballers - which would appear to be the most important element of any manager's personality.

If we can't get S.O.D, who would you go for from the list of possible candidates put up by the pundits?

UTB

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Isn't a good coach one who does exactly what the manager tells him to do, rather than what he thinks should be done?

How many here would still have a job if they constantly told the boss he was shit and didn't know what he was doing?


Mmmm, time to get real on the Speed issue. He bides his time, keeps his thoughts and ideas to himself, and waits until he's given the opportunity to try them out. Just like all the rest of us would. Anyone else prepared to give up their ideas and thoughts to keep the boss in a job and themselves out of it?

 

[Worksop II]

Why would SUFC sell a Player to Doncaster for O`Driscoll to manage, then invite O`Driscoll here

 

[alcoblade]

The only thing it relies on an assumption that SoD will be an success, and pretty quickly.

But if ever there was an appetite for a change in style, it's now. And let's be honest, none of the previous umpteen managers have done much in there first season or two, so why would O'Driscol be under any more pressure?

UTB

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

If it's Gary megson as manager expect another exodus of around 5000 fans. Never ever appoint a pig as manager.

 

[Sensiblade]

But if ever there was an appetite for a change in style, it's now. And let's be honest, none of the previous umpteen managers have done much in there first season or two, so why would O'Driscol be under any more pressure?

UTB

Kendell & Blackwell did a pretty decent job in their first seasons in charge of us.

 

[alcoblade]

Kendell & Blackwell did a pretty decent job in their first seasons in charge of us.

pretty decent - yes - but it resulted in us playing in the same division the year after. I think an improvement in playing style would be considred an equal step forward by most, right now. And whoever's in charge wont have the resources on the pitch that those 2 had.

UTB

 

[lenners]

If we can't get S.O.D, who would you go for from the list of possible candidates put up by the pundits?

UTB

Don't know. I'm interested in O'Driscoll because he's got a modest team playing great football and seems to have integrity about him.

 

[alcoblade]

Don't know. I'm interested in O'Driscoll because he's got a modest team playing great football and seems to have integrity about him.

I agree entirely - but as premiership Burnley couldn't entice him away, it's doubtful we could. You shouldn't use the club's failure to do so (if so) as another stick to beat them with (but you will, wont you......). You must have a second choice? Mine's Speed - with all the same concerns that you've pointed out.

UTB

 

[Sensiblade]

pretty decent - yes - but it resulted in us playing in the same division the year after. I think an improvement in playing style would be considred an equal step forward by most, right now. And whoever's in charge wont have the resources on the pitch that those 2 had.

UTB

The style of play and getting the Heart back in United is the most important thing I agree.
We as fans are equally as important as whoever comes in as manager, we need to get behind the team 100% and not keep on with the having a go for the sake of it attitude that has been around this last season or so.
The new manager will not be very encouraged if we are all still being miserable chuffs

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

But if ever there was an appetite for a change in style, it's now. And let's be honest, none of the previous umpteen managers have done much in there first season or two, so why would O'Driscol be under any more pressure?

UTB

Totally agree, but our fans are terribly fickle and if results turn while SoD is changing the style of play they will be P&G asking for his head.

As for Burnley failing they were always onto a hiding to nothing. They don't have the support to maintain that level without a "sugar-daddy" chairman.
While I hate reading post bigging us up above our station we certainly have the fanbase and setup to complete on a level playing field with half the Premiership.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

You know what Len, that is the best thought out and balanced post I think I've ever seen you make.

I agree with that!

 

[SotonBlade]

Gonna throw another spanner in the works....Paul Hart anyone??

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Why would SUFC sell a Player to Doncaster for O`Driscoll to manage, then invite O`Driscoll here

John Ebrell anyone - his fee and Kendall's compensation figure were virtually identical from memory. I'm certain we got the rough end of both.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I wanted Paul Hart when Warnock got the job, now I'm not that sure.

Mowbray for me.

 

[S64 Blade]

I agree entirely - but as premiership Burnley couldn't entice him away, it's doubtful we could. You shouldn't use the club's failure to do so (if so) as another stick to beat them with (but you will, wont you......). You must have a second choice? Mine's Speed - with all the same concerns that you've pointed out.

UTB

Would you want to live in Burnley though?

 

[Muttley]

If Smegson got the job I would NEVER go again. End of!!

 

[Bergen Blade]

It's abit rich of Blackwell to be (allegedly) Saying he has brought in £25 million, when a fair whack of those transfers he was opposed to.

Blackwell has been given a budget, which apparantly is comparable to most of the divison's bigger clubs. If it's been his priority to spend the money on lengthy, luxurious contracts for players like Monty, Quinn, Morgan, Cresswell - then that's his choice.

With the amount of players that were out of contract in the summer I saw it as a great chance to rebuild a dull and somewhat ageing squad. But now it seems the budget has been spent, yet we're lacking in both quality and quantity - has the mistakes of Bryan Robson just been repeated?

 

[happyhippy]

I wanted Paul Hart when Warnock got the job, now I'm not that sure.

Mowbray for me.

Previously I wanted Coleman, but I'm swaying more towards Mowbray as well, despite the Celtic débacle.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Blackwell has been given a budget, which apparantly is comparable to most of the divison's bigger clubs. If it's been his priority to spend the money on lengthy, luxurious contracts for players like Monty, Quinn, Morgan, Cresswell - then that's his choice.

With the amount of players that were out of contract in the summer I saw it as a great chance to rebuild a dull and somewhat ageing squad. But now it seems the budget has been spent, yet we're lacking in both quality and quantity - has the mistakes of Bryan Robson just been repeated?

Any scandinavian candidates the board should perhaps be looking at?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Any scandinavian candidates the board should perhaps be looking at?

No, I think the best ones are unavailable at the moment.

I don't know enough about the options in the poll to comment on them. The appointment is cruical though. We must get someone who is up to date tactically and can make us play effective, modern football.

 

[travellingblade]

As I posted elsewhere, my choice, if Speed isn't already in the frame, then I'd jump at Tony Mowbray.

He knows this Division (Championship), and gets his players playing proper football, even though he was ridiculed for it in the Premiership.

He only left West Brom because Celtic came knocking.

 

[Vancouver]

With regards to Megson let's remember his performance during and after the Battle of Bramall Lane. His comments were disgraceful and fit the standards for libel had Warnock wanted to go down that route. I don't even care about his pig connections; it's that single day that makes me despise the obnoxious prick.

 

[Darthblade]

Isn't a good coach one who does exactly what the manager tells him to do, rather than what he thinks should be done?

How many here would still have a job if they constantly told the boss he was shit and didn't know what he was doing?


Mmmm, time to get real on the Speed issue. He bides his time, keeps his thoughts and ideas to himself, and waits until he's given the opportunity to try them out. Just like all the rest of us would. Anyone else prepared to give up their ideas and thoughts to keep the boss in a job and themselves out of it?

I'm inclined to agree with you totally on this point about Speed. I doubt very much, knowing how single minded and arrogant Blackwell was, that anybody but Blackwell had any say in the first team affairs. I doubt very much that Speed would choose to play hoofball with the current squad of players as they have demonstrated on rare occasions that they are more than capable of playing decent football. My concern would be Speedos lack of experience, therefore he would certainly make a better No2 for a more experienced manager/coach. Dont know if he would be happy with that though.
UTB