Time for McCabe to show leadership and banish myths

[Woodwardfan]

That is not overlooked. It has often been used as an after the fact justification for selling Beattie.

As I have said before, what actually happened was:

1. We won a couple of games against weaker teams in the League (Norwich and Watford!) and won a couple of cup games after Beattie went.

2. We then had a run of poor form, with only 1 win in 7 league and cup games (at another poor team - Southampton).

3. After the 4th of these games - the home defeat to the Pigs - Blackwell brought Cotterill back. He also dropped Sharp, who had not scored in 16 league games, around this time.

4. Cotterill's good form, and the excellent form of the best defence we've had in my lifetime, saw us go on a great run. Sharp's non scoring was replaced by the odd goal from the likes of Craig Beattie, which was better than nothing.

5. United lost only one league game after this - 0-1 at Burnley. when Cotterill was dropped.

6. However, we scored only once in the last 4 matches, 2 of which (Forest and Palace) being 0-0 draws and one of the others being the Burnley defeat, and just missed promotion.

The idea that we could not have done even better than that had we kept Beattie and had him in the side rather than, say, Henderson, Sharp, Craig Beattie or Lupoli is laughable IMHO.

"Laughable", ah well. I was one who was glad to see Beattie leave at the time. Not a team player IMO and the team did improve after he left.

Within months Beattie had alienated the Stoke manager, wasn't there a dressing room fight or something? What happened to the player after then, I can't remember.

 

[Revolution]

"Laughable", ah well. I was one who was glad to see Beattie leave at the time. Not a team player IMO and the team did improve after he left.

Within months Beattie had alienated the Stoke manager, wasn't there a dressing room fight or something? What happened to the player after then, I can't remember.

Just because A follows B, it doesn't mean B caused A.

Did Beattie have a dressing room fight? I don't know. What I do know is he saved a struggling Stoke team from relegation with his goals. They stayed in the PL, where they remain to this day. That is good transfer business, for them of course.

Not a team player eh? Well, your opinion of Keith Edwards was the same. The last time I checked, both players helped their team in the best way possible. Goal scoring. Suffice to say you're entitled to your opinions but I don't have much time for this one.

 

[Eshblade]

I understand why Kevin McCabe took a communication backseat since Jim Phipps assumed the role of fronting the club. For whatever reason Jim has gone quiet just when leadership is most needed and McCabe needs to fill the void.

The fans are hurting and without a clear and coherent message from the club, people will make up their own mind - often based on half-truth, rumour and myth.

When things are bad - and let's all be honest, they are dire right now - it's natural to look for someone to blame. Most supporters, for now, seem reluctant to blame Adkins, so the players and the owners get it instead.

McCabe seems to be getting a lot of stick - much of which seems unjustified and based on the aforementioned myths and rumours. Before any bandwagon aimed at his removal gathers pace, there are a few things we should remember:

- his family have put around £90m to the club in chasing the dream.
- despite rumours to the contrary he continues to invest alongside the Prince (I understand another £8m this season alone)
- he is first and foremost a supporter, who actually cares about the club (pretty rare nowadays)

The last two managers (both popular appointments amongst supporters) have been backed financially and given plenty of scope to make their own decisions. The current team cost around £4m in transfer fees and we must have the biggest wage bill after 'parachuting Wigan.'

I'm not saying mistakes haven't been made, including by McCabe, but he is not the reason we're under-performing at present. We probably need him more than ever right now.

I totally agree with this post. with out McCabe we would have gone bust years ago.

 

[Revolution]

I totally agree with this post. with out McCabe we would have gone bust years ago.

Nonsense. Administration at worst.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Just because A follows B, it doesn't mean B caused A.

Did Beattie have a dressing room fight? I don't know. What I do know is he saved a struggling Stoke team from relegation with his goals. They stayed in the PL, where they remain to this day. That is good transfer business, for them of course.

Not a team player eh? Well, your opinion of Keith Edwards was the same. The last time I checked, both players helped their team in the best way possible. Goal scoring. Suffice to say you're entitled to your opinions but I don't have much time for this one.

Every successful team needs a goalscorer or two, no doubt about that.

Beattie and Edwards were great goalscorers who never played in a successful side at the level they should have been capable of IMO. Those two talents should have retired with a cupboard full of meaningful medals.

 

[BushBlade]

Every successful team needs a goalscorer or two, no doubt about that.

Beattie and Edwards were great goalscorers who never played in a successful side at the level they should have been capable of IMO. Those two talents should have retired with a cupboard full of meaningful medals.

Beattie could have been up there with Shearer if he'd not been such a waster. I've very little time for him, despite his goals in his first spell with us. He was a fucking disgrace second time around.