Let's get something right - NONE of us know how it will pan out with any of the managers in the frame. Who'd have thought Wilson would lead us to the Prem? Who'd have thought Jewell would take Bradford to the Prem? Who would imagine that other "big name" managers would flop at bigger clubs? (Souness etc) By all means have a preference on who should come in, but sweeping statements: "We're down if we get Robins" are just ridiculous. Alot of it will be down to luck anyway - how the players bond with the incoming manager, team spirit etc. Is it too much to ask that a new manager, whoever it is*, gets a warm welcome & a fair crack of the whip, before a ball is kicked? *Kevin Blackwell excluded - if he ever became manager I'd start watching Stocksbridge.
RE: Given a choice between a League 2 unproven novice manager Yes but the point is you have no idea how he will/ would do. Wilson was unproven, he gave us the best season in the club's history. Just give whoever it is a chance. Cryne must be ready to jack it all in if he reads some of the rubbish on here.
are u expecting him to come back of his jollies to discover rowings sacked him?? PMSL "Thats another fine mess you've got me into Rowing!!!!!!!!!!!"
Great post I don't know if anyone has stopped to pinch themselves recently, but demanding that we go out and get Steve Coppell or Alan Curbishley is a little bit like us needing a new centre half and suggesting that Sol Campbell is on the go at the moment - so why don't we just go and get him in? It takes a considerable package to attract someone of that nature - not just the salary you pay them, or a signing on fee - you have to make guarantees about resources being available, transfer funds, pay-offs if things don't go so well, the back room staff they want to bring with them - and of course, you have to compete with anyone else who is likely to offer them the job (any number of managers are bound to lose their jobs any time now). The chances of us landing Alan Curbishley, we have to accept, are somewhat remote. I'm not saying it couldn't happen - but let's face it, most of the time, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it. Now then, putting Coppell, Curbishley, Jewell, Dick Advocaate etc etc to one side - look at the alternatives. Aidie Boothroyde - Mr Long Ball himself. It's not really Barnsley Football Club that is it? You can say what you want, but we're not a long ball side. Let's not go into that. Eric Winstanley is a legend - but he's knocking on a bit now you know. That being said I wish he was still at the club. Neil Redfearn is a legend - but I'm not convinced he's the same legend as a manager (maybe a coach - I don't know) Danny Wilson is my first choice. I'll not make any bones about that. The fella from Hearts is a nut case - so it has been said. Mark Robbins - an up and coming manager who has been doing well for a local side. Has been cutting his teeth, gathering a lot of praise a long the way. Making his mistakes and learning his lessons on someone elses time and money. Probably ready for a step up, always likely to play attractive football. Yes it's a gamble - but we're not Manchester United. We don't bring in the finished article - we have to make compromises and gamble on the appointments we make. We all know how scarey that can be - but I've got faith that if Mark Robbins comes to this football club of ours, we should get behind him give him and the team unconditional support and we should all sincerely hope for the best (and not be sat here behind keyboards making snide comments or saying 'I told you so' etc etc). Crickey - bloke hasn't even arrived and people are hurling disparaging comments at him. What any other prospective candidate much be thinking reading the comments I don't know.
Time you got another phone call I think Its down to opinions none of us know for sure what is behind the decision I am fairly sure that Davey would have had us relegated with crowds of less than 8000 by the end of the season I have no idea what Robbins would do but would rather risk him than stick with Davey We may go down under him a la Parkin - or he may turn out to be a pretty good manager at this level as well He has a better squad than Parkin had so I dont think the comparison is necessarily valid in any case I would have preferred Curbishly or Jewell but there may be good reasons why they arent suitable - they might not even want the job.
I'll back whoever the board appoints. It'll take a hell of a lot to stop me going down to Oakwell. That said, I don't have to like it nor do I see any sense in it. Cryne has already demonstrated his willingness to invest significant transfer funds on keeping us in this division. For examples see Hume, Hammill, contract improvements for the likes of JCR and Anderson. That being the case, why are we not willing to invest similar amounts to lure the likes of Jewell, Coppell et al. Perhaps I'm being naive and they wouldn't come, perhaps they have already been approached... I just can't understand why we are gambling. And I know any manager is to come extent a gamble but it's all relative. Giving Jewell/Boothroyd the job would be a lesser risk simply due to the fact that they have been successful in this division before. John Dennis rectified an error in appointing Hendrie by giving the most experienced and capable candidate the job next time round in Bassett. Not everyone liked him (myself included) but you knew what you were going to get and that was a competitive side in that division. I would have liked for Cryne to have recognised that giving a young manager a chance has proven to be unsuccessful, why repeat the mistake?
Agree to a certain extent - what I'm saying is that no-one knows how it will pan out. SM states he wants Jewell - well he was a "novice" at Bradford... all managers start somewhere. I have no idea even if Robins will be appointed, or if Cryne is thinking of a Robins plus experienced coach (Bryan Kidd) partnership.No-one knows anything yet, and we already have negativity & moaning. As for Robins, well I would probably prefer a more experienced manager myself (for reasons you have stated), but I'm willing to give Robins a chance if he comes. He's seen the most successful British manager at work so I'm guessing he may have learnt something.
Totally agree that no-one knows, clearly none of us have a crystal ball and we didn't predict the success we had from the unproven Ritchie and Wilson. I'm saying that any negativity (or moaning) is in my opinion wholly justified. We've sacked Davey, few would argue that was the correct decision. We are currently facing what in my opinion would be up there with the most disasterous relegations in our history. We managed to claw our ways out of League 1 last time but there was a hell of a lot of luck, play offs etc. I think relegation this time would see us adrift from the Championship for many years. With that in mind the most sensible decision is to go for a safe pair of hands, someone who has been successful elsewhere at this level. I don't think Robins' CV suggests to me that he can provide that. Re. the experience coach. I assume this is to address the lack of football experience at the top level at the club, board etc. Cryne has already admitted he has little experience or indeed willingness to help the manager with the day to day stuff. I'm not against a 'director of football' type appointment but it would be an error to throw two people together. Personality clashes etc could be disastrous. Again, with that in mind why not just appoint an experienced manager in the first place and do without the help? Like I said though, I'll back the new man. I'm not the type to boo or whatever at the games but I truly hope Robins isn't appointed.
RE: If Mark Robins is the measure of 'our' ambition Why are you banging on about ambition all of a sudden?? You were happy for Davey to piss money away and finish 20th every season - now you're wanting someone to take the club forward. The thing is after seeing Davey in action for nigh on three years I'm convinced that he would never have taken us any further - based on nothing why are you convinced Robins can't?
It appears to me and this is just my opinion that 'The Board' might be scared of employing someone who might have 'independent' opinions and not be scared to voice them. I might be wrong, but I bet I'm not.
RE: Given a choice between a League 2 unproven novice manager But since Wilson was the one off we've had a list of unproven young managers who have failed managing us. Davey, Spackman, Parkin spring to mind.