Devaney style

To be honest I’d sooner have someone with first team experience but I’d sooner him than another left field appointment of a random from continental Europe. But the managerial appointment, whilst important, is secondary to the squad to be honest.

You aren’t right to assume we will keep everyone under contract I’m afraid.

There will be a £7-£8million hole to fill with relegation. There will be contractual wage cuts, maybe some admin staff and internal job losses.

But Khaled is on record as saying we will have to sell to plug the gap. Any saleable asset is available. I’d be amazed if many (surprised if any) of Collins, Helik, Styles, Morris and Woodrow are still here. I’d also expect Brittain and Andersen to be sold if there was interest. I imagine Oxford might have an option to buy Kane - and whilst I’d have him back, I’d expect them to take that too.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the team next season was:

Walton

Williams Moon Kitching Oduor

Christie-Davies Wolfe Benson Hondermarck

Iseka Cole

Though we will bring some players in too

 

He lacks experience but league 1 would be more forgiving and he knows the club inside out and is popular with the fans so why not' he would certainly be better than someone from the Austrian 2nd division..

 

I love the club but I would also be a **** choice

 

I'm not bothered what nationality they are. I just want to play a style of football that suits or players strengths and masks their weakness. I want experience of the job at hand - someone that has shown they are capable of gaining promotion or at least a winning mentality.

Whether this person is Austrian, Indian or from Gawber - it doesn't matter.

 

Schopp came from the Austrian Bundesliga. The issue wasn't the league he came from. It was that he was a weak and not very good coach. Nevertheless Devaney's cv is less impressive than Schopp's. What has he achieved as a coach?
That's not to say he's not the right choice. Given the chance he may be great but that will be dependent on his characteristics as a person and a coach, not where he comes from.
You have to wonder at our selection criteria though. I saw Asbaghi's last game in charge of the Sweden U21s and saw a side that was passive, side to side, lacked dynamism and lost a game whefe they dominated possession to a last minute winner. It seemed the last type of approach we needed to rally a confidence shattered group of players at Barnsley.
Given the financial hole we're about to be in I reckon Devaney might have a chance. Cheap options are going to be top of the agenda I'm afraid.

 

If that's the team to achieve promotion next season then it's not happening, there all damaged goods too many wimps, we'd be better off recruiting a new first xi .

 

There was an interview with either Devaney or Harban where they were talking about the academy teams playing a high press, so I guess they’re still playing the same style as previous seasons. Though I’ve not seen any games to confirm it.

I wouldn’t be against giving it to Devaney. I just whoever we appoint to represent an acknowledgment that the attempt to change the style of play was a mistake, because trying to be a deep lying counter attacking team won’t work in league 1, with a novice midfield.

I think this will be the 11 we can keep, and then hopefully build on

Walton
Williams (though how long will he be out for?)
Kitching
Moon
Odour
Aitchison
Wolfe
Benson
Thomas
Cole
Iseka

How much we can strengthen from that would depend on what fees we can get for Helik and Styles and any other players we have no chance of keeping.

 

Proof that there is a parallel universe.

 

Academy plays exactly the same as the first team. Same formation and for example if the goalkeeper has the ball, two defenders come into the box to pass short to and play it out from the back.

 

We don't want to ruin devaney, I like devaney being in the dugout to be the one who helps in the dugout when we get new managers or change in different personel, a kind of continuous face in there who knows the club. The team selection you've put on really is all the dross we've got left isn't it and it scares the he'll out of me, we'd be closer to bottom than top and I would rather just start a new xi from scratch.

 

One thing I know about Devaney: he bench presses 100kg. I know this because he goes to the same gym as my work colleague.

What can I deduce from this? Not much, but 100kg for someone of his build is tough. I'm twice his size and couldn't get anywhere near it.

I don't believe our owners will promote from within when selecting a first team coach. I would imagine they have a list of European coaches who interest them that none of us have ever heard of. Selecting a head coach on how much they can bench press is clearly nuts. However, it makes me believe Devaney is focused, driven and a hard worker. Doesn't mean he'll be a good coach, but if it did somehow work out that he got the role, I'd back him.

 

That’s not the view of the people I know who watch them, especially the u18s. According to them they’ve seen some ‘cracking’ games. Potentially we have some very promising youngsters, but as we all know, that doesn’t guarantee that they’ll be a success here, or anywhere else. This is the case with a lot club’s of youth set-ups.

 

Can no one please mention Hugo Colace either. Didn’t do anything much in the Welsh 2nd Division at a part time club so probably less experienced than Poya and Schopp. Fully expect our owners to go down this route as he will be avail, willing and cheap.

 

The most saleable will be Helik and Styles, as their agents, who must have played a role in promoting them to their international bodies, are also likely to want to find the best future option for them as well, touting them as full internationals. Woodrow may leave, as he is seen as a Championship standard striker, but i could see him going for not a lot more than a million - two would be dreamland. It depends if he wants out, as he has been so loyal to the club over the time he has been here. There might be some players freed, but I don't think that clubs are awash with cash, other than premiership, or parachute championship sides, so we may end up with less movement for cash than we think. The board MUST now be pragmatic and go for a UK manager with experience in League/Championship. My number one target would be Neil Critcheley, who has worked wonders with a very average squad at Blackpool. Before you say he won't drop down a division, he won't be on high wages at Blackpool and may fancy a challenge, but at the right price, which would be worth paying. My second one would be Michael Duff at Cheltenham, again for the same reasons. He would definitely be affordable and has a great record at bringing on good youngsters - well connected also with clubs from higher divisions. Likes to play with wing backs in a 3-5-2 formation. Those would be my best two. If we go for another European young coach with no EFL experience, I could see us struggling again with the competitiveness of a strong league. Hope not. We could do with better recruitment as well and have someone i/c who can persuade Kane, Thomas and Aitchison that their future lies at Oakwell. Just my thought doodle.

 

Kane ,Thomas and Aitchison are under contract, so unless we want to sell, then they stay here, and even if they want to stay and we want to sell, they’ll go. I don’t think persuasion comes into it

 

Especially when the club have said quite clearly (for once) they need to sell to make up 7/8 million of lost revenue and that’s before you even think about the salary cap.

 

Happier than with Ashbagi.

 

Tbf we escape the salary cap first season.

 

Let's see what happens with sales, there isn't that much money out there for league 1 standard players. I'm sure Conway would love to pull in £10m+ for Collins Morris Styles Helik Woodrow but more likely they will not get anywhere near that so it would make more sense to give it a big push next season to get back rather than let them go for next to nothing.

 

I’m a big fan of Devaney but he needs to start in League 2 for me. He’s only ever managed at under 23 level. He’s dying to get into management though. Applied recently for the Cheltenham job before Duff got it.