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The performances and results this season have - rightly - got many of us excited; however, the restructuring and change in attitude off the pitch has been just as (if not more) important. This piece looks at how Warnock has fit seamlessly into this culture shift...
http://thefootballchap.com/archive/c...b-transformed/
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It's a nicely-couched resume of everything of which we are aware - and, yes, the foundations have been laid for the future.
I believe an important aspect in our progress has been Tan's education in footballing matters and applaudable willingness to learn which has resulted from rubbing shoulders with the great and the good at the other clubs in which he has an interest. This takes humility.
Already we optimistically anticipate life in the Premiership - a far cry from a season ago. But history teaches us that Warlock's methods do not work so well in this rarefied atmosphere - he has lasted a matter of months at other clubs after promotion. Sad but true. The whole business model is raised a few gears then - the new buys although maybe from lower divisions at home and in Europe, become more expensive. If Tan is looking to the Leicester experience for a plan, a wise old head like Ranieri, backed by a coach with nous may well be the way to go - and Warlock can enjoy a deserved retirement with the warm knowledge of yet another record-breaking promotion having been achieved.
My main question is, when will the the great unwashed local public wake up to the revolution that is happening at CCS and trickle through the turnstiles. Crowds are nowhere near the levels of the Malkie promotion season - and yet the football and results so far have been better.
Good read, enjoyed that. Only criticism, being colour blind I found it quite difficult to read on the orange (?) background with the white text so resorted to copying it to Word.
Not a bad read but a few things I don't agree with in the article.
1. I don't think Bellamy involvement at the club has anything to do with Warnock. He was involved before Neil arrived.
2. Trollope right man at the wrong time? Not for me. He's a classic case of great coach who can't cut it as a manager ala Brian Kidd.
3. Slade getting too much credit for the cost cutting. Dahlman and co decided to get the big earners off the wage bill Slade was just the puppet at the front. What little money he did have to spend apart from Scott Malone he didn't spend well.
Very good read-pretty much as it happened.
Given our last experience I am not sure that I would welcome prem football with open arms. The Championship is a great leaguevening, particular when we are having a good season. The Premier, for teams like City can be soul destroying.
The new stadium effect influenced crowds in Malky's era. Our championship norm is probably a few thousand lower, but will gradually return with success. I anticipate getting on for 22k Saturday.
Agree with 1 and 2, and to a certain extent 3 but he still kept us treading water. Football was crap but he was streets ahead of his replacement and predecessor. Find it odd that if Trollope is a highly rated coach, why every single player was a shadow of their former selves. Slade probably deserves some credit there for being passable.
Also, he signed Peltier, Kennedy, Ajayi (sold for a fee) and was there when we signed Saadi and Zohore. SOK isn't terrible either. He did sign a lot of dross though, granted.
Totally agree with this, especially the point about Warnock not lasting long at his Prem clubs. I thought he was actually really unlucky with Palace though - he had them playing very direct, pacy football with tricky wingers and athletes throughout the team (sound familiar?) - the only thing he was missing was a goalscorer who could get him 20 goals a season at that level.
I'm actually thinking of changing the layout - thanks for the feedback.
Appreciate your take on it - that's what its meant to do. Whilst Bellamy's involvement does indeed pre-date Warnock's arrival, his "repositioning" within the club to a far more responsible role is of Warnock's doing. Trollope will always divide opinion but whilst it didn't work out for him he at least tried to do the right thing. As for the Slade / Dalman point, correct me if I'm wrong but I attribute that equally within the article?
At any rate, it was worth posting just to get the thumbs of approval from theotherbobwilson!
Most of Slade's signings were duds. But (in addition to Scott Malone) I would add Lee Peltier to the short list of successes, along with Stuart O'Keefe for a crucial 4 month spell when he became a midfield dynamo just when we needed one.
Good article to kick off the thread.
Nice piece
Good read, enjoyed that.
O'Keefe was good during the second half of 15/16 and Peltier may not be spectacular, but maybe we needed a bit more "specialist" defending in a back line that contained a few who want to be footballers as much as defenders.
As far as Malone goes, I'd say he was an okay signing who needed to go to Fulham to develop into the player he sometimes hinted at being here and, even then, Spurs exploited his defensive weaknesses in that FA Cup match last season - he can be Premier League quality going forward, but I think it'll be a much different matter when he's got to defend at that level, Jazz Richards has been a better player for Cardiff City than Malone was in my opinion.
One name you didn't mention is Matt Kennedy. I think the odds are that he'll leave us having not played much in the last few seasons and develop into a good lower league winger, but there's still a chance he could establish himself here and, maybe, net us a tidy profit when he moves on.
Very nice mate,but you'll never get a four pager because its too sensible and agreeable.
Sorry forgot about Peltier but we will have to agree to disagree on the rest. Slade had nothing to do with Saadi and Zohore, Kennedy has been with us 2.5 years and played a handful of games, and I don't rate SOK at all. As for getting a few quid for Ajayi it was so minimal I doubt it covered half the wages he was paid.
I honestly think we did ok in spite of Slade, not because of him, because we still had a decent squad of players who were here before he arrived.
I'm sorry my hatred for Slade is almost as irrational as my hatred for Phil Taylor. I just can't find it in myself to give him any credit, I think he's the biggest fraud in league football.
Fair summation in general but you appear to be advocating getting rid of Warnock if we achieve promotion this season, whereas I would say that he would deserve at least one season in the Prem and the opportunity to make his own decision as to when to step aside. To do what he has done so far and ultimately get us promoted would be nothing short of a miracle. He has managed before in the premiership at Sheff Utd, Crystal Palace and QPR, so has considerable experience at that level as well and his reasons for leaving each of these clubs was as much related to change of owners and financial considerations, as to poor performance. To get rid of him at the time of probably his greatest achievement would be totally the wrong thing to do.
Last edited by dml1954; 22-08-17 at 09:49. Reason: Spelling mistake
But he does seem to be keen on maintaining a significant role at the club - advisory on the Board, mentor to new manager, or maybe Director of Football. I think he could probably write his own job description. Even if he stays on for another season as manager (in whatever league we find ourselves) there will need to be some very serious continuity planning so that the club builds on the Warnock revolution and doesn't just go back to square one.
The other thing to consider is the whole management team and what future they will have when Warnock stands down. The romantic option is to promote Bellamy with Blackwell, Jepson and Dibble staying in place, but I doubt Bellamy will be ready in time (if ever). A caretaker period under Blackwell wouldn't be the worst option if the club is still in this league and needs more time to find a long-term successor.