Club Statement

[Brend'Watkins]

McLeish broke his contract, whereas another available manager in Mark Hughes merely activated a mutually agreed break clause in his contract.  I'd say Hughes acted with far more integrity than McLeish, who on taking Blues down jumped ship for a bigger club rather than honouring his contract and trying to get them back up again.

There's a chasm of difference between working for Al Fayed and Carson Yeung.  I'm astonished he lasted so long, I'm also amazed he put up with all the shit that came his way under the previous regime. 

Blues are nothing but a Championship side at best, it's always been the way. McLeash gave them their best moment in the club's history, what he achieved there we all thought impossible, he had success there we can't argue with that.  Had the league campaign finished 3 minutes earlier than it did would have made him one of the managers of the season.  It was that close, most would then have seen him as a good appointment.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

[Risso]

McLeish broke his contract, whereas another available manager in Mark Hughes merely activated a mutually agreed break clause in his contract.  I'd say Hughes acted with far more integrity than McLeish, who on taking Blues down jumped ship for a bigger club rather than honouring his contract and trying to get them back up again.

There's a chasm of difference between working for Al Fayed and Carson Yeung.  I'm astonished he lasted so long, I'm also amazed he put up with all the shit that came his way under the previous regime. 

Blues are nothing but a Championship side at best, it's always been the way. McLeash gave them their best moment in the club's history, what he achieved there we all thought impossible, he had success there we can't argue with that.  Had the league campaign finished 3 minutes earlier than it did would have made him one of the managers of the season.  It was that close, most would then have seen him as a good appointment.

Blues played THE most atrocious football in the division.  Manager of the year my arse.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Blues played THE most atrocious football in the division.  Manager of the year my arse.

My Blues mate said halfway during last season.

'I've been supporting Blues for over 40 years, the way we play now is comfortably the most boring and negative football i've ever seen.'

[Concrete John]

Selective ahoy.

And that is pretty much my point.

When his detractors comment, as they are entitled to do, it's always the two Blues relegations that are brought up.  And rightly so as they are big black marks against him.  However he has had some successes and these are all but forgotten.  He's not an awful manager and neither is he a very good one - he's average.  Yes, I want better than that, but now he has the job I'll give him the chance to prove he is better than that.   

[Eigentor]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

But isn't it equally selective to ignore his successes and focus on his relegations?

Judging from his recent record (getting 9th in 2009/10 by almost fielding the same eleven every match; winning the Carling Cup with no little help from luck; getting relegated when experiencing injury problems), my guess is that he's pretty good at keeping a ship steady and pretty lousy at stopping a free-fall.

[Chris Smith]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Brend'Watkins]

McLeish broke his contract, whereas another available manager in Mark Hughes merely activated a mutually agreed break clause in his contract.  I'd say Hughes acted with far more integrity than McLeish, who on taking Blues down jumped ship for a bigger club rather than honouring his contract and trying to get them back up again.

There's a chasm of difference between working for Al Fayed and Carson Yeung.  I'm astonished he lasted so long, I'm also amazed he put up with all the shit that came his way under the previous regime. 

Blues are nothing but a Championship side at best, it's always been the way. McLeash gave them their best moment in the club's history, what he achieved there we all thought impossible, he had success there we can't argue with that.  Had the league campaign finished 3 minutes earlier than it did would have made him one of the managers of the season.  It was that close, most would then have seen him as a good appointment.

Blues played THE most atrocious football in the division.  Manager of the year my arse.

Yes, the standard of football Blues played in the division was awful but they weren't as bad a footballing side as West ham or Blackburn when the came to VP.  They won the league cup against Arsenal too by being the better overall team on the day.

I haven't a clue how McLeash will set his stall out with our lot but I expect it will be far more fluid than what he dished up at Blues, but it should be, we have a better squad.

Answer me this, is AM a better option than MON?

 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

But isn't it equally selective to ignore his successes and focus on his relegations?

Judging from his recent record (getting 9th in 2009/10 by almost fielding the same eleven every match; winning the Carling Cup with no little help from luck; getting relegated when experiencing injury problems), my guess is that he's pretty good at keeping a ship steady and pretty lousy at stopping a free-fall.

I'm happy to acknowledge the Carling Cup was a very good achievement (although it was at the expense of their Premier League place)
9th was good going for them as well.

Bollocks to any tinpot Scootish honours though - Meaningless.

Looking at his overall record, I still think 'average' is a flattering way to describe him.

He's still a 'sub-standard' appointment for a club of our magnitude.

[pauliewalnuts]

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His record in England is indeed mixed - you're right, it is a mixture of a promotion and a league cup and two relegations, carried out with dire football.  The two relegations carry more weight than the good things, though, that's the important bit.

Not assuming he'll be crap is one thing, but ignoring his at best mediocre overall record is another entirely.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

 

One trophy - League cup. You were less impressed with the FA cup win of 'Arry Redknapp when it was pointed out to you.

Promotion - Well done, who relegated them in the first place?

It's more bad than good i'm afraid.

[Brend'Watkins]

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His record in England is indeed mixed - you're right, it is a mixture of a promotion and a league cup and two relegations, carried out with dire football.  The two relegations carry more weight than the good things, though, that's the important bit.

Not assuming he'll be crap is one thing, but ignoring his at best mediocre overall record is another entirely.

You have to factor in who he was managing and under what circumstances.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His record in England is indeed mixed - you're right, it is a mixture of a promotion and a league cup and two relegations, carried out with dire football.  The two relegations carry more weight than the good things, though, that's the important bit.

Not assuming he'll be crap is one thing, but ignoring his at best mediocre overall record is another entirely.

You have to factor in who he was managing and under what circumstances.

It's results at the end of the day Bren, mitigating circumstances won't cut any ice when you've tumbled out of the Premiership.

[Chris Smith]

So if we ignore the team he relegated 1st time around, even though he took over in November when they were in 16th position. And we ignore the team he took down last season by concentrating on a point in the season before it ended. He isn't such a bad candidate?

You're right, he does look much better from that perspective ;-)

I'm glad you've cleared that up because whenever anyone has said "You can't blame the first relegation on him" I've just assumed that he took over late on in the season, say March time; if he was there in November then it's a piss-poor excuse, frankly.

Piss poor excuse indeed.
We're staring to get into the territory of

'Well, if you ignore the two relegations, he's actually a very good Manager'

Selective ahoy.

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

 

One trophy - League cup. You were less impressed with the FA cup win of 'Arry Redknapp when it was pointed out to you.

Promotion - Well done, who relegated them in the first place?

It's more bad than good i'm afraid.

]

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His record in England is indeed mixed - you're right, it is a mixture of a promotion and a league cup and two relegations, carried out with dire football.  The two relegations carry more weight than the good things, though, that's the important bit.

Not assuming he'll be crap is one thing, but ignoring his at best mediocre overall record is another entirely.

I'm not ignoring it, I'm just not choosing to to spend my days banging on about it endlessly.

I said at the time of his appointment that he had a clean slate and I would judge him on the job he does for us. That hasn't changed. I'm not sure what is to be achieved by constantly going on about how you don't rate him.

[Brend'Watkins]

Or if you ignore the trophies and promotions he's a shit manager.

His record is mixed and rather than assume that he'll be crap I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His record in England is indeed mixed - you're right, it is a mixture of a promotion and a league cup and two relegations, carried out with dire football.  The two relegations carry more weight than the good things, though, that's the important bit.

Not assuming he'll be crap is one thing, but ignoring his at best mediocre overall record is another entirely.

You have to factor in who he was managing and under what circumstances.

It's results at the end of the day Bren, mitigating circumstances won't cut any ice when you've tumbled out of the Premiership.

You know as well as I that Blues are no better than a championship side, that's pretty much always been the case.  To get them their highest league placing in over 50 years under the circumstances he had to manage is a remarkable achievement.  Blues winning a meaningful trophy is a remarkable achievement.  Admittedly, his copy book is blotted with last year's relegation but for a few minutes it could have been all so different and your's and others perception of him would have been totally different.

I remember 3 years ago discussions on here (Blues most successful season for 50 years) stating McLeish was a better manager than MON.