It's hit or bust for McLeish next season. So, what's his plan?

[villanic]

i didnt know that thing about Motherwell, did he really finish in 2nd place with them ?

He took over from Tommy McClean, their most successful manager since WWII, and finished 2nd in his first season as that team was being broken up, players sold for big fees and the money spent on the team. They had won the Scottish Cup the year before. They were then 8th 8th and 9th avoiding relegation by just one place on each occasion.

So he finished 2nd with what was basically someone else’s team and then after it was broken up and he brought in his own players he just survived relegation. Really starting to look forward to next season!

[PaulWinch again]

The Premier League experience bit of our hiring process for the last couple of appointments(more so Mcleish) is the most baffling thing. Why is Premier League experience so important if the experience was largely failure? At least with Houllier he had done pretty well in the Premier League albeit several years before his appointment.
I understand the Premier League experience factor if you're trying to decide between two successful managers like Benetiz and Pellegrini for example. It may be beneficial to have that experience if it was largely successful. However it seems absolutely insane to overlook potential candidates from the continent in favour of someone who has failed in the Premier League, because that manager has managed in the Premier League.

[Monty]

Completely agree, Paul. As soon as they mentioned that in the list of criteria during the process for replacing MON, I hoped it wouldn't come back to haunt them. The Premier League has achieved its level of success and validity largely thanks to those players and managers it has brought in from overseas with the TV money, more so than its own inherent technical qualities (imo the fans and atmospheres are a couple of the biggest inherent 'selling points' of English football). The ethics of that you can question - the reality of its success is unavoidable. The board did not act with a great deal of logic, reason or cold detachment when including that criterion.

[Dante Lavelli]

Completely agree, Paul. As soon as they mentioned that in the list of criteria during the process for replacing MON, I hoped it wouldn't come back to haunt them. The Premier League has achieved its level of success and validity largely thanks to those players and managers it has brought in from overseas with the TV money, more so than its own inherent technical qualities (imo the fans and atmospheres are a couple of the biggest inherent 'selling points' of English football). The ethics of that you can question - the reality of its success is unavoidable. The board did not act with a great deal of logic, reason or cold detachment when including that criterion.

It is and was the most stupid single thing they have done.  Look at the most successful mangers in the Premier League, Ferguson, Wenger, Moyes, Mourinho, Ancelotti, Houllier and Benitez (probably).  None of them had any Prem League experience when they were appointed.

As others have said it does smack of being a holding tactic whilst a buyer is sort out or we get our finances in order.  Almost as if we wanted a manager who would not change things.

[Merv]

Why is Premier League experience so important if the experience was largely failure? 

If you were only able to ask one question in the presence of Lerner and Faulkner, that would be it.

If you think about it, we actually hired one of the least successful managers in PL history.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Why is Premier League experience so important if the experience was largely failure? 

If you were only able to ask one question in the presence of Lerner and Faulkner, that would be it.

I would imagine that if you did ask it of them, Lerner would just make a Well-a well-a well-a James Stewart type noise and Faulkner would just stand there dribbling.

[hawkeye]

Why is Premier League experience so important if the experience was largely failure? 

If you were only able to ask one question in the presence of Lerner and Faulkner, that would be it.

If you think about it, we actually hired one of the least successful managers in PL history.

which shows they dont have a clue,

[brian green]

When I think of McLeish I am reminded of a Welshman I used to employ.

I had a commercial landscaping business and we would travel to sites all over the country.  The labour force was usually me, Damon and Taffy.   Before we left I would put our tools in the van, three spades, three forks, three shovels, three pickaxes, three rakes and three hoes.

Taffy was too idle, slapdash and stupid not to lose his tools so he would "borrow" mine and Damon's.   By the end of the job they would have all been lost or stolen.

To compensate for this Taffy would steal other workmen's tools but he could only ever find pickaxes.   So we would return home with no spades, forks or shovels just eighteen pickaxes.

This reminds me of McLeish because I genuinely think the summer will be spent not assembling the actual players we need to stiffen the defence and motivate the midfield but getting what we can where we can for the best possible price.

All this hullaballoo about who is going to replace Guzan is a typical case in point.

[Hoppo]

Give him a break so far he hasnt bought 2 players for any positions so your analogy of pick axes doesnt add up. judge him after a full close season. I understand why Chris Smith has done a runner from all this negativity. Im on train with my 2 daughters both under 10 taking them to their first away game. Believe me I wouldnt want to be anywhere else in the world.. come on you lions...

[Legion]

Chris Smith has not 'done a runner'.

[JUAN PABLO]

His Plan?   Play Heskey

[garyfouroaks]

Sadly i don't think it is hit or bust next season.

I think it is about reducing the wage bill, cutting McLeish's by 2/3rds would be  start, and spending as little as possible.

Along with Everton and Newcastle the strategy will be to not even bother competing with  Arsenal/Chelsea/Manu/City/Liverpool and Spurs in fees or wages, but pay enough to stay above the releagtion slots and offer a springboard for emerging talent to progress to the PL elite.

[Cuz]

playing Heskey today!!! Thats me finished with this Fool!!!!! he has no idea he has to go!!!!

[PaulWinch again]

Hopefully his plan will be to pick us his dole money, because he should not under any circumstances be here.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Hopefully his plan will be to pick us his dole money, because he should not under any circumstances be here.

Jobseekers/Dole is not allowed if you have £16,000 + in the bank.

McLeish will be on at least twice as much as that PER WEEK.

Modern football is sickening.