I like JG, but he also pisses me off. Seems a real nice bloke and seems to care about us. Was a shit manager though overall. Spent a fortune on milk bottle players on massive wages (MON light if you like), used smart arse quips and comments in interviews to cover his own shitness. Was as negative, if not more so at times, than McLeish. I doubt even AM would go 5 at the back against bottom of the football league Chester City. I still can't help but like him as a person though, but fuck me I was happy when he left.
Even some of those you class as buying wisely, Alpay, Merson and Dublin. Well over £20 million in fees and wages for a few years decent service. And zero money back. I'm guessing that would be the equivalent of £35mill(ish) these days. A hell of a chunk of cash.
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on December 03, 2013, 08:00:17 PMEven some of those you class as buying wisely, Alpay, Merson and Dublin. Well over £20 million in fees and wages for a few years decent service. And zero money back. I'm guessing that would be the equivalent of £35mill(ish) these days. A hell of a chunk of cash. He had to go out and replace Yorkie with the money we got for him and Dublin and Merson did well for us in fairness. Picking up Luc Nillis could have been a masterstroke. He messed up not buying Robbie Keane though.I don't want to knock the guy too much because like I said, it was his first job at a big club and overall he handled it well. I think his biggest mistake was taking the Derby job straight after leaving us.
He did very well for us in the period of 98-2000, football was of a good standard and it felt like we were going places even if as ever we couldn't quite take the final step.The dismal loss in the cup final was pretty much the end, key players wanted out and his last 18 months in charge were largely forgettable as the football became ridiculously defensive.From memory he did o.k at QPR on a shoestring before Briatore sacked him straightaway and since then he's been on a random tour of middle east football.Still I'd like to see him do well at Crawley.
His record wasn't too shabby overall. Played 190. W82 D 52 L 56Win% 43 (Better than MON and SBL)He had a certain steadiness I suppose, where-as even more regarded managers like BFR and Brian Little, had the moments it all started going wrong and they got the can. In fairness that would have come with JG. He didn't have enough nous for it not to happen but considering he never finished outside the top 8, I thought that was remarkable for a manager who's actually quite limited. Part of it probably was the fact he really cared and for better or worse wore his heart on his sleeve for us.The cup final will forever be a stigma for him. It was such a wretched display and we never looked close to scoring. Nearly but not good enough. I think that's the difference between a BFR and a manager like Gregory. Ron could mastermind a game like Utd in the LC final. Big occasion against a better side. Gregory didn't have that in him I don't think. Chelsea weren't even that brilliant. They were favourites but I wouldn't have necessarily called us underdogs that day.