Why make a statement like this. If they'd hired the right person, THIS wouldn't be necessary now would it.... Birch also says Leon and Curt will be involved as a part of the supporting team ...
Exactly the point I was going to make Yankee, I still think Birch needs to clarify what merits Cooper had over other applicants. Also who the shortlist consisted of. To me this stinks of American intrusion once again.Why make a statement like this. If they'd hired the right person, THIS wouldn't be necessary now would it.
Why didn't they just appoint Curt with Leon to assist and go from there ... then there wouldn't be any need for a supporting team. Let's face it Curt has more Prem and Championship coaching experience and for that matter probably as much international coaching experience (through Wales alongside Flynn) than Cooper.
It depends what your definition of merit is. Toni Pulis has promoted Championship clubs and kept them in the Premier League. His merits are indisputable. But would you want Pulis to become Swansea manager? I wouldn't. There are so many 'experienced' managers around who I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole.I still think Birch needs to clarify what merits Cooper had over other applicants. Also who the shortlist consisted of.
The supporting team is not a baby-sitter team. Curt and Leon know the club inside out, they know the players and the staff. Even Laudrup needed Curt.Why make a statement like this. If they'd hired the right person, THIS wouldn't be necessary now would it.
So they chose more progressive ideas but less experience, having progressive ideas is one thing, implementing them isn't quite that easy. Is he going to need the assistance of Curt & Leon ?..... "I'm going to be my own football man " Also.... "But I know what style and quality football fans demand it matches my vision perfectly" It matches my vision also and probably the vision of 20,000 + fans. Every manager in the football league knows what quality of football the fans need, very few are able to implement it, there's a thing called the opposition, who's main objective every game is to prove them wrong.It depends what your definition of merit is. Toni Pulis has promoted Championship clubs and kept them in the Premier League. His merits are indisputable. But would you want Pulis to become Swansea manager? I wouldn't. There are so many 'experienced' managers around who I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole.
The sort list consisted of Appleton, Eustace,Toshack and Cooper.
As much as I understand Birch, Curt and Leon had two options:
- more experience but less progressive ideas
- more progressive ideas but less experience
Obviously not an ideal situation but that's what we can get in our situation.
I think Laudrup had evaluated the available squad pretty quickly on arrival on his own if he hadn’t already watched sufficient video beforehand. Hence his quick foray to bolster the squad with JdG, Chico, and Michu .... all cheap and exceptional value. Don’t forget Laudrup was still the best player on the field in training. He had a slightly different vantage point.The supporting team is not a baby-sitter team. Curt and Leon know the club inside out, they know the players and the staff. Even Laudrup needed Curt.
And do we want someone that's failed elsewhere, I think Rodgers answers that question, sacked twice in almost as many months,taken off the dole queue and put us in the Premiership.And on the question of “do we want somebody that’s failed elsewhere”, the short answer is “yes”.
Failure is a powerful teacher. Everybody makes mistakes when they are starting off. Failures, fuckups and adversity is how the strong get stronger and the smart get smarter. The best candidate for a job is not the person that hasn’t so much as had a scratch, but one that carries a few scars ... and the wisdom acquired with them. It is that process that winnows the wheat from the chaff. Neither Rogers nor Sousa nor Laudrup (for that matter) came to us spic and span. The problem with Clement was that he was too spic and span. The problem with Monk .... too much to say.
And here we are again ... spic and span.
I’m not against Cooper. I am annoyed that he’s the best we could recruit. I hope he can figure out how to walk on water and deliver the miracle from what he’s inherited and what he’s not going to be given. He’s going to need to be every bit as good as Sousa was. I hope I have to eat every single word I’ve typed on this thread.
And as for Birch ... he’s quick to talk, but we now know that we need to read carefully between the lines of what he says.
Neither am I slagging him off personally, I just feel he's the wrong choice,if anyone needs slagging off its Birch. Do you really think his high tempo attacking game with 16yrolds is also going to work against probably the most ruthless defences in the country the Championship,Ffs guys , give the man a chance !
He's the one in post , support him and the team . As any manager appointed anywhere he says the things the fans want to hear, so no surprise there.
When he won the cup with the under 17s they played an expansive , high tempo aggressive attacking game. If he can bring that to the last third of the pitch and stiffen our defence he'll do very well.
Yes he's not a megga name but did we want a name that failed somewhere else , playing pullis type dour ball ?
So give the guy till the end of September before unnecessarily slagging him off.
Yes we can play our home games on fantasy Island.I'll take any of the former U-17 winners. Maybe he can get Foden on loan.