| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? 09:14 - Jun 11 with 1784 views | unstableblue |
[yes it’s another McKenna futures thread]
I do think Brentford is a downgrade in terms of history, fanbase scale and ground capacity.
I do hope that McKenna wants to stick it out with Town, rebuild the team again, keep the strong bond with our fanbase, members of the squad, keep family and home in Ipswich and Suffolk.
But Ashton has repeated the scale of the gap recently, not easily fixed without financial rule change, we saw the sheer scale of the gap directly last season. How teams like Brentford, Wolves, Brighton, Forest have squad depth and quality that it would take multiple windows to get close to.
We know McKenna is the real deal - albeit mistakes were made last term - he is ambitious to one day manage at the very top. And to stick with Town rather than having a more realistic stepping stone would perhaps hold him back. He could have gone to Brighton, Palace, but maybe then thought the gap was bridgeable with Town, but saw it for real last season
Frank waxed lyrical about McKenna last term. And I’m sure would recommend him.
Their temporary training ground is better than our current, now, with Cat 1 academy now a goal, and a state of the art training ground in the pipeline. And there fans were some of the best visitors to Portman Road.
Town need a bit of a squad rebuild in my mind, and doing that to get out of the Champ and then be competitive in the Prem is a tall order.
Let’s see where it goes, still think Town are a draw, he’s part of a project, loved locally, and our own training facility has had McKenna input. But just not sure Ashton has out in the technical back room and scouting to match the Bees. [Post edited 11 Jun 9:19]
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| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:29 - Jun 11 with 1663 views | PioneerBlue |
Nothing to begrudge at this stage.
The job is his as long as he has the energy and capacity to continue coaching, developing players, and building squads that compete successfully in the championship and Pl, or as long as he wants the role. That might be a very short timeline or a longer one! |  |
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| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:41 - Jun 11 with 1579 views | homer_123 |
Mind the Gap! |  |
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| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:49 - Jun 11 with 1505 views | nrb1985 |
Why would anybody even think about begrudging him anything?!
Not even a question in the context of:
- He stayed last year when he didn't have to (suspect he probably regrets that now).
- If he moves it's to a better job for more money - who of us wouldn't be strongly tempted by that.
- He leaves us in an unimaginably better position than when he started.
Quite how anybody could think about begrudging him anything is weird. Good luck to him if he decides to go - guy will be a legend at this club forever more. [Post edited 11 Jun 9:57]
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| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:52 - Jun 11 with 1463 views | davblue |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:29 - Jun 11 by PioneerBlue |
Nothing to begrudge at this stage.
The job is his as long as he has the energy and capacity to continue coaching, developing players, and building squads that compete successfully in the championship and Pl, or as long as he wants the role. That might be a very short timeline or a longer one! |
I have a feeling he will take it.
If he doesn’t get up with us this season he stock will fall and then it might be the long road back for him.
Brentford whilst as you say history wise aren’t as big as us they are well ahead of us off the pitch, recruitment wise, stadium is nice, well run, sensible owner who doesn’t panic at the 1st sign of trouble.
As a move, there’s a lot of logic to it. He will have been here 4 years in Dec his finger prints are all over the club but will that be enough to keep him here, maybe, hope he stays but I’m not as nervous as this time last year. What will be will be. |  | | |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:05 - Jun 11 with 1398 views | SomethingBlue |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 09:52 - Jun 11 by davblue |
I have a feeling he will take it.
If he doesn’t get up with us this season he stock will fall and then it might be the long road back for him.
Brentford whilst as you say history wise aren’t as big as us they are well ahead of us off the pitch, recruitment wise, stadium is nice, well run, sensible owner who doesn’t panic at the 1st sign of trouble.
As a move, there’s a lot of logic to it. He will have been here 4 years in Dec his finger prints are all over the club but will that be enough to keep him here, maybe, hope he stays but I’m not as nervous as this time last year. What will be will be. |
Don't think we are anywhere close to him even being offered it. | |
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| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:16 - Jun 11 with 1325 views | davblue |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:05 - Jun 11 by SomethingBlue |
Don't think we are anywhere close to him even being offered it. |
Great news! | | | |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:21 - Jun 11 with 1292 views | slade1 |
If he is offered the job and takes it then best wishes and good luck to him.
People move jobs and try different jobs every day so why shouldn't he?
If he wants to try his luck in the Premier league again then I don't blame him going. | | | |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:41 - Jun 11 with 1177 views | Smoresy |
Not reasonably! Last season demonstrated there are 17 clubs significantly ahead of us!
Much like Brentford, our history and support is modest compared to the giants McKenna may aspire to manage one day. Far more important is finding the platform that lets you reach the end goal: playing squad, recruitment, and funding. He needs to demonstrate he can deliver at that level, and it's much easier to do so with a competitive setup no doubt.
We know your Brentfords provide that platform, but do they deliver ample wiggle room like some others? (West Ham, Fulham, Everton, Palace..) Big ticks in squad and recruitment, smaller tick in budget. They're also superbly managed at present, which carries risks for any successor. | | | |
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| Good point on 13:04 - Jun 11 with 905 views | unstableblue |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 10:41 - Jun 11 by Smoresy |
Not reasonably! Last season demonstrated there are 17 clubs significantly ahead of us!
Much like Brentford, our history and support is modest compared to the giants McKenna may aspire to manage one day. Far more important is finding the platform that lets you reach the end goal: playing squad, recruitment, and funding. He needs to demonstrate he can deliver at that level, and it's much easier to do so with a competitive setup no doubt.
We know your Brentfords provide that platform, but do they deliver ample wiggle room like some others? (West Ham, Fulham, Everton, Palace..) Big ticks in squad and recruitment, smaller tick in budget. They're also superbly managed at present, which carries risks for any successor. |
Brentford have been punching above their weight much to do with player squad quality and an excellent stable manager.
The squad could get dismantled with Mbeumo certainly off. And Damsgaard looking likely.
There would be probably more wiggle room as you say at a West Ham with a rich squad, wages to keep hold of players, and significantly underperforming managers.
Frank a tough act to follow.
And as I said in my post McKenna made some errors last season. And Town a bit more stable place to try and improve. | |
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| Good point on 14:37 - Jun 11 with 746 views | nrb1985 |
| Good point on 13:04 - Jun 11 by unstableblue |
Brentford have been punching above their weight much to do with player squad quality and an excellent stable manager.
The squad could get dismantled with Mbeumo certainly off. And Damsgaard looking likely.
There would be probably more wiggle room as you say at a West Ham with a rich squad, wages to keep hold of players, and significantly underperforming managers.
Frank a tough act to follow.
And as I said in my post McKenna made some errors last season. And Town a bit more stable place to try and improve. |
Brighton lose their best players practically every year.
And the German coach there, who's all of about 12 years old seems to be finding it easy enough. | | | |
| With Ashton confirming the scale of the gap - can we begrudge McKenna a move? on 17:28 - Jun 11 with 499 views | Churchman |
With regard to your first paragraph sadly history, fanbase, capacity is totally irrelevant. It’s meaningless in 2025 unless you are an old fogey like me. Different times, different things matter.
Brentford are rolling towards double the worth of our club. They are PL organised with PL infrastructure. We, cannot, at the moment, compete with them, Muff, Fulham, Palace, Wolves you name it. We need binoculars to see them, which is better than the Hubble Space Telescope we needed three years ago.
It is what it is. If I was McKenna, I’d take the job like a shot. New challenge and a prefect stepping stone. No we cannot begrudge McKenna a move. Just wish him well and hope our club grows and some how bridges the gap in the future.
Yes, ITFC is a draw, but not for top level managers which I think McKenna is approaching. Next level? Sure. When or if we build competitive infrastructure whether it be scouting, training, recruiting, medical we will be in a better place.
In terms of squad, I still hold the same view as a few days/weeks ago. Those who want to be here, brilliant, providing they are prepared pitch in. Treatment table shiners, journeymen hanging on, Billy biggonads, disgruntled hoping for a move? Ship them out at any cost. Even a loss.
The thing that marked the promotion teams and club at the time was everyone pulling in the same direction. We need that now and that includes KM and his staff. |  | | |
| Good point on 17:57 - Jun 11 with 436 views | MattinLondon |
| Good point on 14:37 - Jun 11 by nrb1985 |
Brighton lose their best players practically every year.
And the German coach there, who's all of about 12 years old seems to be finding it easy enough. |
Brighton are an established PL side and so their starting position was far higher than us at the start of the season.
If roles were reversed, KM would have done as good a job as the Brighton’s coach. I’m not sure their coach would have done much better here. |  | | |
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