| GON - going to take us up a level? 11:25 - Aug 5 with 2878 views | Vic | The more I hear his comments the more I start to think that a change in manager might actually serve to get a little more out of the players. I guess I'm thinking particularly of what he says about O'Shea and Grieves - how they've helped him and how Grievsie has stepped up. As much as we all loved McKenna and think of him as a legend (which is undoubtedly is) part of me thinks his going might just edge us up a little bit. Time will tell! What do you think? |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:30 - Aug 5 with 2794 views | Blaggers12 | I think there's a difference in perception between McKenna the man and McKenna the coach. No one could ever argue how much of a top bloke he was, judging by what current and former players have come out and said. In L1 and the Champ he was a great manager as well, but the jury was out on how we played in the PL a couple of years ago. I know resources and signings had much to do with that, but I, like you, am optmistic that GON might have a bit more savvy to do what needs to be done to reach 40 points. We will soon see... |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:34 - Aug 5 with 2750 views | TRUE_BLUE123 | I think I will probably wait and see when the real stuff starts tbh. Fairly normal for a manager to praise his players. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:34 - Aug 5 with 2752 views | nrb1985 | Without doubt we have a better chance of staying up with GON vs. KM IMO. Whether you consider that a "level up" or not is open to debate. GON feels like the right man for the right job as of now. KM I think I would consider the better coach though. Time will tell but I will be pleasantly surprised if GON goes as far as KM in the game. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:53 - Aug 5 with 2492 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:34 - Aug 5 by nrb1985 | Without doubt we have a better chance of staying up with GON vs. KM IMO. Whether you consider that a "level up" or not is open to debate. GON feels like the right man for the right job as of now. KM I think I would consider the better coach though. Time will tell but I will be pleasantly surprised if GON goes as far as KM in the game. |
Yeah, it's this. KM probably has a higher ceiling, but GON has kept teams in the PL, twice. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:58 - Aug 5 with 2434 views | Basuco | Last time in PL we were not ready as a club or squad, it is very difficult to suddenly jump up quality wise, but this time we had the time to get players in who will add to the quality and physicality needed, could KMc have done a better job this time with the squad we are now building? We will never know, so many things have changed and so many players have changed as well. But I am looking forward to the new season to see what GON can bring to us, but we know it cannot be the open attacking (sexy) football that KMc was able to bring in L1 and Championship. New era with new manager can't wait. COYB's. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:05 - Aug 5 with 2374 views | jasondozzell |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:30 - Aug 5 by Blaggers12 | I think there's a difference in perception between McKenna the man and McKenna the coach. No one could ever argue how much of a top bloke he was, judging by what current and former players have come out and said. In L1 and the Champ he was a great manager as well, but the jury was out on how we played in the PL a couple of years ago. I know resources and signings had much to do with that, but I, like you, am optmistic that GON might have a bit more savvy to do what needs to be done to reach 40 points. We will soon see... |
Cmon. Jury out on how we played in the PL last time? Really proud of how we played. We had Liverpool, Fulham, United, Villa, Chelsea on the ropes in games. That was witha squad that could have been getting a nosebleed in the champ in an alternative universe. Can we dial down the KM slander on here. I think GON is a very astute pick but KM is a world class coach. Whoever gets him next will make the best decision they've ever made. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:07 - Aug 5 with 2354 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:05 - Aug 5 by jasondozzell | Cmon. Jury out on how we played in the PL last time? Really proud of how we played. We had Liverpool, Fulham, United, Villa, Chelsea on the ropes in games. That was witha squad that could have been getting a nosebleed in the champ in an alternative universe. Can we dial down the KM slander on here. I think GON is a very astute pick but KM is a world class coach. Whoever gets him next will make the best decision they've ever made. |
Going to have a whole season of this. As you say it is very silly. If we gave GO the squad KM had we can all make an educated guess how it would end. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:21 - Aug 5 with 2230 views | ReusersTown |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 11:34 - Aug 5 by nrb1985 | Without doubt we have a better chance of staying up with GON vs. KM IMO. Whether you consider that a "level up" or not is open to debate. GON feels like the right man for the right job as of now. KM I think I would consider the better coach though. Time will tell but I will be pleasantly surprised if GON goes as far as KM in the game. |
I see it simply as GON is a relegation/survival type manager whereas KM is more than that but we didn't have the resources or players to match KM last time around in the PL. |  | |  | Login to get fewer ads
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:21 - Aug 5 with 2214 views | Libero | I think, I'll just be pleased if he manages a full Premier League season. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:26 - Aug 5 with 2146 views | nrb1985 |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:21 - Aug 5 by ReusersTown | I see it simply as GON is a relegation/survival type manager whereas KM is more than that but we didn't have the resources or players to match KM last time around in the PL. |
I think KM needs a lot of resources to play his brand of football in the PL. Far more probably than a bottom half prem club could ever offer in my opinion. Brighton would have been a great fit for him in that regard. Suspect he has some regrets about not taking that with hindsight. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:52 - Aug 5 with 2008 views | Vic |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:05 - Aug 5 by jasondozzell | Cmon. Jury out on how we played in the PL last time? Really proud of how we played. We had Liverpool, Fulham, United, Villa, Chelsea on the ropes in games. That was witha squad that could have been getting a nosebleed in the champ in an alternative universe. Can we dial down the KM slander on here. I think GON is a very astute pick but KM is a world class coach. Whoever gets him next will make the best decision they've ever made. |
Absolutely no slander intended in my OP. I didn't want KM to go - he's a great coach. I'm just pondering whether for where we are now the change might just bring a some positives. Of course we'll never know what would have happened if KM had stayed and of course we'll find out when we start to play proper matches - but that reported comment from O'Shea and other little things just makes we wonder. No negativity to the past or the future from this poster is implied! |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 13:03 - Aug 5 with 1930 views | Swansea_Blue | I’m getting echoes of the summer of 2018. In terms of us ripping up the team and starting again, new coach (not that I’m comparing GON to Hurst!), people getting excited about the season ahead without much to go on yet. We’re a very different and more professional club now of course, so there’s no reason it has to go wrong. I can’t call it yet although I think we’ve still got a lot of business to do to get the players in to be competitive. A change needed? Yes, possibly. It does feel a bit that way, but that could change is we do badly. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 13:08 - Aug 5 with 1890 views | jasondozzell |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:52 - Aug 5 by Vic | Absolutely no slander intended in my OP. I didn't want KM to go - he's a great coach. I'm just pondering whether for where we are now the change might just bring a some positives. Of course we'll never know what would have happened if KM had stayed and of course we'll find out when we start to play proper matches - but that reported comment from O'Shea and other little things just makes we wonder. No negativity to the past or the future from this poster is implied! |
👍😎 And I agree that the change may suit us with what we have to do this season. |  | |  |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 13:14 - Aug 5 with 1834 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior | I think football fans are funny. The original thread on here saying McKenna was leaving and GON was coming in had about 5000 aggressive downvotes and angry comments about how terrible that would be. After (on paper), a half decent summer in the market thus far, and a few interviews, everyone is now sold. I never particularly hated it in the first place but it’s all about what the squad looks like on September 1st. No manager on the planet would have had a chance with the squad we had in 24-25 and we have a lot more to sort in the next 3-4 weeks as well. [Post edited 5 Aug 13:17]
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 15:04 - Aug 5 with 1617 views | Swansea_Blue |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 13:14 - Aug 5 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior | I think football fans are funny. The original thread on here saying McKenna was leaving and GON was coming in had about 5000 aggressive downvotes and angry comments about how terrible that would be. After (on paper), a half decent summer in the market thus far, and a few interviews, everyone is now sold. I never particularly hated it in the first place but it’s all about what the squad looks like on September 1st. No manager on the planet would have had a chance with the squad we had in 24-25 and we have a lot more to sort in the next 3-4 weeks as well. [Post edited 5 Aug 13:17]
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Yep. I don’t see reasons to be overly optimistic (nor pessimistic either btw). It’s that part that’s reminding most of when Hurst came in. Let’s get the early coupe of games out of the way and see where we are on 1st Sept. Then let’s see how the next half dozen games go and we’ll have a good idea if we’re going to make a decent fist of it. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 15:20 - Aug 5 with 1520 views | Blue_Heath |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 12:05 - Aug 5 by jasondozzell | Cmon. Jury out on how we played in the PL last time? Really proud of how we played. We had Liverpool, Fulham, United, Villa, Chelsea on the ropes in games. That was witha squad that could have been getting a nosebleed in the champ in an alternative universe. Can we dial down the KM slander on here. I think GON is a very astute pick but KM is a world class coach. Whoever gets him next will make the best decision they've ever made. |
Think having them on the ropes is somewhat generous tbh. We played well in patches v Man U and Fulham, Chelsea an obvious highlight but most of that season was a dreadful watch. [Post edited 5 Aug 15:21]
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 15:20 - Aug 5 with 1521 views | FrimleyBlue | In the last prem season KM didnt help himself however he also didnt have the tools to stay up At the moment. Neither does O'Neil Both managers are heavily reliant on the recruitment team. Lets see our squad come september. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:02 - Aug 5 with 1321 views | Ryorry | I think there comes a time at all clubs when even the most brilliant, successful managers have taken those clubs as far as they could; and the clubs need a fresh, objective pair of eyes to progress. Loved KM, he & Gamechanger together got our Club back for us, & I'll thank them till the end of my days for doing that. Absolutely no reflection on KM that the reality of pro football, esp for the EPL, is that fresh eyes might bring fresh progress. Trying out Akpom in his preferred position is an indication of that. [Post edited 5 Aug 16:04]
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:09 - Aug 5 with 1287 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 15:20 - Aug 5 by Blue_Heath | Think having them on the ropes is somewhat generous tbh. We played well in patches v Man U and Fulham, Chelsea an obvious highlight but most of that season was a dreadful watch. [Post edited 5 Aug 15:21]
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It was a bad team for the money we spent, let's be honest but there are reasons for it including where we had just come from. Delap saved us from being one of the worst PL teams of all time. Dread to think if you took his Aug - Jan out how it would have looked overall. [Post edited 5 Aug 16:09]
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:16 - Aug 5 with 1231 views | Vic |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 15:04 - Aug 5 by Swansea_Blue | Yep. I don’t see reasons to be overly optimistic (nor pessimistic either btw). It’s that part that’s reminding most of when Hurst came in. Let’s get the early coupe of games out of the way and see where we are on 1st Sept. Then let’s see how the next half dozen games go and we’ll have a good idea if we’re going to make a decent fist of it. |
Are coupe games like normal games but a bit more sporty? |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:17 - Aug 5 with 1227 views | ThatMuhrenCross | I think it could work out well for us too. That's no slight on McKenna, but there's been so much change and upheaval here in recent years that it's potentially very good for someone to take a critical look at what we've got, unbiased and with fresh eyes. GON will have had no existing loyalties to any of our players, so will have judged them exactly as he's seen them. That's where I'd expect the likes of Humphreys, Akpom and Mendel to really benefit. He'll also see the squad for what it is and will form his own judgement of where the areas for improvement are. Add to that, he's a specialist in keeping teams up, so will know exactly what it will take. Finally, if he's got any players who he doesn't feel are committed to his cause, he'll just let them go. Philogene, for example, he won't be bothered. He'll just know he's not pulling in the same direction and will be able to just cast him aside and bring in what he wants with the likes of Maeda and Enciso. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:18 - Aug 5 with 1212 views | Vic |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:02 - Aug 5 by Ryorry | I think there comes a time at all clubs when even the most brilliant, successful managers have taken those clubs as far as they could; and the clubs need a fresh, objective pair of eyes to progress. Loved KM, he & Gamechanger together got our Club back for us, & I'll thank them till the end of my days for doing that. Absolutely no reflection on KM that the reality of pro football, esp for the EPL, is that fresh eyes might bring fresh progress. Trying out Akpom in his preferred position is an indication of that. [Post edited 5 Aug 16:04]
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Sometimes I wish we could do multiple puppies! This is exactly how I feel - you said it so much better. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:24 - Aug 5 with 1180 views | Vic |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:17 - Aug 5 by ThatMuhrenCross | I think it could work out well for us too. That's no slight on McKenna, but there's been so much change and upheaval here in recent years that it's potentially very good for someone to take a critical look at what we've got, unbiased and with fresh eyes. GON will have had no existing loyalties to any of our players, so will have judged them exactly as he's seen them. That's where I'd expect the likes of Humphreys, Akpom and Mendel to really benefit. He'll also see the squad for what it is and will form his own judgement of where the areas for improvement are. Add to that, he's a specialist in keeping teams up, so will know exactly what it will take. Finally, if he's got any players who he doesn't feel are committed to his cause, he'll just let them go. Philogene, for example, he won't be bothered. He'll just know he's not pulling in the same direction and will be able to just cast him aside and bring in what he wants with the likes of Maeda and Enciso. |
Yep, I really like that Cam H has had some decent game time and a chance to show fresh eyes what he's all about. Likewise, Mendal and Akpom playing central. |  |
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| GON - going to take us up a level? on 18:09 - Aug 5 with 954 views | Ryorry |
| GON - going to take us up a level? on 16:18 - Aug 5 by Vic | Sometimes I wish we could do multiple puppies! This is exactly how I feel - you said it so much better. |
Thanks - multiple puppies would be brilliant, but not sure I could cope with the multiples of chewed/swallowed socks, shoes. furniture and vets’ bills ;) |  |
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