Robins (2 Viewers)

[PVA]

Points deductions, playing at Northampton, there was A LOT more negativity within the fanbase and towards the club in general, infighting within the fanbase, wankers going on about starting a new club, best players sold and getting shite in to replace them etc.

But you could argue that Robins has changed a lot of that himself - not that he's just had an easier time of it.

Ok no points deduction

Playing in Birmingham.

There was clearly lots of negativity within the fanbase when Robins joined, we'd just been relegated to L2, losing at home to FGR, Yeovil putting 6 past us. Robins soon got the fans back on side.

Robins also had plenty of good players sold - McNulty, Bayliss, McCallum, Thomas, Stevenson - and didn't buy shite to replace them, he improved the squad every time.

 

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[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Mark Robins is the best thing to happen to us. Who was our longest manager before him?

2 promotions and a cup. Staying in the championship and now a top half finish all on a minimal budget and ground moves. Bloody hell. I honestly thought we would never get back to the championship.

anyone who can’t see Robins is a good thing for us is crazy.

And some people say, taxi for Robins.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

But you could argue that Robins has changed a lot of that himself - not that he's just had an easier time of it.

Ok no points deduction

Playing in Birmingham.

There was clearly lots of negativity within the fanbase when Robins joined, we'd just been relegated to L2, losing at home to FGR, Yeovil putting 6 past us. Robins soon got the fans back on side.

Robins also had plenty of good players sold - McNulty, Bayliss, McCallum, Thomas, Stevenson - and didn't buy shite to replace them, he improved the squad every time.

We were backed more when we went to Birmingham though, plus the momentum was upwards by that point. It's not saying Robins has had it easy, anything but, but Northampton was a total shitshow.

 

[PVA]

We were backed more when we went to Birmingham though, plus the momentum was upwards by that point. It's not saying Robins has had it easy, anything but, but Northampton was a total shitshow.

Oh I agree, Northampton was definitely harder than Birmingham for all sorts of reasons.

I'm just saying that Robins has earned the right to have it 'easier' through generally just being a better manager than Pressley.

 

[Grendel]

But you could argue that Robins has changed a lot of that himself - not that he's just had an easier time of it.

Ok no points deduction

Playing in Birmingham.

There was clearly lots of negativity within the fanbase when Robins joined, we'd just been relegated to L2, losing at home to FGR, Yeovil putting 6 past us. Robins soon got the fans back on side.

Robins also had plenty of good players sold - McNulty, Bayliss, McCallum, Thomas, Stevenson - and didn't buy shite to replace them, he improved the squad every time.

Pressley wasn't given any funds to replace them as the equity pumped into the club when they move to Sixfields so the club did not breach league rules had to be paid back.

He would have had to buy shite as Pressley was not given tools to buy players. He did not select Josh McQuoid - he was not allowed to transact signings. He had to manage with whatever the board threw at him

There was no negativity at all when Robins came in. He was popular from his last stint and replaced Russell Slade who had already relegated the club - we conceded 6 in League Two with Robins in charge so I can't get that point tbh

 

[CovBrummie94]

But you could argue that Robins has changed a lot of that himself - not that he's just had an easier time of it.

Ok no points deduction

Playing in Birmingham.

There was clearly lots of negativity within the fanbase when Robins joined, we'd just been relegated to L2, losing at home to FGR, Yeovil putting 6 past us. Robins soon got the fans back on side.

Robins also had plenty of good players sold - McNulty, Bayliss, McCallum, Thomas, Stevenson - and didn't buy shite to replace them, he improved the squad every time.

The recruitment team is far better now than it ever was under Pressley or Mowbray

 

[Grendel]

The recruitment team is far better now than it ever was under Pressley or Mowbray

We had no funds for a recruitment team then

 

[Sick Boy]

But you could argue that Robins has changed a lot of that himself - not that he's just had an easier time of it.

Ok no points deduction

Playing in Birmingham.

There was clearly lots of negativity within the fanbase when Robins joined, we'd just been relegated to L2, losing at home to FGR, Yeovil putting 6 past us. Robins soon got the fans back on side.

Robins also had plenty of good players sold - McNulty, Bayliss, McCallum, Thomas, Stevenson - and didn't buy shite to replace them, he improved the squad every time.

Under Pressley it was far worse in terms of the negativity. Robins was also backed more than Pressley and was actually able to reinvest part of the revenue.

 

[AOM]

Wasn't it also Pressley who had to completely restructure the scouting and recruitment team as previous management had taken the whole system with them?

 

[PVA]

Wasn't it also Pressley who had to completely restructure the scouting and recruitment team as previous management had taken the whole system with them?

Pretty sure Mowbray said there was no scouting process/system in place when he joined.

I think Robins said the same thing as well.

 

[AOM]

Pretty sure Mowbray said there was no scouting process/system in place when he joined.

I think Robins said the same thing as well.

Ahh okay, fair enough!
What an absolute shit show we were

 

[Sick Boy]

Ahh okay, fair enough!
What an absolute shit show we were

I can’t remember who it was but someone had taken everything with them. There may have been one scout when Pressley joined.

 

[Grendel]

Pretty sure Mowbray said there was no scouting process/system in place when he joined.

I think Robins said the same thing as well.

Well no. The scouts left with Pressley and he also had he claimed copyright to the scouting database it was not the clubs property and took it with him!

 

[Grendel]

Ahh okay, fair enough!
What an absolute shit show we were

No he is talking shite

 

[Grendel]

I can’t remember who it was but someone had taken everything with them. There may have been one scout when Pressley joined.

The whole thing was farcical. Pressley would not release the scouting datebase as he claimed the club had never acknowledged it as theor property. Mowbray said he was utterly bewildered that they had allowed a manager to effectively own title to the scouting system

 

[AOM]

No he is talking shite

Mowbray came after Pressley so that's right isn't it?
I thought it was someone before Pressley who took all the scouting and recruitment system with them, but I think you're right and they went with Pressley

I still liked Steven Pressley. One of our better more recent managers imo

 

[Sick Boy]

Mowbray came after Pressley so that's right isn't it?
I thought it was someone before Pressley who took all the scouting and recruitment system with them, but I think you're right and they went with Pressley

I still liked Steven Pressley. One of our better more recent managers imo

Yeah he was decent but lost the plot a bit towards the end.

 

[PVA]

No he is talking shite

How am I talking shit.

You've just said yourself there was no scouts or scouting database in place when Mowbray joined which is exactly what I said you clown.

 

[AOM]

Yeah he was decent but lost the plot a bit towards the end.

To be a fly on the wall with him and Reda Johnson

 

[SkyblueDad]

Yeah he was decent but lost the plot a bit towards the end.

That’s a nice way of putting it, personally I think he was nuts.

 

[Grendel]

How am I talking shit.

You've just said yourself there was no scouts or scouting database in place when Mowbray joined which is exactly what I said you clown.

No you said there wasnt any which there was you also said there wasn’t any when robins took over which clearly there was as Mowbray built up a team with Venus to create one.

You seem to also randomly think that the Yeovil 6 goal debacle was evidence of a toxic atmosphere robins inherited when he was the manager

 

[Grendel]

How am I talking shit.

You've just said yourself there was no scouts or scouting database in place when Mowbray joined which is exactly what I said you clown.

There was a comprehensive database - I do wonder if you’ve only supported the club for 3 or 3 years? Beyond that you seem a bit clueless on the clubs history

 

[PVA]

No you said there wasnt any which there was you also said there wasn’t any when robins took over which clearly there was as Mowbray built up a team with Venus to create one.

You seem to also randomly think that the Yeovil 6 goal debacle was evidence of a toxic atmosphere robins inherited when he was the manager

Your comprehension skills are really quite terrible. Well done on taking 2+2 and making 97238723492. Is it any wonder you end up in an argument in every single thread you post in.

 

[steve cooper]

True story, the setting doesn't matter - but I'll tell you anyway. It was my dog's circumcision party yesterday and I happened to bump into one of my old friends from up north. He says there is lots of chat about Robins going to Middlesbrough in the near future, a lot depends on how much support he gets in the summer, but it's understood that him and Adi are both keen on the move. Worrying.

I always know a made-up story when the teller starts with "true story"

 

[Tommo1993]

Pressley was approached by Huddersfield Town after Robins didn’t work out. Said he wanted to continue the project at City. Think he was a good guy tbh, I liked him. We were on a very steep decline then, no wonder him and McFarlane were out of ideas. Both at Brentford now.

 

[Grendel]

Your comprehension skills are really quite terrible. Well done on taking 2+2 and making 97238723492. Is it any wonder you end up in an argument in every single thread you post in.

Ok

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Infact when you look at it Robins has had the easiest job out of any manager since Adams.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

where would you rank robins now?

Just below Jackett

 

[clint van damme]

True story, the setting doesn't matter - but I'll tell you anyway. It was my dog's circumcision party yesterday

Was it the first one he'd performed?

 

[PVA]

Infact when you look at it Robins has had the easiest job out of any manager since Adams.

Indeed. Frankly it's disgrace he hasn't got us into the Champions League yet.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Arguably Pressley worked under much more difficult conditions compared to Robins and galvanised the club during a very low period.

He inherited a team that was made up of good third division players, Clarke, Wilson, Fleck, Baker, Christie, Moussa, Willis and Murphy. When a lot of these were forced out of the club due to Sisu cost cutting, the replacements Pressley brought in were abysmal. The football was dire too. The side that Pressley was steering towards relegation was turned around and saved by Mowbray. Presley’s performance at Coventry and his subsequent failures leave him a long way behind Robins in the achievement stakes.

 

[rob9872]

I feel I slmost want to start a thread is Robins better than Hill? I think the achievements of Sillet etc in the top flight are greater, but perhaps because I never saw Hills team or what was before, but from what I can tell, the competition was much more equal in those days rather than the haves and have nots, so arguably what Robins has achieved with a low budget is superior if he takes us up. Particularly as Hill left after promotion and didn't manage us in the top division.

I'm sure a few older posters will tell me that's bollocks but it's a bit like telling me Pele was the greatest ever when the only footage if him ever shown is getting tackled by Moore, saved by Banks and a shot from half way line that misses the target!

 

[SkyblueTexan]

If he gets us promoted to the PL he would easily be our greatest manager of all time.

He might need some legitimate silverware (not a tinpot cup or lower division title) to be our all time great, but he’ll be up there for sure. He’s easily in the top 5 atm.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

I feel I slmost want to start a thread is Robins better than Hill? I think the achievements of Sillet etc in the top flight are greater, but perhaps because I never saw Hills team or what was before, but from what I can tell, the competition was much more equal in those days rather than the haves and have nots, so arguably what Robins has achieved with a low budget is superior if he takes us up. Particularly as Hill left after promotion and didn't manage us in the top division.

I'm sure a few older posters will tell me that's bollocks but it's a bit like telling me Pele was the greatest ever when the only footage if him ever shown is getting tackled by Moore, saved by Banks and a shot from half way line that misses the target!

I think you’re right. There was a much more level playing field during the time that Hill, Cantwell and Milne were in charge. The retained system of players meant that the club was very much in control of their playing staff. It would be hard to see a player of Tommy Hutchison’s quality staying with us for nine seasons these days. Club finances were mainly governed by the size of their gates, with the away team getting a percentage of that gate. Therefore, although a club like Man Utd with average 50k attendances, was going to be wealthier than a club like us, the difference in wealth was, compared to today, much less. At the start of a first division season there would be many clubs who would fancy their chances of the title. It was not inconceivable that one day we could have won the league. I don’t think that is a realistic possibility any more.

It has been more difficult for Robins to have achieved what he has, I think, than it was for Jimmy Hill because of the difference between the haves and the have nots, even in the three leagues he has managed us in. Hill, with the financial backing of Robbins (the chairman at the time) has a lot more going for him than Robin’s has. That said, in no way am I saying that Robins is better than Hil.

Just to be pedantic, JH did manage us in the first division. He announced that he was leaving before the first game of the season, but that he would stay on until his successor was in place. Noel Cantwell didn’t arrive until the October of that season, so Jimmy would have been in charge for maybe ten games?

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

I'm surprised you think we played sterile football under Cantwell, yes to a certain extent in the first 2 seasons due to neccessity, and I know my memory isn't too good now but I remember some really exciting football.
Here is a typical review from the era

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1970 – Gunners Gunned Down By Sky Blues At H.R. : Coventry City Former Players Association || CCFPA

www.ccfpa.co.uk

I think the first two seasons were about staying up, although there were some memorable games and performances in there.The third season we were great and winning plenty of matches, particularly away from home. It was really season four and five that did for him. Crowds dropped dramatically, we lost at home to Hull in the FA Cup and the football was dull.
Mercer and Milne came in the following season with football based on attack and was exciting to watch in contrast to Cantwell’s final two years.