Supporters forum 6pm November 11th (4 Viewers)

[David O'Day]

I'll give this a miss live and hope that I am surprised to see something interesting in the replies, won't hold my breath though.

 

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[shepardo01]

Skubala I can understand, people will not know the Lincoln manager but Eustace is a biggish name and we have played his current team with him in charge.

Skubala has come through via the academic route to coaching (played with him in my Uni days)- never played league football.
Got dropped into the Leeds job by default - doing "ok" at Lincoln.
Worry whether he would command the respect of the players.
No from me.

 

[David O'Day]

Skubala has come through via the academic route to coaching (played with him in my Uni days)- never played league football.
Got dropped into the Leeds job by default - doing "ok" at Lincoln.
Worry whether he would command the respect of the players.
No from me.

Does it matter if they played league football? Coaching for a while has been open to a lot more than ex pros after their football career.

People are looking at coaching as a career path at lot, lot younger these days. How old is the Brighton manager? 31?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Skubala has come through via the academic route to coaching (played with him in my Uni days)- never played league football.
Got dropped into the Leeds job by default - doing "ok" at Lincoln.
Worry whether he would command the respect of the players.
No from me.

Say what you like about Lampard, he would at least have gravitas from Day 1. The players will respect him as a player and that he’s managed players better than them - he’s managed in the Prem and the UCL and that counts for something in the early days. If we hired Lampard, my prediction would be that we’d start strongly and tail off.

I’ve never heard Skubala, Lincoln are sitting pretty in L1 but he’s not achieved promotion so it’s not an improvement on MR. As for Eustace, that’s not a bad shout because he overachieved with both Blackburn and Birmingham in the Championship. I have my reservations but he seems pragmatic enough to do a good job.

 

[Calista]

We’ll get a question each I would think interspersed with texts and emails that cwr have received

So if you're only allowed one question, which of the ones you listed above will you prioritise? The first one (What has Mark Robins done for us) wouldn't yield anything useful IMO.

 

[David O'Day]

No sure about the one question rule, surely you should be allowed a follow up?

This does smack of allowing DK to flat bat any questions.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Does it matter if they played league football? Coaching for a while has been open to a lot more than ex pros after their football career.

People are looking at coaching as a career path at lot, lot younger these days. How old is the Brighton manager? 31?

He’s only managed Lincoln in L1 properly and only since 2023. He’s too much of an unknown quantity to replace MR.

The profile of player demands a manager with authority. A coach being picked from L1 doesn’t fit the bill here with regards to Bloomfield or Skubala.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

No sure about the one question rule, surely you should be allowed a follow up?

This does smack of allowing DK to flat bat any questions.

I’m only guessing
Once I’ve got the microphone that’s it I’ll just kee asking and responding to what he says

he’ll love the limelight I think

 

[Balli001]

He’s only managed Lincoln in L1 properly and only since 2023. He’s too much of an unknown quantity to replace MR.

The profile of player demands a manager with authority. A coach being picked from L1 doesn’t fit the bill here with regards to Bloomfield or Skubala.

Brighton are doing ok with a guy who had only managed in German second division

 

[shepardo01]

Does it matter if they played league football? Coaching for a while has been open to a lot more than ex pros after their football career.

People are looking at coaching as a career path at lot, lot younger these days. How old is the Brighton manager? 31?

Holds gravitas no matter what you think.
Lampard or Skubala (not saying I definitely want Lampard) in the changing room/training pitch - I know who would gain more respect from our players.

 

[nunchuckas]

We’re not a basket case because the owner made one unpopular decision.

The club is in a different place to where it was. Robins’ core of lieutenants is gone, his long term assistant is gone and apparently upset a lot of the newer players along the way. There was no guarantee that MR was going to turn it around, our home record is the worst it’s ever been under MR.

Let’s be frank, if the new manager comes in and we improve, people will forget the unjust sacking of Robins quickly.

We’re not a basket case because the owner made one unpopular decision.

The club is in a different place to where it was. Robins’ core of lieutenants is gone, his long term assistant is gone and apparently upset a lot of the newer players along the way. There was no guarantee that MR was going to turn it around, our home record is the worst it’s ever been under MR.

Let’s be frank, if the new manager comes in and we improve, people will forget the unjust sacking of Robins quickly.

It's royally pissed off the majority of our fan base. A fan base that was so resolutely behind the team and the manager, even despite yet again a poor start.

The perception outside of the club is it's an insane decision.

That's, at the very least, the illusion of a club being a basket case.

Hopefully he's right, the new manager is even better, has an immediate impact improving results playing scintillating football and we all soon forgive and forget the Robins thing.

But he's made that far harder to achieve with the timing. Because of the pressure and focus, and less resolute backing from some fans that the new manager will face now.

It could be a ruthless stroke of genius, but it's a far more shit or bust situation than it needed to be.

 

[David O'Day]

I’m only guessing
Once I’ve got the microphone that’s it I’ll just kee asking and responding to what he says

he’ll love the limelight I think

Hope so but i feel it is going to be more stage managed than that.

Ask question
DK replies by thanking you for the question and then gives beige answer
Moves on to press or online question
Someone else asks questions
DK replies thanking them for question and give beige answer likely referring to a previous answer

 

[torchomatic]

Say what you like about Lampard, he would at least have gravitas from Day 1. The players will respect him as a player and that he’s managed players better than them - he’s managed in the Prem and the UCL and that counts for something in the early days. If we hired Lampard, my prediction would be that we’d start strongly and tail off.

I’ve never heard Skubala, Lincoln are sitting pretty in L1 but he’s not achieved promotion so it’s not an improvement on MR. As for Eustace, that’s not a bad shout because he overachieved with both Blackburn and Birmingham in the Championship. I have my reservations but he seems pragmatic enough to do a good job.

I can't see - thankfully - us getting someone already employed in our own league like Eustace as we would have to pay compensation. The question I'd ask myself would be, "Is Eustace better than Robins?" The answer, for me, is no. I would imagine we will go for someone currently out of work, a lower league manager or someone from abroad at a club that wouldn't demand too much compensation.

 

[shepardo01]

Wouldn't want Eustace either.
Not seen anything from him where I've thought, yeah, this guy is decent.
We have to get this right.

 

[PVA]

Let’s be frank, if the new manager comes in and we improve, people will forget the unjust sacking of Robins quickly.

 

[David O'Day]

Holds gravitas no matter what you think.
Lampard or Skubala (not saying I definitely want Lampard) in the changing room/training pitch - I know who would gain more respect from our players.

I really don't think it does as much anymore, players by into methods.

If Skubala comes in and gets them excited by what he is doing on the training pitch and during games them they'll buy into it more than if a grizzled ex pro comes in and it's all pretty meh in training etc.

Coaching is different these days,

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

So if you're only allowed one question, which of the ones you listed above will you prioritise? The first one (What has Mark Robins done for us) wouldn't yield anything useful IMO.

That answer will be full platitudes. Anything positive that is said will be countered by ‘then why did you sack him?’

I’m only guessing
Once I’ve got the microphone that’s it I’ll just kee asking and responding to what he says

he’ll love the limelight I think

To be honest Pete, the most important questions we need to be asking is about the recruitment process. The fans aren’t happy about MRs departure so the pressure on the new manager is immense from Day 1.

A question like:

What are is the key criteria for the new manager?

I don’t want to hear the platitudes about all that MR has done for us - we know that. What I want to know is what they’re looking at for a new candidate i.e. experience in the Championship and getting teams promoted.

If we don’t get this right, we’ll join the managerial merry-go round that I’ve very much not missed over the last 7 years.

 

[Calista]

I’m only guessing
Once I’ve got the microphone that’s it I’ll just kee asking and responding to what he says

he’ll love the limelight I think

As will you Pete

 

[shepardo01]

I really don't think it does as much anymore, players by into methods.

If Skubala comes in and gets them excited by what he is doing on the training pitch and during games them they'll buy into it more than if a grizzled ex pro comes in and it's all pretty meh in training etc.

Coaching is different these days,

I've followed MS as I have played, socialised and spent time with him in the past.
Decent enough guy but would I want him as manager of Coventry City?
No.

 

[fatso]

Wouldn't want Eustace either.
Not seen anything from him where I've thought, yeah, this guy is decent.
We have to get this right.

Did well at Brum, and doing well at Blackburn.
Both clubs with less than stand out players.

Not saying I want him, but we could do worse.

 

[David O'Day]

I've followed MS as I have played, socialised and spent time with him in the past.
Decent enough guy but would I want him as manager of Coventry City?
No.

Cool, this isn't about him, the point is you don't have to have been a pro to be a good coach these days.

 

[shepardo01]

Did well at Brum, and doing well at Blackburn.
Both clubs with less than stand out players.

Not saying I want him, but we could do worse.

Well... "Ok"....
We need to try to do better than Eustace.

 

[Jamesimus]

I’ve emailed in the following question…

“What kind of profile are you looking at for the new head coach? What attributes are you looking at and what data are you using to help choose the right candidate?”

… mainly because I’m interested in the answer. I doubt it will get asked…

 

[TomRad85]

I’ve emailed in the following question…

“What kind of profile are you looking at for the new head coach? What attributes are you looking at and what data are you using to help choose the right candidate?”

… mainly because I’m interested in the answer. I doubt it will get asked…

Perfect.

 

[shepardo01]

Cool, this isn't about him, the point is you don't have to have been a pro to be a good coach these days.

No -agree.
Does however hold gravitas - as I've previously said.
A good coach, if not having been a top pro, would need to have people around them that "know the game".
Do we have any of those in our current set up??
Boateng? (Who is also apparently not the best of coaches too!!)

 

[PVA]

Cool, this isn't about him, the point is you don't have to have been a pro to be a good coach these days.

Bristol City manager didn't have a pro career.

Neither did Brendan Rodgers or Julian Nagelsmann to name a few.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Brighton are doing ok with a guy who had only managed in German second division

It seems like an exception to the rule to be honest.

I can't see - thankfully - us getting someone already employed in our own league like Eustace as we would have to pay compensation. The question I'd ask myself would be, "Is Eustace better than Robins?" The answer, for me, is no. I would imagine we will go for someone currently out of work, a lower league manager or someone from abroad at a club that wouldn't demand too much compensation.

John Eustace is establishing himself as a decent manager and despite that, I wouldn’t have him over Robins.

Which goes to show how difficult it is for the new manager. There are only 2 managers that are unemployed that would make me think it was worth sacking Robins; Potter and Moyes. Both of whom are unrealistic.

If we could get Corberán, that would be my first choice of managers in the Championship. This isn’t really realistic either in my view.

 

[Para1140]

Did well at Brum, and doing well at Blackburn.
Both clubs with less than stand out players.

Not saying I want him, but we could do worse.

Is he better than Robins ?
if not then whats the point of replacing him

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Going to be aired on CWR as well

And fans can phone in afterwards, what's that Brummy doing these days.

 

[WestEndAgro]

If it was my money I'd definitely be very tetchy about sacking a manager who has a 100% success rate of turning results round at this club, for any of the candidates we're linked with.

Even if it hasn't been a basket case decision, and Doug has thought long and hard, done his research, has good reasoning to believe Robins won't turn it around in his 8th season despite 7 seasons of being consistently brilliant, and has a solid plan to move us to the next level...the timing of it has still created a basket case scenario.

Even if we're not a basket case club again, he's created the façade that we are. The furore from the entire fan base means they'll be a lot less forgiving and behind the new direction. The media swirl has created the illusion of being a basket case club, whether we are one or not. Which will make anyone think twice about coming here.

So even IF we're not a basket case club and Doug isn't completely off his hat rack, he's still created the perception of us being a basket case club, we'll still have the majority of the consequences that a basket case club would have anyway. Making it far less likely for his 'well thought out plan' to succeed. And I wouldn't want to put my £45m investment in that situation.

could you have squeezed Basket case in once or twice more?

 

[Para1140]

King needs to be asked why have you thrown the baby out with the bath water.
before you came in we had a winning formula tried and tested over seven years with Robins, Adi and Lawrence who bought success, belief and increased crowds.
whats so good about your new modern method and vision and what experience of football do you have to know whats best ?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

King needs to be asked why have you thrown the baby out with the bath water.
before you came in we had a winning formula tried and tested over seven years with Robins, Adi and Lawrence who bought success, belief and increased crowds.
whats so good about your new modern method and vision and what experience of football do you have to know whats best ?

The formula changed when we revamped the entire squad in 2023/24. A lot of the new signings were allegedly alienated by AV which hastened his departure.

Lawrence was offered a promotion and more money closer to home. Coaches come and go and that’s just football.

 

[David O'Day]

Bristol City manager didn't have a pro career.

Neither did Brendan Rodgers or Julian Nagelsmann to name a few.

The incoming England manager had an unimpressive one that ended early due to injury

 

[nunchuckas]

could you have squeezed Basket case in once or twice more?

Fair point

Was my spelling and grammar ok though? I need to know.

 

[robbiekeane]

I think for me, the questions would be:

- Your very publicly communicate KPIs for the club were to reach playoffs 3 seasons out of 5, and an additional one last year of going on an FA Cup run, which was achieved with flying colours with a trip to Wembley. It's still too early to tell if we are off track with the playoff goal, so why wasn't Mark Robins given more time?

- Given the seemingly immediate nature of Robins' termination, why don't we already have a replacement lined up? How can we expect that no manager at all, for whatever length of time, is better than what Robins could achieve?

- Why are you such a prick