I'm really worried about this 'assistant' situation.
Pepe should be allowed to bring in who he wants. Worryingly, it looks like he has to work with just Downing who's obviously learnt nothing since the sacking of SC.
Same players, same late subs
We need fresh ideas and uplift. Mel and his own team should be given the chance to do that.
I feel this may really become an issue at some point.
JH, it's wrong to suggest Downing has learned nothing since SC's sacking.
He's not a head coach and he's never pretended to be, it was clear to everyone that he was standing in till we made a new appointment, and under his guidance we went four games unbeaten with six points gained. Calm down!
Perfectly chilled, thanks
I just hope Downing doesn't have too much influence on Mel's attacking style otherwise we'll be seeing more defending for 85 minutes and our best attackers on the bench.
Fresh ideas and impetus is what we need.
I still find it hard to believe that Mel would have taken the job without a cast iron guarantee that he can bring his own staff in at the end of the season.
I think the club simply don't want to be seen to lose face giving in to Pepe's demands having earlier rejected them and struggled to find another manager. Where this leaves Kiely and Downing I don't know. But they were part of the problem in the first place. To think some were happy for Downing to take us until the end of the season.
Teix, we may never know, but if anyone's lost face it's Pepe Mel because he's come in without his backroom boys. I just think Albion wanted backroom continuity as opposed to the uncertainty of having a team of three new guys come in at once, three guys who have no first-hand knowledge of the UK, English football or the Premier League, and if anyone's job is under threat at season's end it'll be Downing's, unless Mel also sees some fundamental shortcomings in Kiely's abilities as a GK coach. Kiely himself might feel the time is right to go, and he'll find another coaching job easily, plus he's got his media work as well.
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Trip to Southampton
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posted on 11/1/14
I'm really worried about this 'assistant' situation.
Pepe should be allowed to bring in who he wants. Worryingly, it looks like he has to work with just Downing who's obviously learnt nothing since the sacking of SC.
Same players, same late subs
We need fresh ideas and uplift. Mel and his own team should be given the chance to do that.
I feel this may really become an issue at some point.
posted on 12/1/14
JH, it's wrong to suggest Downing has learned nothing since SC's sacking.
He's not a head coach and he's never pretended to be, it was clear to everyone that he was standing in till we made a new appointment, and under his guidance we went four games unbeaten with six points gained. Calm down!
posted on 12/1/14
Perfectly chilled, thanks
I just hope Downing doesn't have too much influence on Mel's attacking style otherwise we'll be seeing more defending for 85 minutes and our best attackers on the bench.
Fresh ideas and impetus is what we need.
posted on 12/1/14
I still find it hard to believe that Mel would have taken the job without a cast iron guarantee that he can bring his own staff in at the end of the season.
I think the club simply don't want to be seen to lose face giving in to Pepe's demands having earlier rejected them and struggled to find another manager. Where this leaves Kiely and Downing I don't know. But they were part of the problem in the first place. To think some were happy for Downing to take us until the end of the season.
posted on 13/1/14
Teix, we may never know, but if anyone's lost face it's Pepe Mel because he's come in without his backroom boys. I just think Albion wanted backroom continuity as opposed to the uncertainty of having a team of three new guys come in at once, three guys who have no first-hand knowledge of the UK, English football or the Premier League, and if anyone's job is under threat at season's end it'll be Downing's, unless Mel also sees some fundamental shortcomings in Kiely's abilities as a GK coach. Kiely himself might feel the time is right to go, and he'll find another coaching job easily, plus he's got his media work as well.
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