There are quite a few when you start looking. Our own Ray Lewington, for example, has only been an assistant since leaving Watford. A couple of others off the top of my head are Alan Knill at Sheffield U, who managed in the lower divisions, and Paul Trollope at Forest.
Glowing tribute from Cleverley about Munoz. Tom Cleverley wants Watford to 'right the wrongs' of last season | Watford Observer Of course you have to read between the lines in these type of interviews, as he's hardly going to slaughter the guy, but you can see he's clearly been impressed with him. I don't recall reading too many positive interviews from players when Ivic was in charge. Cleverley, himself, also comes across very well and one of the few senior players who wanted to stay and help Watford get back to the top flight. You've got to respect players like this.
I think this is the first time I've ever seen a player say that he thinks the incoming manager is great. As Manatleaisure has shown above, Tom is usually very very guarded about whether he supports a new appointment or not. Can't wait to read what he thinks about the next guy coming in to replace Munoz in March. Tis' the start of a new era indeed.
Ha ha.....yes...I thought I'd seen that interview somewhere before. Players tend to be a bit rooted in their phrases, however, reading that article, I think he's more alluding to the younger players that looked like being around at the time like Estupinan, Suarez & Dele-Bashiru. Two have since left and one is long term injured. Also using Wilmot, Quina, Pedro more along with Sarr. It probably looked a more youthful and exciting set-up at that moment in time. I think he was praising the attitude and enthusiasm of the younger players, rather than fulsome praise of Ivic.
He needs to specify which type of animal. Maybe that's the issue. So far we have been fighting like these killer chicks.
Footballers must get asked so many pointless questions so it’s no wonder they sound so dull . Unless Xisco decides to ban countdown Cleverley isn’t going to say a bad word is he ..?
He's so boring, his latest press conference would be perfect to help you fall asleep. It's like we've brought back the reincarnation of Quique. His English is crap too, worse than I'd thought. There is no way he's going to get across many ideas to the team much past "be positive, clap clap clap, maximum effort, everything's perfect".
Surely cannot be worse than Ivic?! The Moose on Talksport said he was the most boring manager he ever spoke to. Mind you it’s all cliches and talk really . Get the job done on the pitch ..
In fairness, the Moose is an absolute f uckwit wrong'un in the head - that actually makes me think more highly of Ivic.
True - Ivic probably didn't give the Moose his phone number and have a picture with him which upset him. TBF I agreed with what Ivic said after the game sometimes. Trouble was the players didn't seem to take any notice and we know why!
I have excellent news to report. Xisco has been using this week's training to move us to a new level. Our new fighting formation this week will be based on SLOTHS! Let's get ready to errr, rumble...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
You're not wrong. In any profession, anybody that says bad words about their manager hasn't got much of a future at that place.
In any profession all the time? It may be different in football because you're being paid a lot and should still try to please the fans but what do you do if you're stuck in a soul-destroyingly boring office job with a manager who's plain incompetent and makes your life a misery?
Sounds like Ole might be having a quick word about Garner to Munoz. https://mobile.twitter.com/utdreportAcad/status/1347846798937886725
Man U fans obsession with Garner is so tedious. Constantly asking how he's doing, and when they get the honest response that he's average at best, they get all uppity and claim that clearly we don't appreciate/understand him, like when people couldn't face the fact that Jurado was ****. I'd say he's our worst midfielder - and that's saying something. Only player I've ever seen unable to beat a one man wall from a free kick. Would be happy if we sent him back.
Certainly doesn't look anything but average in our midfield which doesn't say much! And he in and out of the team under Ivic.
And he totally wasted a corner against Bournemouth which actually led to them breaking (when you can't even keep a corner in your opponents' half, that's bad even by our none too lofty standards). He did alright for the rest of the game in fairness but I can't remember what if anything he contributed of note and for some reason I can't get the full live text of the game from the BBC. Yes he is only 19 but Man Utd fans seem to think he should be the next Rashford/Greenwood just because he plays for them.
He's crap and will never make it as a Premier League player. Reminds of the likes of Tom Carroll - lightweight, slow, but can pick a pass when under no pressure whatsoever. He'll play a handful of cup games for United against rubbish opposition then go to a bottom half Premier League team for a season before falling down the pyramid.
I don't think he's crap but the bit I've highlighted is the thing as I see it. I think that's why Garner sometimes receives the ball near the halfway line and turns towards our goal, to give him that bit more time. Any player with decent technical ability and a football brain will look good at age level football because you're allowed more time, in general, and the pace of matches is that much slower. We've all seen the ability with the ball George Abbot has in that BBC wondered video and I'd imagine that's standard for the higher end academies. What I have noticed and started to realise is players positional sense is generally poor at U23 football and down. Omer Riza is forever instructing, guiding and ultimately shouting at players in U23 games where their positioning is concerned. Two things with this; 1: In age level games it's easier to recover bad positioning when a match is slower and other players are slightly 'off' too. 2: In League football, against more experienced players and in higher tempo matches, having a bad starting position means you have even less time on the ball or you're too far away to be effective defensively. As I say, I don't think Garner is crap but he has to adjust to the tempo of matches with Watford and also sort out his positioning. Both will help him have that vital second or so in or out of possession. edit: sorry for editing but I used the phrase 'with the ball' so often it really pissed me off reading it back!