Tom Cleverley - Head Coach

I find TC is usually refreshingly honest in his appraisals of our performances. He doesn’t insult us fans, in the way that the likes of Ten Haag do.

Another tick against his name.

 

It’s about the balance in his career though isn’t it?

If a club is hiring Neil Warnock in 2024, it’s because they are in trouble or at the very least, trying to stabilise a ship. No promotion chasing team in the Championship hires him in the day and age. His most recent appointments prove these points.

 

Ten Hag has to try and talk up his team's performances at the current moment in time though as he knows his head's on the chopping block.

 

I thought Val was pretty much on the money in his post-match appraisals of our performances too. Same for Billic and Wilder last season were honest enough too.

For me it's more in the 'nice to have have' box than a must.

 

Yeah, it's one thing to criticise a poor performance (especially when you're someone like Wilder who isn't going to stay), another thing entirely to actually do something about it. I will say that Cleverley is learning on the job with these glorified friendlies, with a squad yet to be fully shaped in his image

 

Fast-forward to TC in mid September !

 

You're leading that narrative to better your case.
His record speaks for itself. As an advisor or number 2 he would bring a wealth of experience. But it's not happening anyway.

 

Agreed. INEOS will jog him on at the end of the season.

 

OUTEOS.

 

Eh? The timeline fits what I’ve said. I can’t manipulate time (wish I could!).

 

And mine. Surely you can see that he holds records for promotions and games in charge.
As I said it's not happening anyway but you can't knock his records.

 

I’m not knocking his record? But his most recent appointments have been to help teams that are in trouble. Not to clubs that are chasing promotion. Thats the point.

Palace 2014 - Brought in to save them from relegation threat.
Rotherham 2016 - Brought in to save them from relegation threat.
Cardiff 2016 - Got promoted, then. relegated and left.
Middlesbrough 2020 - Brought in to save them from relegation threat.
Huddersfield 2023 - Brought in to save them from relegation threat.
Aberdeen 2024 - Brought in to steady them after a poor start to the season.

 

.....so we'll be looking for his services next Feb !!

 

Ok.

 

Interim coaching staff confirmed as permanent with the exception of Gilligan, with an experienced head to come in.

Aidy pretty much pitched for it on the DNSYE pod and has been at a couple of games lately so my money is on him.

 

Would prefer Robbo to Aidy, as he's been involved in club management in England in the last few years whereas Aidy has been in India since leaving the England set-up. Speaking of which, I don't suppose his time with the England underage teams will be an advantage?

 

is Gibbs still part of the Spurs set up?

I’d be happy with either. Aidy gave me one of my favourite ever seasons following Watford and (in my opinion) did ok with the U21’s, and there’s possibly a few levers he’d be able to pull in terms of contacts at bigger clubs for players, so it would be a good move.

 

Boothroyd. Christ. As reruns go, that’s about as depressing as bringing QSF back for a third go.

 

He actually did pretty well, relatively speaking - saving them from relegation then taking them to the playoff final the next season. The wheels came off after that, though, as they can so often do, and he was sacked in the ensuing December.

Definitely his highest point post-us, I think, aside from the general honour of being bestowed ever higher age-groups of England youth teams to stifle on account of your best mate being in charge.

 

Chris Eagles the on loan Sheff wed winger getting considerable stick and then scoring our first goal !

 

Ah yes, December. It always ensues.

 

People saying Gibbs or Robbo - the statement made by Cleverley is he wants someone who has ‘coached at a top level for many years, and most importantly from a winning environment.’

I suspect it’ll be someone Cleverley knows from his United days.

I don’t really see how Robbo or Gibbs (or Boothroyd) fit the given brief.

 

Where is Micky Phelan working these days?

 

What about Ray Lewington could he work !

 

It would quite a coup if we do get Warren Joyce, wouldn’t it? Fingers crossed!

 

Rene Muelensteen ?

 

Did Warren Joyce leave Forest when they changed manager this season?

 

Rooney. We could be Waynes Rooney's Watford.

 

Nooooooooo!!!!

 

Remember - it’s not a new assistant he’s looking for, it’s a replacement for Gilligan who was in a technical role.

Plays to someone like Joyce - but not the likes of Phelan, Gibbs etc

 

His first job after us was Colchester (a bit of a comedown considering not long before he was touted as one of the most promising young English managers) - he actually did really well there considering Colchester's size (even after their long planned and awaited move to their new stadium) and where they are now, but some Colchester fans didn't seem to think so, not liking his style of football which apparently got "found out". Was he actually sacked there or did he just leave for Coventry like Wikipedia says? But they finished 8th with 72 points in a strong League 1, having been in the play-offs for much of the season. Given how they have declined since (apart from the odd season of improvement) it's a case of be careful for what you wish for...

Football Club History Database - Colchester United (fchd.info)