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I also agree with you. Best of luck to him.
My abiding memory of him, is when he actually rang me up (Honestly, he did) after I’d sent him a scathing letter, after we’d got beat by both West Ham and Sunderland, in the promotion season, and I questioned the players ‘bottle’.
He rang me to defend his players, and whilst he was angry about it initially, he cooled enough to spend about 10 or 15 minutes chatting all things Latics related. Surprised? You bet I was. He let me know though, in no uncertain terms, that he was the gaffer, and what he said, went.
I was sorry it went stale, towards the end.
Similar club, Darlington. Surrounded by bigger names, and a new stadium to boot. Good luck!
When Jewell started making comments about fan support in yr 2 in Prem, I sent him a letter pointing out that the club had hiked up match day prices by 40% and the crowds had dropped by similar amounts. He never replied, but the comments in my letter were reproduced almost word for word in an article by a journalist in a quality Sunday paper that Jewell seemed to be on good terms with.
So I think he was on our side really.
I liked him. He made the best of his ability, he achieved great things with us without spending too much cash. He took us to 10th in Prem and our only major final so far. He was honest enough to leave us at a good time before things went sour – how many managers can say that?
Much as I hate Alan Sugar, his description of the “Carlos Kickaball” types that still populate our Prem League came to mind for me with this news. We’re ending up with a team of passing foreign journeymen. Doesn’t fill me with much joy, and doesn’t create much of a bond between fans and team.
Wouldn’t it be better to be known as a team that brings a few young local lads through (might help with the gates if there was more local identity) and gives some of the better talent from down the divisions a go. Lets not be flooded by foreign mercenaries.
Maybe I’m being unrealistic in the era of academies signing up lads before they’re out of nappies, but in the past we managed to produce top level players – Atherton, Newell, Quinn etc. Why can’t we do that now, or at least give some other young English lads a chance from down the divisions. I know people are going to say Cotterill, Folan, Watson etc weren’t up to it, but I don’t reckon any of them were given long enough by us to settle into playing at a higher level.
When he left I predicted he would regret it.
He’s knocking on, slightly injury prone and doesn’t score enough. Saying all that he offers a lot as a target man, which is why Capello picks him. But as with a lot of players, his ego gets in the way. Instead of staying with us, playing less games, but regularly, (no Europe, limited cup runs) and saving some energy for England, he has to play at a “big” club (i.e bigger crowds), with loads of forwards where he’s not guaranteed a game.
I’ll predict now that he’ll be back with us on loan in the Jan window to get regular 1st team football for the world cup
Can’t say i find it beautiful – I’d personally rather see some decent wing play, although there is an argument for playing narrowly against the better sides. Against the weaker sides I’d get Koumas and N Zogbia onto their natural sides to get more width, or we’ll soon be worked out.
To me it means you’re playing too narrow and cutting out a key way of scoring goals – attacking the byline and getting crosses in. If Gomez, and the winger on the other side are doing their job, would be getting three people in the box to attack crosses anyway.
Lack of width particularly noticeable against Wolves.
