Staff report
Board / Club
Kevin McCabe
Last season I was more measured in my approach to the board and McCabe. We kept much of the team together and the controversial Wilson appointment nearly paid off. However they get no such free ticket this year. Nearly everything they have done has gone wrong going through numerous bumbling decisions off the pitch (Winter came in as CEO then mysteriously disappeared – not the first really, Robinson, Birch etc that were utter disasters). We somehow lost the much vaunted John Pemberton from the Academy without even any real explanation and then in came Jamie Hoyland and then he soon left. It was all a bit bizarre. We seemed to have changed the coach every month and no reasons or honesty why this is happening?
On the field, we let Quinn, Lowton, Williamson go and then replaced them with inferior talent. We sold our leading scorer Blackman and once again as with Evans never had a plan B. It was planning of the poorest kind but I expected nothing less from such an incompetent board of directors and chairman that seems incapable of making correct football decisions and then often acts impulsively (Blackman 3 games, Wilson 5 games from the end of the season). Our chairman continually talks about bad luck and the rub of the green and treats us supporters with contempt as he makes such decisions. He genuinely seems to think we would all be massively in favour of appointing a rookie manager Chris Morgan. In effect it does not appease the fans it just smacks of cheap and desperation. Granted Wilson was a dead man walking but doing it 5 games before the season was folly in some ways and unsure what he thought a coach who had been involved in the set up would suddenly turn things around?
The squad is a joke with a smattering of young talent surrounded by ageing has been and players not good enough (proved it for 3 seasons straight – what I term ‘losers’). We have no flair, quality, pace, no strikers, little creativity, wingers who can’t cross/beat men and a defence that is solid apart from when it really matters. What a mess.
We now have a new chairman, David Green and also the bloke McCarthy seems to be more involved than ever when a few years ago was he not chairman at Sheffield FC? I do not even know who Jeremy Tutton or Ian Cameron is? No one seems to invest whoever they are. I am not sure we have the right people making decisions and would not trust McCabe and whoever he employs to get anything right – he has proven this. It is frightening to think who he will bring in as the new manager. He goes from the controversial Robson, Wilson to those he thinks we would be desperate to have as they are Blades, Blackwell, Warnock, Morgan. In reality most of his appointments have been unmitigated disasters as has the transfer policy with sanctioning of players such as Robson, Kitson, Higginbotham, Williams, and re-signing (incredulously of Doyle/Collins) means we are saddled with further debt. It is the board that surely signs off such cheques and therefore the blame lay sorely with them as they not only keep appointing these awful managers but allow them to bring in slow, old dross. We have an academy that is not used enough (players blooded far too late) and most of our loans are ineffective. We rarely find gems (Miller/Blackman rare one) and our so called changes to our scouting system seems to have done little – as we were relying on old mates (Kitson getting Higginbotham) for some signings which is embarrassing really.
I have not even gone into the changes in terms of the freehold of the hotel and the ground which puts the power even more firmly with the McCabe family and his ‘company.’ We had the talk of Malaysians a few years ago that came to nothing and then last year the Nigerian guy who offered some sound bites but nothing has happened.
The only positives is the ground still is decent (but that is only in comparison to holes in the division) and we have a nice training ground. However the pitch is awful at the Lane. We have had a terrible winter and long winter but look at our rivals across the city and their surface for the final game of the season. Somehow they manage to keep their pitch so much better. I suppose some fans will say the usual stuff about drainage etc but we have had this problem for years and it is totally unacceptable. We need to get it sorted but I guess with all the other issues are low down on the agenda and we barely keep it on the pitch anyway.
I suppose the board has kept the season ticket prices down (did they have a choice and it won’t make much difference as crowds will dip quite a lot in my opinion). Oh and I suppose the kit was nice this year but that will be changed (again) next season.
Grade F
Next season
I cannot see any way forward unless someone buys the McCabe family out and we can start again but the debts we/he has and is owed (due to his own dreadful mismanagement) means he will be stuck here – of course if he walked away without any new investment we would even be more royally screwed. We are simply stuck between a rock and a hard place. We won’t go into administration due to the money and debts being mostly with McCabe rather than other creditors. However we can’t get bought out as the debts and situation McCabe has created. We are stuffed and will continue to suffer with even more awful decisions.
Overall, the board (and McCabe) has completely made a royal mess of this football club and I am unsure how we can get out of it. I believe things may get worse before they get better and it would not totally surprise me if we went further down the pyramid. It should be embarrassing that we are at the same level as many of the clubs we are and also that locally sides like Wednesday, Donny, Barnsley, Rotherham etc (have brighter futures on and off the field) have all done so well. The fans deserve better but it could be a long time before we see any real glory and it remains to be see how many l
Managerial team/Coaches
Danny Wilson
Wilson had been a success first season and things contrived to stop him being a United legend. Sadly you feared for him as players left and he was faced with a tougher hand to work with. Still as you saw the awful division in front of us and that despite United not being able to play much football, they still should go up. We were in a great position around Xmas and despite the shocking performances and negative approach (granted we could never replicate what we did as we did not have personnel but it was awful to watch) we seemed set to go one better. After Xmas we did lose a key man in Miller but Wilson sanctioned signings such as Poleon, Forte (and Cofie earlier in the season), spent funds on Murphy, Higginbotham and Robson and barely any of these signings made much impact really. These funds and wages alone were still surely much more than every other club had at their disposal and were wasted. Like the previous year with O’Halloran, Egan, Hoskins etc when we needed signings to make the late push Wilson got nearly all of them wrong.
We started to lose at home after previously good form and then even when the reverses stopped we began to draw most games at the Lane and had some awful runs of 0-0 draws. It was unclear on how we were playing with little football; more direct stuff (but not proper direct stuff that sometimes can be effective). Wilson was not blooding youngsters (forced into Long, Ironside and McFadzean not given chances, De Girolamo should have featured more long before he was injured) and kept playing the same underperforming players such as Doyle, Flynn, Kitson etc.
Wilson may say he got us near the top with a lesser squad, we had a good defensive record but ultimately as season hit final straight we started to choke again and could not score goals or even look like scoring. We did not even show passion or work ethic of many of the sides we played and the players did not actually seem to be really playing for Wilson. That or he could get no more out of them. The decision to sack him was still a surprise. I expected it but expected it at the end of the season. It is easy to say in hindsight (as you could say McCabe had nothing to lose) but the decision simply smacked of moving the chairs on the titanic as Morgan may have the passion, drive but no managerial experience whatsoever and seemed sadly out of his depth.
Final thoughts on Wilson is that whilst he is undoubtedly a poor manager in many ways and is a lower league boss (proved by umpteen years at same level) he always carried himself with dignity and class (Evans affair etc). He always spoke well and I felt as a man he left with his dignity as a person. He failed at United (not the first and but for one man in Rhyl he would have maybe been a hero) but he is not the worst manager United have ever had and I believe did his best for the club. Ultimately he lacked idea, drive and contacts (loan signings pathetic) to propel the club to the next step but this has happened to him at so many other clubs it cannot be just us; it must be him. I did not have same bad feelings or negativity towards him as I probably have other departing managers (Robson, Heath and even Blackwell) and he did seem like a really nice bloke. Sadly being a nice bloke was not enough.
Grade D+
Chris Morgan
Morgan was always involved in the coaching last season but became more involved and you could see is presence on the side of the pitch or in the stand a lot more this season. He started to take more sessions in training and pre game. I have never been convinced he would make a ‘manager’ but of course that could be unfair just on interviews and watching him fire balls at centre halves in the warm up! However I feared when we made a change he would always be the one who would get the reigns temporarily. The move to appoint him I suppose was intended to galvanise us for the run in and it worked. For one game. After this excellent performance v Swindon; we reverted to type and it was mostly awful again with little attacking threat or goals from the side. We had some brief hope after the first leg but then went out with a whimper in the second leg. I cannot see him being around next season as he is not an Academy coach nor would a new manager want to keep him you would think – they will bring own men in. A sad way for his SUFC career to end but he does need to go and manage in the non league (doubt he would get a Div 2 job) and earn his next job higher up the league. This experience will do him the power of good and he would have moved on anyway if Wilson had been sacked at the end of the season. He had 5 (+ 3 bonus) games to get us up and probably get him a job he never thought he would get so soon and it was just too much but I cannot blame him. His interview at the end of the Yeovil game summed up what limitations he probably has. He was struggling to know what to say and actually said we had a ‘fantastic’ squad. If he had come out and said we had underachieved, this was not acceptable for SUFC and that if he gets the job there would be big changes in philosophy and personnel, I might of said give him an interview but his comments said he is too close to it and we need a fresh start. Sadly albeit in limited time, we failed. We scored 1 deflected goal in the final 5 games and barely created a chance. We have to look elsewhere. Hopefully he can still be remembered for being a good servant and for the most part a very good centre back for United through some good days.
Grade D
Frank Barlow Barlow did not say much nor was he interviewed much in the press, but seems to have been Wilson’s trusty number 2 most of his managerial career. I would have liked someone with a bit more idea in the modern game to have assisted Wilson. It seemed like he was very much old school and our coaching and ideas on the field really lacked creativity and freshness. With most managers they have a man they like as their assistant wherever they go and I am sure he will turn up with Wilson at another lower league club soon. There are worse management teams than them at this level that is for sure.
Darren Ward is our goalkeeping coach and has been involved with a number of young goalies coming through such as Long and Willis and they both seem to be developing well so fair play to him.
Bill Dearden was brought in and expected to improve the scouting of players but it has not really worked. We did good work in Blackman and Miller but these were 2 rarities amongst a number of awful signings (many were old players that surely he would not scout to be fair). It worries me if he has seen something in the likes of Westlake, Poleon, and Murphy and feels these are the best we can get? Surely there are better players in the lower leagues and even Conference we could sign for relatively cheap fees and wages? We have to change our approach and now Kitson, Higginbotham and Robson are gone, we are stuck with Collins and Doyle sadly (one day we will be shut of them) we need to look for young, fast and hungry players that are on the way up. I would rather us take a chance on 1 or 2 young players from lower leagues combined with a couple of our own kids than say 1 Robson (wages would be similar). We have to change this approach of who we sign and look at the potential of players to a) improve play higher up and c) perversely the sell on value they could attract (Blackman although timing of sale was poor – made good money).
John Pemberton was seen as one of the most important people in the club and key to everything we did. He helped build a side in the Academy that got to the Youth Cup Final and also was involved in helping us bring through several players (6 or 7 involved in match day squads from that Youth Cup final side). He got the teams at youth level playing good football and was also touted as a possible next manager. He turned down Crawley to stay with us and then oddly he left the club with no real announcement why and no explanation. He re-appeared back at Forest but then left there when Billy Davies came in. Not sure what he is doing now but it all seemed strange.
Jamie Hoyland Following Pemberton came former Blade Hoyland who had been coaching after his playing days for clubs in Lancashire. Like with the first team manager it was if McCabe thought by naming a former Blade favourite and burying the bad news about the loss of Pemberton, he would appease the fans and they would not question things. Not sure we are all that daft. To compound matters Hoyland was only here for a few months before he too resigned. There were rumours it was down to travelling over the Pennies but when he came he had stated it was his dream job – so it all did not seem to add up. He even made some remarks on Twitter about so called unrest in the club when we lost saying some would have been happy we did not go up? It certainly seemed not a straight forward case of him not wanting to commute to me.
David Unsworth; Unsworth had been a coach at Preston and was caretaker manager only last season but he was appointed to the staff at the Lane to work in the Academy. Soon after this he was in the first team coaching set up after Wilson left as he assisted Morgan. Now Morgan will probably move on, Unsworth I expect will move back to the Academy as he was brought in for this role rather than first team matters
The Academy has plodded on with Travis Binnion a former Blades youth player (and a few others I do not know) proceedings over things but the results have been quite poor but that is of course not the ultimate aim. It does not seem we have given as many professional contracts out this year and I have to be honest that when I have been up there I have not seen any real stand outs so hopefully there a few younger players that can push on for the u18’s this coming season. Loyal ones will be left in 4 or 5 years if we are still in the lower leagues.
Next season
In terms of the first team manager and the coaching staff at this level next season; there is a real fear over who we may appoint. On the surface despite the financial difficulties, lack of talent on the field and lack of real ambition from the board, it still should be a fairly attractive proposition for many. A big club, with big crowds, nice ground facilities, academy etc. McCabe has spoken of a young manager (despite links with Australian Graham Arnold) which is more promising but I have no confidence he knows what he is doing. I keep thinking that surely he must get it right at some point but then I look at what he has done previously and see no reason to see anything different. A quick look at the bookies and the list and I really do despair. Someone said on another forum it was like choosing between an STD!
Bets courtesy of Skybet (as of 07/05/13)
Martin Allen 9/4 – Failed at clubs with even less expectations (Nott’s County). Seem an Adams type manager and his style is mostly direct whenever I have seen his teams.
Stuart McCall 5/1 – He also failed badly at Bradford and I am not sure his success at Motherwell means that much as the standard of football is so poor (just like at Murphy on the pitch).
Chris Morgan 10/1 – See above for my comments
Gareth Southgate 12/1 – Not sure he is the man for the challenge. Never convinced me at Boro and less than inspiring on TV. Left a good job coaching for the FA saying it was not for him.
Phil Parkinson 11/1 – Done well at Bradford but another that has failed at as many clubs as he has done well and it would be the biggest club he has ever been at and the expectations may be too much.
Neil Warnock 16/1 – Gave me some of my best days as a Blades fan but he is a managerial dinosaur and McCabe would not have him back. Full of his own self importance.
Graham Arnold 18/1 – Would be a major gamble but would still prefer him to some of the above but that is more about the lack of excitement at the above names.
Steve Cotterill 20/1 – Another manager that has been round the league and other than odd bits and pieces strikes me as a bit of a journeyman that never seems to stay anywhere very long (normally gets sacked)
Wally Downes 20/1 – No thanks.
Les Ferninand 20/1 – No experience whatsoever.
Karl Robinson 28/1 – Always quite liked him and talks a good game but failed with decent funds at MK Dons. Probably prefer him to many on this list.
Michael Appleton 33/1 – Another that has had lots of clubs for someone very young too. Not for me.
Kevin Blackwell 33/1 – Is this serious?
Gary Neville 33/1 – Would love him at the Lane or his brother – get both!!! Seriously Gary as manager and Phil as number two (and player captain). Would never happen as out chairman does not think out of the box.
You then have Steve Kean, Eddie Howe, Ian Dowie, Paul Jewell, Keith Curle etc. It is not a pretty list.
As much as I have criticised McCabe and fear for who he appoints I really do not know who is out there. None of the above fills me with glee. We would have to look at other clubs managers and see who we may get (if McCabe is willing to pay). The likes of Steve Davis, Uwe Rosler, Gary Johnson, and Dean Smith are all names that could do a steady job. Rosler is one I would like but again not sure he would come. We will wait and see but I am not sure whoever gets it can do much better faced with such a dwindling squad in terms of talent but then again I look at the division (albeit will be stronger) and with 5 or 6 astute signings that bring us that pace and hunger and you never know (look at Brentford etc).
* Note - Took this late last night/early morning before Wilder has gone to top of list (2-1) and Jackett and Saunders became available. For me it’s a no. Another Adams type appointment. We need someone with no connection to the club at all for me.