Tom Cleverley - Head Coach

We went more direct in our last couple of games and first half vs Coventry aside it didn't seem much more successful.

 

Sometimes we've had an advanced midfielder (for example Asprilla), on other occasions not, but as I say, that's not the problem, whatever system we've used, whether it's been with a #10, with inverted wingers or more traditional ones, whether a big lump up top or a more mobile one, we've struggled to create good chances, once the wonder goals have dried up, we've looked out of ideas

 

Yeah, in the league this season we’ve started 33 times in a 4-3-3, three times in a 4-2-3-1 and once in a 3-4-1-2 (that horror show against Boro at home). He’s changed the style of play quite a bit over the season, though, but what annoyed me was that he always seemed to set us up for the previous game instead of the next. It was reactive to the extreme, with culminated in him literally saying before Huddersfield that he wanted us to play for 15-20 mins and see what they were doing before deciding on a game plan.

 

My insight from his previous work is that he favours youth over experience. In fact, no players in their late 20s even got a look in!

Read into that what you will.

 

"You win nothing with kids" !

 

Thats a line up that screams 'improved results' if ever there was one

 

You win nowt with our squad so may as well use the kids, maybe a couple of ladies as well ? Hahaha

 

It didn't i agree but there was more urgency in our play. It certainly surprised Coventry and this in my opinion needs to happen more often. We were far too slow and predictable hence giving the opposition time to get into shape. Hopefully Tom can get a little bit of that heart and passion shown in the first half against Coventry and we can only see where it takes us.

 

System remained the same, just the players differed. Some of his substitutions left a lot to be desired as well. I'm staggered people wanted him to stay

 

I have a feeling Tom is going to prove to be a huge success and will get the team playing, and I think he will prove enough to be our Head Coach at the start of next season. Nothing to back this up - I just have a feeling

 

Bookmark this for when we go down.

 

I'm hearing TC is signing a 10 year contract with 72 hours notice period in the event of dismissal.

 

It wont win people around if the presented alternative is, on paper anyway, a massive downgrade on what we just got rid off - especially if the reported goal was a worry over being drawn into a relegation battle/to improve results.

 

lmao

 

Dunno what you're laughing at. Clevs is in charge now. Just because Gino does the pre-match team talk, decides who plays where and has a lackey on the touchline ready to make subs as required doesn't mean Captain Tom doesn't get to do the important stuff like put the cones out for the warm up and face up to the press after another pathetic defeat.

 

Are these comments from a longer interview anywhere?

 

I hear you better not mess with him if you want to get things done.

 

Wait until Bayat hears this. He’s got some cracking cones for sale.

 

"....Cones for sale" ? Another promising youngster set to leave ? I too am hearing this.

 

I’m genuinely at the point in our management history merry-go-round to honestly believe that our immediate future is on a knife-edge…

And that knife-edge is - will Cleverley wear a tracksuit, suit or ‘smart-casual’?

Thats right, I’m staking my opinion on our chances on his attire.

Suit/Smart-attire? We’ll be fine. He’ll look class, is a young, decent looking guy and will attract positive reviews.

Tracksuit? Nah. Won’t command the respect needed. We are in trouble.

(He should be the former - I fear he’s the latter.)

 

Clevz can’t wear a suit for a run of the mill league game, he’s not from that generation. Training gear I reckon. But if he does go smart, guaranteed white soled smart trainers.

 

I’m from the school of believing every manager should wear a suit. I won’t even stand for the Kelme nonsense over a suit. They can all afford a decent, smart Mackintosh or Down puffer jacket.

Don’t get me started on the ones who wear boots.

Dress for the job you want (literally any other job) not the one you have (ours).

 

I firmly believe he should replicate Beppe Sannino's majestic Armani suit/Copa Mundials combination.

 

Fortunately we only have "coaches" (or certainly used to?) so I guess it's just trainers, jogging bottoms, sweatshirt and maybe an orange bib ?

 

I reckon he’ll be more Pep/Parker vibes.

 

I felt he came across well in his interview today.

Every now and then on our managerial merry-go-round we appoint one who I find myself hoping more than others will be successful for us, from the perspective of feeling more emotionally invested in them etc.

We’ve just appointed one such man.

 

It's a real shame he got the job as I've always liked him, hopefully he gets through this ordeal unscathed.

 

I also suspect they wouldn’t be doing such an interview/release if they had a plan to sack him after a loss at Birmingham.

Call me an idiot - which is entirely fair given the Pozzo history - but I have a slight sense that Gino and Co are putting whatever stake they have left on him and hoping they have landed on the next young homegrown coach.

 

You’re an idiot.

 

A fair reposte.

 

You're an idiot.