Managerial Merry-Go-Round 2020/21

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Always thought it was a good idea just didn’t know who went into it.

I used to love the cup winners cup. Shame they did away with it

That's what letting too many teams into the "Champions" League does to great competitions I'm afraid.

UEFA's way of solving the Western European bias of Elite European competition is to make a tertiary competition in the hopes the Western European top sides don't take it seriously whereas the Eastern/Scandinavian/Southern/Scottish and Irish sides can go deep into it. It's why former CL regulars like Legia Warsaw, Rosenborg, Sparta Prague, IFK Gothenburg just can't get back to where they were in 90s.

There are a lot of cons saying it's just to keep lesser nations happy, but if the prize money is deep into seven figures and potentially touching eight figures if you go on a very deep run in the tournament, it could really reinvigorate those clubs who are in the shadows of giants in their own countries. Dundee United will be a long-term project, but Mellon has shown great promise at his previous clubs and maybe he can deliver what the owners want up there?

 

[Boz]

Think we'll be seeing quite a few L1/L2/NL players going North of the Border as the wages aren't going to drop anywhere near as much in Scotland as they will in our lower leagues.

Dundee United are what I'd regard as one of the four biggest Scottish clubs outside of the Old Firm (along with Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs) and will more than likely be making a lot more money in the SPL than Tranmere would in either Leagues 1 or 2 post COVID. They're owned by an American investor who wants to get them into Europe and they're going to make a fortune on Shankland in the next 12 months if they sell him. They're very much a club on the up.

European football past the qualifying rounds for Scottish clubs could become a more regular event with the introduction of the new UEFA Europa Conference League soon. With American investment now at Aberdeen and Dundee United, if Mellon is a good fit for them, I can see him getting them into Europe, improving their squad with his contacts South of the Border and firmly re-establishing it as a Top 4/6 Scottish side.

I know a lot of English fans are biased and ignorant to Scottish football, but for me it's a no-brainer. The state of the English lower league game is about to change dramatically as many clubs paying daft wages cut their cloth. Dundee United are one of the small band of clubs in the UK whose income is about to significantly increase next season despite the implications of COVID 19. So I don't blame Mellon for taking the job at all. Had he done it 12 months ago when they were also-rans going nowhere and Tranmere were a club very much on the up, I'd say he was barmy, but times and circumstances have changed considerably...

Interesting what you say about the potential upturn in Scots top flight football. It's clear wages are going to significantly drop in the lower leagues here, so a number of players will head north. Though there have been murmurings that Scotland might impose quarantine restrictions on travellers from England. No idea if there's any credibility to that, if it does happen might reduce the numbers making the move.

With Dundee Utd, bit puzzled why Robbie Neilson has left the club he got promoted to go back to his old club, Hearts, who were demoted. If things are that good at Tannadice, why didn't he stay put?

I don't think many Rovers fans would begrudge Micky the chance to manage at a higher level and you make a good case for viewing the Scottish top flight as that. How well he'll fare is open to question; he's a good manager and motivator, a number of players have improved significantly under him at Tranmere, but all his football career has been outside Scotland and his transfer record is mixed. Hope it works out for him.

As for who Rovers get in next, if the departure is confirmed, then the noises are suggesting an internal appointment, which is risky given our last experience with a rookie manager was the Rob Edwards debacle.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Interesting what you say about the potential upturn in Scots top flight football. It's clear wages are going to significantly drop in the lower leagues here, so a number of players will head north. Though there have been murmurings that Scotland might impose quarantine restrictions on travellers from England. No idea if there's any credibility to that, if it does happen might reduce the numbers making the move.

With Dundee Utd, bit puzzled why Robbie Neilson has left the club he got promoted to go back to his old club, Hearts, who were demoted. If things are that good at Tannadice, why didn't he stay put?

I don't think many Rovers fans would begrudge Micky the chance to manage at a higher level and you make a good case for viewing the Scottish top flight as that. How well he'll fare is open to question; he's a good manager and motivator, a number of players have improved significantly under him at Tranmere, but all his football career has been outside Scotland and his transfer record is mixed. Hope it works out for him.

As for who Rovers get in next, if the departure is confirmed, then the noises are suggesting an internal appointment, which is risky given our last experience with a rookie manager was the Rob Edwards debacle.

Robbie Neilson left Dundee United because he's previously worked at Hearts and he had a phenomenal season with them in the second tier before establishing them in the Top 3/4 in Scotland until he left for MK Dons. He developed a great young side but MK Dons had just come down from the Championship so probably offered him a better deal than he was on up there. He returns to Hearts a failure in England but has been successful once again in Scotland. Hearts probably have the third or fourth biggest budget in Scotland which shows what a state they've been in that they've somehow conspired to get themselves relegated. I also imagine he's Edinburgh based and even though he's a dropped a league, will more than likely be paid more so that's probably why he made the move. The competition in Scotland's second tier next season will be weak so you'd imagine he'll take them up without any fuss.

Be interesting to see who Tranmere go for though. Out of work managers like Paul Hurst might do well in a more stable environment, Scunthorpe were saddled with lots of overpaid and underperforming players and he was on a hiding to nothing there. Lots of promising coaches knocking about in the North West but it's a risk after the Edwards debacle. Or you could get a manager on the up like Pete Wild at Halifax. But it'll be interesting to see who you appoint to replace him.

 

[Indian Dan]

Whoever it is they must buy into the whingy ethos.

 

[White Army]

Paul Tisdale is a name doing the rounds

 

[AdamStag]

Whoever it is they must buy into the whingy ethos.

Agreed.

I wonder what they call it if someone gets a position higher than the one they’re in? As tranmere don’t believe in “relegation” presumably they don’t with promotion either haha.

Tisdale and his assistant are Whiney twats so they’d fit in

 

[Boz]

Paul Tisdale is a name doing the rounds

Not heard that name and unsure he’d be a good fit, though his Exeter team played decent football.

 

[Chris FGR]

Think we'll be seeing quite a few L1/L2/NL players going North of the Border as the wages aren't going to drop anywhere near as much in Scotland as they will in our lower leagues.

Dundee United are what I'd regard as one of the four biggest Scottish clubs outside of the Old Firm (along with Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs) and will more than likely be making a lot more money in the SPL than Tranmere would in either Leagues 1 or 2 post COVID. They're owned by an American investor who wants to get them into Europe and they're going to make a fortune on Shankland in the next 12 months if they sell him. They're very much a club on the up.

European football past the qualifying rounds for Scottish clubs could become a more regular event with the introduction of the new UEFA Europa Conference League soon. With American investment now at Aberdeen and Dundee United, if Mellon is a good fit for them, I can see him getting them into Europe, improving their squad with his contacts South of the Border and firmly re-establishing it as a Top 4/6 Scottish side.

I know a lot of English fans are biased and ignorant to Scottish football, but for me it's a no-brainer. The state of the English lower league game is about to change dramatically as many clubs paying daft wages cut their cloth. Dundee United are one of the small band of clubs in the UK whose income is about to significantly increase next season despite the implications of COVID 19. So I don't blame Mellon for taking the job at all. Had he done it 12 months ago when they were also-rans going nowhere and Tranmere were a club very much on the up, I'd say he was barmy, but times and circumstances have changed considerably...

We've lost Nathan McGinley to Motherwell this summer, third player we've lost to Scottish clubs in recent years.

 

[AdamStag]

We've lost Nathan McGinley to Motherwell this summer, third player we've lost to Scottish clubs in recent years.

In fairness though that’s a standard for Scottish prem

 

[White Army]

Mellon confirmed to Dundee United. Good opportunity for him and leaves with every Tranmere fans best wishes.
Few decent names linked, Adkins would be my pick. Nigel Clough probably slightly unrealistic.

 

[Huntsman94]

Whilst I’m gutted Micky has left to head up North to Dundee United, I fully acknowledge it’s an opportunity he just couldn’t turn down. He’s got legend status at the club with what he has done with the most important being getting us out of the National League. To then get us promoted to League One straight away was brilliant and he leaves with all our well wishes.

Been a tough couple of months for the club. The vote which led to our demotion, players contracts up and staff made redundant and then we have this. Fingers crossed this is the last of the bad news and we can now start to focus on getting a quality manager in and have a real focus on player recruitment to have us challenging for a League One return.

 

[AdamStag]

Whilst I’m gutted Micky has left to head up North to Dundee United, I fully acknowledge it’s an opportunity he just couldn’t turn down. He’s got legend status at the club with what he has done with the most important being getting us out of the National League. To then get us promoted to League One straight away was brilliant and he leaves with all our well wishes.

Been a tough couple of months for the club. The vote which led to our demotion, players contracts up and staff made redundant and then we have this. Fingers crossed this is the last of the bad news and we can now start to focus on getting a quality manager in and have a real focus on player recruitment to have us challenging for a League One return.

So have all tranmere fans decided to adopt to using demotion instead of relegation despite them both meaning, and resulting in exactly the same thing?

 

[White Army]

So have all tranmere fans decided to adopt to using demotion instead of relegation despite them both meaning, and resulting in exactly the same thing?

Yep, may as well get used to it.

 

[Valeite]

What price is Micky Adams?

 

[AdamStag]

Yep, may as well get used to it.

I don’t mind, it just makes you sound ridiculous and bitter.

All im gaining from it is mild humour.

 

[Huntsman94]

So have all tranmere fans decided to adopt to using demotion instead of relegation despite them both meaning, and resulting in exactly the same thing?

Most have yep. Might start using elevation as an alternative as well

 

[Huntsman94]

I don’t mind, it just makes you sound ridiculous and bitter.

All im gaining from it is mild humour.

Whilst what is done is done, the bitterness and disappointment will last a while among Tranmere fans and I think that’s to be expected really. Especially when we’re now in this limbo period where we can’t even start to make things right on the pitch.

 

[RLC]

Not heard that name and unsure he’d be a good fit, though his Exeter team played decent football.

He looks the best of the realistic candidates to me. However, unlike Mellon he is not exactly a people person and seemed to have a tricky relationship with the fans at Exeter.

 

[AdamStag]

Whilst what is done is done, the bitterness and disappointment will last a while among Tranmere fans and I think that’s to be expected really. Especially when we’re now in this limbo period where we can’t even start to make things right on the pitch.

Look, everyone feels for you - and if you read back I was and have been supportive of how you’d feel given the season was ended in the way it was, however - you were there for a reason.

Oxford got to the 4th round of the cup like you and are in the playoff final, I agree you were robbed of a chance to get out of it, but given after 35 odd games you were in the relegation spot I guess it’s as fair as it can be.

Who knows, we might battle out the elevation spaces with you haha

 

[Huntsman94]

Look, everyone feels for you - and if you read back I was and have been supportive of how you’d feel given the season was ended in the way it was, however - you were there for a reason.

Oxford got to the 4th round of the cup like you and are in the playoff final, I agree you were robbed of a chance to get out of it, but given after 35 odd games you were in the relegation spot I guess it’s as fair as it can be.

Who knows, we might battle out the elevation spaces with you haha

I’m really not looking to bring this all up again genuinely. And I do remember you being supportive of us and appreciate that. A lot of fans of other clubs were. Some will continue to call us “whiny” or whatever term and they can carry on doing that if it gets them their kicks.

Didn’t catch much of you lot last season and was surprised to see your league position given you were in the playoffs with us the season before. Financially you’re obviously one of the stronger sides in the division so would expect to be battling with you guys for one of those “elevation” places (I see this catching on I really do )

 

[Boz]

He looks the best of the realistic candidates to me. However, unlike Mellon he is not exactly a people person and seemed to have a tricky relationship with the fans at Exeter.

Certainly better than some of the favourites on the odds list White Army publishes above. However, don't want to go back to the Brabin days of it being beneath the manager to talk with fans. It's crucial that the next manger can keep the support onboard during what is going to be a difficult season. Financially, we can't compete with the moneybags sides like Mansfield, Salford, Bradford even Bolton it seems, the way they're splashing the cash.

 

[Indian Dan]

Phil Brown!

Go on. You know you want to!

 

[Posh Harry]

Certainly better than some of the favourites on the odds list White Army publishes above. However, don't want to go back to the Brabin days of it being beneath the manager to talk with fans. It's crucial that the next manger can keep the support onboard during what is going to be a difficult season. Financially, we can't compete with the moneybags sides like Mansfield, Salford, Bradford even Bolton it seems, the way they're splashing the cash.

Well if your looking for someone who can communicate with the fans, for god sake don’t go for Paul hurst

 

[Boz]

Phil Brown!

Go on. You know you want to!

Ritchie Wellens might fancy a return to the north.

 

[AdamStag]

Phil Brown!

Go on. You know you want to!

Flitcroft is free also haha

 

[Luke Imp]

Mellon confirmed to Dundee United. Good opportunity for him and leaves with every Tranmere fans best wishes.
Few decent names linked, Adkins would be my pick. Nigel Clough probably slightly unrealistic.

View attachment 12834

Adkins wold grate on you within weeks, he's so overly positive about everything it becomes sickening.

 

[Indian Dan]

Ritchie Wellens might fancy a return to the north.

To a decent club, no doubt!

 

[AdamStag]

Adkins wold grate on you within weeks, he's so overly positive about everything it becomes sickening.

Hope he never comes to Mansfield then, the fans would hate him within days

I’m always highly dubious on overly positive people

 

[Chris FGR]

Yeah I can't stand overly positive, cheerful chappy types either.

At least that's one thing Cooper will never be accused of....

 

[The_Boss]

Sol Campbell's your man.