Managerial Merry-Go-Round 2020/21

[shoddycollins]

I Posted on this forum about Barrow inability to attract players. Say you have 100 players who are willing to play in lge 1/2 in the north west. The best 20 go to Blackpool Fleetwood etc......Sorry to say you get the last 5 players
once 15 clubs have cherry picked.
If Bolton finish eighth and Barrow finish third bottom you will have had the better season.

Isn't this the reason why Barrow's training ground is in Rochdale though?

 

[shoddycollins]

Feel for the bloke, don't like people losing their jobs at the end of the day and he seems a likeable guy, but the stats don't lie, management doesn't seem to be his trade.

Very mixed feelings about Dunn getting the boot - results weren't good enough, but so many individual mistakes have cost 'him' some wins. We haven't been hammered (yesterday was the closest and that was a collapse after going down to 10 men), and he's been unlucky with injuries.
My main worry now is that we go for a name who is just wanting a final pay day (Grayson was mentioned, probably in jest). Also, are the club going to sack the manager every time there's a bit of discontent?

I've heard we're keeping his assistant, Rob Kelly, which is strange as surely he's just as culpable? I expect he'll be given the top job as he fits the bill.

Not sure how I feel about Barrow sacking Dunn. Could be justified could be harsh. I'm inclined to think though that Barrow have underestimated the gulf in quality between NL and L2. I didn't get to watch a lot of the NL last year but the general consensus among the fans was that Harrogate were the strongest side even though they didn't win the title, with Barrow not that far off. Harrogate are currently in 17th place and Barrow are down in 21st and if that's not evidence of the quality required in order to be competitive in L2 then I don't know what is.

Barrow have a very difficult decision to make now. In spite of results they aren't a bad team at all, their style of play has translated well to L2, they just have a very soft underbelly.

That's where the gulf is most apparent in how ruthlessly mistakes are punished in L2 v the NL.

So they need a manager now who can fix that while keeping the positives. Appointing a lower league slogger who tries to get them winning ugly could be a disaster. They need someone with a mix of vision and nous. Danny Cowley would be perfect but not very realistic.

 

[LS Bantam]

Hurst wouldn't be a bad shout for Bradford?

I get the feeling that those above the manager are the issue at Bradford in a way that no manager is likely to set the world alight there?

I wanted Hurst before Bowyer but can’t say he overly impressed at similarly positioned Scunthorpe? Still, I would take him now, his CV is better than most if not all of those mentioned.
The issue ‘from above’ is not in lack of support or even financial backing but lack of direction or general competence - the German owner is rarely in the country, he let his partner single handedly ruin us before getting rid, he apparently would sell but his asking price is way above anything anyone would reasonably pay (Huw Jenkins reported as taking an interest but to no avail). He later employed the former chairman to run things as CEO but he’s someone with plenty of critics and was the one behind the lazy reappoint of McCall his go to man, the third time he’s done so. Now he has gone to be replaced by the lad not long ago in charge of the clubs Twitter account, a 29 year old whose first act was to reward a failing McCall with a new deal only to sack him 2 or 3 weeks later.
It’s all very tin pot, McCall under recruited in the summer and those he did bring in did little to improve an already poor, lop sided squad, a fifth of the budget remains and most are out of contract in the summer, so a potential rebuild for someone is on the cards.
Much has been made of our lack of scouting and this week we were supposed to announce Lee Turnbull as that person, will that change now?

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Isn't this the reason why Barrow's training ground is in Rochdale though?

I think we moved to Macclesfield earlier in the season.

 

[Indian Dan]

Flitcroft for Bradford

 

[shoddycollins]

I think we moved to Macclesfield earlier in the season.

Is there a training complex going spare there or something? Or are you gradually going to relocate to Birmingham?

 

[BarraMatt]

Cowley's been mentioned by a number of people on our forum but that idea is pie in the sky. Doubt we would be able to afford him and its unlikely he would be looking in League 2 for a position anyway.

 

[BarraMatt]

Is there a training complex going spare there or something? Or are you gradually going to relocate to Birmingham?

Returning to our spiritual home of Dover.

 

[Bottega Don]

I wanted Hurst before Bowyer but can’t say he overly impressed at similarly positioned Scunthorpe? Still, I would take him now, his CV is better than most if not all of those mentioned.
The issue ‘from above’ is not in lack of support or even financial backing but lack of direction or general competence - the German owner is rarely in the country, he let his partner single handedly ruin us before getting rid, he apparently would sell but his asking price is way above anything anyone would reasonably pay (Huw Jenkins reported as taking an interest but to no avail). He later employed the former chairman to run things as CEO but he’s someone with plenty of critics and was the one behind the lazy reappoint of McCall his go to man, the third time he’s done so. Now he has gone to be replaced by the lad not long ago in charge of the clubs Twitter account, a 29 year old whose first act was to reward a failing McCall with a new deal only to sack him 2 or 3 weeks later.
It’s all very tin pot, McCall under recruited in the summer and those he did bring in did little to improve an already poor, lop sided squad, a fifth of the budget remains and most are out of contract in the summer, so a potential rebuild for someone is on the cards.
Much has been made of our lack of scouting and this week we were supposed to announce Lee Turnbull as that person, will that change now?

I liked Hurst, think I was in the minority though.

He immediately alienated people he saw as bad eggs, these were often our best players but he was mostly right. The only one he wasn't right about was Van Veen but I think they got on by the end.

Hurst will take some time to get it right, it's so frustrating as it all seemed to finally be clicking when he left. I think he'd be a solid appointment for Bradford, despite the laughs you will probably get from Scunny fans

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Cowley's been mentioned by a number of people on our forum but that idea is pie in the sky. Doubt we would be able to afford him and its unlikely he would be looking in League 2 for a position anyway.

This is the same problem again - our fans thinking we are massive for some reason. It will be someone pretty cheap and probably not even known by many people, and those fans will slag off the club for showing no ambition.

 

[Richard (Barrow)]

It isnt Macclesfield it is Egerton Youth Club at Knutsford.

 

[chipmunx]

It isnt Macclesfield it is Egerton Youth Club at Knutsford.

correct - it's there - the place Macclesfield used to train.

 

[Chris FGR]

This is the same problem again - our fans thinking we are massive for some reason. It will be someone pretty cheap and probably not even known by many people, and those fans will slag off the club for showing no ambition.

You beat off competition from Borussia Dortmund to sign a player, so clearly you are massive.

 

[chipmunx]

 

[chipmunx]

 

[Chris FGR]

Ady Pennock? Surprised to see him listed, think he's in Brunei?

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Ady Pennock? Surprised to see him listed, think he's in Brunei?

One person mentioned him on our forum, so he makes the bookies' odds. It's that basic.

 

[BarraMatt]

One person mentioned him on our forum, so he makes the bookies' odds. It's that basic.

Pretty sure someone during the summer said they saw Paul Heckingbottom at Forton services and he jumped from about 40/1 to 12/1.

 

[Indian Dan]

Flitcroft is fav for Barrow

 

[Chris FGR]

One person mentioned him on our forum, so he makes the bookies' odds. It's that basic.

Now favourite. Lol.

 

[chipmunx]

Now favourite. Lol.

the chairman just ruled out any previous managers including Ady Pennock...

 

[shoddycollins]

Surprised there's not been more talk of Holloway getting the sack on this thread. Grimsby have been pretty bad for most of the season and look to be in freefall now. Is the way that Fenty lured Holloway to Grimsby with a share offer backfiring?

I looked at last season's manager thread and was reminded how thrilled the Fish fans were to land him (no criticism of them for that, he's got a big pedigree and most neutrals were in agreement that he was a good appointment) but also that Holloway was given shares in Grimsby to sweeten the deal, presumably to make up for not being able to offer him the sort of wage he would be used to. Now though, could be awkward if Fenty sacks him and then still has to deal with him as a shareholder.

Is it Olly's fault? Don't see many Grimsby fans complaining about him, but he's had plenty of time to make his mark now and it's not like Jolley left him with a bad squad.

Speaking of Jolley by the way... might not be a bad option for Barrow. I know Bolton had a look at him before going for Evatt and he's still available.

 

[Bottega Don]

Surprised there's not been more talk of Holloway getting the sack on this thread. Grimsby have been pretty bad for most of the season and look to be in freefall now. Is the way that Fenty lured Holloway to Grimsby with a share offer backfiring?

I looked at last season's manager thread and was reminded how thrilled the Fish fans were to land him (no criticism of them for that, he's got a big pedigree and most neutrals were in agreement that he was a good appointment) but also that Holloway was given shares in Grimsby to sweeten the deal, presumably to make up for not being able to offer him the sort of wage he would be used to. Now though, could be awkward if Fenty sacks him and then still has to deal with him as a shareholder.

Is it Olly's fault? Don't see many Grimsby fans complaining about him, but he's had plenty of time to make his mark now and it's not like Jolley left him with a bad squad.

Speaking of Jolley by the way... might not be a bad option for Barrow. I know Bolton had a look at him before going for Evatt and he's still available.

I hate Grimsby and Holloway but he's been dealt a very bad hand.

All of this financial planning they did for Covid has fucked them over, they tried to outsmart every other club but have just ended up outsmarting themselves.

Their starting striker is Ira Jackson who played for Folkestone Invicta last year.

They'd be idiots to get rid of Holloway, he's what will keep them up.

 

[shoddycollins]

I hate Grimsby and Holloway but he's been dealt a very bad hand.

All of this financial planning they did for Covid has fucked them over, they tried to outsmart every other club but have just ended up outsmarting themselves.

Their starting striker is Ira Jackson who played for Folkestone Invicta last year.

They'd be idiots to get rid of Holloway, he's what will keep them up.

Oh yeah I remember Holloway in the summer now, banging on about how irresponsible other clubs were for signing players. I said at the time that you can't just sign nobody and pin your hopes on the season being cancelled... seems I was right... unless the season gets cancelled that is and Grimsby go on to dick everyone the following year with all the money they saved.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Surprised there's not been more talk of Holloway getting the sack on this thread. Grimsby have been pretty bad for most of the season and look to be in freefall now. Is the way that Fenty lured Holloway to Grimsby with a share offer backfiring?

I looked at last season's manager thread and was reminded how thrilled the Fish fans were to land him (no criticism of them for that, he's got a big pedigree and most neutrals were in agreement that he was a good appointment) but also that Holloway was given shares in Grimsby to sweeten the deal, presumably to make up for not being able to offer him the sort of wage he would be used to. Now though, could be awkward if Fenty sacks him and then still has to deal with him as a shareholder.

Is it Olly's fault? Don't see many Grimsby fans complaining about him, but he's had plenty of time to make his mark now and it's not like Jolley left him with a bad squad.

Speaking of Jolley by the way... might not be a bad option for Barrow. I know Bolton had a look at him before going for Evatt and he's still available.

Jolley was mentioned in the running for our job in the summer, and apart from his short fuse, he seems like he might be a decent option. In fact his anger issues might be what's needed!

 

[BarraMatt]

Jolley was mentioned in the running for our job in the summer, and apart from his short fuse, he seems like he might be a decent option. In fact his anger issues might be what's needed!

The bookies will have seen his name on this thread and he'll be 3/1 by dinner time.

 

[Luke Imp]

Oh yeah I remember Holloway in the summer now, banging on about how irresponsible other clubs were for signing players. I said at the time that you can't just sign nobody and pin your hopes on the season being cancelled... seems I was right... unless the season gets cancelled that is and Grimsby go on to dick everyone the following year with all the money they saved.

Yet the other day, their Chairman was saying they're close to the salary cap so January won't be a case of bringing lots of players in all of a sudden.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Weirdly enough the reason no ones really mentioning Holloway atm is because the off-field stuff going on is even worse. The club is in turmoil. Can’t be bothered to type out the whole thing because CodAlmighty do it far better so if anyone is interested:

Cod Almighty - the Grimsby Town fanzine

www.codalmighty.com

Read the diary entries from the 14th and 15th December.

And this:

Cod Almighty - the Grimsby Town fanzine

www.codalmighty.com

 

[F!RTHY]

Ryan Lowe now favourite! Hmm.....

 

[AR27]

Colchester fans - opinions on John McGreal? Sounds like he's a serious candidate and seems to tick a few boxes with what we're after.

Would be great if we got Lowe but there's no way we're paying compo so I think that's just speculation.