McCall - the reality

[Dr Wisey]

Is he just going to be a joe avergae as manager?

Time will tell i suppose, but it seems the whispers are getting louder bearing what i overheard when exiting the bantams bar today.

[Parrot]

Time to judge Macca should be this time next season, same goes with Allardyce at Newcastle.

Managers are judged far too quickly these days IMO....ffs, Fergie wouldn't have lasted 2 mins at Old Trafford in todays managerial climate! tdwn:

[Jantje]

Time to judge Macca should be this time next season, same goes with Allardyce at Newcastle.

Managers are judged far too quickly these days IMO....ffs, Fergie wouldn't have lasted 2 mins at Old Trafford in todays managerial climate! tdwn:

Agree totally, anyone questioning the appointment already is mindless. He admitted he didn't know the players or the division and was relying on recommendations for players on trial

[Parrot]

Before some pro-Turd geeks start rumbling on they should remember he got three seasons to sort the team out...not 6 months ;)

[lee]

I don't question him, just a case of grinning and bearing it at the moment whilst he finds his feet. I don't think we'll go down ( :rolleyes: ) so like Parrot says he should be judged more on the signings he's able to make for and the effect he has next season.

[Sedg]

There's one thing that worries me Jantje. Pre-season we had a few players who were deemed not good enough by Stu who have then gone on to to play for some of the better teams in the league. Simon Johnson for Hereford and Leven for Chesterfield. Actually come to think of it I'm not sure. Did we never want to sign those or did they not want to sign for us?

Having said that I still think Stu is the man for the job. There's a lot of clubs up at the right end of the league with no money, but with a back-room staff who have had previous experience in this league. We already know Stu wants to strengthen by bringing in a new winger, keeper and central midfielder. I wonder how we'll manage three new players with our budget supposedly "spent" unless we release a few of the deadwood this January. Was Rhodes contract ever extended? Wonder if Darlo will enquire about Colbeck.

[lee]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If they were shit whilst they were here he's not gonna keep them on in the off chance they develop into something better.

[Jantje]

Umbongo has gone, i reckon Rhodes will go if Macca says we need another winger, Harban and Joynes will go, . I can also see penford and Bentham being told to find new clubs to free up some money.

[Jamaica Love]

phelan also needs to go.... he put three or four throw ins straight back into touch for the opposition, and colbecks final ball was ghastly....new winger and a new cdm is what we need...a real ball winner

[wykie]

phelan also needs to go.... he put three or four throw ins straight back into touch for the opposition, and colbecks final ball was ghastly....new winger and a new cdm is what we need...a real ball winner

This is what we need.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/gmc0016l.jpg

[wykie]

Or a proper ball winner,like....




http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/vinniejones5.jpg

[DutchBantam]

I think we have the ONLY man for the job at the moment and he should get as long as he wants.
We cannot rate him on this season when he patches together a squad from bits and bobs and from zero experience.

Plus points so far for me have been Williams, Nix, Clarke, Ricketts (the dropping of him did him good) and for giving Lukey a chance of course ;-)
Also take a look at some of the players he did not splash the cash on, Xavier and Gate for example have done nothing. Ok there have been a few misses too, Thorne I'd rate as a bigger dissapointment than Conlon who I liked when I saw him, Evans was very poor when I saw him and Hecky isn't a patch on Lukey but I'll forgive Macca for that one.

He is now planning for next season which means in January we will see a few small changes trying to get a more settled squad for next season. I also hope to see more of Taylforth, Lukey and Medley towards the end of the season (particularly at Notts County which might be my next game).
The noises coming from the club are far more promising than in the past, the off field activities are really on the up and contrary to the rest of you, I actually feel that Mark Lawn has his head firmly rooted on his shoulders and believe he is the right man to support Macca. Can't comment on Rhodes as I've not met him yet but I'll voice my opinion of him once I meet him. But the point is off the field I think the club is stable and with a stable background and a season of learning I think Macca will do just fine. Macca is not a short term answer for this club, I don't think any manager would have gotten us automatic promotion this season and while some might have gotten us play offs I think Macca is the only one who is the future of the club. The long term future and I hope he is here for many many many years to come.

All hail Macca.

[Jantje]

Only thing i disagree with Dutch is that i reckon Thorne will score goals given the proper service

[Skyebantam]

lets face it we have a below average team as the league table shows (e.g barry conlon used to turn out in summer 6 a side competitions near york with other york city has beens). we lose against the better teams i.e. today but at least stu has steered us to important wins against those around us. we don't have much money there are no miracle fixes. if mourinho was given the job would he do better??? we have the right man for the job, anyone claiming otherwise is an idiot who probably just loves to moan. the guy is city through and through, he's learning by the game and i for one am much happier knowing he's our manager rather than anyone else's. if we can stay near mid table, top of the bottom bit i mean, i think with the personnel we have that would be a good result.

[Dr Wisey]

I wonder if we'll all be singing from the same hymn sheet if we are still in this position in 2009?, I suppose we then have options as a club.

We have the 4th highest wage bill in the division so you can only assume some are on sizeable contracts and others might be better off at KFC.

[DutchBantam]

I'll give you 2 things from Montegnee (from Topping and also from Lawn):

1) The main (99%) part of the deal between the 2 clubs and the whole focus of RRFCM is on young players that will go to Montegnee for 3 years. The cream of which will be offered to City once they complete their program. In this neither club expects anything to be visible for a long long time.

2) Bradford City in the meantime also has access to the RRCFM scouting network which is possibly the widest network of any club in the whole world. At least numerically it slaughters the networks of even Ajax or Man Utd. As an example, one player I am not allowed to identify yet was days away from Bradford before a last minute 2 million dollar (equivelent of a 2m pound deal if he'd gone to England) sale. This is the same scouting network Billy Topp came from. The network will continue to provide players for McCall to view and accept (a-la Topp) or discard (a-la Fausto Lucio) as he sees fit. This will continue as long as the agreement between the two clubs co-exists.

So again to those thinking City are fishing in a so foreign called "shit-pool", have a think before jumping the gun.

[jimmy]

I'll give you 2 things from Montegnee (from Topping and also from Lawn):

1) The main (99%) part of the deal between the 2 clubs and the whole focus of RRFCM is on young players that will go to Montegnee for 3 years. The cream of which will be offered to City once they complete their program. In this neither club expects anything to be visible for a long long time.

2) Bradford City in the meantime also has access to the RRCFM scouting network which is possibly the widest network of any club in the whole world. At least numerically it slaughters the networks of even Ajax or Man Utd. As an example, one player I am not allowed to identify yet was days away from Bradford before a last minute 2 million dollar (equivelent of a 2m pound deal if he'd gone to England) sale. This is the same scouting network Billy Topp came from. The network will continue to provide players for McCall to view and accept (a-la Topp) or discard (a-la Fausto Lucio) as he sees fit. This will continue as long as the agreement between the two clubs co-exists.

So again to those thinking City are fishing in a so foreign called "shit-pool", have a think before jumping the gun.


Dutch,i think it is a fantastic partnership and i just hope it doesnt get messed up,its something that alot of clubs should have got involved in and i am just glad we did it.

[tony d]

Before some pro-Turd geeks start rumbling on they should remember he got three seasons to sort the team out...not 6 months ;)

Thought Todds sacking was at the worst time possible for the club.. No real replacement and a back door never gonna be manager installed..

No one will ever know but for me Todd would have ke[t us up...He had to go of that there is no doubt but at the end of the season..

The new manager then could have spent wisley within the wage budget to bring in players...

I totally agree though P that Macca should be given the full season and well into next to turn this side and club around..Big Sam Managed it at Bolton back in the day when Managers were given a chance..

Macca is a brand new manager..Yet we can already see that at this stage we are mid table certs for me...

Nothing more...Now if he has learned from his initial player intake come the end of the Jan window we may have shifted out and in some players and our season could get better or worse..

But calling for his head now when this is his first job and only his first half season is pathetic and a sad indication of the fans we have here..

Let him show us if he is up to the job and let him get on with it..

If you have a season ticket and you do not like what you are watching stay at home..!! £6 hardly going to break you is it...

Laters

[Dr Wisey]

Dutch - one concern i have is that we have a 3 year deal with RRFC ? - well on your first point this will have little effect for us a club then if they are on a 3 year course.

The scouting network has to be welcomed though, maybe we can land some real bargains through this.

[Parrot]

Thought Todds sacking was at the worst time possible for the club.. No real replacement and a back door never gonna be manager installed..

No one will ever know but for me Todd would have ke[t us up...He had to go of that there is no doubt but at the end of the season..

The new manager then could have spent wisley within the wage budget to bring in players...

I totally agree though P that Macca should be given the full season and well into next to turn this side and club around..Big Sam Managed it at Bolton back in the day when Managers were given a chance..

Macca is a brand new manager..Yet we can already see that at this stage we are mid table certs for me...

Nothing more...Now if he has learned from his initial player intake come the end of the Jan window we may have shifted out and in some players and our season could get better or worse..

But calling for his head now when this is his first job and only his first half season is pathetic and a sad indication of the fans we have here..

Let him show us if he is up to the job and let him get on with it..

If you have a season ticket and you do not like what you are watching stay at home..!! £6 hardly going to break you is it...

Laters

I agree T.....most of the Turd haters also gave him the benefit of the doubt every new season to get it right but he couldn't progress us or move us forward any season.

I reckon Turd would have taken us down if he had stayed but admit he would have got us a few more points on the board than Wethers managed.

I also reckon Wethers would have kept us up if Deano had been in the side as i figure his departure was the end of our league One safety, not who was the manager. ;)

Once Deano went....we were DOOOOMED :(

[DutchBantam]

Dutch - one concern i have is that we have a 3 year deal with RRFC ? - well on your first point this will have little effect for us a club then if they are on a 3 year course.

The scouting network has to be welcomed though, maybe we can land some real bargains through this.

Having spoken to both chairmen the 3 year contract is just a formality for the paperwork. Both Paul and Mark are keen to have the contract rolling indefinately, it can be extended or cancelled at any time with zero repercussions.
There is more to this partnership than that as well, and both chairmen are consistent in everything they have separately told me.

[Gary1975]

This season midtable next season a top ten season season after promotion :D

[Dr Wisey]

Thanks for the update Dutch - I really hope the rolling contract comes into operation at some point, there again I would guess that RRFC want to see that City are the right partner for a long term relationship.

[ChuckleBantam]

Thanks for the update Dutch - I really hope the rolling contract comes into operation at some point, there again I would guess that RRFC want to see that City are the right partner for a long term relationship.

We should count our lucky stars that your Man Utd's, Barcelona's, Liverpool's and Real Madrid's of this world didn't get to hear about this before City did....

[Dr Wisey]

they don't fish in the same pools though Chuck lol

[ChuckleBantam]

they don't fish in the same pools though Chuck lol

But neither do Montewotsit, Brainwa...I mean Dutch Bantam says so.

[Dr Wisey]

Brainwa - are they a South American team?

[Zonnebloem]

We should count our lucky stars that your Man Utd's, Barcelona's, Liverpool's and Real Madrid's of this world didn't get to hear about this before City did....

The problem was that major clubs like those mentioned wanted to take over and run the show, creaming off the profitable side of the business as well as the best players.

RRFCM is trying to be a viable business as an academy, a university and a feeder club with a small regular payment and a 50% rake-off for any sell-ons.

There are many novelties in this. There is the world-wide network of scouts, combined with the care for young players´education AND taking advantage of the fact that Belgium is the only European country where European citizenship can be obtained in 3 years AND the international fee-paying academy for kids of all ages. I think it is very well thought through.

There ARE some mutually beneficial business arrangements around in the commercial world and this might be one of them. The world can be but is not always about someone trying to rip off somebody else. Let´s wait and see how it goes. I certainly see the potential and there are very few sceptics.

Paul Topping has become a regular contributor on here and, as a successful business man, I know he is well capable of making his own mind up about negativity on here.

I am very optimistic that this deal can benefit both sides.

Read the interview to fill in about the doubts.

[wykie]

The problem was that major clubs like those mentioned wanted to take over and run the show, creaming off the profitable side of the business as well as the best players.

RRFCM is trying to be a viable business as an academy, a university and a feeder club with a small regular payment and a 50% rake-off for any sell-ons.

There are many novelties in this. There is the world-wide network of scouts, combined with the care for young players´education AND taking advantage of the fact that Belgium is the only European country where European citizenship can be obtained in 3 years AND the international fee-paying academy for kids of all ages. I think it is very well thought through.

There ARE some mutually beneficial business arrangements around in the commercial world and this might be one of them. The world can be but is not always about someone trying to rip off somebody else. Let´s wait and see how it goes. I certainly see the potential and there are very few sceptics.

Paul Topping has become a regular contributor on here and, as a successful business man, I know he is well capable of making his own mind up about negativity on here.

I am very optimistic that this deal can benefit both sides.

Read the interview to fill in about the doubts.

I have read a lot about this tie up both the negatives and the positives and my belief is that we gain benefits from this as does Pauls setup. It no way competes with the Man U or Real Madrid's of this World but I'd bet the Rochdales / Leeds / Huddersfield lot wish they had this arrangement. Time will tell:)

[Jantje]

Reading all the interviews and Paul Toppings comments , there is the potential there for benefits to both clubs but thats been positve which in 'Chuckleworld' doesn't exist where City are concerned.

I'll admit though i've been disappointed that Mark Lawn hasn't come and give us the details and potential of the deal. In fact it was left To Dutch and Zonne to do this off their own back and even get it on the official website.

You would have thought ML would be trumpetting such a deal from the rooftops.

[Zonnebloem]

He may prefer to keep it to himself and maybe my and Dutch´s interview is too much information?

[Parrot]

I cant see any negatives in this deal for City....Monty do all the scouting and bring none EU member players into Europe, get them permits then City have first pick on any player that takes their fancy....while we send young players over there for 1st team experience.

Wheres the negatives in that deal???

[Zonnebloem]

Very well put Parrot.

[baldbantam]

Having spoken to both chairmen the 3 year contract is just a formality for the paperwork. Both Paul and Mark are keen to have the contract rolling indefinately, it can be extended or cancelled at any time with zero repercussions.
There is more to this partnership than that as well, and both chairmen are consistent in everything they have separately told me.

Does that mean that if this is working out well and a bigger club than us comes along we can just get dropped?

Is it an actual contract that binds both parties, or something where we can be shoved aside if say a Championship club wanted to be involved?

From what I can see, this is pretty much a new business model for the football world, and if you can be fortunate enough to be in on the start of new things there is often potential to be had. I'm impressed by the idea and Paul Topping obviously has his head on right.

I like what I've heard of the idea very much, but that 'cancelled' bit would worry me.

[wykie]

Does that mean that if this is working out well and a bigger club than us comes along we can just get dropped?

Is it an actual contract that binds both parties, or something where we can be shoved aside if say a Championship club wanted to be involved?

From what I can see, this is pretty much a new business model for the football world, and if you can be fortunate enough to be in on the start of new things there is often potential to be had. I'm impressed by the idea and Paul Topping obviously has his head on right.

I like what I've heard of the idea very much, but that 'cancelled' bit would worry me.

Contracts can always be canceled with the agreement of both parties.

If we have signed a contract that can be canceled by either party at any time, well why sign the bleeding thing.

Think the details are not quite right on here.:p