I'd like Dereck Fazacherly back again with a team of ex Keegan Mags.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Answers

I'd like us to get a really top-class Coach, full of innovative ideas, to lift the players - irrespective of where he comes from.

Fazackerley appeared to be one the best coaches we have had in recent times, but that isn't saying at all that much. However, he'd be a reasonable proposition.

As for ex-KK Mags, are any of them qualified coaches? Bracewell? IMO, we need a really good Coach, not a bunch of cheer-leaders.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Someone in the Sven Goran Eriksson mould would do me fine.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

I hear Mercedes make really good coaches

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Don't be DAF

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

I've co......

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

The same gag on two threads, is that a Duple (can you see what I did there?)

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

The Journal reckons John Carver has "stepped into the breach" left by MW's departure. I knew that would make you feel much better!
They also report that former (aka 'failed') Wolves Manager, Colin Lee, is in the frame to become Bobby's No.2. Still underwhelmed?

I've been pondering exactly what the job description for a No.2 is anyway in order to better understand who would be a good choice. Is it a gopher for the Manager - ie. Arthur Cox? Is it a court jester - ie. Terry McDermott? Precisely what do we need?
If BR really is a world- class coach himself - something I have doubts about - do we really need another top Coach as his "No.2"?

I feel a real problem in the English game is the scarcity of genuine coaching talent. Bryan Robson for instance clearly has no coaching talent, and a key to his failure was appointing a No.2 who had no coaching talent either.

I doubt SAF is a great Coach, but he is clearly a good motivator and man a manager. He has always ensured that he has had a good Coach as his No2. So, precisely what do we need as a new No2 to BR? Damned if I know!

The major problem we have right now is the fact that BR is essentially a "lame duck" Manager, and everyone in the game knows that - Wadsworth eluded to it in explaining why he left. In the present situation it will be incredibly difficult to attract a top coach to the Toon because of the uncertainty surrounding BR's remaining tenure in the job and indeed the division of coaching responsibilities between him and Bobby - and I feel certain this is also contributing very significantly to our difficulties in attracting top players. Difficult as it is, this situation really needs to be positively addressed.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Maybe I'm being entirely too simplistic(not for the first time ;-) ), but it seems like this is the perfect opportunity to bring someone in who realistically could take over when Bobby steps down. It's the perfect transition opportunity. Whoever comes in would know that, as long as he does a good job, he will take over the team within 2-3 years. That does mean offering this person better than a rolling contract. As I said, probably far too simple for our lot. :-(

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

What exactly are the supposed duties of a number 2 ?

Is he primarily a coach, who does a bit of running around vetting potential buys.

Does he primarily vet potential buys with some coaching duties ?

Primarily solely either of the above ?

Neither of the above and primarily just a dogs body ?

I'm having a problem getting a grip on the need for a number two.

If a number two is essential then in current circumstances, I'd go along with Ciara in seeing it as a good time to groom our next manager, assuming Bobby will pack in sooner rather than much later.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Nobody wants to hear this, but for the umpteenth time I'm telling you - the succession plan for Bobby Robson is Alan Shearer.

If perchance this is not the case then you could, indeed should, see a high profile No2 coming in now to undertake an orderly transition. However, I'll wager it won't happen because the man for the future is already at SJP - however much we might disagree the choice.

All I can say, for the reasons I outlined earlier, is the proposed plan is frought with problems - irrespective of Shearer's management potential.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Nevermind that I think it's completely insane for Shearer to even consider making NUFC his first management job, if he is indeed to be the next manager then why not make him the #2 now. Or make him a co-#2 with Carver. Learning coaching/management duties would be an efficient use of his injury recovery time, or his time on the sidelines when he's 'being rested'. If he's really interested in the job, it won't be any more taxing than standing on the sides moping because he's not playing. Probably better for him because it keeps him far more involved. If he does recover and get back to something of his best, then he should absolutely put playing first, but I still think he can still work on the coaching even part time.

Next summer he can start his coaching badges.

Then I might start believing in his potential as our next manager. ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

If the decision has indeed been made that AS will succeed BR as our Manager, it is both ligical and desirable that he should be appointed Asst. Manager now. This is far from ideal, but at least it would end the damaging uncertainty in the transfer market.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Yes it would be sensible to put the successor in now, I just hope it's not Shearer.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Well, I just put my thoughts on the "Robson Out" thread before reading this one. Doh! Like Clarky, I believe Shearer is lined up as the next manager. As I said "on the other side" I don't have a big issue with this if Shearer is appointed as a nmumber 2 and works with YBR for a few lears learning the ropes and honing his managerial skills.

But AFIK, NUFC still see Shearer as a player for the next couple of years or so. IMHO, that does not fit in with the plan for him to be a manager and certainly not as an understudy to YBR. In the meantime, we could do a lot worse than bring back Fazackerley, who appears to be satisfied with a coaching role and not as a manager.

Who knows, if we did that, Shearer fitted in under YBR for a few seasons and then became manager when YBR shuffles off, DF may well be content to stay on as Shearer's #2. AT least it woudl give us the continuity which has beeen sorely lacking over the last (100 or so???) years.

As to the question regarding what makes an ideal coach - well I guess it has to include qualifications, respect from the players, ability to make the total greater than the sum of the parts, encourage and improve players' ability, devise a game-plan (tactician), spot talent etc etc. I still believe Vegetables is one of the better coaches around. Glenda probably has a number of those attributes too.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

I actually believe the job we have taken for granted as Team Manager for many years is actually two jobs in the modern game, and rarely can one person do both.

The ideal situation is the one that has prevailed for several years OT, where you have a strong man manager with good motivational and organisational skills, but not necessarily a good Coach, supported by a top-class Coach who can spend 100% of his time working with the players.

IF Alan Shearer is to become our next Manager, it may well be that acquires a top-class Coach to work with him as his No2.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Fazackerley Clarky!

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

You make a very good point about needing 2 men to do what used to be a 1 man job, Clarky. I still think, in an ideal world, Shearer would go off to make his mistakes learn his trade with a lower division team, then come back to NUFC and be a success. But if he had a strong #2, I'd feel a little better about the idea of him starting here. Still don't think it's right, but the club won't be asking my opinion anyway. ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Screacher,

I've already said that I feel Fazackerly would be a useful addition to the coaching staff. However, imo appointing Fazackerley as BR's No2 will do nothing to resolve the uncertainlty surrounding BR's tenure, and nothing to improve our ability to attract top players.

To be honest, I actually don't expect us to appoint anybody, but to work with what we've got until the end of the season when AS will be appointed either Asst. Manager or Manager.
We tend to address problems like this by hoping they will go away.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001