In the Chronic, suggestions being made at Paul Bracewell taking a coaching position with us.

"However, after leaving Halifax a fortnight ago and being sacked by Fulham last season, Bracewell looks as though he would fit the bill at St James's Park"

Nice of the Ronny to associate quiting a failing job and being sacked from another one makes him the perfect candidate for NUFC!

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Answers

A Paul-ing coach?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

I meet him once not too long ago. Miserable get - that was my first impression of him. Couldn't get any patter out of the miserable get. He's got the most odd rubbery nose n'aal.

A top class number two is vital to us, priority number one imo.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Can't say the thought of Bracewell as a coach fills me with optimism.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Miserable get is right. When he was with the Makems he came down to play at Port Vale. A mate of mine in the local press corps tried to get a brief interview with him after the game (makems had lost 3-1) because he is a local Stoke lad. Bracewell more or less told him to bog off!

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Does he dirty his white sneakers? I'm getting the feeling he could be MWII.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

So, just what does John Carver have to do to get a shot at the job? Since he replaced MW as Head Coach the Club has gone 22 games at all levels without a loss. Coincidence?

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

Hasn't YBR said a coaching appointment will not be made above Carver out of respect for his work since Mick's departure? We do need another coach, just to spread out the workload.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

yep. i hope carver gets the extra cash too.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

I agree Carver is part of a team getting smashing results. It would suggest he is a coach with talent. However, a number two to young Bob is to be thought of differently.

The bottom line is Bob is rocking on and Shearer, who seems to be the clever money bet for sometime in the future, is unproven. Alan looks as into his job at the moment as I’ve ever seen him, which is great news for us – 20 to 25 goal forwards cost £15m or more.

Therefore for the next little wee while.
This is my man - skills required: media relations /coaching qualifications / management experience / hunger.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

Terry Mac

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

It would be wonderful if Carver stays as Bobby's #2. Seems to be a very genuine, enthusiastic man, loves the club and always seemed deeply involved in the training sessions I watched. The players seem to respect him as well. If he's got the coaching talent as well, all the better.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

Without getting into an argument over who, I do not think that the No 2 has to be the next manager in waiting.

I see nothing wrong in having the coach or head coach as the Managers Assistant.

Many of the No 2s turn out to be just that when they become managers.

This also saves embarassment when the club decides to go for SGE, as he is available after England fails to win the WC.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

What I don't want to see is the club with it's pants down if anything should happen to Bob. We have a fine young squad, a full 50,000+ ground and a winning team. For the first time in seasons we can have real optimism for the future. I just worry and think it would be wise to establish a clear management pyramid.

I don't know much about Carver, he seems very able but he is first and formost a football coach.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

Good point. Assessing his managerial abilities, or lack thereof, would have to be up to Bobby.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001

As I said above he may also only want to be a No. 2. He may only want to coach and not Manage. He could also take over temporarily as he knows the system, thus allaying fears about a collapse if YBR is not available for whatever reason.

I think this is something that need not concern us at the moment. We have done better without a No 2 for a while and the club is working on it.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2001