Knight set to scapegoat McGhee?

[London Irish]

I am asking, do you give no credit to Coppell for that season. His start meant that we could have some wobbles along the way and still make the play offs.

No, I give him some credit but the main has to go to McGhee, after all, he got the vast majority of the points and then successfully negotiated the play-offs against what was on paper two better teams.

Coppell's legacy was somewhat diminished because of his short-termist reliance on knackered older players (Blackwell, Rodger) and disappearing loan guys (Henderson). You could see the problems the squad had during that unsuccessful interim period when we couldn't buy a win. That was not a squad on a high brimming with confidence, it was in a slump - it had holes in the first team and needed both player and tactical renewal, which McGhee gave it.

 

[British Bulldog]

No, I give him some credit but the main has to go to McGhee, after all, he got the vast majority of the points and then successfully negotiated the play-offs against what was on paper two better teams.

Coppell's legacy was somewhat diminished because of his short-termist reliance on knackered older players (Blackwell, Rodger) and disappearing loan guys (Henderson). You could see the problems the squad had during that unsuccessful interim period when we couldn't buy a win. That was not a squad on a high brimming with confidence, it was in a slump - it had holes in the first team and needed both player and tactical renewal, which McGhee gave it.

Will your love affair with McGhee come to an end when he finally gets the bullet?

 

[Simster]

No, I give him some credit but the main has to go to McGhee, after all, he got the vast majority of the points and then successfully negotiated the play-offs against what was on paper two better teams.

TWO better teams

How is a team that finished below us, and were never above us for more than a week or so that season, a better team on paper. Bristol City were, I grant you. Swindon weren't. But you'll remember how incredibly fortunate we were to beat them over two legs, surely?

 

[Trigger]

But it still won't be McGhee's fault!!!

Naturally... Excuses excuses...

 

[London Irish]

TWO better teams

How is a team that finished below us, and were never above us for more than a week or so that season, a better team on paper. Bristol City were, I grant you. Swindon weren't. But you'll remember how incredibly fortunate we were to beat them over two legs, surely?

Swindon had a better second half of the season than us, so were a better form team than us. They had higher quality players like Parkin and Igoe and had a better record against us that season.

Nothing fortunate whatsoever about that very disciplined first-leg victory at the County Ground, you have obviously been inhaling too much of whatever Andy King added to those cigars of his.

 

[London Irish]

Will your love affair with McGhee come to an end when he finally gets the bullet?

Do you think that's going to happen soon then? If so, put your money where your mouth is and we'll have a wager

 

[British Bulldog]

Naturally... Excuses excuses...

Thats all we ever bleeding get these days! Trouble is they're starting to wear a bit thin.

 

[Trigger]

Thats all we ever bleeding get these days! Trouble is they're starting to wear a bit thin.

Starting to?... That was two bloody years ago.

 

[British Bulldog]

Do you think that's going to happen soon then? If so, put your money where your mouth is and we'll have a wager

I've got £25 spare to go to a charity of your choice if he is'nt gone by the 15th of october.

 

[London Irish]

I've got £25 spare to go to a charity of your choice if he is'nt gone by the 15th of october.

That's a fair bet

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

No, I give him some credit but the main has to go to McGhee, after all, he got the vast majority of the points and then successfully negotiated the play-offs against what was on paper two better teams.

Coppell's legacy was somewhat diminished because of his short-termist reliance on knackered older players (Blackwell, Rodger) and disappearing loan guys (Henderson). You could see the problems the squad had during that unsuccessful interim period when we couldn't buy a win. That was not a squad on a high brimming with confidence, it was in a slump - it had holes in the first team and needed both player and tactical renewal, which McGhee gave it.

McGhee deserves a great deal of credit that season ( not as much as when he kept us up the following - which was just astonishing really) but overall I think Coppell is a better manager. Intelligent with good tactical nous, he organised the team brilliantly and seemed to make our players better. Kerry Mayo is the classic example. He was superb that year and I think that's largely down to Coppell installing confidence in him and maybe playing 5 at the back. He fostered a good team spirit and obviously is a very good man manager. Another quality he gave us was a belief that we could come back after trailing. He used his contacts in the transfer marKet/ loan system well. Simon Rodger was outstanding that season and didn't get injured until after Coppell had left. How we have missed him. If it doesn't work out for him long term at Reading I'd love to see Coppell back at the Albion one day.

 

[British Bulldog]

That's a fair bet

Trust your gonna match it because I know my charity allready. Chesnut tree house appeal.

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

Nothing fortunate whatsoever about that very disciplined first-leg victory at the County Ground, you have obviously been inhaling too much of whatever Andy King added to those cigars of his.

Apart from the fact that they slaughtered us for 89 minutes, hit the post and bar, forced a wonder-save from Roberts, then saw us go up the other end to score with a deflected goal?

Nope, nothing fortunate at all.

 

[British Bulldog]

Starting to?... That was two bloody years ago.

I'm a patient person.

 

[London Irish]

Simon Rodger was outstanding that season and didn't get injured until after Coppell had left

Don't think that bit if right but your high praise for Coppell is right.

 

[London Irish]

Apart from the fact that they slaughtered us for 89 minutes, hit the post and bar, forced a wonder-save from Roberts, then saw us go up the other end to score with a deflected goal?

Nope, nothing fortunate at all.

You ARE Andy King and I claim my £5.

 

[London Irish]

Trust your gonna match

That is the general idea of a wager, yes

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Don't think that bit if right but your high praise for Coppell is right.

I've just checked and you're right. Rodger was injured at Boro in Sept 2003. A couple of weeks later, Coppell was appointed manager of Reading.

 

[British Bulldog]

That is the general idea of a wager, yes

Spot on.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Swindon had a better second half of the season than us, so were a better form team than us. They had higher quality players like Parkin and Igoe and had a better record against us that season.

Nothing fortunate whatsoever about that very disciplined first-leg victory at the County Ground, you have obviously been inhaling too much of whatever Andy King added to those cigars of his.

Igoe was on a par with Jonah