Bob Booker SHOULD have been given a chance

[Robot Chicken]

This is the list of managers reproduced from the Steve Coppell thread...

Jan 1987 - Dec 1993......Barry Lloyd (resigned)
Dec 1993 - Nov 1995.....Liam Brady (resigned)
Nov 1995 - Dec 1996.....Jimmy Case (sacked)
Dec 1996 - Feb 1998.....Steve Gritt (sacked)
Feb 1998 - Jan 1999......Brian Horton (quit to join Port Vale)
Jan 1999 - Apr 1999......Jeff Wood (caretaker then full time manager; sacked)
Apr 1999 - Oct 2001......Micky Adams (quit to join Leicester City)
Oct 2001.....................Bob Booker (caretaker)
Oct 2001 - Apr 2002......Peter Taylor (quit to join Hull City)
Jul 2002......................Bob Booker (caretaker)
Aug 2002 - Oct 2002.....Martin Hinshelwood (sacked)
Oct 2002 - Oct 2003.....Steve Coppell (quit to join Reading)
Oct 2003.....................Bob Booker (caretaker)
Oct 2003 - Sep 2006.....Mark McGhee (sacked)
Sep 2006 - present.......Dean Wilkins (caretaker then full time manager)

Why was Bob Booker never given a chance as full time manager? I didn't realise he had done three stints with the club, at least. Bit rough he was sacked the same time as McGhee. We could have at least given him a chance...although having said that, promoting from within hadn't worked before (Case, Wood, Hinshelwood). Having said THAT, what are the long term chances of dear old Wendy? The Albion is not exactly a long term job prospect either way!

 

[Yorkie]

He was given the chance between Coppell leaving and McGhee taking over. We started sliding down the table (we were top) and Booker went to Knight and said he preferred being at number two.

 

[¡Cereal Killer!]

I thought Adams quit to join Leicester as Assistant Manager or another such job at Leicester.

 

[Gully]

Depends how you quantify long term job prospect, we have tended to yo-yo during the period you mention, that can have an effect on how long a manager stays. If a team struggles then a manager is more likely to be sacked or fall on his sword, if they do well then he is more likely to move elsewhere to a more ambitious team or one with better prospects. Until we have a period of prolonged prosperity, or a modest degree of success, then it is unlikely that we will hold onto a manager for more than a couple of seasons. It should be born in mind that there aren't that many managers in the Ferguson, Wenger or Gradi mould.

 

[Yorkie]

I thought Adams quit to join Leicester as Assistant Manager or another such job at Leicester.

He did.

 

[Brovion]

He WAS given a chance. If we'd been successful during his caretaker spells he would have forced the club to consider him permanently - he wouldn't have been the first caretaker to do that. However if you 'didn't realise' he'd done three stints as caretaker then you probably won't remember that they were not successful.

It was always felt that his strength was a Number 2; a vital link between the players and the manager, the 'good cop', the person the players could talk to. There were probably 17 pros at the club all convinced they would be in the team if Bob was manager. When he was given control of the shop the skills that worked for his as a lieutenant were no good - as a manager you're not expected to do Freddy Mercury impressions.

 

[Icy Gull]

I saw all his games as manager in his last spell and they stand out as being absolute shite with a complete lack of tactical awareness as a team that was top of the table ended up looking like one at the bottom. Brentford away and Bournemouth away spring to mind although I think we lost all 4 (?) that he was in charge?

I almost joined in with the Brentford fans chanting "top of the league you're having a laugh" in our ritual thrashing there.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Yes it was Leicester, sorry...have asked one of the mods to change the mistake but no one available yet!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Yes it was Leicester, sorry...have asked one of the mods to change the mistake but no one available yet!

Done.

 

[perth seagull]

Peter Taylor did not actually quit to join Hull City. He quit because of the budget he was offered when we were promoted to the Championship. He was unemployed for quite sometime before he became Hull City manager. Hull City were below us in the league at the time.

 

[Icy Gull]

Peter Taylor did not actually quit to join Hull City. He quit because of the budget he was offered when we were promoted to the Championship. He was unemployed for quite sometime before he became Hull City manager. Hull City were below us in the league at the time.

Two divisions below us and he was totally vindicated in telling DK he couldn't work with the budget because it was only when Coppell joined that we suddenly managed to find some money. I can only imagine SC told DK to loosen the purse strings before he agreed to take over. Losing Taylor was totally down to DK losing touch with reality for a few months, on the back of 2 fantastic seasons.

 

[The Large One]

Two divisions below us and he was totally vindicated in telling DK he couldn't work with the budget because it was only when Coppell joined that we suddenly managed to find some money. I can only imagine SC told DK to loosen the purse strings before he agreed to take over. Losing Taylor was totally down to DK losing touch with reality for a few months, on the back of 2 fantastic seasons.

 

[Icy Gull]

No doubt you were laughing as much after 12 straight defeats from the most unqualified manager to ever take charge of a 2nd tier team

If appointing Hinshelwood wasn't the desperate act of a man losing touch with reality it was pretty close to it. We never had a prayer with Hinsh in charge and virtually no budget.

 

[The Large One]

No doubt you were laughing as much after 12 straight defeats from the most unqualified manager to ever take charge of a 2nd tier team

If appointing Hinshelwood wasn't the desperate act of a man losing touch with reality it was pretty close to it. We never had a prayer with Hinsh in charge and virtually no budget.

Of course I wasn't laughing at that, but then, that isn't what you said earlier.

 

[Scotty Mac]

if the argument is that booker didn't get the job because of his spell as caretaker manager, then why did wilkins get it as his wasn't exactly inspiring?

 

[Yorkie]

if the argument is that booker didn't get the job because of his spell as caretaker manager, then why did wilkins get it as his wasn't exactly inspiring?

I've asked the same question once or twice myself.

 

[BensGrandad]

It was probably due to DK deciding that he wanteda complete change at the top which meant both MM and BB going. Why he didnt also sack Dean White god only knows. Perhaps he is cheap or popular with the players I dont know.

 

[Yorkie]

It was probably due to DK deciding that he wanteda complete change at the top which meant both MM and BB going. Why he didnt also sack Dean White god only knows. Perhaps he is cheap or popular with the players I dont know.

Or he was prepared to go out scouting.

 

[BensGrandad]

Or he was prepared to go out scouting.

I think that is what he should do and leave the coaching to Ian Capman.

The only condition must be for him to stop looking at and bringing in so many Non League players, I know Revell and Elder were non league but why do we have to put up with the likes of Loft who it is most obvious will never be good enough for pro football.

Perhaps when our financial situation improves we will start looking at seasoned pros like MA brought in.

 

[The Large One]

I've asked the same question once or twice myself.

:thud: One day the penny will drop...