Is Mark McGhee Brighton's greatest ever manager ?

[Uncle Spielberg]

McGhee - promotion in his first season and mid table consolidation beckoning in his first season in the Championship. With the backdrop of playing in an Athletics Stadium and training at the local university with his office in a temporary rented accomodation with no money to spend or even pay average wages at this level with no new stadium for 3 years at least with another wonderful win yesterday I have to conclude that with all circumstances taken into consideration Mark McGhee may very well now be Brighton & Hove Albion's greatest ever manager.

We have been blessed with 5 great managers since the rennaisance, Brighton & Hove Albion, the Icarus years 1999 -2005, 4 have gone on to supposed better opportunities, Horton - Port Vale now Macclesfield, Adams - Leicester now Coventry, Taylor - Hull and Coppell - Reading only Taylor has gone on to major achievements.

Adams will always hold a special place in Albion fans hearts but the God McGhee is a priceless Jewel that Knight must keep hold off. A lot of clubs will be looking at McGhee as a major target if a position arises.

Who is the best manager in the Icarus years 1999-2005 ?.

 

[On the Left Wing]

But which Taylor GG?

If the original Peter Taylor (circa 1970s) he would get my vote everytime ... but if the recent "stay a season" guy then McGhee and Adams (and even Coppell) would beat him into 4th or 5th place (IMHO!)

Just read your speil again and have to vote for Adams ...

(though over the past 40 years Peter Taylor and Alan Mullery were IMHO superior managers)

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Mullery was a great manager but had more money to spend than any other manager in Albion's history. If McGhee had the budget of a top 6 club in this division he would get us promoted to the Premiership.

 

[On the Left Wing]

Mullery was a great manager but had more money to spend than any other manager in Albion's history. If McGhee had the budget of a top 6 club in this division he would get us promoted to the Premiership.

Tactically and motivationally I have massive respect for McGhee .. but he has NOT been tested in the transfer market. I know finances forced him to sell Currie and Cullip, but he has yet to off-load players OR buy anyone on the open transfer market.

I think that is the REAL test of a manager - spotting real talent and bringing it in, then bringing it on. Taylor did that with Peter Ward and many others. Mullery did the same. Until we get Falmer I don't think ANY Albion manager will get the chance to be put to that test.

 

[Easy 10]

Hurrah, Gareths BACK

Where the hell have you been, fella ?

 

[Hove&Albion F.C]

McGhee is certainly my favourite manager since ive supported the albion (im 21).

Great motivator, tactition and the most honest manager i can remember. Great bloke to.

Mark McGhee!

 

[Easy 10]

he has yet to off-load players OR buy anyone on the open transfer market. I think that is the REAL test of a manager - spotting real talent and bringing it in, then bringing it on

I disagree.
Its an important aspect, certainly. But I think a far greater asset is the ability to get the maximum out of whatever (limited) resources are available to you. In this respect, McGhee has worked an absolute miracle with this squad of players. He has managed to cobble together a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Playing defenders as strikers, midfielders as fullbacks, throwing in youngsters like Hinsh at centre-back (at CHAMPIONSHIP level), the various formations...no, its not always worked, but he's got it right a hell of a lot more often than he's got it wrong. McGhee has had to show flexibility and innovation with the squad - something he's also asked of his players, and they've responded and paid him back in spades.

A lesser manager than McGhee would have seen this squad tussling with Rotherham to see who gets the wooden spoon. McGhee has got the ability to get that extra 15-20% out of his players, and over the course of a season, thats more than enough to steer us comfortably clear of the bottom places.

THAT is the mark of a great manager.

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

Still Adams for me - Horton had assembled a competent third division squad, but Adams re-modelled it into not just a team capable of storming the third division, but repeating the feat in the second. It's testament to his achievements that the core of his squad can still be seen five years on. A great eye for a player - something which McGhee hasn't shown to the same extent (hasn't really been able to do).

Coppell is also up there for the way in which he turned a crap side into one well capable of competing at this level, and produced the best Albion side I've seen. He also managed to secure us a replacement, in many ways, for Zamora, in Knight.

McGhee's one of the best three, but I don't think he's numero uno quite yet.

 

[mr turd]

Mickey adams by a mile for me

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Adams for me. He assembled a squad that won two league titles and many of who are still here.

Credit does have to go to Hinshelwood as well though, whilst he was awful as manager he has churned out a number of young players who are now part of the first team.

McGhee is not the BEST manager but he is up there and he does seem to be the luckiest which is a good combination.

 

[Easy 10]

I agree with Richie. Adams is still my fave. McGhee runs him a very close second though.

 

[chez]

McGhee for me and he is going further & further away from everybody else each week. Tactically he is brilliant, true he hasnt been tested when it comes to spending money on players but if he can sign freebies like Darren Currie then who cares.

Dick Knight deserves a hell of a lot of credit for bringing in the managers that he has.

 

[Icy Gull]

I think that is the REAL test of a manager - spotting real talent and bringing it in, then bringing it on. .

Who was astute enough at Wolves to give 16 year old Robbie Keane his debut?

He also gave Virgo his first sustained run in the team AND made him into a useful makeshift forward.

It's all about personal opinions but mine is that McGhee is the best of the bunch. Tactically only Taylor come close, but Hinshelwood and Wilkins have also played a massive part in the success as their youth team has given McGhee the quality to work with and Bob Booker has played a big part in the background. The talented crop of youngsters has made light of the lack of finances and we don't even miss Currie and DC. Who's to say we would have done any better, even if we had spent money?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Tactically only Taylor come close

The same Peter Taylor who took off a forward for a midfielder when we were beating Chesterfield 2v0 AT HOME only for us to then invite them to attack and end up drawing 2v2?

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Richie

Taylor

30 league games
19 wins
11 draws
4 defeats

Nuff said.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

34 league games. Taylor was tactically superb and he will be bringing his rampant Hull team after 2 successive promotions to Withdean next year and some people still say he is no good

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Richie

Taylor

30 league games
19 wins
11 draws
4 defeats

Nuff said.

By picking a team that Adams built.

 

[chez]

By picking a team that Adams built.

But to be fair Adams may of built the team but Taylor made them better team. i.e. 2nd when he took over, Champions when he left.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

For heavens sake, how many more times, Listen up and listen well, this is the last time I will say this. PETER TAYLOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR US WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND GETTING PROMOTED NOT MICKY ADAMS. TAYLOR HAS 34 GAMES LEFT WHICH IS 3/4 OF THE SEASON AND COULD EASILY HAVE DROPPED US TO MIDTABLE, INFACT WE WERE 3RD WHEN HE TOOK OVER AND HE IMPOVED THE SIDE AND BROUGHT IN THE LIKES OF LEWIS TO GAIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. MICKY ADAMS WAS 200 MILES AWAY FROM OCTOBER UNTIL MAY INCASE YOU HAD NOT NOTICED !.

 

[Icy Gull]

The same Peter Taylor who took off a forward for a midfielder when we were beating Chesterfield 2v0 AT HOME only for us to then invite them to attack and end up drawing 2v2?

No, the same Taylor who won a Championship with the 4th or 5th best team in the division by playing to our strengths, which was defence. Ok he cocked up now and again but he won the Championship and to say it was all down to Adams is naive and bigoted in the extreme