Karl Robinson approached by Albion

[Blue Valkyrie]

No prospective manager is going to please everyone and tbh we have no idea how any of them will work out. Bloom appointed Poyet who was a great appointment and Hyppia who was a crap one - not sure how many could have predicted that before the event.

Think we at least have to think he'd have a decent chance of succeeding.

This is very true. It's why I've decided not to be too worried about who we get this time, as long as we avoid the obvious disasters-in-waiting.

Robinson would do enough to keep us at least, I'm sure, and I think ( hope ) he could build something good next year as well.

 

[Easy 10]

My gut feeling is this could be a good one, but you can't deny that he hasn't got an absolutely outstanding record over the years at MK.

It's a tough time to make a managerial appointment as you kinda have 2 objectives that don't necessarily marry up well - 1) Get someone in who will have a relatively immediate impact in terms of organising and motivating the team to keep us up, and then 2) Someone who will then be able to re-build and create a team next year who can get back into the promotion mix. Case in point, Russell Slade was a perfect candidate for Obj 1, but couldn't do Obj 2.

For some reason I am quite confident about Robinson being able to build a good Championship team in the summer - he's worked without loads of cash at MK Dons, and whilst this is a division above, he does know the English Football League very well by now. As for Obj 1 (keeping us up), he seems to have passion which I think is the main priority, has worked with a similar level of players to what we have (and indeed some of our exact players), and I fully believe this IS an underachieving squad.

Would be quite pleased with this one.

Excellent post. I don't agree with your confidence in Robinson, but your point about needing someone who can come in and "firefight" is a very pertinent one. For my money, we need someone who can come in and hit the ground running. Someone who can quickly galvanise the dogs dinner of a squad he's inheriting, organise them on the pitch to get the best of what he's got, identify the deficiencies and weaknesses, and address them over the course of next month.

The best chance we have of achieving that is by bringing someone in with Championship experience, who has a proven track record of success at this level, not taking a punt on a young, unproven manager from the lower leagues. This isn't the start of the season, we are in NO position to make that kind of gamble right now, so Robinson - its a no from me.

Step forward Brian McDermott.

 

[Stato]

It's more than just glamour though isn't it? It's stature in the game, ability to cope with big personalities and reputations. Knowledge of top players. Ability to talk on equal terms with Bloom and Barber.

He's worked for Winkleman, so I guess Tony Bloom would come as a relief. He is also quite in with some top names, having got Robbie Fowler down as a striker coach. I think you were right when you said that we don't know and we can either choose to be optimistic or pessimistic. I like that Bloom never picks the old guard and am happy to be on the roller coaster.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Haven't had the chance to read this entire thread, and if you'd asked me two hours ago, I'd have been entirely against Robinson, for reasons stated in numerous previous threads.

But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it might not be a punt worth taking by the Albion.

-he's gobby and annoys other teams. We haven't had one of those since Poyet left.

-he's another young manager with no stellar playing career to speak of (never played league football). Eddie Howe & Mark Warburton seem to be doing alright.

-he seems to favour bringing young players through, which fits with the Albion plans and investment.

-his sides score loads of goals, which seems to be working for Bournemouth & Brentford this season.

-he's worked with Sam Baldock before and rates him, so there's every reason to hope he could get the best out of him

-he's known for playing decent football (I'm not sure we have the necessary giant players to fit, say, Tony Pulis's tactics)

-the fact he's done alright despite never having played League football suggests that actually, his motivational and man management skills may be rather impressive. I bet he gets players really wanting to play for him.

Obviously now I've come round to the idea, he'll turn us down, that pretty much goes without saying. Or the McDons will reject any approach. Twunts.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Excellent post. I don't agree with your confidence in Robinson, but your point about needing someone who can come in and "firefight" is a very pertinent one. For my money, we need someone who can come in and hit the ground running. Someone who can quickly galvanise the dogs dinner of a squad he's inheriting, organise them on the pitch to get the best of what he's got, identify the deficiencies and weaknesses, and address them over the course of next month.

The best chance we have of achieving that is by bringing someone in with Championship experience, who has a proven track record of success at this level, not taking a punt on a young, unproven manager from the lower leagues. This isn't the start of the season, we are in NO position to make that kind of gamble right now, so Robinson - its a no from me.

Step forward Brian McDermott.

Wouldn't be too disappointed with McDermott, I think he'd keep us up. However, not sure whether I'd feel particularly excited about the prospect of him rebuilding in the summer. But then I guess it's down to priorities!

 

[RexCathedra]

He'd be a fool to take the job. He'd be on a siding to nowhere in six months.
In three months, people here would be calling for his head on a pike.

Unless we're north of 12th-10th on the table.
Which is highly unlikely -- albeit no more likely than relegation.

 

[TSB]

Haven't had the chance to read this entire thread, and if you'd asked me two hours ago, I'd have been entirely against Robinson, for reasons stated in numerous previous threads.

But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it might not be a punt worth taking by the Albion.

The hell?!

 

[WhingForPresident]

He'd be a fool to take the job. He'd be on a siding to nowhere in six months.
In three months, people here would be calling for his head on a pike.

Unless we're north of 12th-10th on the table.
Which is highly unlikely -- albeit no more likely than relegation.

 

[murraymints4brighton]

We have to remember Bloom has this vision for the club in which we have a 'brand' of football and all ages of the youth team are taught to play the same way. Robinson would fit well into this mantra as head coach, Pulis wouldn't.

 

[Easy 10]

Wouldn't be too disappointed with McDermott, I think he'd keep us up. However, not sure whether I'd feel particularly excited about the prospect of him rebuilding in the summer. But then I guess it's down to priorities!

I thought what he built and achieved at Reading was enormously impressive. I appreciate he's not the most exciting or dynamic sounding bloke, but he seems to go about his job quietly and effectively. I feel he'd be a safer pair of hands than Robinson in our current situation.

Whoever we appoint its always going to be something of a punt though. Plus he'll seemingly have to be fully prepared to be shackled up into of THESE with a certain D Burke esq.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Never going to happen.

If it does, will you change your description from Captain Hindsight, to Captain Foresight?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The hell?!

I know. Weird, isn't it?

Don't worry, when he tells us to piss off, I'll shake myself back to reality. I think I just had a moment where it looked like it might have been a likely option and I found myself trying to find the positives, just in case.

 

[jasetheace]

We have to remember Bloom has this vision for the club in which we have a 'brand' of football and all ages of the youth team are taught to play the same way. Robinson would fit well into this mantra as head coach, Pulis wouldn't.

And if that isn't Glenn Hoddle, I don't know what is.

 

[Biscuit]

1) If we do get relegated, he knows League One very well.
2) He may know a few lower league gems that Burke hasn't found on Football Manager yet, who could come in fairly cheap, and with a point to prove.
3) It'd piss of Franchise.

I'm all for it.

 

[TSB]

If it does, will you change your description from Captain Hindsight, to Captain Foresight?

Yes.

And then I'll hang myself.

 

[murraymints4brighton]

And if that isn't Glenn Hoddle, I don't know what is.

True, although I would be worried he may be a little out of touch with the day-to-day runnings of a football club. We need someone to come in and hit the ground running. There are some very good candidates being linked to this job now. Beggars belief that Hyppia got the gig in the first place.

 

[Rookie]

Gets his team playing good football which is an obvious bonus, but the failure to get MK Dons up must be a downside + plus he comes across as a right knobber. Prefer him over pullis, but oh for the days of Oscar or gus.

 

[clippedgull]

Haven't had the chance to read this entire thread, and if you'd asked me two hours ago, I'd have been entirely against Robinson, for reasons stated in numerous previous threads.

But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it might not be a punt worth taking by the Albion.

-he's gobby and annoys other teams. We haven't had one of those since Poyet left.

-he's another young manager with no stellar playing career to speak of (never played league football). Eddie Howe & Mark Warburton seem to be doing alright.

-he seems to favour bringing young players through, which fits with the Albion plans and investment.

-his sides score loads of goals, which seems to be working for Bournemouth & Brentford this season.

-he's worked with Sam Baldock before and rates him, so there's every reason to hope he could get the best out of him

-he's known for playing decent football (I'm not sure we have the necessary giant players to fit, say, Tony Pulis's tactics)

-the fact he's done alright despite never having played League football suggests that actually, his motivational and man management skills may be rather impressive. I bet he gets players really wanting to play for him.

Obviously now I've come round to the idea, he'll turn us down, that pretty much goes without saying. Or the McDons will reject any approach. Twunts.

You can tell that our favourite cop is a skilled interrogator!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yes.

And then I'll hang myself.

Don't do that, I'm sure there'll be a better solution.

 

[TSB]

I know. Weird, isn't it?

Don't worry, when he tells us to piss off, I'll shake myself back to reality. I think I just had a moment where it looked like it might have been a likely option and I found myself trying to find the positives, just in case.

I'm not sure being rejected by Karl Robinson would make me feel any better about the club. Still an improvement on being managed by him, though.