McGhee - "Leon was absolutely INEPT tonight"....

[NMH]

This thread is making a mountain out of a molehill in my opinion.
Even if MM said 'inept' it isn't a big word or a big deal. The game is public entertainment, and perhaps Leon agrees with MM as well - he surely can't have many complaints if he knows his game was ineffectual.

I still feel that a partner player of similar footballing mind to Knight would do him the world of good . Leon has a keen sense for the quick pass or run, and that's not catered for by the players around him really.

 

[bhaexpress]

Okay, so Leon had a bad game, who had a good one ? Naming MotM for last night was a tough choice because nobody desereved it. Seems to me that McGhee has joined the Mullery school on Management, i.e. slaging off players in public. It's one reason why I loathed Mullery, that sort of thing doesn't help anybody.

Frankly I'm inclined to believe the the fault lies in tactics, over to you Mr McGhee.

 

[Icy Gull]

So what if McGhee has already had words with Leon behind closed doors and it hasn't worked. Could this public slanging be be a last resort? What if McGhee wants shot of Leon are you going to suggest that we get rid of McGhee instead?

However good Leon may potentially be, if he's not going to give 100% I'd happily see the back of him. How many of you have been moaning about him recently? Sort it out Leon, you've brought this critiscm on yourself by shortchanging the club and the fans with what everyone thinks is inept displays. Just not pc for the manager to say it though apparently.

 

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

If my manager came out with that I'd tell him to f*ck right off.

 

[magoo]

The question here seems to be should MM have said what he said publically?

I would say did you ever hear Micky Adams slate his players after a poor performance? Even just lately at Leicester? No, he won't have a bad word said about them, and that's what they respond to.

 

[Mustela Furo]

Easy Easy

MCGhee DID NOT say INEPT

He did say INERT



I suggest re-listening to that interview and re-transcribing it, as I have done this morning.

There is a whole world of difference between the meaning of the two words.

Leon had an off day – no doubt about that, and McGhee rightly criticised his lethargy – but he did not complete bury him, as the use of “inept” would have done.

 

[Icy Gull]

The question here seems to be should MM have said what he said publically?

I would say did you ever hear Micky Adams slate his players after a poor performance?

No he got Cork to do it. "Useless" was how Cameron was described at the time. Everyone was outraged at the time. Short and selective memories from most Albion fans

 

[Gwylan]

I would say did you ever hear Micky Adams slate his players after a poor performance? Even just lately at Leicester? No, he won't have a bad word said about them, and that's what they respond to.

I remember that after a defeat at Scunthorpe in the promotion season, Adams was very scathing about the team.

Whether it was inert or inept (and I'd guess the former), McGhee is obviously getting well pissed-off with Leon. And if Leon had any sense, he'd take some of the criticism on board. He's only young but faces being marked with an attitude problem by two experienced managers - it's not the best way to go about finding another club.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

The question here seems to be should MM have said what he said publically?

I would say did you ever hear Micky Adams slate his players after a poor performance? Even just lately at Leicester? No, he won't have a bad word said about them, and that's what they respond to.

Didn't MA substitute Michel Kuipers at half time once and describe his performance as being poor - seemed to work for him as he knuckled down and improved. Would appear to me that you can publicly criticise players who you know will respond, the kind of players who will take it on board and use it to their advantage. Not sure whethr LK is that type of player due to his temperement. But then, MM sees him everyday so I'll back his judgement at the moment.

 

[London Calling]

Come on all managers use the media to kick their players up the backside, they may make direct quotes, use an assistant aka Cork or use the Captain (Keane).

Mcgee is experienced enough, he has seen millions of Knight's. Knight is a talent but he also needs guidance and he also needs to be committed.

When was the last time the national media made a big thing about Knight?

With Zamora it was every time he scored.

Me thinks the football world has sussed out Knight and that's why he is playing Division 2 football.

LC

 

[Simster]

I agree with NMH in that this does appear to be a mountain out of a molehill.
I suspect his poor form is in part to do with the fact that maybe he feels he's made the wrong decision in joining us instead of QPR. He was a Coppell player, and Coppell shat on him. McGhee simply won't get the best out of him in my view...

 

[Lush]

Also it's not just a players own performance that makes him inept/inert.

Knight was surrounded by between three - and on one occasion FIVE defenders when he got hold of the ball. And these are good solid defenders who haven't let in a lot of goals this season.

Anyone would have struggled, particularly a 5ft 3ins striker off his form who doesn't look like he likes the cold weather much.

You could call it inept/inert. You could also call it "marked out of the game"

 

[Hunting 784561]

Maybe its my hearing, or maybe its his scottish accent, but I really thought I heard McGhee said LK had been 'inert' rather than 'inept' .

This is a very different thing, means he wasnt moving around much ? Still not very flattering, but not as bad as 'Inept' which means f***ing useless in my book.

Anyone got a transcript or recording ?

 

[Easy 10]

I was listening in the back of a car, and it certainly sounded like "inept" to me - and that was how Harty interpretted the comments when he discussed the interview in subsequent calls.
I could be mistaken, and as you say, there's a WORLD of difference between "inept" and "inert", but as I say, Harty repeated the word "inept" later in the show after the McGhee interview.

I'd say "inert" would be a curious, unusual word for a manager to use in a post-match interview (although not entirely inaccurate in describing Leons performance). Anyone got an Argus ? Maybe that carries the interview in the report, and we can clear this up.

 

[Dandyman]

Not going public - never wash your dirty linen in public !

Totally agree. Whatever criticism I may have of Ferguson who will never see him slagging players in public.

 

[Gwylan]

Totally agree. Whatever criticism I may have of Ferguson who will never see him slagging players in public.

Quite right. He gets Keane to do his slagging for him.

 

[The Large One]

It's the Carrot/Stick approach to management.

Some players respond to criticism a 'gee-ing up', and other a friendly arm around the shoulder. I suspect McGhee has tried both. Would we be so critical if McGhee had criticised, say, Jones or Hart? Washing your dirty linen in public is not necessarily a problem per se, although it does cast its own shadow.

Leon Knight is ANY manager's nightmare. He does have an attitude problem - still, and he does place himself higher than his abilities or standing would allow. He is exceptionally immature, and really ought be grateful that any club would have him.

But McGhee is far from stupid. He knew he was going to be questioned about that substitution, and he gave his response appropriately. There was a reason, notwithstanding the criticism he was going to get back, for the answer he gave, and he doesn't really need to explain it to the fans in this instance.

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

hmm... generally I reckon players need bollocking when they suck, but some require a certain kind of treatment, and while Benjamin may be able to take such comments (evevn benefit from them), I fear Leon may react in a totally different way - I think he needs to feel 'idolised' - it helps his confidence, the cockiness that's a positive part of his game

 

[trueblue]

I thought Leon was inept too. Did F*ck all. Compare that to Jake who caused them trouble from the moment he came on and is prepared to take a hammering. No doubt, Leon is a better player but he didn't look it on last night's performance. He appears to have swopped falling over all the time for doing a little girly leap in the air any time he thinks he might get tackled - he needs to toughen up, and I reckon that's exactly what's narking McGhee.

And well done, big Trev who was really putting himself about.

 

[Rusco]

None of you have addressed the point that he made quite strong criticisms of Trev publicly after Grimsby and that has been rewarded with improved workrate and effort from Trev.

Rather than climb aboard an anti-McGhee bandwagon, you should also perhaps consider how many times the point has been made to Leon in private in the dressing room. Perhaps it might be time to adopt a more open approach.

Leon is our best player but there is clearly a temperament problem linked to his maturity levels. I think this comes across quite clearly in some very skilful interviews Andy Naylor has done in the Argus with Leon. You've sensed Naylor almost biting his tongue at times in these pieces.

There are no easy answers how a manager can turn all this round. If your easy answer is to have a cheap pop at McGhee, I'm glad for you. I'll stay off that bandwagon though I think.

McGhee is playing hard cop at the moment, no doubt there are plenty of others within the camp who can play soft cop.

Wise words Irish. I couldn't agree more.

I can't believe that some of you watched Knight play last night and are having a go at McGhee. What has MM done that is so bad, apart from speak the truth - Leon was inept last night!

IMHO Leon hasn't looked like he has wanted to pull on the stripes for the last six weeks, or so and for that I don't want him in the side. If we were offered £300k for him now, I would take it, maybe we could buy a player that would give his all for our club. The trouble is that Leon thinks he is far too good for us and we know he isn't!

He needs to ship up, or ship out!