Originally Posted by
Nesta99
Papers wouldnt have known if it wasnt about PR, sure look how Dundalk kept things quiet in the past.
On my travels home so today's musings on the Shamrock Rovers soap opera.....
Naw I think its an own goal, pardon the pun, as even Mannus will be under pressure from the getgo. Fans will expect things to be 2011 in one signing and there isnt fantastic quality across the back four that will be in front of Mannus as things stand. He will have to build up a rapport with the players very quickly to meet expectation of a quick fix. A better PR tactic from the board would be to back a young manager by reaffirming that this is a longer term building process with vagueries of key signings to come in. Have the manager consider better what is said to the media that can come back and bite - maybe a bit late but keeping expectations (officially) lower than privately wanted and when things do click like with a run to the cup final highight that progress.
Its all mixed messages at the moment eg giving a young manager a long term contract, focusing on bringing through young players, constant talk about an academy and youth (while not necessarily directly meant in relation to the 1st team now it is giving that impression outside the Rovers fold), then there was the talk about challenging followed by 'never said that' type stuff. Comments like 'their cup final' about a side that already have beaten you; I'm sure Ezeikial could give far better examples!
If it had been 'the young lads lost concentration and they will learn that you cant' after the 1st Bohs game, stick to that and not do the 'their cup final' stuff, We drew with Dundalk and could have beaten them 2nd game against them and were definitely worth a point after hitting the crossbar followed by a cliché like cutting out individual errors and things will improve rather than seeming to single out areas by dropping players and undermine confidence. Such clichéd waffle is used by managers the world over for a reason and Bradly should stick to script which is easier than trying some mind game stuff (same could apply to SK on an occasion).
Waterford was a 10 man display for 80 odd minutes, a debatable red card too and could have gotten something. SK was saying that the recent Bray match was possibly the toughest so far and that general thinking was expressed on Orielweb prior to the game and we were delighted to get the 3 points - Bradley should have been quicker noting that and saying as much beforehand and emphasising the boost signing a new manager can have.
I think Bradly can reasonably feel that lady luck has deserted him and he could be about 5pts better off as there isnt a whole lot a manager could do about Finn's pass, or a 99th minute winner (I dont know who caused the trouble that caused the game to be stopped but if it was home support Bradley should be well annoyed as at least a point looked safe), injuries to Clarke etc. Gilchrist was rash for the first card in the RSC but the second at normal speed it just looked like he lost his footing and was falling over not pulling the player back, he wasnt last man either but it was 50/50 that went against. Bradley was quite low key prior to the game in Oriel, much calmer on the sideline and it was the most composed and confident Rovers performance in a while. A deserved result in that game and Rovers would have been less brittle in subsequent games imo.
Its like the board(+fans) thought that the team was strengthened which is true really but didnt consider that Cork, Dundalk, Derry will have pushed on again and Waterford starting off like a top 4 side so 'the gap' stays roughly the same and its then a mix of back tracking and binning the longer term strategy with pointing the finger at the inexperienced manager for not addressing areas like getting a keeper in. Rovers tendency to be a retirement home for some crocked high profile players is all PR but has it been much advantage to the club? In terms of having such high profile former players on the coaching staff is certainly positive PR with parents having their heads turned but player budget going on the Joey O'Briens would be better spent throwing the kitchen sink and signing a Dan Cleary. Im still baffled by the way Simon Madden was let go, was there any falling out, did Rovers fans have issue at the time with the decision or is it retrospective now? Bradley obviously thought the keepers he had were good enough, Horgan has shown that he can do ok as if the pressure is off him, certainly as an attacking force the squad isnt miles behind anyone. Mannus would improve most if not all squads if he is still the clibre of keeper he was last time round. Its a bit of a panic signing unless it was a case of biding until he was available and hoping a young lad like Horgan will step up sufficiently. If its a hefty outlay in wages it would make Rovers the 6th highest wage bill in the league then....For Rovers fans, assuming this wasnt the planned for signing all along as part of overall squad development it would have to be considered that its a shift away from the rigid wage structure considering players released, players not signed even though seemingly wanted pre season. Fans would hardly believe the line that the manager had room in his budget rather than funds being freed for unforeseen circumstances, if any line is being pushed. Maybe Rovers fans dont care just at the moment as long as something was done? The wage structure is a particular point of pride though!?
Sure as a Rovers obsessed Dundalk fan give me both the CEO and managers jobs as I have all the answers!! I promise i'd handle with care!!!
Its so much easier to be nice and fair minded when a team are not a threat...watch out Derry City! How quiet has Kenny Sheils been sneaking up under the radar, lose Friday night and the dugouts in Oriel are in for it
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