With the way the players very quickly changed from looking like going toe to toe with Rovers, being well beaten by an average enough Celje and collapsing after the resumption of the league, a lot of focus was on the madcap stuff about the chairman. Looking back its seems like more of a smokescreen and possible lead to greater issues with the squad not becoming public. It was assumed that signings were forced on the manager and team selection was being interfered with. The first team named by FG left out entirely the players it was assumed VP was told to play.
It was all very strange, players were devoid of confidence and someone like Sean Gannon, the consummate pro looked particularly like he was going through the motions. Garts as the senior player and at this stage a clubman as much as just a member of a squad seemed very unhappy. He was never a chap that sulked for not getting game time so it wouldnt have been that as his issue. We may never know what was truly going on with the players and that is testament to the professionalism in itself, but within days of FG taking training noise from the camp was that they players were enjoying the sessions. He even added additional training where say Wednesdays were a day off usually and 2 additional sessions were added. It was a bizarre appointment that was a baptism of fire for FG that he coped with.
With some luck in the covid changes in formats he did meet the alleged targets set + the cup. More telling though is that players were playing. McEleney put in some of the better performances for a while, Murray showed his worth, Gannon was not only playing but with some extra bite. Tactics were changed and there were serious weaknesses especially in zonal defence but no player can change to an entirely new system in weeks but the affort was apparent. Work ethic was back. I liked the way the squad was rotated with all players on a clean slate.
For whatever its worth FG also comes across as an honest and genuine person without the ascorbic tone. What other managers said on the sideline didnt become the story of a game for example. We dont know how things will progress for next season but all things considered it wasnt too bad in the short space of time this season. It could have been a lot worse and with a LoI merrygoround managerial appointment that was possible. Overall the players seemed happy and trusted FG which is the important starting point or any appointment. The only down side was the supposed sending of Gatt to train on his own unless a point was being made.
Bookmarks