21-01-2017, 13:28
No I wasn't particularly sceptical about Paul Cook, for me that is, - except his arrival was a very dirty piece of business that made me wonder about his loyalty to anyone and that our enthusiasm seemed to be the sole result of an excellent 4-3 game against Accrington (and my doubts about his loyalty proved accurate when he negotiated with Portsmouth whilst managing us to defeat in the play-offs). BUT, he was a player I always admired.
With Caldwell my doubts concern the value of his record. You could say his promotion was bought and he could not stop a slide towards relegation. Equally with Cookie it would've been reasonable to question whether success in Ireland would translate over here on the basis of a few attractive performances from Accrington. That one worked out for us. And at our level we have to gamble. Will this work out? I certainly would have let things roll with Ritchie, who I originally didn't want at the club at all! If we go down, and that has to be the most likely scenario, what do we do with Caldwell?
I'm sceptical about the whole notion of a new manager riding into town like a sheriff to clean things up and turn everything round. Most of em have been brought up in football to lack loyalty, standards, morality and for some even normal human decency is a step too far. Witness how Sheridan talked to the referee at Notts County to get his latest ban. He treated some of our players in much the same way. Sceptical yes, and also ashamed that such a man was ever our manager. He could play the game, but he'd never understand the notion of playing the game ........
With Caldwell my doubts concern the value of his record. You could say his promotion was bought and he could not stop a slide towards relegation. Equally with Cookie it would've been reasonable to question whether success in Ireland would translate over here on the basis of a few attractive performances from Accrington. That one worked out for us. And at our level we have to gamble. Will this work out? I certainly would have let things roll with Ritchie, who I originally didn't want at the club at all! If we go down, and that has to be the most likely scenario, what do we do with Caldwell?
I'm sceptical about the whole notion of a new manager riding into town like a sheriff to clean things up and turn everything round. Most of em have been brought up in football to lack loyalty, standards, morality and for some even normal human decency is a step too far. Witness how Sheridan talked to the referee at Notts County to get his latest ban. He treated some of our players in much the same way. Sceptical yes, and also ashamed that such a man was ever our manager. He could play the game, but he'd never understand the notion of playing the game ........