11-09-2014, 17:25
Interesting stuff, and the comment about being sacked with a 40% win ratio by two struggling clubs puts a different slant on his past record (though doesn't negate the concerns raised by fans of those clubs about his defensive mentality). Having a drive to succeed will be vital here, because we need those wins at all costs.
I do fear that this will be the real problem, though: Irvine has no desire to be the centre of attention and admits that even walking out on the pitch to wave to the Albion fans on the opening day of the season made him feel uncomfortable. "My family knew I was cringing, they were kind of dying for me as well at the time," he says, smiling. That kind of personality just isn't going to win over a lot of negative fans. Even if we suddenly begin to excel on the pitch, there are people who'll just keep quiet about Irvine until they have another excuse to get the knives out, and being stand-offish will make that worse. It's absurd that our head coach should have to be a raconteur as well as a tactician, but there it is.
I do fear that this will be the real problem, though: Irvine has no desire to be the centre of attention and admits that even walking out on the pitch to wave to the Albion fans on the opening day of the season made him feel uncomfortable. "My family knew I was cringing, they were kind of dying for me as well at the time," he says, smiling. That kind of personality just isn't going to win over a lot of negative fans. Even if we suddenly begin to excel on the pitch, there are people who'll just keep quiet about Irvine until they have another excuse to get the knives out, and being stand-offish will make that worse. It's absurd that our head coach should have to be a raconteur as well as a tactician, but there it is.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley