10-10-2014, 18:24
And ultimately, that's the thing with RDM; he HAS achieved great things in a remarkably short space of time, but he's always done it with the very best of tools at his disposal. Now, I wouldn't dismiss that too quickly - some managers have quality players and money to burn and still fail pathetically (here's looking at you, 'Arry) - but my opinion of RDM would be a lot higher if I'd seen him succeed just once when his back was right up against the wall, because that's also an integral part of football management.
I'm not the sort of person to say anything positive about Tony Pulis if I can possibly avoid it, so I'm typing this with gritted teeth (or gritted fingers; you get the idea), but the bloke has actually PROVEN more than once that he can get performances from average players, results from poor teams and actually change a club's fortunes. It may not be pretty to watch, but objectively speaking, no one can dispute the truth of "the Pulis effect". Same goes for Hodgson, though he's probably on a hiding to nothing with England. But RDM? The jury will be out until he really builds his own team and makes them succeed against adversity.
I'm not the sort of person to say anything positive about Tony Pulis if I can possibly avoid it, so I'm typing this with gritted teeth (or gritted fingers; you get the idea), but the bloke has actually PROVEN more than once that he can get performances from average players, results from poor teams and actually change a club's fortunes. It may not be pretty to watch, but objectively speaking, no one can dispute the truth of "the Pulis effect". Same goes for Hodgson, though he's probably on a hiding to nothing with England. But RDM? The jury will be out until he really builds his own team and makes them succeed against adversity.
"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