RDM back in work

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 09-10-2014, 18:32 by WBA-Josh.)

This thread is a bit late given that this news broke 2 days ago but Roberto Di Matteo is now back in work with Schalke 04 in Germany after the sacking of Jens Keller. I wish RDM very well and was sad to see him go when he left WBA.

As for Jens Keller, he is one of my favourite coaches so it is a shame to see him leave Schalke as he has done a good job whilst having to deal with constant injuries to his best players and always having his job always under scrutiny.

Now that Jens is available, he is my new preferred choice if Irvine fails. I don't think Irvine will fail though given that he has now found a good formula that works.

Squirrel Regis · 09-10-2014, 19:29

Hope you are right Josh. A.I starting to win a few of us over slowly and sounds like the players are 100% behind him.
RDM did a great job getting us out of Championship playing good footie so good luck to him.

WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse · (This post was last modified: 10-10-2014, 00:40 by WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse.)

Saw that news and my heart warmed - good luck RDM Thumb up

(having said that I thought the club were right to move on)

Never heard of Jens - but that's a bird's name so a big NO from me.

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 10-10-2014, 01:13

He's a bit of an enigma, RDM. Was accused of choking when the heat was on at MK Dons (though some argue he actually overachieved with them, and given they're still in League One that's perhaps a fairer assessment); we had a few wobbles under him with a generally strong squad in the Championship, but ultimately we "cowboyed up" when it mattered and broke a few records on our way up, so he deserves credit for that and for some great wins that first autumn back in the Prem. But just what happened that winter? Tales abound of him out on the golf course when our players desperately needed some organisation, discipline and even basic encouragement. Ultimately we'll never know whether he could have pushed us to those last twelve or thirteen points we needed to survive, but watch that season review DVD again, see the goals we conceded against the likes of Wigan and Blackpool and tell me we'd have beaten Liverpool, Villa or even Blues defending like that...

He took Chelsea to the Champions League with a group of players who wanted to prove a point following their shameful ousting of AVB, and yet when the going got tough later that year, RDM once again couldn't get the tough going (though admittedly, he wasn't really given much of a chance). Amazingly, Albion remains his longest ever managerial tenure, lasting just eighteen months.

I like the bloke and wish him well, but I feel this job will be the career-defining one for him. Can he stay the course with a stable top-flight team and lead them to long-term success? Best of luck with it, Robbie; we'll watch with interest.

WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse · 10-10-2014, 01:36

I agree Ska'd.
Maybe it was the 'new manager' syndrome but he did have a good effect which then seemed to waver dramatically.
The club did the right thing IMO but he's a good 'un and I hope he proves himself

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 10-10-2014, 01:58 by WBA-Josh.)

That's a very fair assessment of RDM Ska'd.

The Schalke job is a very tough one and it is hard to win the fans over. Jens Keller was never taken in by a lot of the fans because he wasn't the big name coach that they think their club deserves. He also replaced Huub Stevens who is an icon to Schalke fans because of his success in the late 90's with the club so Jens was always onto a hiding to nothing and it did always seem like when he would be sacked rather than if he would sacked. The clubs top men are also happy to negotiate with other coaches about the Head Coach position in secret whilst giving the current Head Coach the thumbs up and public backing which is wrong in my opinion.

I think RDM will be a success with Schalke who have the strong squad that I'm sure most coaches would love to work with but I have been doing some reading and it seems like RDM wasn't Schalke's first choice, Thomas Tuchel was. It will be interesting to see whether RDM lasts beyond this season because Schalke do seem to have their heart truly set on Tuchel.

Anyway, good luck RDM, you may need it.

Willie, Jens is a male name which is pronounced as Yenz. Tongue

WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse · 10-10-2014, 01:41

(sorry Josh, I was joking about Jens)

WBA-Josh · 10-10-2014, 01:50

I know you were joking Willie, I just like to correct people. It is a favourite pastime of mine. Tongue

santasabaggie · 10-10-2014, 16:42

(10-10-2014, 01:13)Ska Wrote: He's a bit of an enigma, RDM. Was accused of choking when the heat was on at MK Dons (though some argue he actually overachieved with them, and given they're still in League One that's perhaps a fairer assessment); we had a few wobbles under him with a generally strong squad in the Championship, but ultimately we "cowboyed up" when it mattered and broke a few records on our way up, so he deserves credit for that and for some great wins that first autumn back in the Prem. But just what happened that winter? Tales abound of him out on the golf course when our players desperately needed some organisation, discipline and even basic encouragement. Ultimately we'll never know whether he could have pushed us to those last twelve or thirteen points we needed to survive, but watch that season review DVD again, see the goals we conceded against the likes of Wigan and Blackpool and tell me we'd have beaten Liverpool, Villa or even Blues defending like that...

He took Chelsea to the Champions League with a group of players who wanted to prove a point following their shameful ousting of AVB, and yet when the going got tough later that year, RDM once again couldn't get the tough going (though admittedly, he wasn't really given much of a chance). Amazingly, Albion remains his longest ever managerial tenure, lasting just eighteen months.

I like the bloke and wish him well, but I feel this job will be the career-defining one for him. Can he stay the course with a stable top-flight team and lead them to long-term success? Best of luck with it, Robbie; we'll watch with interest.

Did well at Chelsea,but with the players he had there,a tramps dog could have done it.

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 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.