Alex Neil from the Accie's

[It's Character Forming]

I am cautiously optimistic.

I like the comment I saw from an Accies fan somewhere about often an attack would find 4 of their players moving into the box when a cross comes in or something like that. 

I also like the fact that we've clearly identified him as a very promising young manager who fits in with what the club are trying to achieve.  And we haven't recruited someone just because they have a Norwich connection or are an easy choice.

 

[Yellow Fever]

As for the management structure, McNally was very clear about the manager's full control over who comes in and who goes. It's the manager who decides and always has been. Don't blame Neil for wanting that made clear.

 

[Surgeryman]

Oh well, the saga is over for now. I'm underwhelmed I must admit but will get behind him and see how we go from there.

 

[ggr]

Gutted that Alex has left, but really pleased that he his been given this opportunity to better himself.

I've watched Accies for over 40 years, and I can honestly say that the best, most entertaining football I've seen at Douglas Park has come from Alex Neil's sides.

One thing I can guarantee is that his team will play good attacking football without fear. I've never seen a Neil team sit back and try to defend a one goal lead, no matter who we were playing. 

I only hope that you give him time to get the right kind of players around him.

Best of luck for the rest of the season, but just dont take Tony Andreu as well.

 

[Tomasz Blazak]

As for the management structure, McNally was very clear about the manager's full control over who comes in and who goes. It's the manager who decides and always has been. Don't blame Neil for wanting that made clear.

Thought it was very shrewd by Neil to push that question to McNally at the presser so that he is on record saying that. AN is not a mug, that's for sure.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Thing is though, will Neil keep his approach?

Dont forget that Lambert adopted a different approach when he went to Villa. Neil might well do the same. He may well feel the tactics he adopted in Hamilton wont work for Norwich.

I hope not though, his 'brand' sounds very exciting

 

[Beauseant]

I disagree. Lambert took exactly the same approach to Villa. It was only after he escaped relegation by the skin of his teeth that he amended the "We can score more than you" style.

 

[Lavanche]

This came completely out from the thin air for me, so no idea about where he stands as a manager.

This way or that I hope we give him good time to get team in shape that he want's and wont start build pressure after couple of losses or draws.

For me this seems like a move where we are trying to find a manager that stays for more than few seasons as he is so young and inexperienced and comes with quite of a risk. 

Also he has preferred in Scottish premiership 4-2-3-1 at least if you trust transfermarkt. No idea how it has been placed on the field. Hopefully he adapts that in Norwich too as with it we have been best in my opinion this season. Thought again transfermarkt says that pure 4-4-2 was his preferred formation earlier so eager to see which route he chooses with number of strikers available and almost no winger in previous first choise starting 11 except Redmond.

Could be that Hooper, Grabban or Lafferty finds themselves playing as winger and with Hooper's working rate it could be quite decent choise on left side as incutter and Redmond as wide player on right side with Hoolahan/Howson being number 10. 

 

[ggr]

This came completely out from the thin air for me, so no idea about where he stands as a manager.

This way or that I hope we give him good time to get team in shape that he want's and wont start build pressure after couple of losses or draws.

For me this seems like a move where we are trying to find a manager that stays for more than few seasons as he is so young and inexperienced and comes with quite of a risk. 

Also he has preferred in Scottish premiership 4-2-3-1 at least if you trust transfermarkt. No idea how it has been placed on the field. Hopefully he adapts that in Norwich too as with it we have been best in my opinion this season. Thought again transfermarkt says that pure 4-4-2 was his preferred formation earlier so eager to see which route he chooses with number of strikers available and almost no winger in previous first choise starting 11 except Redmond.

Could be that Hooper, Grabban or Lafferty finds themselves playing as winger and with Hooper's working rate it could be quite decent choise on left side as incutter and Redmond as wide player on right side with Hoolahan/Howson being number 10. 

Alex always played 4-1-4-1 at Accies.

He normally played the holding midfielder role himself when fit.

Great result today

 

[Lavanche]

Alex always played 4-1-4-1 at Accies.

He normally played the holding midfielder role himself when fit.

Great result today

Alright thanks for the info. Always good to know where managers stand with their favored formation. Those who watched the game today was there yet anything new how the team was put out or did the Phelan run the play as under Adams?

Great start anyway for Alex did he have anything in it or not as it can launch serie of good results and at least gives good motivation boost to win league leader.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I can see the 4-1-4-1 logic, but it'd be a shame to lose the developing relationship between Jerome and Hooper up front. It'll be interesting to see what Neil adopts next week against Cardiff.

 

[Din]

I can't see him dropping either after they both scored against Bournemouth. Plus Hooper set up Jerome for his goal, so it's clear just from that game, that their partnership is very effective.

 

[Boyerboy]

Plus the one thing we know he did Saturday was stop the substitution of Hooper. I have seen this just as confirmation of the comments that Neil always wants to attack but thinking about it, it is also a statement of faith in the partnership

 

[eatonparkboy]

Maybe he set his formation up at Hamilton because of the players he had. He might not have had a wealth of strikers to pick from.

Despite our doubts about our personnel, we have Hooper, Jerome, Grabban, Lafferty plus Becchio and Lozar.

Without upsetting Hamilton supporters, may I suggest that they are probably all better players than those he had at his disposal.

Howson will be missing for three games so maybe Jerome will drop into the middle with Hooper up top.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Maybe he set his formation up at Hamilton because of the players he had. He might not have had a wealth of strikers to pick from.

Despite our doubts about our personnel, we have Hooper, Jerome, Grabban, Lafferty plus Becchio and Lozar.

Without upsetting Hamilton supporters, may I suggest that they are probably all better players than those he had at his disposal.

Howson will be missing for three games so maybe Jerome will drop into the middle with Hooper up top.

I suspect he may also have the option of having RvW if he wants him. I know St Etienne have an option, but if Neil believed he could get the best out of him, do we have the power to keep him? Or are we at the mercy of St Etienne's decision? How much have we signed away?

 

[eatonparkboy]

I suspect he may also have the option of having RvW if he wants him. I know St Etienne have an option, but if Neil believed he could get the best out of him, do we have the power to keep him? Or are we at the mercy of St Etienne's decision? How much have we signed away?

Surely we must have first call on any decision? Personally, I still don't see him making it with us and he doesn't appear to be strong enough for our leagues.

 

[RhythmicTheory]

think the rvw boat has sailed.

 

[It's Character Forming]

I see Hamilton lost at home last night so got to feel a little sorry for them.

As for RVW, personally Ithink a pairing of him and Jerome could work really well, but TBH if we are able to get anything for him we'll offload.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Alex Neil might think differently though. He might wonder about our record signing, watch those youtube clips, read the articles which proclaimed we'd pulled off a real coup in acquiring him. He might think, 'perhaps I can get the best out of this guy, then Id have a £10m Dutch international forward in my team for free'.

Wouldnt that be a pip?

 

[SussexYellow]

We may have broken RvW but unless I have missed it there is little evidence that St Etienne have fixed him. 

He is probably the player that us supporters have wanted to succeed more than any other despite the evidence of our eyes. Time to take a reality check. It would be great if him came good but it is just not going to happen.

Plus I am not sure how long his contract was for. If 3 years then there will only be one year left come the summer, so either we cash in or offer a contract extension to protect what residual value he may have. So throwing more money at the problem, that would be quite a business risk!