Interesting quote by Alex Neil

[Canaryboy]

Did anybody else pick up on this in the EDP / Archant article about transfer dealings, which included this line..... 

“He (Grabban) was a bit unfortunate down at Bournemouth because I was actually bringing him on before the sending-off"

Does that mean that Alex Neil was actually pulling the strings in that game, because my understanding previously was that he was just a spectator until the sending off occurred, at which point he decided to go and take control in the dugout.

Sounds as if he had more input into that game than was made out in the media and by Neil himself after the game! 

 

[eatonparkboy]

He said he was his own man and he seems supremely confident. I doubt he would have been able just to take a back seat just because MP had picked the team. Surely nobody believes that it wasn't all run past him to seek a nod of approval. He just doesn't seem that type. I think there is much to come from Alex Neill.

 

[Suffolk Canary]

If its true, then i certainly have no problem with our manager being a complete control freak!    Too many people were trying to pull the strings at the start of the season.  I'd much rather go back to when the manager was the manager  

 

[Boyerboy]

I largely agree Suffolk but:

There are many things managers used to run which now make the job too huge such as scouting and juniors.

There are many newer things which would make the job too huge such as nutrition and sports science.

Managers nowadays need to concentrate on the squad and those close to it.

We have a good setup now and the Football Board ensures that everything gets taken care of and there is accountability.

It's worth remembering that Lambert focussed solely on the first team issues which was great but everything else was neglected in his time here such as the Academy and the infrastructure at Colney. That won't happen again.

 

[eatonparkboy]

On a tangent from the OP, as Boyerboy has mentioned the neglect of the infrastructure.

Am I naive in thinking that you would suppose that the trickle down effect would be the structure of the club? Or even trickle up, if that's possible. What I mean is, certainly during Hughton's reign, the first team seemed to playing a totally different system and brand of football to what I witnessed, albeit it, four times with the under 18's.

Adams, having played a bold system with that side then became more circumspect when first team manager.

Does the club, through its, for the want of a better word, DOF, expect all the coaches to sing from the same hymn sheet? I know playing personnel would have a certain part to play but there again I would expect us to be recruiting youngsters who play the same way as the first team. Or do we just recruit raw talent and try to mold it?