For now at least Alex Neil is manager of Norwich City Football Club, so what follows is pure speculation…
Going back to when Neil Adams got the City manager’s job I was pretty happy. I’d watched his youth team quite a lot and it was clear he knew how to organise a team. I did however feel that it was probably too soon for him and that perhaps he should have been promoted to the U23s, then to first-team coach or assistant manager before getting the top job.
I also thought the timing of him getting the job was nothing short of ridiculous and set him up to fail. Why sack a manager with five games left? It should have been done either in December or not.
But when Alex Neil got the job I was gobsmacked. My main concern was that he’d not played at level higher than Norwich as a club, nor at a level higher than its players; both making it difficult for him to gain their respect.
He’d also managed Hamilton Academicals for just 77 games, albeit in that time he got them promoted and, at the point of his departure, was keeping them there. It felt to me like he needed more experience before getting a job like the Norwich one.
And, for me, this may be the root cause of where we find ourselves. I recall seeing an interview with Sam Allardyce where he quoted Sir Alex Ferguson as saying that man management in the top flight was the most difficult challenge. Alex Neil has discovered this the hard way.
Once his own confidence was knocked by the 6-2 drubbing by Newcastle, the cracks in his self-belief and the players’ belief in him became clear. A consequence of human nature I’m afraid.
Yet – and yes, I can be labelled a hypocrite – I’m now stuck with this crazy notion that we should yet consider some candidates with, arguably, less experience than Alex Neil.
[You’re crazy I hear you cry, but stay with me.]
I’m talking about giving either Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs or Steven Gerrard a shot.
If the problem is that the players don’t respect Neil due to his history, then these guys instantly command respect on their names alone. I accept it won’t automatically make them good managers but it feels to me like a risk worth taking.
Instinctively we should be considering a seasoned professional with experience of getting teams out of this league and keeping them in the Premier League. The problem is that’s a pretty short list.
When you then look at our last few managerial appointments in terms of salary and stature it falls into the realms of make believe.
So why not take a punt on one of these guys. If our players don’t respect them after what they’ve achieved in the game already then we really do need a total squad clear out, youth players aside.
They’ve all worked under some of the best managers of recent times; they’ve all captained their clubs and their countries, meaning they’ve been directly responsible for understanding their managers plans and for putting them into practice on the pitch.
They’ve all had to be leaders, they’re all winners and they’ve all got great networking options with big clubs. I’d argue that amounts to some great experience.
They also, like Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce before them, have to start somewhere. I’m sure many will feel Norwich City is too big to be their first stab at management but not so sure if this is the case once the yellow and green tinted spectacles have been removed.
If I was in their shoes I’d consider that a Championship club with a decent fan base and a good chance of promotion could be my perfect companion. And, although I’d probably like a club with a bigger transfer budget, I may consider supplementing the City squad with some youth options from clubs with whom I have links.
Gary Neville talks a great game on TV, has experience of coaching the England squad and had a coaching foray in Spain. You could of course argue that the latter two didn’t go well, but attempting to manage a foreign team was incredibly brave. He was very close to Sir Alex and was his trusted pitch representative for many seasons.
Ryan Giggs has been assistant to some decent managers and had the ear of the best of them all too. He managed Man Utd against us too – I was there, he did okay! It feels like he’s ready for his first proper role and waiting for the right opportunity. Could it be us?
Steven Gerrard looks like turning down MK Dons. Of the three he’s had the least experience so far but again has captained and led teams since his early-twenties. I also think he’d still be able to do a job in our midfield and could take players like Jonny Howson to another level.
So, in conclusion – and this may be a sign of my increasing desperation – I would be up for giving one of these guys a chance. I do think, however, that if we decided to go down this route they should get at least three seasons.
In an ideal world employing an experienced manager would be preferable, but I can’t see where that option comes from. I’d personally love Big Sam in place – he would be my first choice – but if it happened I would be even more gobsmacked than I was at the appointment of Alex Neil.
hmmmm……
give them three seasons. what if we were in the bottom 6 and struggling like we are now…..you still give them three seasons?
why not give AN another season then to see if he can turn things around and learn from it. This is his only real dip in a league you would expect us to dominate to large extent, so he will learn from that (hopefully) and come out of it better.
If he still around come the next window, I’m sure he’s learned a few things about his squad and will hopefully move a few on and get some in.
unless we get an Allerdyce, Hodgson type man in it will always be a gamble.
Me…..I think big malky would be ideal for us at the moment. We have a strong back four (on paper) that AN doesnt seem to be able to organise. I’m sure malky could.
A quick look down the road at Reading will show an ex Man Utd player making good job of managing.
Not sure on Mr Neville think he would be first on his bike if it goes wrong. Gerrard would be looking for something big, as his ego will dictate.
For some reason there have been vacancies but Giggs is still out of work. These guys are still really cutting their teeth. Think we need more experience. Would like to see Mark Warburton enticed away from Glasgow.
Don’t care what anyone says about him, Woy is the man. Took Fulham to a UEFA final, got Blackburn 6th and got WBA 11th after they lost 15 out of 18 games in the prem when he took over. He is outstanding at clubs of our stature.
Thought-provoking stuff.
What the article seems to skip over is Alex Neil DID command the trust and respect of his players – certainly for the 22 games of our promotion season, and arguably in the PL. But something has gone awry in the past couple of months.
The experience issue doesn’t seem to me straightforward. When we appointed AN, most fans were crying out for an experienced head, someone like Neil Warnock. Do we think he’d have had the same impact as AN did? I certainly don’t.
It’s all about getting the right man. I don’t envy Jez Moxey that call.
What a hypocrite! Another columnist wanting rid of Alex Neil yet willing to give a novice manager THREE years …. are you actually serious?
The 3 names you mention – absolutely not.
Hodgson – No
Allardyce – No Way.
For me, it’s Malky all the way. Experienced, available and with a point to prove. Good club connections, would instantly get the fans on board.
Go on Jez, make that call!!
It should be remembered that Big Sam has the job in the bag some years bag, but his ‘a team that wins together, drinks together’ remark went down like a lead ballon with the board. I would have him like a shot as he is exactly what this club needs. Could he work with Delia’s toy town culture however?
Once AN is sacked – it will happen as the player revolt is too high – you will see if there is REAL ambition at the club or not. I suspect the latter.
Good stuff on a potentially important day, Craig.
# 6: Derek P: Malky? I wouldn’t turn a hair myself but maybe one or two on the Board might be a little reticent. “Issues” would rule him out under this Board, I feel.
# 5: el dingo: It’s a fair enough point of view if a better “rookie” came in. Karl Robinson might not be a bad call and the Gerrard factor would certainly get us all the Press attention in the world.
Interesting thoughts.
Significant, perhaps, that there’s no consensus among us?
I’m OK with the idea of Neville or Giggs, I get the concept too. To chuck another idea into the mix Jurgen Klinsmann is free- I reckon getting him would be a hell of a coup!
I’m not sure about Malky seems he’s not pulled up many trees other than getting Cardiff up (I think it was, but it was a while ago now).
Frankly in my mind we’re pushing it to get a new man in by January. If someone is to get to know the players a bit, then make a judgement on what needs changing, then actually go out and get someone in, ship a couple out. Well, I reckon a club probably wants to be underway with this around about now.
If there is no change by the start of January then the die is cast and come hell or high water AN will have to stick with it. Get someone new the day our fate is sealed. Unless by some astonishing turn of chance he gets us promoted in which case I never wrote this about changing manger right now!
OTBC
Stewart, I think there’s a certain consensus to change, the issue is who it should be. Klinsmann, Giggs, Neville work for me. Malky? Not sure. Alladyce? No way, watching that style of football would seriously test my commitment to the cause!
OTBC
Let’s think outside the box for a change, instead of picking up some Premiership has been for manager, why don’t we find a scouting network who can actually spot a player and a set of players who actually deliver the performances that reflect their salaries. Until those things change, either will long term results, regardless of who’s the manager.
Thank you all for your comments.
1. Rich. AN sorting this out would be the ideal situation. My concern is he can’t fall back on much when the going gets tough. I was a Malky fan before the controversy, but that probably rules him out now.
2.sixties I’m not convinced by Warburton. He been ato a big fish in a small pond. Not sure that translates to us.
3. Not sure we can afford Roy or of he’s the same man after England. Not one for the future either. He us better with smaller clubs though, but may make Hughton look exciting.
4.Stewart he did, but I think he lost his own belief and without that he’s going to struggle.
5. El Dingo, I said it myself n the piece, it is a little hypocritical, but is assuming the problem is Alex’s background/stature in the game being the crux of the problem, rather than his experience.
6. Derek See comments in 1. re: Malky.
7. I fear you’re right, we’ve rarely gone big and it does all feel inevitable, sadly.
8. Martin – thank you kindly
9. Stewart, very telling! There’s no magic formula!
10 & 11 I considered Klinsmann too. I agree on timing, if AN is still here by the end of January, then he should be for the rest of the season, much like Hughton should have been.
Craig (13): Good responses! Thanks
Of course players will only respect hugely successful footballers like Ferguson, Wenger, Mouriniho and Moyes whilst on the other hand falling over themselves to fail for less successful players like Bobby Moore, Bobby Carlton, Paul Ince and Shearer.
There is no link between footballing ability and management. Some great players have the skill to manage and some great managers were mediocre players. The respect claim is a myth. Good managers succeed and bad managers fail irrespective of their footballing history.
Don’t especially like any of the options discussed here. We need a manager who will be respected by the fans and will espouse what we like to think of as the Norwich way – which basically Alex Neil does. (Rules out Allardyce). Giggs seems to have the morals of an alley cat. Neville would bore us to death.
Hodgson seems the best of this bunch, but is not one for the future. Alex Neil lacks a little experience but undoubtedly has talent and is very much looking to build a future with the likes of Madison, Godfrey Thompson, Murphys etc. Is it too much to suggest that the board bring in Hodgson to advise but keep Neil? He would learn a lot which he could take forward.It would deflect some of the criticism and help to ease the atmosphere at Carrow Road. It was working with Phelan and Neil Adams until the board capitulated to fan pressure. I still think those two would have got us promoted. I think that in all this there are a few players who need to take a long hard look at themselves. As for some of the unused expensive players – were they really Neil’s first choices? He really wanted Afobe and didn’t get him…Assombolonga…Virgil Van Dyke etc. etc. Was Alex Pritchard really his first choice when he was shopping for out-and-out forwards (no disrespect to Pritchard who is a decent midfielder at this level, although expensive perhaps). It seems Neil is taking the criticism when there are others who need to share the blame. I can see why he feels frustrated to some extent.