Steve McClaren

[Gallowgate Toon]

To be fair, his Boro days were a long time ago. It might be the case that he's learnt from his experiences and has changed his outlook. Either way, he really shouldn't be our first choice.

 

Garde  :'(

[Teasy]

Seems almost universal agreement on here that it should never have come to this.  That doesn't mean we all have to agree that he has his sides play shit Football or that he's as bad as Pardew.  If Derby fans say otherwise I'll assume they know better than me until I see for myself.

[oldtype]

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

What opportunity? I never thought there was even the slightest chance of Ashley turning over a new leaf and that's why I'm not particularly disappointed with the appointment of McClaren.

 

As far as mediocre and uninspiring English managers who should be just good enough to keep us in the league go, he's pretty decent.

[Dinho lad]

Reading that Q&A of his time at Twente has certainly raised my concern a bit.

 

It seems that his success had more to do with the club's foundation than his managerial abilities. 

[lovejoy]

Derby had the best squad in the Championship and he should have won that league by a mile.  The man is a smarmy wimp and an Alan Pardew clone.  Been sacked from every club bar Middlesborough because he took over the England job and f***ed that up.  At Boro he had some really good players, Hasslebank Juhninio (can't spell it) Southgate and others. He was s*** at Forest and the Dutch league which he won is a bit like the SPL with only 2 or 3 teams with any chance.

 

Not sure Derby had the best squad in the championship

 

A damn sight better than a few of the sides who finished above them though.

 

The bit about the Dutch league is total bollocks mind

[EthiGeordie]

 

 

Most Boro fans I know couldn't wait to see the back of him.

 

I work there so I've been asking around for a few months, general consensus is he was the best they've had and going to the match was enjoyable.

 

I sound like I'm backing this appointment in here, I'm not, but he'll get the benefit of the doubt from me, he's done enough to warrant that imo.

 

They were on the pitch throwing season tickets at him months before he left.

 

Can't believe you're back on board with a bloke who's just had the bullet from Derby and Forest. I certainly won't be back while he's here.

 

I must be speaking to different people, either that or they're lying?

 

Define back on board, I won't be setting foot in SJP until Ashley leaves. I'll be watching the games again, is that back on board?

 

Glad to hear it.

 

Hindsight perhaps? Rose tinted view because of the cup?

 

He was extremely unpopular by the end, mainly for his horribly negative football.

 

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/onthisboroday-2006-irate-boro-fan-8573275

 

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/bernie-slaven-steve-mcclaren-wasnt-6914404

 

On the second link pic is that our former GK coach under Hughton?

[mozy]

Derby had the best squad in the Championship and he should have won that league by a mile.  The man is a smarmy wimp and an Alan Pardew clone.  Been sacked from every club bar Middlesborough because he took over the England job and f***ed that up.  At Boro he had some really good players, Hasslebank Juhninio (can't spell it) Southgate and others. He was s*** at Forest and the Dutch league which he won is a bit like the SPL with only 2 or 3 teams with any chance.

 

Not sure Derby had the best squad in the championship

 

A damn sight better than a few of the sides who finished above them though.

 

The bit about the Dutch league is total bollocks mind

 

The whole post is complete rubbish really.

[Unbelievable]

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

What opportunity? I never thought there was even the slightest chance of Ashley turning over a new leaf and that's why I'm not particularly disappointed with the appointment of McClaren.

 

As far as mediocre and uninspiring English managers who should be just good enough to keep us in the league go, he's pretty decent.

 

Well I wasn't exactly confident it would happen, but there is no denying that it was/is an opportunity to do so if he was so inclined. He will never get a better chance in any case. If he doesn't do it now he never will.

[STM]

I'm not going to make it personal with McClaren. He always seems a decent bloke to me. I will also at least give him a chance to show what he can do.

 

Sadly the bigger picture tells us that it's an opportunity missed or shall I say avoided since its a deliberate attempt by Mike Ashley and Co to keep things safe (by probably being in a relegation battle for half a season).

 

It doesn't change anything, Ashley Out etc but I won't be jumping on McClaren until he starts making enough mistakes to warrant it.

 

I suspect we will finish midtable, perhaps top half. To most of St James Park that will be a successful season. Apathy reigns.

[Dr Venkman]

 

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

Can I continue to give the club pelters but watch the games and hope we win?

[Chapo]

 

 

Most Boro fans I know couldn't wait to see the back of him.

 

I work there so I've been asking around for a few months, general consensus is he was the best they've had and going to the match was enjoyable.

 

I sound like I'm backing this appointment in here, I'm not, but he'll get the benefit of the doubt from me, he's done enough to warrant that imo.

 

They were on the pitch throwing season tickets at him months before he left.

 

Can't believe you're back on board with a bloke who's just had the bullet from Derby and Forest. I certainly won't be back while he's here.

 

I must be speaking to different people, either that or they're lying?

 

Define back on board, I won't be setting foot in SJP until Ashley leaves. I'll be watching the games again, is that back on board?

 

Glad to hear it.

 

Hindsight perhaps? Rose tinted view because of the cup?

 

He was extremely unpopular by the end, mainly for his horribly negative football.

 

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/onthisboroday-2006-irate-boro-fan-8573275

 

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/bernie-slaven-steve-mcclaren-wasnt-6914404

 

On the second link pic is that our former GK coach under Hughton?

 

Yup, Paul Barron

[Unbelievable]

 

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

Can I continue to give the club pelters but watch the games and hope we win?

 

You can do whatever you want mate. I will probably still watch the games too and hope we win, as I did for the West Ham game despite being entirely fed up with the club. As others have said though, the majority of fans will probably consider McClaren the very least the club could have done to appease them. This appointment will likely not cause the outrage it absolutely deserves, but will not get us anywhere either. Guess who wins again.

[oldtype]

 

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

Can I continue to give the club pelters but watch the games and hope we win?

 

You can do whatever you want mate. I will probably still watch the games too and hope we win, as I did for the West Ham game despite being entirely fed up with the club. As others have said though, the majority of fans will probably consider McClaren the very least the club could have done to appease them. This appointment will likely not cause the outrage it absolutely deserves, but will not get us anywhere either. Guess who wins again.

 

Meh, I've fully filled my quota of outrage. No appointment would have appeased me in any case.

 

As for the people who will be appeased by this, they were probably hopeless to begin with.

 

Also, look on the bright side. We may still get Carver!

[TRon]

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

From a neutral point of view, giving the job to an unknown quantity like Vieira would have looked even more risky, if a lot more exciting. I just don't think McClaren is as badly regarded in the rest of the country as he is here. Most people will think "Ex-England boss with a good reputation". I must admit I never really liked the bloke but I think he can coach far better than Pardew or Carver.

[DJ_NUFC]

It's understandable trying to rationalise this seemingly imminent appointment by looking at his CV and the opinions of fans from his previous clubs and saying he will get a fair crack of the whip if appointed, but the fact remains that it should never have come to this. Which other club this size whose owner has just come out two weeks ago to claim he wants the club to win something or qualify for Champions League football would even give 2015 Steve McClaren a second look, let alone crawl back to him after being rejected twice in the past six months?

 

Yes, he is definitely better than John Carver (who isn't even a manager) and yes, he is probably even slightly better than Pardew, but this is another opportunity (same as in January) for Mike Ashley to wipe the slate clean and start afresh by making an ambitious appointment and giving that man some decent backing. There are plenty of good candidates, young up and coming managers with decent pedigree available and seemingly interested. Appointing Steve McClaren under these circumstances is a p*ss take, especially with the three stooges apparently remaining in place too. If this happens, the club deserve pelters, not "meh, could have been worse, I will give it a chance and see what happens". It's as clear a sign as you could have wished that nothing will change under this ownership until the fans collectively force it to happen.

 

From a neutral point of view, giving the job to an unknown quantity like Vieira would have looked even more risky, if a lot more exciting. I just don't think McClaren is as badly regarded in the rest of the country as he is here. Most people will think "Ex-England boss with a good reputation". I must admit I never really liked the bloke but I think he can coach far better than Pardew or Carver.

 

Not sure if I agree, though I can see what you mean about neutrals not seeing it as such a bad appointment. There are far better, experienced coaches and managers available from the continent who could've been taken on merit and not dismissed as rookies.

[Unbelievable]

Exactly. I didn't want Vieira either, although I admit he would have been more exciting. I wanted a Garde, De Boer, Gourvennec type of appointment. Someone young and ambitious and proven to an extent, ready to make the step up to a bigger league. The sort of appointment the likes of Spurs or Southampton would have done.

[oldtype]

Exactly. I didn't want Vieira either, although I admit he would have been more exciting. I wanted a Garde, De Boer, Gourvennec type of appointment. Someone young and ambitious and proven to an extent, ready to make the step up to a bigger league. The sort of appointment the likes of Spurs or Southampton would have done.

 

It's just hard for me to understand how you had any semblance of hope about this appointment.

[Unbelievable]

Exactly. I didn't want Vieira either, although I admit he would have been more exciting. I wanted a Garde, De Boer, Gourvennec type of appointment. Someone young and ambitious and proven to an extent, ready to make the step up to a bigger league. The sort of appointment the likes of Spurs or Southampton would have done.

 

It's just hard for me to understand how you had any semblance of hope about this appointment.

 

Hope yes, expectation no. There is a difference.

[Shush]

He did so fantastically well with Derby that they sacked him.

 

It usually transpires that a lot of the managers who come up from the Championship aren't good enough for the Premier League. Our fans are busy trying to convince themselves that one who couldn't even manage the play-offs is good enough for Newcastle United. Christ.

 

You liked Chris Hughton didn't you? He failed to get Birmingham promoted (before they went to shit), Rodgers failed to get Reading promoted....pretty sure there'll be other examples.

 

I'm sure there's enough reasons to oppose his appointment but I think this is a poor reason.

 

Why don't all Premier League clubs do their managerial shopping amongst the Championship mid-table then?

 

You can't hire a manager just sacked by a Championship side and claim it's anything other than outrageous negligence, again. Would Everton, Spurs, Southampton hire this mug? Why aren't West Ham absolutely battering his door down?

 

Like Pardew, he is seriously damaged goods, with good reason.

 

Excellent post this. I read it earlier while at work but didn't get a chance to post until now.

 

I've had a few moments of trying to talk myself in to accepting McClaren, only because I know it's coming and it's just another false dawn to expect anything else. I tried looking at his record managing, taking in the views of Derby fans etc. but ultimately, the nail is hit firmly on the head in this post.

 

As soon as you start to justify going for a recently sacked Championship manager for a club that wants to win something in the Premiership, you know your having a laugh really. All of that Ashley interview is already looking a joke, I'm sure money will be spent, it has to be spent to ensure safety next year. It's clear as it ever was that we have no intention to win anything, if we did we would be pulling out all the stops to have the best manager possible. Making silly offers for Klopp etc. just to see if we can pull off a gaining a magic ingredient to improve our club and push up the table and win a cup.

 

McClaren is Pardew II. Nicer bloke, but still a limited manager who will accept a weak platform and the low ambition of staying up at SJP just to be managing in the Premiership again. Anyone with a shred of self belief and real ability at the top level would just laugh at us with what we must be offering right now. All words, no substance.

[TRon]

Exactly. I didn't want Vieira either, although I admit he would have been more exciting. I wanted a Garde, De Boer, Gourvennec type of appointment. Someone young and ambitious and proven to an extent, ready to make the step up to a bigger league. The sort of appointment the likes of Spurs or Southampton would have done.

 

Without a doubt that is the direction we should have taken, but the hierarchy has a fetish for English managers and of those McClaren's not the worst. Far better than getting a Pulis or Allardyce inflicted on us. Not that it will make much difference without serious money being spent on the squad. That's where Ashley's lying will next be put to the test.

[Wallace]

He bowed to fan pressure at Twente and resigned the second time round didn't he?  At least we know if it all goes to s*** and people get on his back he won't cling on like Pardew.

 

He likes a pay off though and Ashley doesn't like paying managers off so if it wasn't working out, he would probably continue in an unhappy unrelationship like Pardew did.

 

[Teasy]

Did Twente pay him off when he resigned?

[Unbelievable]

Did Twente pay him off when he resigned?

 

[Teasy]

What?, my point is he can't be that desperate for pay offs if he was prepared to resign which obviously meant no pay off..

[Shearergol]

Brian Laws was sacked by Sheff Weds (League 1) and appointed by Burnley (Premiership). That went well too ;-)