Who do you want to replace Clarke?

[melonhead]

what a season.
unbridled joy compared to anything that has come since

[genome]

Can I just point out, after 19 games in the 2011/12 season = 9th with 27 points. After 19 games this season = 11th with 27 points.

IN for Brian to take over and repeat history

[RoyalJames101]

Yeah, those 46 points out of a possible 51 in the second half the season were a complete fluke.

Winning at Southampton, West Ham & Brighton was lucky too. We only scored 8 and let in 3 in those games

[Royal Rother]

I trust Paddy has now seen the error of his ways.

[Extended-Phenotype]

People looked at our team and football and felt that we shouldn't have been winners. For me though, rather than luck being the reason behind the anomaly, it was a togetherness that can make a team of individuals stronger than the sum of their parts.

I have no idea why a portion of our own supporters want to dismiss this achievement as fluke, even if they are arguing that McDermott lacked or lacks the tactical nous to take us further.

[Doolittle]

I wouldn't say that McDermott would be number one choice (as I have suggested before it should be Mick Mccarthy). But I do not get the negativity towards the appointment if he is installed as manager. Since Coppell left, McDermott has been far and away the best manager we had in terms of the Championship. Despite a pretty negative reaction when he was appointed compared to the others lets not forget where we are - marooned in mid table in the championship. So we have the chance og fetting someone in who knows the championship like the back of his hand, knows reading like the back of his hand and who has recent experience of leading a team into the Premier League. I'm relaxed about his premier League record simply because we aren't even close to a return currently despite having a far better squad than he took up.

This never go back stuff is nonsense. I think people should admit that they don't want Mcdermott back because they want the excitement of 'someone new' despite McDermott having a far better track record and understanding of reading. Look where that approach has got us.... I would say that Pardew Coppell and McDermott have been our most successful managers in the last 20 years and its no coincidence that two of them emerged from other roles at Reading and the third was given time to change the team and get to know reading. If you want the drama of someone new fair enough - but you have to accept its going to be a greater risk and more likely to fail compared to bringing in McDermott or someone who knows the Championship really well.

+1

Good post

Yep -sums it up well imo. When McD got sacked the talk was of getting promoted back to the PL playing a more appropriate style of football for staying there once promoted.

But it didn't pan out that way, and surely at this point someone with course and distance in the Champ would be a good option, rather than a punt on another manager who doesn't know the club, and may be no better a manager than McDermott ?

The last time we got promoted, his hands were tied by lack of budget, key players slowing or breaking down with age (Gorkss, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Roberts), and imposed buys (Pogrebnyak) that meant he didn't really have an option of playing anything other than 4-4-2. Given better support, he might do better next time, if we can make it back that is

[MmmMonsterMunch]

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Is this a serious comment? You've got to be joking sorry. The quality of English football has spectacularly nosedived over the past 3 seasons in all 4 tiers IMO.

When we won the league you had Saints, West Ham, Reading, a decent Birmingham side that had progressed into Europa just off the top of my head. All of those would wipe the floor with the shite getting served up each week at present.

The fact that Leicester City are top after almost half a season says it all. I've never known English football to be as weak as it is right now so I couldn't disagree more with this comment.

Does it make it more exciting that anyone beats anyone? Perhaps
Does it mean the depth or quality is there? Absolutely not.

Football has eaten itself.

[Vision]

He was lucky to get the team promoted, he failed when they got up, he failed at Leeds - Like the bloke but not a winner - too soft for our lot now. My choice would be Stubbs rather than Pearson who is just scary!! Berghamp would transform the club long term but we wouldn't give him the time

How exactly was he lucky to get promoted?

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Based on what?

[Hoop Blah]

The last time we got promoted, his hands were tied by lack of budget, key players slowing or breaking down with age (Gorkss, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Roberts), and imposed buys (Pogrebnyak) that meant he didn't really have an option of playing anything other than 4-4-2. Given better support, he might do better next time, if we can make it back that is

I agreed with most of the rest, but this bit isn't really true (apart from perhaps the imposed buys).

Our wage bill was obviously one of the smallest, but it was also just £1m behind that of Southampton, who finished 14th and £3m behind Swansea's who finished 9th. We also bought in McCleary, Gunter, Mariappa, Pogrebnyak and Guthrie for reasonable money for that time.

He certainly wasn't restricted to playing 4-4-2 by his squad, more by his decisions.

That period of the clubs history was a hiding to nothing for managers though, so the blame isn't just on McDermott for the failure that season, but he was definitely a major factor.

[TBM]

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Is this a serious comment? You've got to be joking sorry. The quality of English football has spectacularly nosedived over the past 3 seasons in all 4 tiers IMO.

When we won the league you had Saints, West Ham, Reading, a decent Birmingham side that had progressed into Europa just off the top of my head. All of those would wipe the floor with the shite getting served up each week at present.

The fact that Leicester City are top after almost half a season says it all. I've never known English football to be as weak as it is right now so I couldn't disagree more with this comment.

Does it make it more exciting that anyone beats anyone? Perhaps
Does it mean the depth or quality is there? Absolutely not.

Football has eaten itself.

Its all relevant though...

This season you've got Middlesborough, Brighton, Hull, Birmingham, Derby, Burnley, QPR, Brentford, Sheff Wed, Cardiff - all teams who are either better or about the same as us. The season we won the league the competition was poor in comparison.

When i say it wasn't as "strong" i meant in terms of teams who could challenge for top spot

[MmmMonsterMunch]

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Is this a serious comment? You've got to be joking sorry. The quality of English football has spectacularly nosedived over the past 3 seasons in all 4 tiers IMO.

When we won the league you had Saints, West Ham, Reading, a decent Birmingham side that had progressed into Europa just off the top of my head. All of those would wipe the floor with the shite getting served up each week at present.

The fact that Leicester City are top after almost half a season says it all. I've never known English football to be as weak as it is right now so I couldn't disagree more with this comment.

Does it make it more exciting that anyone beats anyone? Perhaps
Does it mean the depth or quality is there? Absolutely not.

Football has eaten itself.

Its all relevant though...

This season you've got Middlesborough, Brighton, Hull, Birmingham, Derby, Burnley, QPR, Brentford, Sheff Wed, Cardiff - all teams who are either better or about the same as us. The season we won the league the competition was poor in comparison.

When i say it wasn't as "strong" i meant in terms of teams who could challenge for top spot

So basically everyone is as shite as each other?

I'd agree with that yes.

[TBM]

I would say there are far better players in the Championship, now, then there were 3/4 years ago...

[Dr_Hfuhruhurr]

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Both West Ham and Southampton who we finished above that season are both still in the Premiership.
In fact they both rather bossed that league for some time - to finish above them is quite an achievement.
I've heard 'we were lucky' quite a lot of times about that season, in particular about the Away game at Southampton, but we did an absolute number on them that day - the most professional performance in recent memory with the possible exception of the Cardiff Play Off Semi. Both the same manager, BTW.

I'm by no means saying get him back - I think there has been plenty of water under that bridge since, but, par example, I have a couple of mates who support Leeds and they want him back as well! (Despite their massive drubbing to Sheff Wed under his command) I feel he deserves a lot more respect than he gets.

[Uke]

3 votes for Di Canio? , they walk amomg us guys, be worried. be very worried

Now up to 7 votes

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Just to make it clear, I didn't say it was just luck. i said it was freak occurrence. A whole lot of things went right simultaneously. He was the right man to take advantage of that, and I'm not denigrating his achievement, and certainly not him as a man.

I just think the 106 was much more attributable to Coppell than promotion under McD can be said to be all his own work. I also think it unlikely the the same set of circumstances could be repeated.

Even then, I'd rather finish mid table with a manager who is committed and cares and a squad of home grown players then get promoted and get spanked every week on Sunday evening by a bunch of prima donnas.

[TBM]

The league wasn't as strong as it is now tbf

Both West Ham and Southampton who we finished above that season are both still in the Premiership.
In fact they both rather bossed that league for some time - to finish above them is quite an achievement.
I've heard 'we were lucky' quite a lot of times about that season, in particular about the Away game at Southampton, but we did an absolute number on them that day - the most professional performance in recent memory with the possible exception of the Cardiff Play Off Semi. Both the same manager, BTW.

I'm by no means saying get him back - I think there has been plenty of water under that bridge since, but, par example, I have a couple of mates who support Leeds and they want him back as well! (Despite their massive drubbing to Sheff Wed under his command) I feel he deserves a lot more respect than he gets.

I'm not saying it wasn't an achievement but up until Roberts came in we weren't exactly setting the league alight,

And yes the fact that Southampton and West Ham are still in the Prem (and doing well) and we're not, says it all

[genome]

While we're reminiscing about the 2011/12 season, half-time in the concourse at West Ham away was the most fun I've ever had a football match.

[Dr_Hfuhruhurr]

I just think the 106 was much more attributable to Coppell than promotion under McD can be said to be all his own work. I also think it unlikely the the same set of circumstances could be repeated.
.

I even disagree with this.
When McDermott won the league he beat a Southampton side that had been League 1s biggest spenders and had amassed a team of future England (and Liverpool!) players. That was also the year that West Ham were rumoured to go bankrupt if they didnt get promoted as Allardyce had considerably overspent. Our strategy at the time from the DOF was to rely on Roberts, and McDermott ran with it and beat them both - I attribute that to McDermott tbf. You may say that we got onto a roll we never got off, but included in that roll were away wins against both Allardyce and Adkins (who, I repeat, had a number done on him by McDermott but still ended up replacing him, somehow. LOL) Im sorry, but the sort of thinking that McDermott got lucky is what led to us replacing him with the man he beat to the title and the two years of following mediocrity.

Im not going to deride the 106 year in any form - but its a similar situation that got going much earlier than McDermott simply because this was our DOFs and SJMs golden era behind the scenes. Id also like to point out what Pardew did for that squad. I do sometimes wonder if the fact that we were fortunate enough to have a 106 year has played against McDermotts achievement of winning the league.

[RoyalinBracknell]

I just think the 106 was much more attributable to Coppell than promotion under McD can be said to be all his own work. I also think it unlikely the the same set of circumstances could be repeated.
.

I'd actually disagree with that (not that I want to start a Coppell vs McDermott debate and I certainly don't want to diminish what Coppell achieved, which was stunning). I think though the 106 side was easily the best squad in the division whereas in 2012 I think McDermott was the major factor in getting that squad to win games. I definitely think more managers would have won the league convince you with the 2006 side than would have managed to win the league in 2012.

I've enjoyed reading the last few pages of this thread which have featured some high-quality posts. I get the sense several people have started to warm more to the idea of McDermott coming back - even if it doesn't happen, I hope it might at least lead to a newfound respect/appreciation for what he achieved here.

I'd appoint McDermott personally. As SCAIG said, if he could find something similar to the early 2010 team that would be fantastic - that really was a great side to watch. He's got an excellent record at this level, a closeness to the club/lots of fans, and the one time he got decent money to fill holes he had us promoted within three months. I think it might help re-create a bit of the atmosphere/bond between the club and supporters - and we might actually come from behind and pick up points within the last 10 minutes!

[10539.4 Miles Away]

I just think the 106 was much more attributable to Coppell than promotion under McD can be said to be all his own work. I also think it unlikely the the same set of circumstances could be repeated.
.

I even disagree with this.
When McDermott won the league he beat a Southampton side that had been League 1s biggest spenders and had amassed a team of future England (and Liverpool!) players. That was also the year that West Ham were rumoured to go bankrupt if they didnt get promoted as Allardyce had considerably overspent. Our strategy at the time from the DOF was to rely on Roberts, and McDermott ran with it and beat them both - I attribute that to McDermott tbf. You may say that we got onto a roll we never got off, but included in that roll were away wins against both Allardyce and Adkins (who, I repeat, had a number done on him by McDermott but still ended up replacing him, somehow. LOL) Im sorry, but the sort of thinking that McDermott got lucky is what led to us replacing him with the man he beat to the title and the two years of following mediocrity.

Im not going to deride the 106 year in any form - but its a similar situation that got going much earlier than McDermott simply because this was our DOFs and SJMs golden era behind the scenes. Id also like to point out what Pardew did for that squad. I do sometimes wonder if the fact that we were fortunate enough to have a 106 year has played against McDermotts achievement of winning the league.

Great post, fully agree with all of this especially the last sentence. There is no way that McD/the team got lucky, that was a brilliantly managed run to the title hence him winning LMA manager of the year.