Echo Article on Reed

[John B]

The management structure itself is not the issue. FWIW I think this continental structure makes a lot of sense. What is the issue is which managers can work with it. This structure appears to have cost us a manager most people thought was likely to get us promoted this year.

I can't see MoN or KK working with this structure. Maybe MoN was approached but decided he wasn't interested because of this structure. We'll never know.

 

Lets get out of League 1 before we introduce fancy new systems surely money should be spent on the First Team

 

Not on Les Reed etc time for that later

[ART]

I'm still sticking to my assumption that Rupert Lowe is being used in some advisory capacity in this great big messy stew. It was further strengthened when I read at the weekend that Marcus used to play hockey. Of course, we all know that Lowe's appearance would have rocked the boat but somewhere in this all is that miserable pig farmer from Gloucester. Lowe was also earlier involved in Banking and still has a lot of links in business with Banking.

[Gemmel]

I'm still sticking to my assumption that Rupert Lowe is being used in some advisory capacity in this great big messy stew. It was further strengthened when I read at the weekend that Marcus used to play hockey. Of course, we all know that Lowe's appearance would have rocked the boat but somewhere in this all is that miserable pig farmer from Gloucester. Lowe was also earlier involved in Banking and still has a lot of links in business with Banking.

 

Fooook me the forum was running slow enough as it was...... You have just sent it into meltdown.

 

Oh and absolute 100% certifed b0ll0cks

[ART]

And where does Sir Clive Woodward fit into this big jigsaw now that Marcus is not longer about.

[Chez]

Where does it say that Reed was interfering in the managers role? Seems a lot of people are reading this article with their own preconceived ideas.

 

I states that Reed will be on a par in terms of organisation structure as the manager. Does that mean his vote carries the same weight as the managers when it comes to buying players? if it does and he has voted against him on several player valuationss the manager may feel he is `interfering' with his role. Whether that happened with Pardew is pure speculation.

 

Lowe used this transfer group structure and many other clubs do as well, but is it ever sucessful?

[shurlock]

Exactly,

Both systems have merrits and there are many clubs on both sides that can be looked at to see each system working. Man U and Arsenal do it more the traditional way and let the manager have full control. Barcalona, Real Madrid and possibly Chelsea do it more the other way and all are thought of in the same way as Man U and Arsenal.

 

Forcing the likes of Wenger or Ferguson to work along side a DoF would be a disaster but get the right people in the right places and things will quickly turn around if there is the correct support from above. NC needs to get the right people in place and then needs to sit back and let them do there job. Interfearing from him could damage any system that we try and put into place.

 

I think Clive Woodward could have been excelent as a DoF in the right club as his skills are all about finding the right people to do the right jobs and tieing them all together. He doesnt have to know how to defend set pieces or take a penalty but he would have to find the right people that do know and put them in the right place.

 

Les Reed does know these answers and while he has not proved he is any good at implimenting them in a live game he does have a track record of producing and coaching players to do these things at all levels. So he could provide the foundations for a 1st class manager to finish off resulting in a decent future.

 

It could also all turn to crap but there is not much we can do about it so IMO we need to buy into what the club is trying to do and help in any way we can.

 

Will be interested to know what happens when either Ferguson or Wenger leaves: such a personality cult may have built up at those clubs that they'll suffer some decline. Just look at Forest after Clough. Their dominance is so widespread and unwavering that succession becomes a problem. By contrast, it is interesting that anybody who has come and gone at Chelski has done a relatively good job e.g. Grant. Transitions seem much smoother under an integrated structure. But as somebody as pointed out, you need to get the right personalities for it to work - otherwise the solution can be worse than the problem it is seeking to address.

[shurlock]

The management structure itself is not the issue. FWIW I think this continental structure makes a lot of sense. What is the issue is which managers can work with it.

 

Nutshell

[Chez]

I had not noticed Reed's time at Fulham. Interesting that the wise old bird Hodgson thought Reed was superfluous.

 

I never ever understood why you need a `buffer' between the chairman and the manager.

[eesti matty]

I'm still sticking to my assumption that Rupert Lowe is being used in some advisory capacity in this great big messy stew. It was further strengthened when I read at the weekend that Marcus used to play hockey. Of course, we all know that Lowe's appearance would have rocked the boat but somewhere in this all is that miserable pig farmer from Gloucester. Lowe was also earlier involved in Banking and still has a lot of links in business with Banking.

 

I love your conspiracy theories! It's just a pity that you don't use these boards as much as you used to.

[SuperMikey]

Real Madrid?

 

Not worked for them much recently though, has it?

[Chez]

Not worked for them much recently though, has it?

 

and not the cheapet option either seeing as you have to employ coaches on three year deals and then pay them up in full after 12 months when you give them the tin tack. Maybe that's why the ticket tax has been introduced - to fund this new management structure!

[Saint_clark]

Lets get out of League 1 before we introduce fancy new systems surely money should be spent on the First Team

 

Not on Les Reed etc time for that later

 

Good idea.

So we get to the Prem, THEN introduce this system and probably get relegated while the whole club adjusts.

I'd rather have 2 years of upheaval and then continued success.

[Topcat]

Lowe used this transfer group structure and many other clubs do as well, but is it ever sucessful?

 

Well under Lowe it got us relegated twice and placed in administration. So I guess that was not successful?

[aintforever]

I'm not against the Director of Football thing in principle, but if we do somehow manage to land Martin O'Neil as manager does it really make sense to have Charlton's worst ever manager and some ex-banker telling him which players to sign? Madness.

 

It would be like hiring Lewis Hamilton to drive your car and putting your girlfriend in charge of changing gear.

[brmbrm]

"...he will also be on a level footing with the new man....". Can people please enlgihten me on what special qualtites LR will briong to this job, and what are the highlights on his c.v. that suggest he is the best person for it? Off you go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

........ Thanks. Thought so.

 

And as for the "continental" set-up, not problem if its a team-effort, but this doesn't sound a bit like that. Sound like trying to fit in a compliant malleable yes-man willing to take it up the asre whenever told.

[John B]

Good idea.

So we get to the Prem, THEN introduce this system and probably get relegated while the whole club adjusts.

I'd rather have 2 years of upheaval and then continued success.

 

You dont appear to be the cleverest cookie in the class do you

 

 

If we dont get out of League 1 this season we will probably will lose most of the squad.

 

 

Les Reed is not going to guarantee us success in the Premier League I doubt whether the country's best young footballers want to come to a League 1 side

[Flyer]

QPR tried it but the DOF was just a buffer so Flavio could basically tell the DOF to tell the manager who to pick. I think it will be a similar situation with Cortese.

 

Good British managers wont stand for it. Even if one takes the job, he wont see out the season with the interference.

 

The telling sign will be if Saints appoint a manager or a 1st team coach. I think theyre screwed if its a coach and it will go tits up unless its a foreigner used to working that system.

[Topcat]

Les Reed is not going to guarantee us success in the Premier League I doubt whether the country's best young footballers want to come to a League 1 side

 

The manner and timing of Pardew's removal will have already damaged our ability to attract players. Les Reed is now damaged goods. It will take a new manager and a team up in the automatic promotion slots to restore the image but Reed and Cortese are now labelled as possible trouble to any people considering coming in as players.

[andybeal]

The telling sign will be if Saints appoint a manager or a 1st team coach. I think theyre screwed if its a coach and it will go tits up unless its a foreigner used to working that system.

 

I always was suspicious when it was clear from day 1 that Pardew was appointed as 'First Team Manager' - sounds to me like another saying for 1st Team Coach

[CB Fry]

Can I be first to coin the name Nicolowe Cortese please?

 

 

 

If this is the structure the Chief Exec wants, then it may work, it may not work, but it this is precisely the blueprint Lowe had for the club, which some people need to remember before they viciously defend it because now it's Cortese's idea and therefore a masterstroke.

 

 

 

For what it's worth I think, in theory it is pretty sound, and does in theory protect against the destabalising nature of managers coming and going and their assistants coming and going.

 

The problem is that in practice, the presence of this kind of additional coaching team contributes to instability just by being there, and the usual muddying of who does what and who is responsible for what. It's overengineering to minimise a future problem, but at the same time creating a load of present problems anyway.

 

When it comes to it, you're better off just accepting that managers come and go. Building a structure so in the event that is just unnessessary complexity.

 

 

And of course you can have an academy director, fine, and the team manager can have little input into the academy, but that can only be through the choice of the first team manager. The academy director is not at the same level as the first team manager.

 

 

I sincerely hope we don't go down this route.

[Thedelldays]

CB Fry...because lowe had this blueprint...does not mean it is wrong

 

lowe was poor at implimentation....lets wait and see yeah..?

[ALWAYS_SFC]

A yes man it is then....

[Thedelldays]

I do laugh at these...in England we are such staunch traditionalists...then we wonder why the national team cant function against our fellow europeans..

 

we fail time and time again to change at all levels...complain that we cant change and then kick off when change comes..

 

we complain when 442 is played, saying its outdated then complain if someone has the nerve to try something new..

 

I could not give a monkeys fart if MoN came in, named as euro head coach for saints FC...if that ultimately meant he was picking the first team...put it to the chairman what players he wants...open minded to other player suggestions...then great

[CB Fry]

CB Fry...because lowe had this blueprint...does not mean it is wrong

 

lowe was poor at implimentation....lets wait and see yeah..?

 

 

Fair enough TDD, I did say I understand the theory.

 

But it is proven not to work more often than proved to work - Spurs being a very good example when Harry came in on the understanding that the continental system was junked and he was undisputed top man. Billy Davies is banging his head against a wall at Forest as we speak.

 

It's hard to think of really successful systems.

 

If we have the cash to get a top draw manager, why don't we just do that. Just the very presence of the system is a problem perception wise from the off. Don't give the commentators, the gossips, and us the excuse to blame everything on 'the system'.

 

Pick a manager, back him and let him stand or fall. Most managers in this country just want that and are happy to take it on their shoulders.

[CB Fry]

I do laugh at these...in England we are such staunch traditionalists...then we wonder why the national team cant function against our fellow europeans..

 

we fail time and time again to change at all levels...complain that we cant change and then kick off when change comes..

 

we complain when 442 is played, saying its outdated then complain if someone has the nerve to try something new..

 

I could not give a monkeys fart if MoN came in, named as euro head coach for saints FC...if that ultimately meant he was picking the first team...put it to the chairman what players he wants...open minded to other player suggestions...then great

 

 

I'd rather be remembered for winning the league than revolutionising the coaching/administration systems of british football.

[Thedelldays]

Fair enough TDD, I did say I understand the theory.

 

But it is proven not to work more often than proved to work - Spurs being a very good example when Harry came in on the understanding that the continental system was junked and he was undisputed top man. Billy Davies is banging his head against a wall at Forest as we speak.

 

It's hard to think of really successful systems.

 

If we have the cash to get a top draw manager, why don't we just do that. Just the very presence of the system is a problem perception wise from the off. Don't give the commentators, the gossips, and us the excuse to blame everything on 'the system'.

 

Pick a manager, back him and let him stand or fall. Most managers in this country just want that and are happy to take it on their shoulders.

 

true with arry and billy

but look at them as personalities....their way or no way..you dont appoint those types and then not let them do it their way.(arry when here)

does not mean all manager would feel that way

 

this way at saints. I can only assume the role would be crystal as to what it is............

 

chelsea won the league last year...they have frank arnesen and bruce buck involved all over the place....stupid analogy I know but it works

[Thedelldays]

I'd rather be remembered for winning the league than revolutionising the coaching/administration systems of british football.

 

true....however, I do wonder if jan and co had millions to spend and we put teams away at the start of the that season...how it would have turned out..???

 

we will never know

[derry]

A lot of people on here seem to think that it was Reed interfering with Pardew's responsibilities, if anything it was the other way round. Pardew was old fashioned and didn't buy into the technology etc available to the club yet he did try and dictate how the development teams should play. It sounds like this is a much more valid reason especially as there have been reports that some of the development employees threatened resignation and cited their inability to work with Pardew's interference.

 

It seems that the structure put in place feeds through Cortese and neither Reed's or the Manager's departments are connected except through the higher authority. As there is a stated ambition to play an attractive brand of football it is this which will connect the clubs development side and first team together so that the style is all important and initially the manager will promote that style but should he go there will be no change in emphasis as another will be brought in to carry this on. There will no longer be the ability of each manager to introduce a new style and so have to have a big turnover of players to accommodate the change. What Cortese is trying to do is perpetuate a style if necessary lose a manager but not have to change the squad.

Edited 7 September, 2010 by derry

[JRM]

A lot of people on here seem to think that it was Reed interfering with Pardew's responsibilities, if anything it was the other way round. Pardew was old fashioned and didn't buy into the technology etc available to the club yet he did try and dictate how the development teams should play. It sounds like this is a much more valid reason especially as there have been reports that some of the development employees threatened resignation and cited their inability to work with Pardew's interference.

 

It seems that the structure put in place feeds through Cortese and neither Reed's or the Manager's departments are connected except through the higher authority. As there is a stated ambition to play an attractive brand of football it is this which will connect the clubs development side and first team together so that the style is all important and initially the manager will promote that style but should he go there will be no change in emphasis as another will be brought in to carry this on. There will no longer be the ability of each manager to introduce a new style and so have to have a big turnover of players to accommodate the change. What Cortese is trying to do is perpetuate a style if necessary lose a manager but not have to change the squad.

 

 

Nope, I disagree. How about Reed being on the transfer committee deciding on which players we buy?

 

and the manager of the club certainly should be allowed input on the reserves and u18s, especially if he is considering playing some of them in forthcoming 1st team matches

[jam]

A lot of people on here seem to think that it was Reed interfering with Pardew's responsibilities, if anything it was the other way round. Pardew was old fashioned and didn't buy into the technology etc available to the club yet he did try and dictate how the development teams should play. It sounds like this is a much more valid reason especially as there have been reports that some of the development employees threatened resignation and cited their inability to work with Pardew's interference.

 

It seems that the structure put in place feeds through Cortese and neither Reed's or the Manager's departments are connected except through the higher authority. As there is a stated ambition to play an attractive brand of football it is this which will connect the clubs development side and first team together so that the style is all important and initially the manager will promote that style but should he go there will be no change in emphasis as another will be brought in to carry this on. There will no longer be the ability of each manager to introduce a new style and so have to have a big turnover of players to accommodate the change. What Cortese is trying to do is perpetuate a style if necessary lose a manager but not have to change the squad.

 

I've seen the reports about coaching staff resigning, citing difficulties working with Pardew but the idea of him (a) not buying into the available technology and (b) interfering with development employees work appear new. Where does this come from?

 

(apologies if it is already on one of the threads somewhere...)

[70's Mike]

so they have equal authority and i understand what a first team manager is responsible for and how that can be measured

but what about Reed

[ART]

It gets worse, and there is only one thing certain. With Marcus gone, and events since his sad passing, we are doomed to fail. I find myself wishing we'd never been saved by Marcus's millions, that we'd gone on to rise out of the ashes but as a football club, playing football. Being held to ransom in the way we now are is sickening. and I don't have any love for the game played by boardroom egos. Have we not learned from the past 5 years, do we honestly have to go through it all again and again.

[jam]

true with arry and billy

but look at them as personalities....their way or no way..you dont appoint those types and then not let them do it their way.(arry when here)

does not mean all manager would feel that way

 

this way at saints. I can only assume the role would be crystal as to what it is............

 

chelsea won the league last year...they have frank arnesen and bruce buck involved all over the place....stupid analogy I know but it works

 

I think it depends on the people involved and how they do the roles. As you say, with Harry and Billy then you're on a hiding to nothing. Something that made involving SCW here worse was that Harry and a few of the other coaches (Cole, Bassett) were never going to buy into it, so things looked even more out of place.

 

Interesting discussion about it on Five Live last night where Stoke and Reading (under Coppell) were cited as examples of a DoF type system working. I've heard it suggested that David Dein had that kind of role when he was at Arsenal.

 

Funny thing I notice however is that some on here (and elements of the media) are super quick to point out the Cortese has no experience of football. Cortese then recruits someone who apparently has some standing within FA coaching circles to advise him and some criticise him for that as well...

[Windmill Arm 2]

Of course all this is tru because the Echo said so.........ffs

[Thedelldays]

Nope, I disagree. How about Reed being on the transfer committee deciding on which players we buy?

 

and the manager of the club certainly should be allowed input on the reserves and u18s, especially if he is considering playing some of them in forthcoming 1st team matches

 

so what..?

im sure that happens at many clubs...expecially when the man running the show has no experience in football...

 

how do we know what reed votes on..if at all..?

[John Smith]

I think the Exeter comparrison wasa good one. However, their system has been in place longer than ours and both parties have grown to mutually respect and trust the others role and position. This doesn't seem to be the case here. In fact, I have no idea how strained the Pardew and Reed relationship would be or become. If they had a falling out or disagreemnt, and it didn;t have to be about first team selection, one of them could certainly create a circle of trust in his direct reports and make it tough for the other to be included in the decision making, in effect, forcing them out and alienating them from the process, undermining them.

 

For example, if I were to have a 'committee' meeting about first team 'tactics', I could hold it after hours and in a 'public' location, and if that 'pub'lic location wasn't local, this may make the relationship difficult to maintain.

[Toadhall Saint]

I do laugh at these...in England we are such staunch traditionalists...then we wonder why the national team cant function against our fellow europeans..

 

we fail time and time again to change at all levels...complain that we cant change and then kick off when change comes..

 

we complain when 442 is played, saying its outdated then complain if someone has the nerve to try something new..

 

I could not give a monkeys fart if MoN came in, named as euro head coach for saints FC...if that ultimately meant he was picking the first team...put it to the chairman what players he wants...open minded to other player suggestions...then great

 

Every now and again you post something I agree with - this is one of those times.

 

The world cup showed our methods to be what they are totally outdated. We (in this Country) need to start looking at technical ability ie being able to control a ball first touch (and lets not even think about being two footed) - our best players try to do it but the ball ends up about 5 yards away -it was quite embarrassing at times.

[saintjay77]

Nope, I disagree. How about Reed being on the transfer committee deciding on which players we buy?

 

and the manager of the club certainly should be allowed input on the reserves and u18s, especially if he is considering playing some of them in forthcoming 1st team matches

 

Cause the reserve league is crap now we don't have a reserve team anymore. We have youth and under 21's. Pretty much the same setup as national level.

 

IMO everyone involved in the playing squad should have some input on transfers. Les Reed heads up the scouting department so by chain of command or committee the manager should make it known that he needs a defender or winger or what ever and the scouts should go find the type of player they are after. They report back and the committee decide on the best options based on the club ethos and future. The manager will have a say and no doubt will have to agree. But that's where the relationship and trust between reed and manager has to be 100%, any less and there will be problems.

 

The higher the cost of the transfer the more important the cahosion of the committee is.

 

But I feel that most of the future signings will be younger and brought in for our club to turn into world class players rather than us going out to pay top dollor for the best players.

 

This is still the beginning of our journey and it may take some time to get it right. The club doesn't need the fans whining and moaning about every decision hat doesn't make immediate sense. But could maybe do with a bit of patience to see where this path takes us.

[saintjay77]

I do laugh at these...in England we are such staunch traditionalists...then we wonder why the national team cant function against our fellow europeans..

 

we fail time and time again to change at all levels...complain that we cant change and then kick off when change comes..

 

we complain when 442 is played, saying its outdated then complain if someone has the nerve to try something new..

 

I could not give a monkeys fart if MoN came in, named as euro head coach for saints FC...if that ultimately meant he was picking the first team...put it to the chairman what players he wants...open minded to other player suggestions...then great

 

 

Spot on TDD.

 

We are so stuck in how things should be done the British way yet complain like mad when we need to change it up.

 

I remember when the big issue was the diamond formation and how it will never work.

 

How much did we miss it in south Africa?

[Leyton Lundekvam]

Every now and again you post something I agree with - this is one of those times.

 

The world cup showed our methods to be what they are totally outdated. We (in this Country) need to start looking at technical ability ie being able to control a ball first touch (and lets not even think about being two footed) - our best players try to do it but the ball ends up about 5 yards away -it was quite embarrassing at times.

 

What you state is very true. So why would Cortese seem to be placing what I would regard as a disproportionate amount of faith in Les Reed, who worked closely with the shockingly poor Kevin Kegan England regime, and was involved in the implementation of a coaching structure at the FA that has produced the outcome you described?

[golfdelsur]

Standard set up on the continent. Only in this country do we have arrogant managers who can't work like this and want to do everything. Even here there are models, Chelski for instance don't seem to do too badly. Exeter work like this as well if you want a League One example (Tisdale and Perryman). This is the same system that Lowe tried to introduce, trouble was he tried it with Saggy Chops and a Rugby Coach, now that was just plain stupid (though the Rugby coach should have been good for the club, just not with Saggy Chops). While Reed may be part of the reason why AP has gone (because Reed joined much later, and also because of their history with Charlton), I don't see an issue if Reed is part of the selection process and the new manager (or 1st team coach) is appointed with this system in place. If the manager is continental he may indeed welcome such a structure and expect it to be as such. Sadly I would agree that O'Neill is hardly likely to be enamoured with it. Dismissing Reed as useless simply because his management career lasted exactly 6 weeks is just plain daft. He is not a manager, never has been, never will be, but he is one of the most highly respected coaches, especially on the development side in this country, and internationally renowned. As ong as Reed and the new manager get along, work together and understand the roles, all wii be fine.

 

I totally agree with this. How can anyone on here slate the set up when its not been given a decent chance with a manager who is happy to work like this.

[teen-saint]

The question any perspective manager would have to ask themselves is if the results don't go there way does the likes of REED get the sack or is it as is normally the case just the manager who suffers.

 

It would seem to me that with the set up we seem to have adopted that all those departmental heads should be as accountable for the first teams performance.

 

Instead however I suspect whilst enjoying parity the development director will avoid the same fate as any first team manager! Thus any perspective manager will rightly think twice if they don't have complete control but will be the first out of the door if results don't meet expectation.

[Thedelldays]

lol at the people that think reed is appointing the manager...

 

it will be nothing more than NC saying.."we are SFC...we seriously want to get to the premiership and we have the serious wonga to do so....here is our set up..we would like to have a thriving academy that may produce another walcott or bale to actually advance their careers in OUR team....ANY player you want to bring in has to be right for the club.......are you in or out?"...

[aintforever]

lol at the people that think reed is appointing the manager...

 

it will be nothing more than NC saying.."we are SFC...we seriously want to get to the premiership and we have the serious wonga to do so....here is our set up..we would like to have a thriving academy that may produce another walcott or bale to actually advance their careers in OUR team....ANY player you want to bring in has to be right for the club.......are you in or out?"...

 

It's the "right for the club" bit that is the problem. A manager is not going bring anyone in that he thinks is wrong for the club so why does he need a Charlton reject telling him what is right or wrong?

[Thedelldays]

It's the "right for the club" bit that is the problem. A manager is not going bring anyone in that he thinks is wrong for the club so why does he need a Charlton reject telling him what is right or wrong?

 

you what..?

 

ok..marlon king..right for he club..? rickie lambert, right for the club..?????

I assume you thought pardew was also a charlton reject too..???

[doddisalegend]

Cause the reserve league is crap now we don't have a reserve team anymore. We have youth and under 21's. Pretty much the same setup as national level.

 

IMO everyone involved in the playing squad should have some input on transfers. Les Reed heads up the scouting department so by chain of command or committee the manager should make it known that he needs a defender or winger or what ever and the scouts should go find the type of player they are after. They report back and the committee decide on the best options based on the club ethos and future. The manager will have a say and no doubt will have to agree. But that's where the relationship and trust between reed and manager has to be 100%, any less and there will be problems.

 

The higher the cost of the transfer the more important the cahosion of the committee is.

 

But I feel that most of the future signings will be younger and brought in for our club to turn into world class players rather than us going out to pay top dollor for the best players.

 

This is still the beginning of our journey and it may take some time to get it right. The club doesn't need the fans whining and moaning about every decision hat doesn't make immediate sense. But could maybe do with a bit of patience to see where this path takes us.

 

Thing is football is a results game asking fans (saints fans in particular who have put up with a lot in the last few years) to hang on for a few years while we get things sorted isn't going to go down to well. weren't we promised prem in five years?

[Thedelldays]

Thing is football is a results game asking fans (saints fans in particular who have put up with a lot in the last few years) to hang on for a few years while we get things sorted isn't going to go down to well. weren't we promised prem in five years?

 

no..we were told it was a 5 year plan...a PLAN..PLANS dont always were out...I bet ML did not plan on dying..I bet lambert PLANNED to have a storming start to the season...

[aintforever]

you what..?

 

ok..marlon king..right for he club..? rickie lambert, right for the club..?????

I assume you thought pardew was also a charlton reject too..???

 

Football is all about opinions, if your manager wants to take a punt on someone like Marlon King you should trust him as he's the one with the talent and it's his head on the block.

[Thedelldays]

Football is all about opinions, if your manager wants to take a punt on someone like Marlon King you should trust him as he's the one with the talent and it's his head on the block.

 

personally..if any saints manager wants to spend money on marlon king..i really hope they are told to do one

[Leyton Lundekvam]

If it was a plan then stick to it, don't ditch the "plan" after 1 year. Otherwise it is just a hope.