IslandExile

Another Ram from my youth. So young, too.
 

There’s loads that I could rip this post apart with but I’ll stick with just the one. 
 
The Kellyman family live in Derby. Omari will be training at a completely different time to his brother, so why does it make sense for them to be at the same club? He lives literally 10 minutes from the training centre at Derby and at least 45 minutes from Villa - the decision  to do that journey at least 4 times a week hasn’t been made on having their sons at the same club. 
 
The one thing you are correct with is that Omari didn’t want to leave, but believe me he realised quickly the difference in everything he was getting at Villa compared to Derby. And that is the reason his little brother has followed him. 
 
On another note, I’ve just heard our U16s have finished last out of 28 teams in a National tournament - the academy still has a lot to do to get anywhere near a mid to high Cat1 club. 
 
A lot of questions being raised around recruitment and the standard of  coaching at the minute. 

Who's grumpy?

Who's grumpy?

Paul Emson and Fikayo Tomori for me. Honorable mentions on the speedster front for Tommy Johnson, Dean Saunders, Colin Todd, Phil Gee and Theo Robinson.

Paul Emson

Still having a club considering how worried we all were 18 months ago.
For some people that's the most important thing, I started going with my dad and grandad, when my grandad died it was just me and my dad, before I was born my dad used to go with my grandad, now my dad is no longer with us and my daughter comes sometimes, when you're board at half time waiting for the second half and you think about the good times your family have had at the club, it kind of puts it into perspective.
For me still having a club to support, carrying on the family tradition of supporting Derby, hoping my grand-kids will also continue it - is more important than winning promotion. (don't get me wrong I would love to get promoted)

Who's grumpy?

In your "oh so humble" opinion.
In mine, he never had a chance given the circumstances.

Paul Emson

Paul Emson

I liked the breathtaking young Rooney with his world-leading brilliance and love for the game. It didn't last long. For a decade he became an impediment to the England team. His arrival at Derby completely undermined Cocu, who had the potential to do something special at our club, if Mel hadn't insisted on this absurd bit of tinkering. Yet in the administration season, with the club leaderless, Rooney stepped up and held everything together which was an immense task - over those months, despite being a poor football manager, he was a magnificent leader of men, and I'll remember him fondly for that. But after he buggered off my attitude to him is now much more "meh". I don't especially associate him with us mentally, and I don't care about him or Birmingham. I do care that Paul Warne isn't making nearly enough of some talented players at his disposal (including but not limited to Cash) which means those players will almost certainly leave. In which case I don't care where they go, as long as we get the most money for them. But it will be heartbreaking as they should be at the club leading us to promotion.

There were those reports in press only a few games into the season about Rooney lining up his coaching staff, for a job that wasn't even available! No denials there.
I don't for one moment believe Rooney signed on with the intention of becoming manager. I think he genuinely saw it as an opportunity to learn from a great coach. I then think  he realised his playing days were numbered (quicker than expected) and that behind the scenes it wasn't what was sold to him (or Cocu for that matter). His performances after lockdown were dreadful, he had completely let himself go, it showed a huge lack of respect on all parts. When things weren't going well, I believe he used it to his advantage (or was advised to) to position himself as the man to save the day. His big things will be different speech, 15-20 games later, it was as bad, if not worse than before!
Rooney to me remains a conflicting character. On one hand, I thought he was magnificent as a figure head (as manager...no) when the club were in crisis. On the other, I can't really forgive a player who undermimes his manager, a player who let himself go to the point of being useless when we needed him most. A manager who showed appaling man management of Whittaker and to some degree Sibley. Add to that, despite being the man fighting to stop the final nail going in the coffin, he very nearly puts it in himself with the Kirchner deal. 
A well written character in a modern story, his moral compass remains ambiguous. 
 

will this do?
 

Who's grumpy?

Who's grumpy?

Someone (forget who - apologies) put it perfectly....
"Rooney was not necessarily a very good manager but he was a great figurehead at a time when we needed a figurehead more than we did a manager".
==
I do also agree that Mel bringing him in - I guess to help with the sales pitch - massively undermined Cocu. I know many weren't sold on Cocu but I would have loved to see how it could have panned out, building a club based around the academy and supplemented by the occasional signing of an experienced player.
We'll never know.

Just checking? 😂

In your "oh so humble" opinion.
In mine, he never had a chance given the circumstances.

Someone (forget who - apologies) put it perfectly....
"Rooney was not necessarily a very good manager but he was a great figurehead at a time when we needed a figurehead more than we did a manager".
==
I do also agree that Mel bringing him in - I guess to help with the sales pitch - massively undermined Cocu. I know many weren't sold on Cocu but I would have loved to see how it could have panned out, building a club based around the academy and supplemented by the occasional signing of an experienced player.
We'll never know.

In your "oh so humble" opinion.
In mine, he never had a chance given the circumstances.

Ok, sorry. I see what you mean.
I meant it would've been nice to see what Cocu might've achieved had we had a more stable ownership and financial state.
Thank heavens we now have that.

In your "oh so humble" opinion.
In mine, he never had a chance given the circumstances.

I've had enough. Warne out.
Oh wait. That's not what you meant, eh.
Sorry, as you were.

I've had enough. Warne out.
Oh wait. That's not what you meant, eh.
Sorry, as you were.