Most liked posts in thread: Kevin McDonald’s Bradford army

Be more interesting and a better time to judge when the game plan isn't working, does he have a plan b. Or when we are inevitably beaten, how as a team we react. Too early to make this call on mcd

 

The trouble is from McDonald’s point of view is if he takes the job till the end of the season it almost certainly ends his playing career. And if it ends badly he will be left high and dry

 

Something i mentioned a few weeks ago when watching Pointon Kev, he's got all the tools to play a creative 10. Quick feet, nimble, ridiculous first touch and vision. I'd have moved him there yesterday with about 30 to go and brought on pace on the flanks.

 

Well we had one suspension yesterday and personally I felt Ash Taylor made a better partnership with Stubbs than Platt does. Taylor lokked and played like a different person to the one I saw at Crawley, much slimmer, lighter, more mobile and read the game well against tricky forwards, not sure who the next suspension might be but we have a squad who want to play.
I spoke with both PP and Steve Parkin separately,after the game, both felt we have a good team and our subs made a difference, they did. Even a view that if they'd come on even 5 minutes earlier we might have converted the pressure into a win. One thing is for certain, a few weeks ago we would have gone to a meek 1-0 defeat.

 

As far as I can see, big Kev can't make it any clearer, he doesn't want to be player/manager on a permanent basis and also doesn't want to hang up his boots just yet. I get what people are saying about him not having long left as a player anyway and not being able to play 90 minutes week in week out, but given what he's been through in terms of losing out a couple of years of his playing career already due to his kidney transplant, I'm not surprised he wants to keep playing for as long as he possibly can and nobody should be trying to put pressure on him to rethink that. I think the best scenario all round would be if we can appoint a manager who plays the same kind of attacking, pressing football we've seen under Kev's leadership, and Kev is offered a role as player coach. We still get the player and he gets the opportunity to hone his skills without the pressure and expectation being the top guy will bring. Then if it doesn't work out with the new manager, or it does but he gets poached by a club higher up the pyramid, Kev will hopefully by that time be ready to step into his shoes. Of course, this scenario would require a bit of joined up and forward thinking by the club, something we've not been great at for some time, so I don't hold out much hope of it happening.

 

Going to change my vote from not sure. Maybe it’s time to bring that head of football in and let him deal with the day to day stuff while Big Mac concentrates on coaching and playing

 

Wouldn't Chapman come in on the left? Replace Osadebe in yesterday's line up?

 

What is it that's worrying you about the club taking time, carrying out due diligence and interviewing a number of potential candidates, and what makes you think that appointing someone quickly would be better and mean there's a clear plan for what's next?

 

As someone pointed out on WOAP the signings this season are suddenly looking a lot better than first impressions had you believe. Maybe the positivity both in the dressing room and in the stands, along with K Mac in charge has given them a boost and allowed them to play with confidence.

 

MacDonald himself doesn't seem entirely at ease with a player/coach role so we should be knock that one on the head. Never go into something where the person involved isn't 100% happy with the situation.

 

Absolutely fair point, don’t disagree. However it does work both ways. I mentioned honesty earlier.
Let’s say he’s got 2 years left as a part time player maximum . Then what? He has to find a completely new opportunity , highly likely at the bottom of the managerial or coaching ladder.
He could start that process two years early if offered the role , why not….? His contract would be covered for the same period but critically to a much higher value ….Adding more to his pension pot.
On that basis if it meets his family circumstances , it’s pretty much risk free move for him . imho.

 

The importance of the game is clearly relevant. That's why he didn't play any part in the last league game and barring an injury crisis, he won't play in the next.

It was pretty obvious that the trophy game last night was used so that he could maintain fitness to enable him to play once the new manager comes in.

 

You are spot on , he had a good game. I thought yesterday’s game and performance sealed the round of interviews all on its own. The player and supporter engagement has been transformed, the style of play and application likewise. Of recent times, going a goal down when we did would see us trying to “hold on” to a 1-0 defeat. Not under KMc and his supporting team.

3 wins and a draw against at least three of the better sides in the division says it all. I can’t for the life in me see what tearing up that momentum at this stage would bring. A new boss would come in and we start all over again.

We have been around the block a while, and a transformation like we are witnessing , with the same squad , I don’t ever recall.

I’d give him the job tomorrow.

 

I think Kev will play himself on Tuesday.

 

^^^^^^^^
The recent suggestions of going for an external, up and coming rookie manager, could be negated knowing we have one sat in the front room already?

His calmness is a cracking attribute both on and off the field. Other than a couple of misplaced passes , he didn’t put a foot wrong last night.
Let’s not forget the resurgence of Smallwood either?

 

All the more reason why he doesn’t want to give up on it now. A footballer’s playing career is short. He knows his playing days are limited but he wants to continue doing it for as long as he can. He’s got decades of football management potential ahead of him. Why prematurely end the last precious years of doing what he loves - playing?

 

Doing well as caretaker but opting to continue his playing career instead will give him this manager record in the bank for when he does retire from playing and moves into management. Will make picking up that first job, wherever it may be, all the easier..

 

No disrespect Kevin, but I don't think the two are comparable at all. If management hadn't worked out for you, I'm guessing you could have returned to your previous role, even if with a different employer. Your namesake does not have the same advantage, once his playing career is over, it's finished, gone forever. He wants to keep playing for as long as he can and will have years after his playing days are over to make a career in management, so not a difficult decision at all imo.