Stuart McCall - The Manager

'Apologies for another thread on this, I didn't think this really needed to go in the McCall out poll thread though'

Hypothetically, if Stuart McCall had zero ties to Bradford City, what would you see as his qualities and failures as a Manager in isolation based on his management history (imagining that his previous tenures with us were with another team)? I personally think this is how he should have been evaluated prior to being appointed last season and certainly before any decision to extend his existing deal and putting our long term faith in him.

Pros - Likeable character who will support his players (arm around shoulder style manager), passing style, loyalty to players and will work within a budget not seeking big money signings.

Cons - Woeful at organising a defence (McCardle was shocking under his stewardship at Scunthorpe yet came on for Exeter and looked his old self), indecisive, poor judge of a player, tendency to worry about the opposition and overcomplicate things, reactive rather than proactive, inability to grind out results and then rather worryingly I would also see all of the above 'pros' as a negative as well.

I am trying to be objective and find some glimmer of hope to cling to - that the board and new CEO have made the correct decision to back McCall and have this stability that everyone appears to crave, but I am struggling.... really struggling to find anything in McCall's managerial history and experience to support this. I am sorry but the fact that he cares & loves the club just does not cut it.

I genuinely do want some of the McCall supporters to input into this because I have completely lost faith and it pains me to say this but I am actually developing a real dislike for Stuart and his complete incompetence in this position, a man who I have considered a Legend of our club for many a year.

 

Maybe because they seem intent on taking my football club out of the football league!

 

So I take from this that you are in the 'he loves the club, he will get us out it' camp - with absolutely zero substance to support it.

Obviously that is not his intention, but how is he going to change things based on previous evidence? How many times has he been in charge of a team losing 7-8 games in a 9-10 game period.

 

Fair point and to be fair 'dislike' is probably a bit strong.

My point is though, Stuart has always been my Bradford City legend since I started watching him in 1984. What he is doing now and his quite blinkered view is killing that off for me.