Fascinating insight and lots of personal views on players.
Two friendly, funny and articulate guys enjoying their jobs.
Both finished playing at 29 but have gone to to gain a lot of badges and for BR a degree. Both said that education is very important. it is a competitive field and a career option so you need to learn and get qualifications.
DM said that we do have good coaches and good young players in this country but perhaps where UK football falls down is in nurturing them and giving them the chances to progress unlike in Spain or Germany where they are better supported to make that transition.
DM did 10 months scouting for Wolves when he retired and then got in coaching.
BR "hated" football when he had to retire. Took a year off and went to Brazil back packing. He'd been doing an Open University course while playing and then did a sports science degree before Nathan Jones offered him some coaching work at Yeovil. Thought he would find it hard coaching people who weren't as good players as he was but straight away realised that the keepers he was coaching were better and that he had no problem, actually enjoyed, coaching them.
Said that they are both very much involved in scouting players and go to watch games, sometimes as directed by Phil Chapple and sometimes players they themselves want to look at. Everything gets fed back to Chapple as the one central point of scouting(in UK). Have tended to look at young players coming to the end of their contracts with Prem clubs as that is where the value is. BR always has a list of possible loan keepers in case we need someone in a hurry and has to keep that list topped up as those keepers move etc.
DM said the Club looks for players with "Character and ability" Even last season the character was there and all the players, including the network loans played their part.
BR said Thuran was good on the training pitch, sound technically and had had a good education at Monaco. Thuram never didn't want to come into work but found the English game a shock.
Asked "What did you say to Nick Pope after the Derby game" BR said "I still haven't spoken to him" (laughs)
He said they left it that night and looked at it in the morning. Pope has never done that before so very surprised. Look at the vid and saw he was technically doing it right. BR thinks that he may have seen the weak shot and been thinking about the next phase of play ie where to throw the ball rather than gathering the ball. BR rates Pope very highly. Pope hasn't had the chance to learn and make mistakes "in private" ie U18, FA Youth Cup games and has had to do his learning in the conference, league one and now Championship. Mitvo very good but very young still. Philips ready to go out on loan, maybe to the conference. Henderson they nearly signed when Hamer came.
BP asks BR's views on keepers and especially for the last game who to pick in goal.
DM said all the players look at the videos after goals etc to see what happened.
Straight after the Brighton game TBH and Bikey and four or five other looked at the second goal. The players view was that it was due to anxiety. Players went to attack the ball and so didnt pick up their zones for the cross.
Asked if Henderson was out of position for Brighton's second goal BR explained in great detail that he wasn't. It was fascinating and slightly de-skilling to realise just how much more he sees. Said SH was in the perfect position for the shot from Lua-Lua (sp?) but it wasn't a shot or a cross as the brighton player just stood the ball up. SH got back to the right position but it was a very good header and there was nothing more SH could have done.
DM was asked about Simon Church and the lack of power in his shooting (Covered End being very diplomatic in how he phrased that question). DM said it was about technique. He said SC is much more confident this season, they do finishing practices two or three times a week ("when the second manager lets us" looking at BR) and SC is always one of those staying out on the training ground late. He's finishing well and his goal v Colchester was good for him.
Club still want another striker. Delort "you all know about" but will see what happens. Asked who realistically they would like DM wouldn't name names but said a hold up player. BR said "the bloke at Bournemouth, Kermorgant". DM praised the job Rob Hulse did for us as example of good hold up play that allowed us to move up the pitch.
Peeters is a good gaffer. Good that he came in early so can put his plans in place early. Both DM and BR say they got a lot of respect from BP and that they were staying was confirmed very early on. They like Riga too. Willing to listen to them and Alex Dyer. BP likes two strikers and 442 understands English game. BP makes final decision on which players come in. Goes upstairs (to KM and/or Rd) for finances but it is BPs decision/ "Was it like that when Chris Powell was boss? DM "You'll have to ask Chris that".
Rhoys Wiggins - consistent defender but are working on getting him forward more and improving his attacking game as they know how potent a threat he can be when he gets forward
Michael Morrison has handled the situation well (ie not being in the fist XI). BP wants him to challenge and made him captain v COl U as respects him.
Chris Solly has been very mentally strong. Needs time to get back to the level he was two seasons ago. Injuries have set him back and needs time to get back to the high levels of performance.
Hamer would have signed for us if we'd offered him something earlier but left too late, knew of other teams interests and the money available. Not a keeper happy to be a number 2 so getting frustrated at Leicester already.
BR said that when he was playing back pass rule was introduced but no coaching for it. Worst bollocking he got was from Bryan Robson at Boro when rather than hoof it clear he chipped in over the striker closing him down, went round him and passed it out. Robson got him by the throat in the shower and said he'd kill him if he did it again. But BR said he has no left foot so he'd still do Cruyff turns etc as they never worked on how to deal with the back passes.
There was load more but can't remember it all.
Back to one of the best Bromley Addicks meetings. 50 - 60 people, very friendly and fun.
Big thank you to Mark Allison who's been our treasurer for 10 years and has done a fantastic job. He's stepped down from the committee and we'll miss him a lot.
Great write up Henry, really enjoyed it,but was it an interesting evening?
very if you are interested in how things work behind the scenes, how the coaches work with players, what other factors impact on results and careers, which good players are coming through, stuff like that.
Can only endorse your sentiments. Great insight and confirmed most of my thoughts on all things CAFC.
when the question was posed that Dunk and two other players were left unmarked for Brighton's late goal, how could that happen ? collective anxiety was the answer, players and the fans alike in those last mins.
These evenings can be bland, but that was not the case here as they revealed as much as they could considering they are current employees.
Did not try to mask the fact that Hamer and Elliott left for a lot more money and 4 and 5 year contracts because we just could not make a decent offer, even thou they knew they were going as number 2's.
Bromley supporters club, Ben and Damian, thanks for a good evening
Noone asked if they would follow Chris to Huddersfield?
Who's Noone?
I asked how they thought Hudds would do and DM said it would be a tough job.
Both seem very happy here. Like the Club, like that there is a rich owner now and settled in their lives and with their families in Greenwich (BR) and Kent (DM).
DM's wife said if he moved up north for work she and their 12 and 16 YO daughters weren't going with him.
"Hamer would have signed for us if we'd offered him something earlier but left too late, knew of other teams interests and the money available. Not a keeper happy to be a number 2 so getting frustrated at Leicester already."
I would suggest if that is the case he would have done better to have gone to a Club that paid less than Leicester and more than we were prepared to for first team football.
Because, unless Kasper Schmeichel gets injured or is sold in the January transfer window, he's going to be spending a long time warming the bench - Schmeichel has played 141 consecutive matches since signing for the club.
He said that he thought he might get asked but was glad he didn't and he knew anyway that CP would ask Alex. He said that in any case he was happy working at Charlton and living in Kent and did not fancy going all the way up to Huddersfield.
Comments
Fascinating insight and lots of personal views on players.
Two friendly, funny and articulate guys enjoying their jobs.
Both finished playing at 29 but have gone to to gain a lot of badges and for BR a degree. Both said that education is very important. it is a competitive field and a career option so you need to learn and get qualifications.
DM said that we do have good coaches and good young players in this country but perhaps where UK football falls down is in nurturing them and giving them the chances to progress unlike in Spain or Germany where they are better supported to make that transition.
DM did 10 months scouting for Wolves when he retired and then got in coaching.
BR "hated" football when he had to retire. Took a year off and went to Brazil back packing. He'd been doing an Open University course while playing and then did a sports science degree before Nathan Jones offered him some coaching work at Yeovil. Thought he would find it hard coaching people who weren't as good players as he was but straight away realised that the keepers he was coaching were better and that he had no problem, actually enjoyed, coaching them.
Said that they are both very much involved in scouting players and go to watch games, sometimes as directed by Phil Chapple and sometimes players they themselves want to look at. Everything gets fed back to Chapple as the one central point of scouting(in UK). Have tended to look at young players coming to the end of their contracts with Prem clubs as that is where the value is. BR always has a list of possible loan keepers in case we need someone in a hurry and has to keep that list topped up as those keepers move etc.
DM said the Club looks for players with "Character and ability" Even last season the character was there and all the players, including the network loans played their part.
BR said Thuran was good on the training pitch, sound technically and had had a good education at Monaco. Thuram never didn't want to come into work but found the English game a shock.
Asked "What did you say to Nick Pope after the Derby game" BR said "I still haven't spoken to him" (laughs)
He said they left it that night and looked at it in the morning. Pope has never done that before so very surprised. Look at the vid and saw he was technically doing it right. BR thinks that he may have seen the weak shot and been thinking about the next phase of play ie where to throw the ball rather than gathering the ball. BR rates Pope very highly. Pope hasn't had the chance to learn and make mistakes "in private" ie U18, FA Youth Cup games and has had to do his learning in the conference, league one and now Championship. Mitvo very good but very young still. Philips ready to go out on loan, maybe to the conference. Henderson they nearly signed when Hamer came.
BP asks BR's views on keepers and especially for the last game who to pick in goal.
DM said all the players look at the videos after goals etc to see what happened.
Straight after the Brighton game TBH and Bikey and four or five other looked at the second goal. The players view was that it was due to anxiety. Players went to attack the ball and so didnt pick up their zones for the cross.
Asked if Henderson was out of position for Brighton's second goal BR explained in great detail that he wasn't. It was fascinating and slightly de-skilling to realise just how much more he sees. Said SH was in the perfect position for the shot from Lua-Lua (sp?) but it wasn't a shot or a cross as the brighton player just stood the ball up. SH got back to the right position but it was a very good header and there was nothing more SH could have done.
DM was asked about Simon Church and the lack of power in his shooting (Covered End being very diplomatic in how he phrased that question). DM said it was about technique. He said SC is much more confident this season, they do finishing practices two or three times a week ("when the second manager lets us" looking at BR) and SC is always one of those staying out on the training ground late. He's finishing well and his goal v Colchester was good for him.
Club still want another striker. Delort "you all know about" but will see what happens. Asked who realistically they would like DM wouldn't name names but said a hold up player. BR said "the bloke at Bournemouth, Kermorgant". DM praised the job Rob Hulse did for us as example of good hold up play that allowed us to move up the pitch.
Peeters is a good gaffer. Good that he came in early so can put his plans in place early. Both DM and BR say they got a lot of respect from BP and that they were staying was confirmed very early on. They like Riga too. Willing to listen to them and Alex Dyer. BP likes two strikers and 442 understands English game. BP makes final decision on which players come in. Goes upstairs (to KM and/or Rd) for finances but it is BPs decision/ "Was it like that when Chris Powell was boss? DM "You'll have to ask Chris that".
Rhoys Wiggins - consistent defender but are working on getting him forward more and improving his attacking game as they know how potent a threat he can be when he gets forward
Michael Morrison has handled the situation well (ie not being in the fist XI). BP wants him to challenge and made him captain v COl U as respects him.
Chris Solly has been very mentally strong. Needs time to get back to the level he was two seasons ago. Injuries have set him back and needs time to get back to the high levels of performance.
Hamer would have signed for us if we'd offered him something earlier but left too late, knew of other teams interests and the money available. Not a keeper happy to be a number 2 so getting frustrated at Leicester already.
BR said that when he was playing back pass rule was introduced but no coaching for it. Worst bollocking he got was from Bryan Robson at Boro when rather than hoof it clear he chipped in over the striker closing him down, went round him and passed it out. Robson got him by the throat in the shower and said he'd kill him if he did it again. But BR said he has no left foot so he'd still do Cruyff turns etc as they never worked on how to deal with the back passes.
There was load more but can't remember it all.
Back to one of the best Bromley Addicks meetings. 50 - 60 people, very friendly and fun.
Big thank you to Mark Allison who's been our treasurer for 10 years and has done a fantastic job. He's stepped down from the committee and we'll miss him a lot.
I had meant to go but work sadly got in the way.
If not then very boring : - )
You are so good at remembering your lines.
Can only endorse your sentiments.
Great insight and confirmed most of my thoughts on all things CAFC.
when the question was posed that Dunk and two other players were left unmarked for Brighton's late goal,
how could that happen ? collective anxiety was the answer, players and the fans alike in those last mins.
These evenings can be bland, but that was not the case here as they revealed as much as they could considering they are current employees.
Did not try to mask the fact that Hamer and Elliott left for a lot more money and 4 and 5 year contracts because we just could not make a decent offer, even thou they knew they were going as number 2's.
Bromley supporters club,
Ben and Damian, thanks for a good evening
I told DM to tell Bob what a nice bunch were are and how he'd be much better doing a session at Bromley than at the Valley. We shall see.
Cracking pic that sums up the night
I asked how they thought Hudds would do and DM said it would be a tough job.
Both seem very happy here. Like the Club, like that there is a rich owner now and settled in their lives and with their families in Greenwich (BR) and Kent (DM).
DM's wife said if he moved up north for work she and their 12 and 16 YO daughters weren't going with him.
I would suggest if that is the case he would have done better to have gone to a Club that paid less than Leicester and more than we were prepared to for first team football.
Because, unless Kasper Schmeichel gets injured or is sold in the January transfer window, he's going to be spending a long time warming the bench - Schmeichel has played 141 consecutive matches since signing for the club.
He said that he thought he might get asked but was glad he didn't and he knew anyway that CP would ask Alex. He said that in any case he was happy working at Charlton and living in Kent and did not fancy going all the way up to Huddersfield.
You're only allowed to be attracted to his mind.