Dean Wilkins

[Les Biehn]

One thing i will say about Wilkins is he picked players in what I think are their best roles for the team. What a relief to see El-Abd at RB and Reid at RW. The only difference was I would like to see Jakey starting up front.

 

[The Large One]

Had an experienced number 2, had a squad packed full of experience and quality and most importantly had a chairman with pots of money and finally Mullery was a massive name in football as a former England international etc and thus was able to persuade any number of quality players to hop on the bandwagon.
I don't think it's fair to compare what Wilkins has/is now to what Mullery had do you ?

Is the quality of the squad a reason for not promoting from within? Whoever takes over, they will have exactly the same to work with.

Agree about the money, and about Mullery's standing in the game, but there was hardly a depth of quality there at the club (with the exception of Ward). Mullery took over when we were pretty much the same league position we are in now. Point is, we don't know how good Dean's little black book is.

 

[Jim D]

Wilkins has had previous managerial experience - but now he needs to prove that he isn't too close to those players that have been with him for the last 3 or 4 years, and can make decisions for the good of the team.

So far it looks good - he wasn't afraid to sub Rents for Mayo. I also liked the way he brought on Fraser for Reid when he wasn't playing the way he wanted. The way the team celebrated the goal also suggests that there is a real bond between him and the players.

Early days, but he could hardly have started any better. We now have a couple of winnable home games followed by 2 tricky aways - let's see what we do with these.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

His brother is Ray Wilkins, I think it's fair to say he's got a good few contacts in the game.

My sisters working for the Olympics, but it dont mean I will be competing in the pole vault.

 

[Les Biehn]

Tilson and Parkinson don't seem to have had any obvious contacts but given time they have built/did build decent teams at Southend and Colchester. Not saying Wilkins will do the same but connections are not the be all and end all of doing well in management.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

Early days, but he could hardly have started any better.

Other than creating chances, threatning the goal, and not having to rely on an own goal to beat a very poor team, no he couldnt have.

 

[Jim in the West]

Tilson and Parkinson don't seem to have had any obvious contacts but given time they have built/did build decent teams at Southend and Colchester. Not saying Wilkins will do the same but connections are not the be all and end all of doing well in management.

Or chairmanship.....DK's relationship with Liam Brady doesn't seem to have worked as well as it might have done??

 

[The Large One]

Or chairmanship.....DK's relationship with Liam Brady doesn't seem to have worked as well as it might have done??

I'm guessing here, but I think that one might just start working again.

 

[Les Biehn]

Or chairmanship.....DK's relationship with Liam Brady doesn't seem to have worked as well as it might have done??

Your right and Malcolm Stuart never seems to sort out any players despite the physio's network.

 

[London Irish]

And if he was appointed a couple of weeks earlier we may have kept CKR

Honestly? You really think that? When Dick Knight offloaded CKR, he obviously had no inkling what he was going to do a mere 8 days later?

 

[Les Biehn]

Honestly? You really think that? When Dick Knight offloaded CKR, he obviously had no inkling what he was going to do a mere 8 days later?

But surely it was the Bristol game that made up his mind. Also what could he say, "Oi Colin, keep this to yourself but I'm sacking Mark in a weeks time".

However I will say I think CKR would have gone even if Wilkins had been put in charge earlier.

 

[London Irish]

Fair enough, you do think he had no inkling. My feeling is that stretches credibility somewhat.

 

[Les Biehn]

Fair enough, you do think he had no inkling.

Who CKR or Dick?

 

[The Large One]

Honestly? You really think that? When Dick Knight offloaded CKR, he obviously had no inkling what he was going to do a mere 8 days later?

That's not the point. Wasn't CKR quoted as saying he had a problem with the management team? If that's the case, it doesn't sound as though the situation would have been much different under Wilkins anyway.

 

[NS Herald]

That's not the point. Wasn't CKR quoted as saying he had a problem with the management team? If that's the case, it doesn't sound as though the situation would have been much different under Wilkins anyway.

Seeing CKR at the Palace reserve game and standing near the dugout I didn't get the impression Wilkins had a problem with CKR or vice versa. Wilkins was trying to be positive and constructive with him as with the other players and CKR 'appeared' to appreciate his man management style. Anyway it's academic now.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

One thing i will say about Wilkins is he picked players in what I think are their best roles for the team. What a relief to see El-Abd at RB and Reid at RW. The only difference was I would like to see Jakey starting up front.

I reeally disagree with this. El-Abd is a central defender and is awful going forward, playing him at right back is a really defensive move. With Reid at right back the team has better options when we are in possession.

 

[Les Biehn]

I reeally disagree with this. El-Abd is a central defender and is awful going forward, playing him at right back is a really defensive move. With Reid at right back the team has better options when we are in possession.

I disagree for 2 reasons.

1. El-Abd is defensively more solid that Reid at the back and when we essentially don't have any holding players in midfield it is a must that our defence be solid.

2. When we have a midfield with Reid, Chippy and Cox we have a lot of ball players, so as long as our defence just plays it easy, the attacking can come from these guys.

When El-Abd first got into the team he more comfortable on the ball so I believe that ability is still there, he has just lost a little confidence in that area. At RB there is not as much pressure on him as CB so hopefully this aspect of his game will come on again.

 

[London Irish]

That's not the point. Wasn't CKR quoted as saying he had a problem with the management team? If that's the case, it doesn't sound as though the situation would have been much different under Wilkins anyway.

That was actually the point I was making, but in a roundabout way. That if the CKR problem was merely a personal spat with McGhee, then it would have made sense for Knight to hold on to him and get rid of McGhee a week earlier than he did. That way Wilkins would have had a supposedly Premiership level striker at his disposal.

But obviously the problem was CKR and CKR alone, and his premature ambitions to want to play for a bigger club than Brighton.

If Dick Knight has done one decent thing for Mark McGhee these past few days, it was to refute the idea publically that rifts with players was the reason for the sacking.

 

[Les Biehn]

Who CKR or Dick?

LIskis did you see my question to your post

 

[Seagull over SW France]

Thanks for your constructive replies,but having read DK's statement on the sacking again,he does say that he wants to get Dean White back to chief scout asap...whatever that entails!
So it does beg my original point....who to come in and have Wilkins as assistant,because I am of the opinion that we cannot afford to fanny around for too long.
PS Have booked my tickets for the Chesterfield game!