Embattled Manager of the Week: Gary Megson
Jonny Abrams
Posted on: 20 August 2009 - 10:53
Football
“He’s done a good job under difficult circumstances” – a candidate for clichédom, an accurate summation of Gary Megson’s spell as manager of Bolton Wanderers, or an absolute load of twaddle? It is a line that has been regularly trotted out by fence-occupying ex-pros and “lazy journos” such as ourselves but, as empty seats at the Reebok Stadium continue to pile up like bottles of milk outside the Neverland ranch, is it time for us hacks to cast off the shackles of our cautious impartiality and empathise with these lost souls of the post-Allardyce era?
The internet’s verdict – as it is on so many things – is damning. Especially in the wake of Bolton's opening day 1-0 defeat at home to Sunderland. Knee-jerk, or cold, hard truth? Why, here’s a convenient selection of quotes…
“I know lots of you guys want the manager out. After working for the man for a year and a half [at West Brom], I understand your feelings. You guys deserve better.” – former Wanderers favourite Richard Sneekes, speaking to the fans on Fanzone
“Speculation continues about why academy player Danny Ward was used as a substitute. It has been suggested that Megson was trying to goad the Reebok hierarchy into giving him additional funds for a new striker. If true, it’s petulant and irresponsible behaviour. But it’s just as likely that the Bolton manager, who takes little interest in matters outside the first team, was acting on duff information received from the reserve set up. Regular watchers of Ward know that he’s nowhere near ready for a step up to the Premier League.” – Richard McCormick on www.bolton.vitalfootball.co.uk
“Why are we playing very average full-backs [Sam Ricketts and Paul Robinson] when we have better already at the club [Gretar Steinsson and Jlloyd Samuel]? It is fine to buy cover at full back, it is quite another to not play your best players. To me this is unforgivable.” – bristol_Wanderer3 on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“Well the whole worry about Paul Robinson being too small in this league was noticeably evident today. Out-jumped by Darren Bent at the far post, which cost us the goal. Didn't see the point in playing him over [Jlloyd] Samuel today and I'm not sure I ever will.” – Mar on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“…and [Gretar] Steinsson already had competition, if Megson bothered using [Nicky] Hunt, seeing as we're paying his wages. If Megson won't play him because of "personal issues" then he's a p***k - Hunt is nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe - he's adequate cover. However, now we've pissed off both of those players. Let's hope they are able to rise above it.” - FD on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“To clear up a myth, he [Ricketts] is not here exclusively as competition to Steinsson. He's here as a utility man who can play wide on both sides of the pitch. However, he's not fit to clean Steinsson's boots at right-back. It's a continual source of amazement, the stick that the Icelander gets on here, when he's so obviously better than anything we've had at right-back for years.” - Tombwfc on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“I read today that the fee for Robinson is approx £2m, [Sam] Ricketts £2.5m and [Zat] Knight £4m - that's £10m+ on average Championship-quality players whilst ignoring what is really required. From what I've heard and seen, all three are no better than what we had. Our problems have always been at the other end of the pitch in terms of passing and creativity, and yet again today proves it.” – Peter Thompson on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“Why does Megson yet again play three similar holding type midfielders? Last season it was Muamba/Nolan/McCann and then today it was Muamba/Davis/Mcann. Does he never learn? And why does he take too long to make any changes? The sands of time are running down for the ginger one.” – Mounts Kipper on www.wanderersways.com
“[Fabrice] Muamba pisses me right off. I keep hearing how he is young and has potential and how he starred for England in the U21 championships in the summer, but if you give the ball away like he does so often then it counts for f*** all how athletic he is. He was a mess today. A mess.” – James B on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“Three holding midfielders in the team today - I can understand not wanting to rush Lee Chung-Yong, but why not play Mark Davies? Why loan out Tope Obadeyi when we're woefully short of options up front?” - Mar on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“People were booing after two minutes when Sunderland had a corner and we had everyone back. Two minutes into the season.” - Athers on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“[Johan] Elmander will never get dropped, and we're going to struggle because of it. He and Davo [Kevin Davies] almost get in each others’ way - they play in the same areas, which makes us even more narrow that we really are. I've seen Megson keep playing [Matt] Taylor on the right, which is a complete waste of what Taylor is good at. I've seen Mark Davies on the right, again, wasting what he's good at. Megson goes on about round pegs in square holes yet he does it at almost every opportunity he gets.” - FD on www.the-wanderer.co.uk
“Is there any truth that Steinsson has had a bust up with Megson? If there is, I can't blame him as he should not have been dropped. Neither should Jloyd. They were two of our more consistent players last season. The likes of Elmander, Muamba and McCann are consistently s***e but keep getting picked. I just do not understand.” – jolly-olly on www.wanderersways.com
“FFS, it's the first game of the season. Do you think Everton fans should be preparing for the Coca Cola Championship next season? First day results never mean much. Give it a few weeks.” – bolty58 on www.wanderersways.com
“Lets give it six games to see if the new lads can gel and he can add more players. Megson does not deserve the sack on results and progress to date - that's all he will be judged on, his PR and personality will never come in to play so we'll just have to grin and bare it.” - onlyoneawalker on www.wanderersways.com
So, how does Gary Megson shape up on the Embattled-o-Metre?
Unpopularity rating: 80%
Derisive nicknames: ‘Mugson’
Can he still reasonably be defended?: Yes. He picked up the pieces after Sammy Lee’s brief reign and kept the Trotters in the division. He repeated the ‘feat’ last season with a fair degree of comfort, thanks in part to astute signings such as Gary Cahill and Matty Taylor, but the football was generally stultifying. This year’s Premier League has a rather weak complexion about it, which raises expectations at Bolton as a result of them having been in the division unbroken since 2001. Megson must establish the side as a cut above those straggling at the bottom or face the consequences. The early signs are not promising.
Estimated amount of games left to save his job: 4
And those games would be?: Hull City (A), Liverpool (H), Portsmouth (A), Stoke City (H)
Sport.co.uk says: Once the subject of the manager turns fans against each other as fiercely as it appears to have done at Bolton, it's only a matter of time before the axe swings. Defeat at Pompey will seal his fate.