Gaffer 1,665 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 While initially surprised, I'm starting to think again about Muscat. I had no idea he had such a bad reputation as a player? He was recently named dirtiest ever player in a Spanish paper and had to pay out a few fines in his time for some bad tackles. I like the sound of him. He's thought of very highly in Australia -- winning a domestic double in his first season, his team scoring more goals than anyone else by some distance -- and an interesting tactical coach, apparently. I read that he had "studied Brendan Rodgers at close quarters during a tour of Europe where he went to various training grounds to watch the most forward-thinking and innovative coaches at work" -- not sure what to think of that?! He says, "'My thirst for knowledge is great. I went over to spend time with Brendan Rodgers, Frank de Boer at Ajax and Barcelona to gather knowledge and try and create my own philosophy. 'I won't shy away from my team being competitive, ultimately football is a contest, but I place high importance on possession. Using the ball wisely is the key but we like to attack quickly, a lot of goals are created in transition in the modern game. 'I was lucky enough to work with Terry Venables with the Australian national team. He was ahead of his time, how he structured the team and his man-management. It is one thing to have a great philosophy but to get the players to apply it, that is the hardest thing." Now, his Melbourne Victory team have "gained a reputation as standard-bearers for Australia's emerging football market. They play attractive, bright football." You can argue that the Australian league is of a poor standard, but they look to have better players than us! Muscat sounds like a really interesting option; young, has a distinct philosophy and appears to want to better himself -- he shouldn't cost too much, surely? I suppose though it depends how much of a backwater the league is, and if he can make the change. I like the sound of that brief quote from him. Why do so few managers appreciate the tactical side of the game. They (and pundits) talk only of formations, but that's almost irrelevant, and modern day coaches are learning that. He mentions about the transitions in the game and this is something I mentioned in another thread. We need a plan and a system that takes advantage of those transitions regardless of whether it's us losing the ball or winning control of the ball. I want us to take another chance on a manager with a strategy and a coherent philosophy. It didn't quite work with MW but it was worth the risk. It's still worth the risk and I'd support someone like this. If he's not successful then that's fine, we just move on again. But if he is ..... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barebear 37 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Sydney FC are storming the league here this season and Adelaide won last season. Victory are now second after 19 games and prime place for a good run at the finals. Can't say Muscat is much more highly thought of than any other manager in the A League. Although I don't watch much of it, I do listen to the SBS World Game podcasts and he's just another manager as far as they are concerned. The standard is miles below Scotland but he obviously knows a bit about us. I'd be surprised if it's him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbr 1,247 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 One thing that worries me is the constant use of bland generic terms used by modern day managers , 'I won't shy away from my team being competitive, ultimately football is a contest, but I place high importance on possession. Using the ball wisely is the key but we like to attack quickly, a lot of goals are created in transition in the modern game. This could be cut and pasted into any managers of todays presser and no one would blink an eye , it basically means I'm a hip coach and this is the way we all talk , delivering it though is quite another matter . 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 I'd put Muscat second bottom of the pile, firmly above McLeish. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Sydney FC are storming the league here this season and Adelaide won last season. Victory are now second after 19 games and prime place for a good run at the finals. Can't say Muscat is much more highly thought of than any other manager in the A League. Although I don't watch much of it, I do listen to the SBS World Game podcasts and he's just another manager as far as they are concerned. The standard is miles below Scotland but he obviously knows a bit about us. I'd be surprised if it's him. We really are scraping the bottom of the barrel if we're looking at him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oleg_Mcnoleg 50 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Sydney FC are storming the league here this season and Adelaide won last season. Victory are now second after 19 games and prime place for a good run at the finals. Can't say Muscat is much more highly thought of than any other manager in the A League. Although I don't watch much of it, I do listen to the SBS World Game podcasts and he's just another manager as far as they are concerned. The standard is miles below Scotland but he obviously knows a bit about us. I'd be surprised if it's him. quite. It's really not good. I'm not convinced Muscat would even be the first pick from the A league, other than that he's a bear. Perhaps we should just ask Lawrie McKinna to come out of semi-retirement: good record at CCM with a fraction of the resources of the big city teams and a real Rangers man (no, that wasn't a serious suggestion!). Muscat might be inspired but has real Deila mark 2 potential 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 We really are scraping the bottom of the barrel if we're looking at him. I know SBS can polarise opinion, but he is bang on with this statement imo! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,151 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) There are always going to be guesses made and kites flown. I heard someone in the MLS was fancied too but apparently Ross Wilson at Soton is the favoured choice. Who knows?! Edited February 17, 2017 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barebear 37 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 quite. It's really not good. I'm not convinced Muscat would even be the first pick from the A league, other than that he's a bear. Perhaps we should just ask Lawrie McKinna to come out of semi-retirement: good record at CCM with a fraction of the resources of the big city teams and a real Rangers man (no, that wasn't a serious suggestion!). Muscat might be inspired but has real Deila mark 2 potential Lawrie's a polly these days is he not. Still, he'd jump at the Gers job, as long as he could work from the Central Coast ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barebear 37 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 There are always going to be guesses made and kites flown. I heard someone in the MLS was fancied too but apparently Ross Wilson at Soton is the favoured choice. Who knows?! If I guess correctly will I be forever know as ITK? Uuuumm, Billy Sloan's the name I heard. Just saying........ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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