As a thought

[uskstokie]

I think one way the club could be improved off the field is to bring back a few of the old players to act as guides and mentors to the current players. Bring back people like Andy wilkinson or Matthew Everinton.......
Just a though leave your views below

[somersetstokie]

I think it would be a very ironic move to make ex Gambler Matty Etherington a brand ambassador at the BET 365 Stadium!

[cheeesfreeex]

Nah not really.
But I'd like to see Rory in some capacity in the Academy in the future.
Yeah and Wilko too.

[PotterLog]

Jul 20, 2017 0:17:29 GMT uskstokie said:

I think one way the club could be improved off the field is to bring back a few of the old players to act as guides and mentors to the current players. Bring back people like Andy wilkinson or Matthew Everinton.......
Just a though leave your views below

Out of interest, what kind of responsibilities would this role of professional "guide" or "mentor" have? How many hours would they work? Would it just be ad-hoc advice about how to be dead loyal and passionate, or would they do more formal workshops on things like charity runs and looking hard with a bandage on your head? Maybe a weekly "how's my DNA" drop-in session? I'm curious about what the role would involve.

[scanjet]

Wilko is a academy coach started 2 weeks ago

[redandwhitetundra]

Jul 20, 2017 1:59:23 GMT cheeesfreeex said:

Nah not really.
But I'd like to see Rory in some capacity in the Academy in the future.
Yeah and Wilko too.

Rory is at either Burton or Derby, can't remember which.

[Boothen]

Jul 20, 2017 1:59:23 GMT cheeesfreeex said:

Nah not really.
But I'd like to see Rory in some capacity in the Academy in the future.
Yeah and Wilko too.

I'd like to see that too. But then how hard can it be for the manager to say "if we get a throw-in within distance then launch it in" and to sit 'em down and show 'em some Rory videos? It's one thing I never understood why we stopped doing when Rory left, done properly I reckon it'll get us more than a few goals per season. And one thing we need is goals.

[moz]

Jul 20, 2017 0:17:29 GMT uskstokie said:

I think one way the club could be improved off the field is to bring back a few of the old players to act as guides and mentors to the current players. Bring back people like Andy wilkinson or Matthew Everinton.......
Just a though leave your views below

What will they be doing exactly? Training the player we have Hughes and the academy coaches for that. Mentoring specific players, not a bad idea but could produce thoughts of favoritism among the other players.

[Davef]

Everinton's Twitter profile is a West Ham shirt, so I think that's where his loyalties lie.

[Olgrligm]

I'm not sure if they're still involved, but there was a period when Denis Smith and Alan Durban were brought into a sort of mentor role in the academy.

[slicko]

Rory is U21 coach at Cat 1 academy Derby. Incidentally, Kevin Phillips and Des Walker also coach there too.

[Deleted]

I always find you only improve when you play with or against better quality. Then you see what it is you have to do to raise your own game.

Accepting your limitations however I found the hardest thing to do as it often shatters personal dreams. But you have to find comfort in the fact you have pushed yourself as hard as you can. Little victories against better players can do so much to drive you on.

[dadofsam]

Hughes would pick them for the first team.

[bayernoatcake]

Yeah Delap is the Derby u23 coach which is a great shame for us.

He's one of the most intelligent footballers we've had in the last 20 years. Added to his professionalism and seemingly just being a top bloke it really was a chance missed. But he lives that way so it's better for him.

[uskstokie]

I was thinking of say what Bayen Munich do. They like to have former players around the club and the squad. like I hear they are going to make Lahm there new director of football.
I guess it creates a good environment around the club.

Maybe trying something similar might take a good effect

[crapslinger]

Jul 20, 2017 12:29:22 GMT dadofsam said:

Hughes would pick them for the first team.

On extended contracts.

[djduncanjames]

Jul 20, 2017 14:48:58 GMT crapslinger said:

Jul 20, 2017 12:29:22 GMT dadofsam said:

Hughes would pick them for the first team.

On extended contracts.

Naw Pulis would swoop in on transfer deadline day in the last minute 😀

[clarkeda]

Jul 20, 2017 5:53:07 GMT Boothen said:

Jul 20, 2017 1:59:23 GMT cheeesfreeex said:

Nah not really.
But I'd like to see Rory in some capacity in the Academy in the future.
Yeah and Wilko too.

I'd like to see that too. But then how hard can it be for the manager to say "if we get a throw-in within distance then launch it in" and to sit 'em down and show 'em some Rory videos? It's one thing I never understood why we stopped doing when Rory left, done properly I reckon it'll get us more than a few goals per season. And one thing we need is goals.

Very few players have the ability to 'bullet throw' like Rory did. That's what made it so unique and hard to defend.

It also absolutely fucked Rory's shoulders iirc.

[robstokie]

I reckon Crouchy would be a perfect ambassador in this role when he retires. The only problem is that 9 minutes of out MOTD coverage would be the cameras either watching or talking to Crouch, leaving just 1 minute for highlights of us getting run off the park by a younger, more dynamic team. Actually, it would be a good thing...

[stantheman]

RF10 wouldn't go a miss on the training pitch.
I'm sure Saido would benefit from chillin' with Ric after learning where the back of the net is.

[robinplumpton]

Bring back Gerry Taggert or Ade. On my 40th birthday, I got to award the man of the match after the home game against Derby. I chose Ade. As the photographer snapped for no more than a few seconds, I thought the bones in my hand were breaking too as Ade shook my hand. Both Gerry and Ade could "mentor" with the mantra "give it all for the shirt or we will make it hurt"