SPL managers hit back in quality row

[mizer]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/5072011/SPL-managers-hit-back-at-SFA-president-George-Peat-in-quality-row.html

 

Motherwell's Mark McGhee and Jimmy Calderwood of Aberdeen attacked Peat for his criticism and for insisting that the think tank to be chaired by Henry McLeish should concentrate on the SPL, insisting that he isn't qualified to make that judgment.

 

"The product at the top is not as good as it should be," said Peat. "I've watched a number of games in the SPL recently where I could have played in goals – and that's sad.

 

"I try to watch all grades in all divisions. But people go to games to see good football and goalmouth incidents and, from what I've seen recently, that hasn't been happening."

 

Those comments have infuriated those at the coal face. "I disagree strongly with what George has said," said McGhee. "I would also question his ability to judge the qualities in our game and the ones that are lacking from it.

 

"We've been involved in a lot of really good games this season. Of course, there will have been some bad ones as well but this idea that ever single game in the Premiership, for example, is wonderful is a myth.

 

"You get some bad games at every level every week so at the very least it's unhelpful for him to accuse the SPL of lacking quality and entertainment.

 

"Three weeks ago I went to a match between Crystal Palace and Preston North End, a club which could be in the Premiership next season.

 

"It was a poor game and two of the players I'd had at Millwall were playing in that match. Both of them are earning fortunes compared to what Motherwell can afford to pay and yet neither of them would get in my first team ahead of Paul Quinn or Jim O'Brien.

 

"So I don't know what George's answer is to the problem he's identified, how we're supposed to make this quantum leap he seems to want. Is Henry McLeish going to put out some directive to make everyone better players?

 

"The clubs in the SPL try to play football in a positive manner. Managers like myself, John Hughes and Craig Levein set out to try and win every single game.

 

"Economics also comes into it. One sure way to improve the quality of football would be to give each club £10million but I don't suppose that'll be happening."

 

McGhee also believes that the image of Scottish football could be improved if broadcasters Setanta agreed to stop covering matches at the SPL's smallest grounds.

 

"I mentioned this at the last managers' meeting at Hampden but it doesn't help when we show live games from Inverness, with small attendances and stands missing," he said.

 

"That also applies to games at Falkirk – and at Fir Park if we don't open one of our stands. That affects people's perception of Scottish football.

 

"I think they should concentrate on away games for Falkirk and Inverness at places like Tynecastle and Tannadice because that would improve the quality of the viewing experience for fans." Calderwood, meanwhile, believes that Peat is guilty of double standards with his attack on Scotland's biggest clubs.

 

"If we criticise the SFA then we're hauled up before them and fined or banned yet he can come out and have a go at us," he said.

 

"They employ people to go through the newspapers looking for reasons to do us in and for George to come out with this just before what is a massive game for Scotland against Iceland on Wednesday is just wrong.

 

"How can he blame the SPL? Does he think Lex Gold tells us how to play? It's really disappointing that he's come out with this. I've always thought we should have one ruling body instead of three.

 

"I've been involved in some cracking games this season and, while there have been some poor ones as well, you've got to remember the climate we work in.

 

"Our pitches have been hammered by the weather and that doesn't make it easy to play great football. Johan Cruyff told me that Barcelona train three times a day but there are times when we've had to chuck it after warming up.

 

"In my time at Aberdeen I've had to abandon training all together because of the weather. Players need to work with the ball in order to improve their touch and their skills and that isn't always possible here."

 

Rather then trying to compare the SPL and its football to other leagues and poor games they play, McGhee should be just looking what his team are producing. And then for Calderwood comparing us to Barcelona..aye ok! Yes better facilities would be an aid to improve our football, but nothing is stopping us training more than once a day and how many times in his tenure has it snowed to stop training - not many.

[BrownyBrown]

Johan Cruyff, eh?

 

Impressive. 

 

 

[BobbyBiscuit]

Johan Cruyff, eh?

 

Impressive. 

 

 

 

  The best yet!

 

"I would also question his ability to judge the qualities in our game and the ones that are lacking from it.

 

I really like Mark McGhee, and I think he talks a lot of sense and is generally worth listening to, but the above is a crock of shit.  Some on here have used a similar argument in the past - he's a manager of an SPL club ergo he automatically knows better than any of us.  That's bollocks.  Big fat hairy bollocks.  Whether you're a manager, a player or a fan, it all comes down to opinion. 

 

If 4,000 fans at Motherwell agree with George Peat and stop going to the matches, would Mark McGhee or John Boyle question their ability to judge the qualities in our game or those lacking from it?  I doubt it.  "Football people" use this excuse when it suits them, they allude to a "greater knowledge", all of which is the aforementioned bollocks.  Their argument, as i've stated here before, implies that everyone "in football" would have the same opinion. We know that's not the case, so why do they try to perpetuate it?  Because it suits them I suppose, a ready made answer to journalists, fans, directors and chairmen when they don't share their view.

 

the game in Scotland is dire.  The fact there are dire games in England's top flight and second tier is totally irrelevant and doesn't make our game any less dire.  McGhee is right about Setanta covering matches at "lower end" games, it gives the impression that Scottish Football is, as the Guardian's Fiver email calls it, The Euro Disney League. It does give a bad impression of the league.  But it's also a fair reflection of the league, unfortunately.  It's reality and games have to be covered as part of the contract.  But, it's worthwhile to note that it's not just those games that bring the league down.  The "biggest game in the world" and therefore the league, has been a fucking borefest, particularly this season.  So what chance does the league have then? Not much, I'd wager.

[Slim]

"Managers like myself, John Hughes and Craig Levein set out to try and win every single game."

 

Not Jimmy too?

[Guest fatshaft]

"Managers like myself, John Hughes and Craig Levein set out to try and win every single game."

 

Not Jimmy too?

Aye, thought that was pretty pointed myself. 

[manc_don]

Good to know that others recognise its all a lie too 

[manc_don]

I think you're all reading too much into the quote with the names.

 

Levein certainly doesn't go out to win every game, although John Hughes has no option because if he doesn't his teams going to go down. I think he just picked a few arbitrary names in any case.

 

I was thinking the same thing, in particular with harry potter, but considering Jimmy's recent events i'm very surprised his name wasn't mentioned. Maybe we're clutching at straws here, but generally I do disagree with the article. There is no way in hell that managers set their teams up to win every game in the SPL. Motherwell Killie game recently was absolutely dreadful. What a waste. But re his training facilities comment. Is that ever more likely to happen than the new stadium?

[CtS]

"In my time at Aberdeen I've had to abandon training all together because of the weather. Players need to work with the ball in order to improve their touch and their skills and that isn't always possible here."

 

Unlike when Alex Ferguson was manager, because winters were much milder back then, and he had the best facilities in the country to work in. 

 

I think players nowadays are just a bunch of fannies.

 

Training indoors shouldn't be a problem, don't they use the 'strikers' place at BOD in bad weather?  Decent surface, and they can practise all the ball skills they like in there.

 

I don't want to hear fecking excuses Jimmy, just get on with it.

[Sharpie]

 

I don't want to hear fecking excuses Jimmy, just get on with it.

 

Exactly. If ever there was a time for Jimmy to keep his mouth shut and head down getting on with the job it's now.

[manc_don]

Exactly. If ever there was a time for Jimmy to keep his mouth shut and head down getting on with the job it's now.

 

He won't ever learn though, thats my biggest issue, he never ever does.