Cooper v Edwards.

[Zoophonic]

I agree and its good to see some balance.

I find it more than a little bizarre than many people are against Edwards, with two promotions on his CV and a season in the PL, but would support someone like Rohl, who hasn't achieved anything near what Edwards has.

I get that it's not a 'sexy' appointment and for a lot of people they want an exciting foreign coach, for example, but what I would point to is the fact that Scott knows him well and that makes the appointment about as safe as it gets within the context of the profession.

I dont get why you would see it a "safe" appointment. An old head would be a safe appointment not a manager who has literally masterminded two relegation campaigns in succession ( ok technically he was sacked before the second one but it was of his making). No, Edwards would be a massive gamble in my eyes because it's a bet on a bloke who had a melt down last season and hasn't worked since. By all means if people want to risk him to see if he can create what he did with Luton three years ago fair enough. But dont be at all surprised if it goes t*ts up very quickly.

 

[Murphy04]

If it was down to just these two I would prefer Cooper but if Edwards was the chosen one, I would give him just as much support

 

[allied_assault]

I dont get why you would see it a "safe" appointment. An old head would be a safe appointment not a manager who has literally masterminded two relegation campaigns in succession ( ok technically he was sacked before the second one but it was of his making). No, Edwards would be a massive gamble in my eyes because it's a bet on a bloke who had a melt down last season and hasn't worked since. By all means if people want to risk him to see if he can create what he did with Luton three years ago fair enough. But dont be at all surprised if it goes t*ts up very quickly.

I don't want us to play the Luton style tbh.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

I dont get why you would see it a "safe" appointment. An old head would be a safe appointment not a manager who has literally masterminded two relegation campaigns in succession ( ok technically he was sacked before the second one but it was of his making). No, Edwards would be a massive gamble in my eyes because it's a bet on a bloke who had a melt down last season and hasn't worked since. By all means if people want to risk him to see if he can create what he did with Luton three years ago fair enough. But dont be at all surprised if it goes t*ts up very quickly.

By safe I meant he is a known quantity and we know exactly what we'd be getting with him, both personally and professionally.

Suggesting he 'masterminded' the PL relegation is disingenuous I think, they made the best fist of the three promoted clubs, spending the least money.

Last season was a disaster for sure, but despite really struggling when he was in charge they weren't in the bottom 3 when he was sacked IIRC.

This isn't a petition for Edwards, just pointing out that the lack of enthusiasm from many fans isn't proportionate to be his record and that on paper he ticks a lot of boxes.

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

If Cooper is genuinely interested and is a serious option, I would be baffled as to why he wouldn't be offered the job, and as much as I would give Edwards a chance, quite annoyed that we would pass up that opportunity.

 

[TeaCider]

Last season was a disaster for sure, but despite really struggling when he was in charge they weren't in the bottom 3 when he was sacked IIRC.

I do get the point, given they were relegated under a different manager after he was sacked and it wasn't him that confirmed it, but they were only out of it because 2 of the teams below them had played fewer games, they'd lost 7 of the previous 10 games under Edwards but dropped in to the relegation zone again in the new manager's first game, despite a draw.

They picked up more points in fewer games after his sacking, they were one of the form sides in the division for the final 12 games, it just took Bloomfield a month to halt the slide.

I think it would be a bit like blaming Mowbray for relegating Blackburn in 2017, despite so much of the damage being done by the previous manager and him nearly keeping them up.

Or letting Woodgate off if we'd been relegated in 2020 because we weren't in the relegation zone when he was sacked, we only dropped in to it after Warnock's second game in charge.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

I do get the point, given they were relegated under a different manager after he was sacked and it wasn't him that confirmed it, but they were only out of it because 2 of the teams below them had played fewer games, they'd lost 7 of the previous 10 games under Edwards but dropped in to the relegation zone again in the new manager's first game, despite a draw.

They picked up more points in fewer games after his sacking, they were one of the form sides in the division for the final 12 games, it just took Bloomfield a month to halt the slide.

I think it would be a bit like blaming Mowbray for relegating Blackburn in 2017, despite so much of the damage being done by the previous manager and him nearly keeping them up.

Or letting Woodgate off if we'd been relegated in 2020 because we weren't in the relegation zone when he was sacked, we only dropped in to it after Warnock's second game in charge.

I acknowledged last season was a disaster for him and Luton in my post, not arguing that.

But it's interesting that you're concentrating on this point, rather than his two promotions and creditable season in the PL.

Just trying to add some balance, I think he'd be a decent appointment. He's a highly regarded coach, seemingly a decent person who players like and has a decent CV.

I don't get the negativity.

 

[MickaelDebevePhenomenal]

whilst not blameless, it's harsh to judge Edwards on the 24/25 season following relegation. Luton's whole philosophy and way of playing was geared towards the team being the underdog, out working and outmuscling teams, making Kenilworth road a horrible place to play etc

It becomes incredibly hard to play this way, and more importantly, get the buy in from the crowd, when the expectations are that you will be one of the big hitters in the division.

If, hypothetically, we hadn't dispensed with Karanka, following our relegation there is no chance fans would have accepted his dogmatic defensive approach to grinding out results, fans would have expected us to dominate and be on the front foot consistently dominating the ball and the game.

 

[TeaCider]

I acknowledged last season was a disaster for him and Luton in my post, not arguing that.

But it's interesting that you're concentrating on this point, rather than his two promotions and creditable season in the PL.

Just trying to add some balance, I think he'd be a decent appointment. He's a highly regarded coach, seemingly a decent person who players like and has a decent CV.

I don't get the negativity.

Forest Green Rovers were ***** in the second half of the season in League Two, it's why I didn't want him when he was linked in 2022.

Then he had an excellent half season in the Championship, which made me question my decision.

I don't think it was a credible season in the Premier League, they were comfortably relegated in a season with two teams on points deductions.

But I don't blame him for getting relegated that season, I'd have had Russell Martin here and he did worse, but it's what followed in the Championship that worries me.

Last season was horrendous for them, they should not have been relegated and he did most of the damage

I'm not bothered about him being a decent person if I don't think he's up to the job.
Carrick was a seemingly very decent person who most players like, he was still rightly moved on.

 

[Block21]

Forest Green Rovers were ***** in the second half of the season in League Two, it's why I didn't want him when he was linked in 2022.

Then he had an excellent half season in the Championship, which made me question my decision.

I don't think it was a credible season in the Premier League, they were comfortably relegated in a season with two teams on points deductions.

But I don't blame him for getting relegated that season, I'd have had Russell Martin here and he did worse, but it's what followed in the Championship that worries me.

Last season was horrendous for them, they should not have been relegated and he did most of the damage

I'm not bothered about him being a decent person if I don't think he's up to the job.
Carrick was a seemingly very decent person who most players like, he was still rightly moved on.

Give him a chance if he gets it.

 

[starplayer]

Would be happy with either. Preference for Cooper but happy either way. Edwards cant win though. He never got luton promoted because it was all Nathan Jones groundwork but he got them relegated when he was nowhere near the place.

 

[Block21]

Would be happy with either. Preference for Cooper but happy either way. Edwards cant win though. He never got luton promoted because it was all Nathan Jones groundwork but he got them relegated when he was nowhere near the place.

Yep, sadly the narrative about him isn't going to change in some people's eyes. Sad really. Hope he proves them wrong if he gets the job. As I'm sure they do tbf.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

Forest Green Rovers were ***** in the second half of the season in League Two, it's why I didn't want him when he was linked in 2022.

Then he had an excellent half season in the Championship, which made me question my decision.

I don't think it was a credible season in the Premier League, they were comfortably relegated in a season with two teams on points deductions.

But I don't blame him for getting relegated that season, I'd have had Russell Martin here and he did worse, but it's what followed in the Championship that worries me.

Last season was horrendous for them, they should not have been relegated and he did most of the damage

I'm not bothered about him being a decent person if I don't think he's up to the job.
Carrick was a seemingly very decent person who most players like, he was still rightly moved on.

Can't agree with much of that, I think you obviously have a view and it's influencing your narrative.

So he got FGR promoted badly? I take that next season.

And he didnt have "half a season" with Luton, I think he took over in the November I read somewhere today. And he took them to 3rd place, ahead of us of course. After which he got them through the play offs.

If you don't think he was a credible season in the PL, where do you think they should have finished? Do you think they should have stayed up, with the smallest budget in the division? Not sure that's realistic, but I'd be interested to hear where you think they should have finished?

I'm not suggesting he doesn't come with some negatives, of course he does, only that he demonstrably has a better record than you suggest.

 

[Block21]

Can't agree with much of that, I think you obviously have a view and it's influencing your narrative.

So he got FGR promoted badly? I take that next season.

And he didnt have "half a season" with Luton, I think he took over in the November I read somewhere today. And he took them to 3rd place, ahead of us of course. After which he got them through the play offs.

If you don't think he was a credible season in the PL, where do you think they should have finished? Do you think they should have stayed up, with the smallest budget in the division? Not sure that's realistic, but I'd be interested to hear where you think they should have finished?

I'm not suggesting he doesn't come with some negatives, of course he does, only that he demonstrably has a better record than you suggest.

 

[TeaCider]

Can't agree with much of that, I think you obviously have a view and it's influencing your narrative.

So he got FGR promoted badly? I take that next season.

And he didnt have "half a season" with Luton, I think he took over in the November I read somewhere today. And he took them to 3rd place, ahead of us of course. After which he got them through the play offs.

If you don't think he was a credible season in the PL, where do you think they should have finished? Do you think they should have stayed up, with the smallest budget in the division? Not sure that's realistic, but I'd be interested to hear where you think they should have finished?

I'm not suggesting he doesn't come with some negatives, of course he does, only that he demonstrably has a better record than you suggest.

He had 25 league games.

Half a season is 23 league games.

So, he had 54% of a season.

I'm fine calling that half.

 

[Block21]

He had 25 league games.

Half a season is 23 games.

So, he had 54% of a season.

I'm fine calling that half.

He took them from 10th to the premier league. That's all that counts.

 

[Marvanelli]

He also took over a worse team, than Carrick did, at similar times.

One had the player of the season at his disposal and arguably the best striker in the division.

The other manager had a much worse squad.

The manager with the worse squad got promoted.

The manager with the better squad didn't even make it to Wembley.

 

[Block21]

All that said, I will take back everything positive I've said about him if we sign Carlton Morris.

 

[TeaCider]

He also took over a worse team, than Carrick did, at similar times.

One had the player of the season at his disposal and arguably the best striker in the division.

The other manager had a much worse squad.

The manager with the worse squad got promoted.

The manager with the better squad didn't even make it to Wembley.

Were they a worse team?

They finished above us by 5 points the season before, they were above us when he was appointed.

They were already doing better than us.

 

[Marvanelli]

Were they a worse team?

They finished above us by 5 points the season before, they were above us when he was appointed.

They were already doing better than us.

The players we had at our disposal were better than theirs. Look at the value of the players we had and how much they've gone on to be sold for, compared to Luton's.

Edwards got more out of his squad of players, than Carrick did of ours.

Not sure how anyone can argue that?