Steve Gibson and the overhaul that never happens

Pog

Pog

Well-known member
Steve Gibson has spoken previously about his reluctance to overhaul the structure and backroom team, having rejected a foreign manager who wanted to bring in his own team to avoid becoming "Middlesbrough on the Rhine". He appointed Gareth Southgate to maintain his structure, disastrous appointment.

Several appointments later he brought in Aitor Karanka. One of Karanka's biggest frustrations was that the club was clinging to this old structure and refused to change. The club signed players he didn’t identify, wouldn't allow him to overhaul the backroom team and he had Craig Hignett foisted upon him (who he promptly fell out with).

Steve Agnew was then brought in, another yes man in an attempt for Gibson to maintain the structure. Victor Orta was threw under the bus and red meat thrown at the Gazette in a bid to protect Gill and the recruitment team.

Following Monk's departure Tony Pullis spoke of the club needing a "restructuring". Again Gibson didn't like this so the changes never happened. Recruitment team once again signed players who weren’t the manager’s choice.

Yet again another yes man is appointed in Jonathan Woodgate to maintain the structure. No experience brought in, just yes men with previous connections to the club and Woodgate's mate.

Now Neil Warnock has come in and within 2 weeks spoke about how "the club needs an overhaul".

How long before Steve Gibson actually pays attention to what these managers are telling him over and over and over again?

The club desperately needs a hard reset.
 
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Pog said:
Steve Gibson has spoken previously about his reluctance to overhaul the structure and backroom team, having rejected a foreign manager who wanted to bring in his own team to avoid becoming "Middlesbrough on the Rhine". He appointed Gareth Southgate to maintain his structure, disastrous appointment.

Several appointments later he brought in Aitor Karanka. One of Karanka's biggest frustrations was that the club was clinging to this old structure and refused to change. The club signed players he didn’t identify, wouldn't allow him to overhaul the backroom team and he had Craig Hignett foisted upon him (who he promptly fell out with).

Steve Agnew was then brought in, another yes man in an attempt for Gibson to maintain the structure. Victor Orta was threw under the bus and red meat thrown at the Gazette in a bid to protect Gill and the recruitment team.

Following Monk's departure Tony Pullis spoke of the club needing a "restructuring". Again Gibson didn't like this so the changes never happened. Recruitment team once again signed players who weren’t the manager’s choice.

Yet again another yes man is appointed in Jonathan Woodgate to maintain the structure. No experience brought in, just yes men with previous connections to the club and Woodgate's mate.

Now Neil Warnock has come in and within 2 weeks spoke about how "the club needs an overhaul".

How long before Steve Gibson actually pays attention to what these managers are telling him over and over and over again?

The club desperately needs a hard reset.
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I'm not really sure how anyone could truly perceive it as an 'overhaul' while Gibson remains at the helm.

I just cannot envisage a scenario where Gibson remains the owner but is perceived to be almost totally separate from the day to day runnings. Its an extremely difficult perception to create after 26-27 years of running the club (and for the large part, very well) and longer as a key board member.
 
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15th May 2017..............

Speaking to BBC Tees, Gibson admitted that key decisions made at the top level contributed to their downfall.

"The fact that we haven't fulfilled our objective tells you we've made mistakes," said Gibson.

"It's heartbreaking really. The season's been really tough. You make decisions and your mistakes are a retrospective view of the decisions you make.

"At the time we thought we were making the right decisions with the information that we had but many things have gone wrong."

"Our plans are to change all aspects of the club. We have spent the last month looking at what we've done this season, how we've done it and what could be better.

"I've got to be careful because it will affect others who are currently within the club. We have to get it right.

"Collectively, responsibility lies through me and right the way through the club. We failed and we don't need telling that we've failed. It hurts but we have to correct our mistakes now."

"There was never anyone lined up (after the sacking of Karanka)," said Gibson. "I think the world of Steve Agnew. He's worked for this club for a very long time and he was the player's choice as well as my choice."

Once it has decided on the roles he wants people to take at the Riverside, Gibson hopes his plan will lead to a triumphant return to the top flight.

"There's only one place I want for this club and it's in the Premier League," he said.

"The club is well run and we're in a good financial state so we will have more resources going into next season than any other Championship club.
 
He still runs the club the same way he did 30 years ago, football has changed and unless he adapts to this we will continue to go backwards.

Dont think he has ever really known how to run a football club, just in the past he could just throw money at any problems he created and make them go away. Not possible to do that now unless you are backed by a billionaire.
 
Christ, if he made mistakes up to May 2017 (when that interview is dated) then how the hell would he describe what has happened since?

I don't agree with some of Pog's views, but how anybody can argue against his OP defeats me.

He got the Premier League season badly wrong, but that pales into insignificance by the post relegation calamities.

Of course there can be a complete overhaul. All that is required is for Gibson to change his attitude and behaviour. If he doesn't, the logic would point to him continuing to get things badly wrong; he largely has since 2006.
 
I'm a big admirer of Gibson partly because we wouldn't have a club without him and also because I like his approach to making the club part of the community. I don't know him, but he's clearly a good bloke.

However, looking at things objectively, I have never thought that he was any good at running a football club. From the 3 points shambles in 1997 to the disastrous Woodgate appointment in 2019, he's got it right occasionally, but wrong far more often, and that negative balance has put us where we are now.

As has been said many times, his approach is parochial and overly sentimental. He needs to make the correct decisions, but his record suggests that he probably won't. For that reason there needs to be someone more objective and hard-headed making the decisions for him. If he won't appoint someone to do that then we'll sink and might never get back.
 
The annoying thing is he only wants success on the pitch. Every decision he makes is with this in mind. He's not looking to make money. With better decision making he'd be brilliant.

Unfortunately hes too bloody minded to listen to anyone else. He certainly doesn't give much of a toss about what the fans think. Didn't he get rid of the head of the ticket office after ignoring all his suggestions on pricing and incentives? Minor in the grand scheme of things but changed the club badge with zero consultation too. Is it any surprise he doesn't listen to anyone when it comes to footballing matters?
 
Doesn't sound like he has learned a lot given he still seems desperate to find a role for Woodgate.

Our scouting network needs the most radical overhaul, the signings over the last few years have been awful. Sounds like Gibbo is more interested in keeping his yes men and "local club for local people" mentality though.

No doubt the next manager when Warnock packs in will be George Friend, or maybe Agnew deserves another crack at the whip?
 
Crucially though, does anyone think anything will change?! How many 'root and branch' inquests have we had? We'll get all the talk but we'll also end up with a dual manager role of George Friend and Craig Liddle. This, after scouring the football world obviously!
 
Pog said:
Steve Gibson has spoken previously about his reluctance to overhaul the structure and backroom team, having rejected a foreign manager who wanted to bring in his own team to avoid becoming "Middlesbrough on the Rhine". He appointed Gareth Southgate to maintain his structure, disastrous appointment.

Several appointments later he brought in Aitor Karanka. One of Karanka's biggest frustrations was that the club was clinging to this old structure and refused to change. The club signed players he didn’t identify, wouldn't allow him to overhaul the backroom team and he had Craig Hignett foisted upon him (who he promptly fell out with).

Steve Agnew was then brought in, another yes man in an attempt for Gibson to maintain the structure. Victor Orta was threw under the bus and red meat thrown at the Gazette in a bid to protect Gill and the recruitment team.

Following Monk's departure Tony Pullis spoke of the club needing a "restructuring". Again Gibson didn't like this so the changes never happened. Recruitment team once again signed players who weren’t the manager’s choice.

Yet again another yes man is appointed in Jonathan Woodgate to maintain the structure. No experience brought in, just yes men with previous connections to the club and Woodgate's mate.

Now Neil Warnock has come in and within 2 weeks spoke about how "the club needs an overhaul".

How long before Steve Gibson actually pays attention to what these managers are telling him over and over and over again?

The club desperately needs a hard reset.
Click to expand...
You should write a novel Pog!
 
He talks about learning from his mistakes then he keeps making the same ones over and over again.

We are stuck in a cycle of giving an ex playing rookie the job, then its an experienced old head to steady the ship.

We alternate from wanting attacking football to pragmatic results driven football then wonder why it goes wrong.

There's no long term plan, vision or strategy.

Either Gibson sells up, gets help with the off field decisions or we'll keep going backwards.
 
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It strikes me that these days it’s not like former times where you just slipped aside for a few years off the roundabout and then stepped back on yo-yo ing like loads of clubs did.
Now there’s a very real chance that you implode and have a real chance to cease .

We in 86 were saved by council and Big firms assisting which probably wouldn’t happen now because councils are more scrutinised and big companies are strapped .

When you go these days you really really go . Look at Wigan , Bury and Bolton . Then you get your Coventry’s and Mackems
 
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Borobarmy said:
It strikes me that these days it’s not like former times where you just slipped aside for a few years on the roundabout and then stepped back on yo-yo ing like loads of clubs did.
Now there’s a very real chance that you implode and have a real chance to cease .

We in 86 were saved by council and Big firms assisting which probably wouldn’t happen now because councils are more scrutinised and big companies are strapped .

When you go these days you really really go . Look at Wigan , Bury and Bolton . Then you get your Coventry’s and Mackems
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This is so true and makes it even crazier that Gibson stood by Woodgate for so long.
 
Is it just me that suspects the title of this thread could well be the name of JK Rowling's next book......

About a former wizard in the boardroom that has recently had a few issues in conjuring up on and off the field success. 😉
 
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