Adrian Pennock New Manager

[Suffolk Blue]

Some positive thoughts.

1. We're turning a new page (thankfully) and not trying to adhere to continuity for continuity's sake. This was clearly needed though I feel sorry for Neil Hornby in all of this.

2. At this level AP would be considered by most independent observers as a decent choice and better than just a safe pair of hands. Most reports say he is a real professional manager, a nice guy and a thinker about the game. Being able to get
inside the heads of players is always a must for a BAFC manager

3. Because of these factors and possibly the biggest positive of all, I do think he is more likely to act and behave in ways more in line with the Cassons' liking. I think that there is every chance that the relationship will be (on-field crises apart)
relatively harmonious and much more so than with Cox.

4. Not clear yet, but I'm pretty sure AP will bring in with him at least one really decent assistant. He's a team sort of a guy. Need to keep eyes peeled for a further announcement.

Still think the next few months will be tough and success is far from guaranteed. However, this feels like the most positive thing the club has done since appointing Cox - which lets face - for a time at least worked really well. Lastly some positive commitment from the owner. These choices will not have come cheaply. So well done. My "hope-ometer" has just risen a few notches.

[Barrow afc 2018]

+1

[barrowfan]

May have missed it but how long a contract does he have?

[mickmike wilson]

He was a coach at Stoke for 6/7 years, and presumably didn't uproot the family from Kent. Loads of blokes of all ages work away all week (BAE contractors etc), so this is unlikely to be an issue at all.

I know, but those blokes you talk about usually work away all week then go home at weekends. Often cramming all their work into 4 days then getting a long weekend at home. That isn't an option for a football manager who has training all week, preparing and travelling with the team on a Friday then a match on a Saturday. His wife might get the odd Sunday out of him if she's lucky.

Additionally, using the same analogy. If one of those contractors was offered a similar job, similar terms but much closer to home and their families would they take it? More than likely. So assuming Pennock does well with us, what happens when a decent job further south comes up?

Our G.I. Is always our Achilles Heel (Someone build that Barrage already) So having a home base is probably the best thing in this situation, lesser of the 2 evils if you like, Most Saturday evenings & Sunday at home, As we don’t usually train on Wednesday’s he could be home early Tuesday evening until daft o’clock Thursday am to drive to Rochdale, I’m sure once he is fully settled in they will be some flexibility between the coaching staff where in rotation one at a time they take an extra day off for family time & nothing stop Wives & families visiting them on match days with the odd Barrow home game thrown in, Not an ideal world but then again none of us live in one of those.
AP has already said he did this with Stoke for several seasons but as we are soooo further away and travel times longer, I’d adopt that rotation extra day off once monthly.

[glasgow_blue]

If he thought the travelling was a problem, he wouldn't have applied for the job.

[mickmike wilson]

I’m sure your right GB as no one in the history of the world have ever took a job then totally underestimated the slog.....I am NOT saying this will be the case here but in the real world it does happen.

[glasgow_blue]

I could understand that with someone with less experianced Mick. This guy's been around the block though so no worries for me regarding any travel. And as previously mentioned, we have plenty of games down south which will lead to plenty of long weekends at home.

[FGR Fan]

Be interested to see how AP does for you, not universally popular here but got results with a good budget and could do the same for you.

Would have thought he'll bring in Jamie Day(assistant) and Neil Withington (fitness coach) with him, although both like him are Kent based so long term all that travelling will be an issue. Quite surprised to see them go that far north, but suppose a jobs a job. Must have a decent budget available to tempt them. Expect your squad to be over hauled, barely any players left from the previous regime were kept on when AP came here, signed about 20 players in his first half season/summer.

[Hitthebar22]

Be interested to see how AP does for you, not universally popular here but got results with a good budget and could do the same for you.

Would have thought he'll bring in Jamie Day(assistant) and Neil Withington (fitness coach) with him, although both like him are Kent based so long term all that travelling will be an issue. Quite surprised to see them go that far north, but suppose a jobs a job. Must have a decent budget available to tempt them. Expect your squad to be over hauled, barely any players left from the previous regime were kept on when AP came here, signed about 20 players in his first half season/summer.

Be interested to see how AP does for you, not universally popular here but got results with a good budget and could do the same for you.

Would have thought he'll bring in Jamie Day(assistant) and Neil Withington (fitness coach) with him, although both like him are Kent based so long term all that travelling will be an issue. Quite surprised to see them go that far north, but suppose a jobs a job. Must have a decent budget available to tempt them. Expect your squad to be over hauled, barely any players left from the previous regime were kept on when AP came here, signed about 20 players in his first half season/summer.

Thank you for that. Can I ask you what his playing style is like?
We had an ok season and a half under Cox, but it was tough to watch at times. Predictably long balls all the time and as soon as possible when in possession. The goalkeeper wasn’t allowed to throw or roll it out. All throw ins went down the line.
A lot of us feel we lost a significant number of supports for just that reason. Very ugly football at times.

[FGR Fan]

No problem. Pennock was a Pulis disciple and our playing style was based around being hard to beat, which we were. It wasn't always pretty but I wouldn't say it was as direct as Cox tends to be though.

Pennock likes to use wingers and brought in Elliott Frear and Keanu Marsh-Brown, two very exciting players and in Jon Parkin we had an excellent target to play around. Don't expect too much playing out from the back, but if you have talented players in the attacking third they will be allowed to express themselves.

I would expect the focus initially will be on tightening up and making you a very fit side, we scored a lot of late goals under his management.
The basics will all be done well and you'll be a tough nut to crack.

[Pedro]

Be good to see who he brings in to assist I would like to see Peter Taylor come as he has been round the block and I think the week off is good so he can actually get the players to understand what he wants from them.
He will also find out if players want to leave.I am not sure about Moussa but if he figures in there plans he should get him to sign a extension now,if not sell him.I am convinced he could bring in a equal or better defender.
Hopefully he will bring a few players in that can play more than one dimensional football.
Its a long way from Kent but a third of our games to play are down South and I am sure he can manage to schedule it so he gets time at home on a Sunday and Monday.
Cannot understand why FGR got rid of him when he got them in the play off places, they appointed Mark Cooper but he failed to get them through the plaoffs

[Hitthebar22]

No problem. Pennock was a Pulis disciple and our playing style was based around being hard to beat, which we were. It wasn't always pretty but I wouldn't say it was as direct as Cox tends to be though.

Pennock likes to use wingers and brought in Elliott Frear and Keanu Marsh-Brown, two very exciting players and in Jon Parkin we had an excellent target to play around. Don't expect too much playing out from the back, but if you have talented players in the attacking third they will be allowed to express themselves.

I would expect the focus initially will be on tightening up and making you a very fit side, we scored a lot of late goals under his management.
The basics will all be done well and you'll be a tough nut to crack.

[Hitthebar22]

No problem. Pennock was a Pulis disciple and our playing style was based around being hard to beat, which we were. It wasn't always pretty but I wouldn't say it was as direct as Cox tends to be though.

Pennock likes to use wingers and brought in Elliott Frear and Keanu Marsh-Brown, two very exciting players and in Jon Parkin we had an excellent target to play around. Don't expect too much playing out from the back, but if you have talented players in the attacking third they will be allowed to express themselves.

I would expect the focus initially will be on tightening up and making you a very fit side, we scored a lot of late goals under his management.
The basics will all be done well and you'll be a tough nut to crack.

Thanks for that. Sounds very suited to the National League. There has been a lot of optimism following his appointment. Fingers crossed. Final question - why did he get sacked just before the playoffs?!!

[Moribund]

He got sacked because they were on a run of about seven without a win, and they thought they were in danger of throwing it away in the play-offs - which is ironically what happened anyway. It did actually kind of make sense at the time, even though it looks like madness with hindsight. (And to Pedro; Cooper wasn't in charge of FGR until after the play-offs)

[Pedro]

He got sacked because they were on a run of about seven without a win, and they thought they were in danger of throwing it away in the play-offs - which is ironically what happened anyway. It did actually kind of make sense at the time, even though it looks like madness with hindsight. (And to Pedro; Cooper wasn't in charge of FGR until after the play-offs)

Thanks