Preece leaves St George's Lane

[Deleted]

theoffy said:

Yes, I know we did not give him too much stick but we were certainly frustrated at some of his tactic selections.

The trouble with the buck stopping at the chairman, in our case is if you lose the man at the top, a club our size will fold and disappear, even with the new ground around the corner.

The 300 mile round trip can be lived with, he was not playing remember, it was the lack of contact with his team, who themselves have real jobs and lived just as far a field.

There was time when turning up to travel away from SGL, that the team bus would leave with only 3 or 4 team members on it. I am a firm believer that build up to a game is important and everyone turning up seperately 'not bonding' can not help.

I do believe that the 'not professional' team does not help but there has not been a lot of difference between the professionals and us this season so far.

300 mile round trip maybe 3 times a week, its a killer. And remember he probably got to the ground on Saturdays at 1.00, so left home probably about 9 and didnt get back till after 10 at night. Monday night games he wouldnt get home till gone 1 in the morning. I spoke a few times about this with JB, it was the one thing which really really got him down.
I do agree that the lack of bonding must have made it difficult too. I see Selb nearly every Sunday, and its obvious he bonded a hell of a lot with players in the City teams he played with. you used to see groups of city players in places like Bottles during the week. Maybe I harp back to the olden days, but there di seem to be a tighter bond.
Anyone who was at the Boys of 79 night would have seen for themselves just what a tight unit Nobby knitted together there.

[alwaysnextyear]

Nobby's boys were primarily Birmingham based, and were mates both on and off the pitch, and this bonding showed. An example being when the players voluntarily took a pay cut so that Bobby Mellor could stay on the books. Nobby created an atmosphere amongst the players and fans ( kickstarted by the one and only Compton Edwards ) that we haven't seen since. At the time I took it for granted that we could play entertaining winning football, scoring lots of goals with reliable consistent performances week in, week out from the likes of Kevin Tudor, Malcolm Phelps, Norman Pemberton and the greatest player I've ever seen in a City shirt, Barry Williams. Sure they played stinkers now and again but boy, what value. The general 25 years of dross ever since, just makes me appreciate it more. The team had character as well as class.

[voiceofreason]

jcp said:

voiceofreason said:

Very sorry as an old school pal & ex-team mate of mine(Peopleton FC!!!!);some of the comments on here are unwarranted, including one 'know-it-all' who's just resurfaced to snipe at AP. When he'd be completely clueless in the same situation!

Good luck anyway, AP/Preecey;Hope you prove WCFC wrong!

And good luckto WCFC in appointing a decent new boss in picking up, as TJ described, possibly the biggest 'poisoned chalice', below The Conference!

More mediocrity beckons........

Poisoned Chalice? Where does this guff come from? We've only had 4 managers in the last 15 years, Barty did 6 years and Preecey is in his 3rd season. As managers jobs go, its one of the more secure, with a Board well prepared to give the manager all the rope he needs.
I'm sure most managers at out level would love the opportunity to manage at a club like City, with big support, a decent big ground and big plans for the future.

Make your mind up! If you can't work out why, you need to look at the last quarter of a century!

[colinlayland]

voiceofreason said:

jcp said:

Poisoned Chalice? Where does this guff come from? We've only had 4 managers in the last 15 years, Barty did 6 years and Preecey is in his 3rd season. As managers jobs go, its one of the more secure, with a Board well prepared to give the manager all the rope he needs.
I'm sure most managers at out level would love the opportunity to manage at a club like City, with big support, a decent big ground and big plans for the future.

Make your mind up! If you can't work out why, you need to look at the last quarter of a century!

If you looking at poisoned chalice's, Halifax have had 12 managers in the last 15 years,and 17 in the last 25 years.

[Tony is not to despondent now.]

It appears to me that AP had lost the ability to motivate his players, and this is why we had such mediocre results.

If he ranted and raved in the dressing room as he did on the touchline then one can understand why he lost the players respect.

Respect begets respect, and motivation comes from respect.

[Deleted]

voiceofreason said:

jcp said:

Poisoned Chalice? Where does this guff come from? We've only had 4 managers in the last 15 years, Barty did 6 years and Preecey is in his 3rd season. As managers jobs go, its one of the more secure, with a Board well prepared to give the manager all the rope he needs.
I'm sure most managers at out level would love the opportunity to manage at a club like City, with big support, a decent big ground and big plans for the future.

Make your mind up! If you can't work out why, you need to look at the last quarter of a century!

Mind totally made up pal, if I was a manager at this level, as Ealing says, I'd jump at the chance. with so many insecure posts in football, City must be one of the safest thanks to the Board who are looking to build on stability. Sure we had a dodgy patch in the '80s but that wasa long time ago. Since 1992 we've had 4 managers, thats stability, and certainly no poisoned chalice. What's more one of those manager is even prepared to come back in a caretaker role!!

[andy]

I think it is pushing it a little, Jem, to invoke what I said about an 'unbalanced squad' in support of your case for an 'unbalanced side which has been that way for a while'. I am not going to sit in judgement over whether 3-5-2/5-3-2 is a better way to play than 4-4-2. The manager played it that way and he played it that way with the players he had.

I said that we NOW have an unbalanced squad with nine defenders and three midfielders, and that I understood why that has happened. With early season injuries to Smith, Shabs and Burley, and Gill after Tamworth, I can understand why Doran, Liburd and Barrett were brought in.

What I dont understand at all is the midfield situation. Shaun Findlay is out until at least Christmas with a hip injury that the Club was aware of (apparently) at the end of last season. Nic Colley wasnt available until September, again something that appeared to be a legacy from last season.

Why would AP have released (or not replaced) Tom Warmer if that situation with the two players had been known to him? Why wasnt the midfield strengthened when it obviously needed as much attention as the defence BEFORE the season started?

The midfield situation has got progressivley worse. First we had Jai and Tom, with Colley and Clegg - then Jai left and Findlay came in and then Cornes came in (replaced by Macca).

For some reason, we've gone from five in midfield to four. Could we really afford not to replace Findlay when it was found out it would be for half of the season, and that four had suddenly become three, then two?. Was Preece made aware of the extent of fitness and injuries? Or did it come as a surprise to him like some of the injuries of others seemed to?

How about Nic? Did AP know that he would miss all of the pre-season and not be available for the first 7-8 games?

How can you play four in midfield when you've only got three in the squad?

Why was money (presumably) made available to strengthen short-term injury woes (3-4 weeks) in defence and not medium-term injury woes in midfield? Was Preecey saddled with an injury-hit midfield over the close season without him knowing?

[Deleted]

Sorry Andy, I should have written squad - my point wasn't about formation at all but that same lack of midfielders in the squad (which has probably led to players being played out of position).
Although to me this unbalanced squad has been there for some time. Too many forwards - 5 to fill 2 places, yet only 3 or 4 midfielders to fill 4 or 5 places. Just not enough cover in the engine room. At the back plenty of defenders too. And to fill the gaps players have had no choice but to play out of position.

[andy]

Even if we were intending to play with wing-backs with three in midfield, it was clear in the close season that there was not enough in midfield.

[DrAgony]

'Premature' is the description of AP's departure that fits uncomfortably well for me. But on the grounds of 'Least said, soonest mended' I'll leave my personal teeth-grinding at that.

These events have also brought, in another of his Lazarus impersonations, BARFTUB back to life (though not, it seems, CG). So might I respectfully suggest that the interviewees be checked for the requisite thickness of skin.

As to a successor, I'm surprised BARFTUB himself hasn't suggested his new best-friend. He's invincible, he's indefatigable and he's in de area - it's Andrew Guy!

[wh]

leedswcfc said:

I'm disappointed to hear that Andy Preece has gone although I'm not surprised. I still had faith in him as, it seems, did most other City fans.
The story doesn't say whether he was sacked or if he resigned so anyone such as BBC H & W who makes such a claim is merely guessing.

I'm sure Andy will prove to be a great success somewhere and I join in in wishing him the very best of luck for the future.

totally agree, not surprised.

You go away for a few days and look what happens

As I have said elsewhere IMHO Barty's teams were more enjoyable to watch so it will be interesting to see how he gets this squad to perform no the
shackles are now off.

Also we need a local (based in Midlands) manager and majority of players this is the only way you can function correctly.

Then it doesnt matter if we play north or south.

For me though it was training that was the real problem, twice a week travelling 4 hours is not good for the players and for the travelling expenses incured by the club.

I dont agree with some comments that our players are left overs from other northern clubs, I think we have a cracking bunch of players what we need now is them to start playing as a team.

up the city

[Deleted]

wh said:

leedswcfc said:

I'm disappointed to hear that Andy Preece has gone although I'm not surprised. I still had faith in him as, it seems, did most other City fans.
The story doesn't say whether he was sacked or if he resigned so anyone such as BBC H & W who makes such a claim is merely guessing.

I'm sure Andy will prove to be a great success somewhere and I join in in wishing him the very best of luck for the future.

totally agree, not surprised.

You go away for a few days and look what happens

As I have said elsewhere IMHO Barty's teams were more enjoyable to watch so it will be interesting to see how he gets this squad to perform no the
shackles are now off.

Also we need a local (based in Midlands) manager and majority of players this is the only way you can function correctly.

Then it doesnt matter if we play north or south.

For me though it was training that was the real problem, twice a week travelling 4 hours is not good for the players and for the travelling expenses incured by the club.

I dont agree with some comments that our players are left overs from other northern clubs, I think we have a cracking bunch of players what we need now is them to start playing as a team.

up the city

Put it this way Wayne - if you were offered two very similar jobs that you knew you'd be very good at, one was based in Worcester, the other was based in Droylsden (and you'd have to go there most Saturdays and a couple of evenings a week) which one would you take? Same money, maybe even a little more with the Droylsden work?
Non League football is a big part time commitment and our former manager made a decision to base his team up North, so the question is, if we are not getting the left overs, are we getting the very best players available in non-league at this level based in the North? I just don't think we are.

[andy]

So which of our players, apart from Clegg, is based up north?

[theoffy]

I have always felt that the thing that has let AP down is the lack of a general on the pitch, especially this season, I know we sometime bemoaned Des Lyttle but at least he was trying to show some stewardship on the pitch.

[Deleted]

The ones who live North of Derby etc. I don't know their exact location, but the manager has said before (and the chairman) that location has had a bearing on which players are looked at. Burley lives in Sheffield doesn't he? Nwadike? Smith? Liburd?
How many are based south of Birmingham?

[Tim Munslow]

Add Ryan Clarke and Paul Barratt to the list of those based "up North". Which is far too many in an 18-man squad, if that's the size of our squad. Even Adam Webster has to travel from Leicester. On top of a day's work it's just too much; I know they are all (comparatively) young, but it's wearing just the same.

[alwaysnextyear]

Too true. Another of my long running complaints. We've signed every other player from all points 30 miles north of Birmingham. I didn't realise there were so good players available in so many teams in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire !Personally at this level, I wouldn't sign anyone more than a regular hour's drive away. How can you seriously have fresh players turning up who travel further to a home game than an away game ? Might help to explain why the home record has been so relatively poor compared to our away form over the Preece reign? I'm sure that Andy with his stats would have some comparison between our home and away form ?

[hadley]

wh said:

leedswcfc said:

I'm disappointed to hear that Andy Preece has gone although I'm not surprised. I still had faith in him as, it seems, did most other City fans.
The story doesn't say whether he was sacked or if he resigned so anyone such as BBC H & W who makes such a claim is merely guessing.

I'm sure Andy will prove to be a great success somewhere and I join in in wishing him the very best of luck for the future.

totally agree, not surprised.

You go away for a few days and look what happens

As I have said elsewhere IMHO Barty's teams were more enjoyable to watch so it will be interesting to see how he gets this squad to perform no the
shackles are now off.

Also we need a local (based in Midlands) manager and majority of players this is the only way you can function correctly.

Then it doesnt matter if we play north or south.

For me though it was training that was the real problem, twice a week travelling 4 hours is not good for the players and for the travelling expenses incured by the club.

I dont agree with some comments that our players are left overs from other northern clubs, I think we have a cracking bunch of players what we need now is them to start playing as a team.

up the city

[hadley]

I am glad to see that the Worcester faithful are mostly in agreeance that we need a Midlands based manager with good knowledge of the midlands non-league scene.
We need someone who is passionate about winning for the team and for the club as a whole.
We need a good tactition who can bring back the style of football that we all love to see and what Mr Boddy and the directors have wanted for a while.
I wish Barty good luck as I think he still has Worcester's best interests at heart, irrelevant of the past.

[andy]

Is Sutton Coldfield really 'up north', Tim?

First, I'll just have a look at the stats in relation to 'Every other player from all points 30 miles north of Birmingham'.

Danny - West Midlands somewhere
Doran - West Midlands
Smudger - Derby
Rapinder - Bromsgrove?
Patrece - Leeds
Paul Barrett - Manchester
Clarke - Sutton Coldfield
Shabs - Worcester
Burley - West Midlands
Graham Ward - ? Midlands somewhere
Nic Colley - Lichfield
Gary Walker - Redditch
Emeka - Nottingham
Clegg - Manchester
Craig Wilding - Warwickshire?
Webby - Hinckley
Danksy - Stourbridge
Troy Wood - Worcester

Thats 3 or 4 of 18 having travel times longer than if they lived in Hereford. They probably stay with mates in Worcester anyway.

Wasnt Manchester-based Barrett voted player-of-the-month? By fans?

[Deleted]

Well I can count 8 on that list who travel far further than "if they lived in Hereford" Has Adam Burley upped sticks from Sheffield?? If he's still there that makes 9, almost a whole team of long distance travellers. Interestingly the two counties of Hereford and Worcester can only boast 3 players for the team. If you look at it the other way, how many Worcester based players are doing similar trips in the other direction, i.e playing for Northern teams?
Are there really no other players South of Worcester, West of Worcester or East of Worcester who have the ability to play for Worcester City?
I'm not suggesting that the right players who really want to play for the club who live that far way shouldn't be signed - Steve Rutter lived in Kent I believe - but it's always been a clearly stated policy by the management to choose only Northern players (because of the league we are in). Surely that must have meant a) we missed out on good players who didn't want to travel the distances (maybe it was in Seddons mind) and b) we missed out on decent players in the BG leagues or even Conf South or released from Midlands league clubs, as they were geographically challenged.
Interestingly I went to Derby today on business, left at 7.30, got there for just gone 10. Home journey took the A38 instead, left at 4 and back home 6.30ish. Herefords a half hour doddle, 45 mins if theres fog over Fromes Hill.

[Deleted]

oldbutnew said:

'Premature' is the description of AP's departure that fits uncomfortably well for me. But on the grounds of 'Least said, soonest mended' I'll leave my personal teeth-grinding at that.

These events have also brought, in another of his Lazarus impersonations, BARFTUB back to life (though not, it seems, CG). So might I respectfully suggest that the interviewees be checked for the requisite thickness of skin.

As to a successor, I'm surprised BARFTUB himself hasn't suggested his new best-friend. He's invincible, he's indefatigable and he's in de area - it's Andrew Guy!

i'm actually still banned and having to use "black hat" methods to get on here. And I can't use my name like many others can as its also banned, so a pseudonym is all i got!!! till I'm deleted again.

Unfortunately I won't be putting myself forward for the managers job, i retired last year after 3 successful years, 3 finals and two trophies Plus I think I'm banned by the Worcestershire FA too!!!!

[andy]

Went to Derby the other day from Ledbury. Took me one hour and 20 minutes. 25 minutes of that is getting to Worcester North. Took me over an hour to get into Hereford yesterday.

Make the data say what anyone wants it to say. But it clearly doesnt support any one-sided viewpoint. Time of day has a lot to do with it, most of which will be in the players favour.

And lets just go back a short while and add in Des Lyttle, Justin Thompson, Tom Warmer, Sam Wedgbury, Danny Hodnett, Chris Cornes, Dennis Pearce and Jai Stanley - all locally-based - in place of Leeds-based Liburd, Nottingham-based Nwadike and Manchester-based Barrett.

It all looks like a bit of an urban myth to me.

[darrellbutler]

Only 'cause I can't work out how to ban you, I'll have to wait for Mazey to get back from Ayia Napa, Alicante, Colwyn Bay or wherever it is he's gone.

[colinlayland]

oldbutnew said:

'Premature' is the description of AP's departure that fits uncomfortably well for me. But on the grounds of 'Least said, soonest mended' I'll leave my personal teeth-grinding at that.

These events have also brought, in another of his Lazarus impersonations, BARFTUB back to life (though not, it seems, CG). So might I respectfully suggest that the interviewees be checked for the requisite thickness of skin.

As to a successor, I'm surprised BARFTUB himself hasn't suggested his new best-friend. He's invincible, he's indefatigable and he's in de area - it's Andrew Guy!

Premature maybe,but how many managers jobs did Andy Preece go after in the time he was at Worcester,I think you will find he would have gone 12 months ago if he had been successful with any of his applications.

[Mark]

Someone told me months ago that Preecey applied for 'every decent job that came up north of Worcester'.

[LeedsWCFC]

This is beginning to sound like backstabbing now that he has gone. It might or might not be true but "someone told me" is hardly authoritative, is it?

[tim]

The reason this job was referred to as a "poisoned chalice" is because the supporter expectations are so high - three good seasons in the late 70s and we all think we have a right to win every game 5-0, and anything other than success isn't good enough. We don't know where the key to the trophy cabinet is, yet still think we will win everything. We never have, bar the middle part of the Nobby era, and the infrastructure isn't there to do so just yet. JB was roundly slagged in many quarters for some of his tactical stuff (and I hold my hand up and say again that the time was right for him to go when he did), AP was slagged almost from day one by various people for various things, primarily tactics and discipline. Before these last two incumbents, Graham Allner was 3-0 down before a ball was kicked in the minds of many here due to previous jobs he'd held (ok he didn't exactly do much to win anyone over) and poor George couldn't do anything right for many, yet he was the only manager who has got us high enough in the league to have been in with a shout in the last 20 years. Nobody will be able to succeed unless we win every week.

[gobby cow]

leedswcfc said:

This is beginning to sound like backstabbing now that he has gone. It might or might not be true but "someone told me" is hardly authoritative, is it?

Does it matter, the man has left. The past cannot be changed, surely we should all be looking forward to what the future holds.

Whatever I think of AP, it is immaterial as I am more interested in finding a good manager, and assistant manager, a decent captain that leads his troops and some blinking team spirit. Hopefully the fear of getting the boot will wake up the half hearted and the ones who cant even manage that. We have too many players who are only interested in the wages and not the club. I must be a bit dim but I would have thought being able to play football as a living must be heaven if you love the sport. It just seems a chore to several of our team.

As for the travelling I think Andy you are mistaking the total choas that is Hereford city centre traffic as driving, you take hours to go one mile. Trundling down the motorway is very tiring, especially after a days work. Then having to train and drive back is a big commitment.

Hereford to Worcester is an easy daily commute and is done by lots of people. Lichfield to Worcester is not, plus they have to fight their way through the rush hour traffic.

Noone in their right mind would go to Hereford by car as the traffic is such a nightmare. Go by train Andy it is quick and easy and relatively cheap!

[B*ue dragonstander]

I think we might find that supporters expectations are "so high" at every club at or above our level. (actually thats only United and Liverpool!)