BACK in May, David Weir sent his CV to Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, asking to be considered as a replacement for David Moyes. Kenwright was sufficiently impressed to invite the former Scottish international to a London hotel. He was interviewed, and came out well, but ultimately overlooked in favour of Roberto Martinez.
Today, with Weir’s fledgling career already a smouldering ruin after a disastrous 13-game stint at Sheffield United, it is tempting to suggest that the Toffees dodged a bullet.
But the sad truth is, Weir – sacked on Friday after losing eight of his last nine games – would still be in a job had he been plying his trade at Goodison.
His philosophy of passing football and a fluid midfield would have been no trouble for Everton’s army of internationals.
After all, it’s exactly what Martinez has implemented and it took the likes of Leighton Baines and Leon Osman approximately two games to adapt from the more industrial style of Moyes. That’s what top players do.
But raw kids in League One? It takes a lot longer than that. As Gary Johnson said when son Lee, a student of Barcelona, was named Oldham manager, it isn’t simply a case of telling your players to knock it around.
“It’s a hard place,” he said. “You can have the greatest philosophy in the world, but in League One, players are very inconsistent, pitches are very inconsistent.
“You might want to pass it round 500 times on the edge of the box, but there’s no Messi and Xavi in our league. You have to get results first and play second.” Sadly for Weir, his cart came before his horse. His team passed it fine, but never looked like scoring. And when that happens, your defence is always on edge.
His players aren’t internationals. The majority aren’t even seasoned pros. Asking them to summon the confidence to play high-tempo, possession football was like asking a newly-qualified driver to race a Ferrari.
That’s not to say Weir’s way is wrong. I’d rather watch a team pass and lose than hoof and win. Give me Wigan over West Ham any day.
And I wish the Sheffield United board had the courage of their convictions. Having employed Weir on the basis of his philosophy, they should have been brave enough to give him a chance. It was always going to take time.
But a manager is only as good as his players. And Weir’s downfall was a failure to realise that his weren’t capable of playing his way.
Now? Well, don’t expect another left-field appointment like Weir. Having had their fingers burned, the United board will want a man who knows the league and knows the club. A man, for instance, like Russell Slade.
Would he swap top for bottom? The fact is, table-topping Orient are probably as high as they are likely to get. United, in 23rd, are probably at rock bottom. Pragmatism suggests that they will pass each other at some point.
Slade – a former Blades coach – will know that. He will also know that his stock may never be higher. This could be his only chance to manage a big club. It would be a big surprise if United didn’t go calling.
TOWNSEND GOT THERE DESPITE LOANS – NOT BECAUSE OF THEM
SO Andros Townsend, England hero. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see that one coming.
There have been times in the last few years when I could barely go to a game without the Spurs winger appearing on the team-sheet.
Yeovil, Orient, MK Dons, Ipswich, Watford, Millwall, Leeds, Birmingham, QPR – the lad has bounced around more clubs than George Best on a night out. None of them lasted too long. None were laden with goals.
So now that he’s a Spurs regular and an England prospect, does that also make him a triumph for the loan system?
Spurs will say yes. Me, I’m not sure. Yes, those clubs helped Townsend develop. But a handful of games here and an appearance off the bench there is a slow way to go about it.
Townsend’s not a kid. He’s 22. By that age, Lukas Podolski was approaching 50 caps for Germany. Had Townsend played regularly for a lesser club – or even had longer loan spells – he might already be an international star.
MADINE HAS TIME TO MEND HIS WAYS
AT 23, Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine, left, has plenty of time to mend his ways and rebuild his career after being sentenced to 18-months in jail for GBH.
Mind you, he might want to contemplate a change of direction. After all, in 22 Championship games last season, the big forward scored just three goals. In six seasons as a pro, he has averaged only eight a year.
Yet in just three nightclub fights he has broken a man’s jaw, shattered another’s cheekbone and knocked one out cold. Is it me, or is Madine in the wrong sport?
AXEMAN TREW IS TRYING LOYALTY INSTEAD
WELL played Ray Trew at Notts County. In seasons past, manager Chris Kiwomya would have been a goner by now.
The former Ipswich striker has overseen the Magpies’ worst start to a season in their 151-year history, losing six of the first seven games and slumping to the foot of League One.
At a club as volatile and trigger happy as County, that would normally be a death sentence.
Since buying the club in early 2010, former Lincoln chairman Trew has been through five permanent managers, sacking all but one.
Kiwomya’s predecessor, Keith Curle, was dismissed with a win percentage of 45 per cent. Craig Short had 44 per cent. Even Martin Allen and Paul Ince, at 37 and 34 per cent respectively, could hardly be accused of doing a bad job. None was in a relegation fight.
Yet Kiwomya – whose record is far worse than any of them – is still kicking. And what’s more, last week’s 4-0 win over Crewe suggests the tide is finally turning.
Obviously two wins – both against struggling sides – is no reason to start doing cartwheels. There is much to be done. But if County do build on this, Trew deserves enormous credit for recognising the error of his ways.
Sacking managers on the back of one bad run only ever creates instability. Tactics and systems change, personnel too. Every summer sees a raft of transfers. Finishes of 17th, 7th and 12th are hardly indicative of steady progress.
I’m sure Curle, Ince or Allen would have got it right given the support and time to make mistakes and finesse a side. Maybe Trew has come to the same conclusion. For Kiwomya’s sake, I hope so.
