Andy Munro reflects on Steve Cotterill’s departure from St Andrews.
Well, as I write this, Steve Cotterill has received his P45/fat pay off and, to be honest, it’s not before time for most of us Bluenoses, even if we must now have spent more on managers than players this season. Thankfully, Alan Pardew is still employed so there is a fair chance that any replacement will be an improvement.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Cotterill managed to make a half-decent side on paper look like they are sleepwalking into relegation when their CVs should warrant at least mid-table.
This can be illustrated thus…..
DAVID STOCKDALE: Championship keeper of the year 2017
MAXIME COLIN: Judged by journos to be in the top ten Championship fullbacks
CARL JENKINSON: once capped for England and still seen as a Gunners ‘prospect’
MARC ROBERTS: Ex-Barnsley captain and leader
HARLEE DEANE: Ex-Brentford captain and leader
CRAIG GARDNER: Ex-Premier League player alleged to bleed blue blood and a dead ball specialist
JOTA: Creative and supremely skilful midfielder who was our record signing
MIKEL KIEFTENBELDE Ex-Dutch Premier League captain and target for high-flying Derby
JEREMY BOGA: Flair player on the fringe of the Chelsea first team squad
JACQUES MAGHOMA: Congolese international who is capable of both scoring and making goals
SAM GALLAGHER: Young and quick target man who scored regularly for Blackburn despite their struggles last season
This compares favourably to any team in the top half of the Championship and that’s why Cotterill had to go, as he failed to bring about the teamwork, cohesion and cameraderie that was needed to make them function effectively.
Who else is to blame? The hangers-on and advisers to a quite frankly naïve board.