Brian McClair to join FC Antwerp?

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 03:25

I'm not sure wether to put this in the United forum, the Football-forum or the Transfer-Forum (please correct if necessary)

In news from the Belgian front, Brian McClair is one of two remaining candidates to take the hotseat as Antwerp FC-Manager. He would move across the Channel in a loan deal.

Antwerp are struggling very badly this season and McClair would be their third manager of the season and the fourth in 7 months.

Belgium's oldest club has descended into total chaos. Their last manager - who is still waiting to be sacked officially, though the club say his contract ended on December 31st - was a Serbian taxi driver without any top flight experience. Stories about mismanagement are rife...

They include stories of players not showing up for practice, players saying they wouldn't play for the club anymore after being substituted, not training and then being in the starting line-up for the next game (we're talking about ManUtd-prospect Hussain)

And stories of two wives of one African player slugging it out in the dressing room...

The once-popular club of a proud city are currently threatened by relegation and drew a mere 3.000 for recent home games

DJH · 3rd January 2004, 03:52

Interesting news. Might be time to send over some of our better kids for a spell. Hopefully help them in their relegation battle whilst also giving our players some valuable expeience in a pressure situation. The likes of Chis Eagles, Paul McShane and Eddie Johnson would be good.

Penny · 3rd January 2004, 04:00

Richardson and possibly a defender like Thierney to calm down the team (together with McClair of course). I would still like to see Antwerp doing well else it will be hard to convince the players to be signed and then loaned out there then if Antwerp is not playing in the top flight ...

News that Antwerp supremo was in Manchester to meet up with the official ... so it could be true here ... It make sense as well - McClair better than a Serbian Taxi-Driver ... any doubters ?? :drunk:

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 04:35

I rate McClair as a manager and I have no doubts he can do better than that taxi driver

Obviously the players have worked under McClaiar and so I think it would be excellent for both McClair - to get more experince as manager - and the players - who will learn a lot from him.

numlock · 3rd January 2004, 05:14

It would be bad for the u-19 and the youth cup run though.

I just gotta ask how did this serbian get the job and why in gods name did utd not influence the decision of a new manager? I mean antwerp has on average 2-5 utd players in their squad a season

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 05:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by numlock

It would be bad for the u-19 and the youth cup run though.

I just gotta ask how did this serbian get the job and why in gods name did utd not influence the decision of a new manager? I mean antwerp has on average 2-5 utd players in their squad a season

I reckon Filho can take over the youth teams and also possibly Sbragia helping out.

Slightly off topic but what does Mulesteen does at United?Teach the youngsters how to play the game?

numlock · 3rd January 2004, 05:24

Mulesteen is more with the youngest ones. I remember seeing him on mutv where they had this show called something like skill school and they would do a stepover, maradona and all that. I think he is teaching technique atleast to that age group. Think he said in the show it was all about having fun while doing it but he seemed quite disciplined.

I think they filho and maybe sbragia could do the job but i rate mclair very highly. There is something about him

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 05:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by numlock

Mulesteen is more with the youngest ones. I remember seeing him on mutv where they had this show called something like skill school and they would do a stepover, maradona and all that. I think he is teaching technique atleast to that age group. Think he said in the show it was all about having fun while doing it but he seemed quite disciplined.

I think they filho and maybe sbragia could do the job but i rate mclair very highly. There is something about him

Agreed.

I also rate Choccy extremely highly.Will be interesting to see how he does at Antwerp

Gazza · 3rd January 2004, 05:56

Would surely be the first case a manager takes charge at another club on loan?

Antwerp sound like a terrible team, but it would be good for Choccy to get some experience in the hotseat.

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 06:14

Speeaking of Antwerp how are HEath and the other guy(Jones?) doing

tine · 3rd January 2004, 09:09

Heath is involved in most games, but as a sub.
Fox never seems to be involved, altho he has been away for some time playing for England (U19? U20?)

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazza

Would surely be the first case a manager takes charge at another club on loan?

Antwerp sound like a terrible team, but it would be good for Choccy to get some experience in the hotseat.

Antwerp are a club in turmoil. From one point of view, you wouldn't want to send a youngster to join a crap team in a club that's going nowhere but 2nd Div, but on the other hand: if you can survive RAFC, you can probably survive anything

I think they'll get relegated, to be honest, which probably means they'll go out of business...

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 13:42

I can see our newest member is from Antwerp.

Maybe some of you who has access to the newbie can post his thoughts here?

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 14:38

I'm guessing he's one of the many people from Antwerp, who actually support Anderlecht (looking at his fav. player).

tine · 3rd January 2004, 18:59

McClair isn't going anywhere, Antwerp picked someone else

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tine

McClair isn't going anywhere, Antwerp picked someone else

Interesting,who did they pick then?

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 19:25

Antwerp have just appointed Marc Grosjean - the former Mons-Manager - to be their fourth Manager in 7 months.

Grosjean was the first Manager to be given the sack this season, after just five games into the new campaign.

Grosjean - who doesn't speak Dutch and will manage only his 2nd top flight team - was nr 2 on a list of three candidats that included McClair.

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Red Machine

Antwerp have just appointed Marc Grosjean - the former Mons-Manager - to be their fourth Manager in 7 months.

Grosjean was the first Manager to be given the sack this season, after just five games into the new campaign.

Grosjean - who doesn't speak Dutch and will manage only his 2nd top flight team - was nr 2 on a list of three candidats that included McClair.

How did he do at Mons then?

How long did he stay there?

And who was the third candidate?

:xmas:

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melvinyeo

How did he do at Mons then?

How long did he stay there?

And who was the third candidate?

:xmas:

He got promoted with Mons at the end of the 01-02-season. The club has extremely good political ties, which has meant they received massive financial support - currently, they are completely redevelopping their stadium into an all-seater (all expenses paid by the city)

They had a good season last year, mainly due to Cedric Roussel, the former Coventry-striker who was joint-topscorer with 21 goals. However, after he moved to Genk, they collapsed early on in the season and Grosjean was sacked after five games.

Last year, Mons finished 9th.

Currently, they have a wacky former Juventus-player (Sergio Brio, who played for Juve in the Platini-era) as a Manager and they - as much as Antwerp - look as favourites for the drop.

First name on the list was former Lokeren-Manager Paul Put, who was sacked in November. Probably the most ridculous sacking in the Belgian League's history. Great Manager, but he hadn't yet sorted out the financial part of his sacking at Lokeren...

MelvinYeo · 3rd January 2004, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Red Machine

He got promoted with Mons at the end of the 01-02-season. The club has extremely good political ties, which has meant they received massive financial support - currently, they are completely redevelopping their stadium into an all-seater (all expenses paid by the city)

They had a good season last year, mainly due to Cedric Roussel, the former Coventry-striker who was joint-topscorer with 21 goals. However, after he moved to Genk, they collapsed early on in the season and Grosjean was sacked after five games.

Last year, Mons finished 9th.

Currently, they have a wacky former Juventus-player (Sergio Brio, who played for Juve in the Platini-era) as a Manager and they - as much as Antwerp - look as favourites for the drop.

He has done a goood job then,but couldn't do it without a top striker.

And do Belgian clubs finnd good managers hard to come by?

The Red Machine · 3rd January 2004, 19:42

Same story as everywhere...

You have SAF's, Houlliers, Wengers, Keegans everywhere, I guess...

It is true, however, that sacking a manager is something that some teams see as a "quick fix" (Antwerp is the prime example of this).

Some - again Antwerp is a classic example - don't even consider their options, but seem to pretty much appoint the first one to open the door (how else would you appoint a Serbian Taxi Driver with no experience?)

Their seems to be less stability, allthough the top-4 teams have had the same Manager for a while now...

Anderlecht (Broos) 2 years + new deal for additional 3
Genk (Vergoossen) 3 years + new deal - undetermined duration
Brugge (Sollied) 4 years
Standard (d'Onofrio) 3 years (I think)

RedCafe.net

The Leading Manchester United Forum

Member's Login

Brian McClair to join FC Antwerp?

Latest Forum Topics

Jump to Forum

Not yet registered?

3rd January 2004, 03:25	#1 (permalink)
The Red Machine over 2 months in exile Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On Our Way to 19/7 Posts: 1,313	I'm not sure wether to put this in the United forum, the Football-forum or the Transfer-Forum (please correct if necessary) In news from the Belgian front, Brian McClair is one of two remaining candidates to take the hotseat as Antwerp FC-Manager. He would move across the Channel in a loan deal. Antwerp are struggling very badly this season and McClair would be their third manager of the season and the fourth in 7 months. Belgium's oldest club has descended into total chaos. Their last manager - who is still waiting to be sacked officially, though the club say his contract ended on December 31st - was a Serbian taxi driver without any top flight experience. Stories about mismanagement are rife... They include stories of players not showing up for practice, players saying they wouldn't play for the club anymore after being substituted, not training and then being in the starting line-up for the next game (we're talking about ManUtd-prospect Hussain) And stories of two wives of one African player slugging it out in the dressing room... The once-popular club of a proud city are currently threatened by relegation and drew a mere 3.000 for recent home games

3rd January 2004, 03:52	#2 (permalink)
DJH Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The Land of the Long White Cloud Posts: 1,040	Interesting news. Might be time to send over some of our better kids for a spell. Hopefully help them in their relegation battle whilst also giving our players some valuable expeience in a pressure situation. The likes of Chis Eagles, Paul McShane and Eddie Johnson would be good.

3rd January 2004, 04:00	#3 (permalink)
Penny Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Glazer get to a after drink brawl with Shittu, both arrested & everything called off, Mikel back playing for Lyn before joining us! Posts: 1,967	Richardson and possibly a defender like Thierney to calm down the team (together with McClair of course). I would still like to see Antwerp doing well else it will be hard to convince the players to be signed and then loaned out there then if Antwerp is not playing in the top flight ... News that Antwerp supremo was in Manchester to meet up with the official ... so it could be true here ... It make sense as well - McClair better than a Serbian Taxi-Driver ... any doubters ?? :drunk:

3rd January 2004, 04:35	#4 (permalink)
MelvinYeo I'm only here for the post count Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 14,859	I rate McClair as a manager and I have no doubts he can do better than that taxi driver Obviously the players have worked under McClaiar and so I think it would be excellent for both McClair - to get more experince as manager - and the players - who will learn a lot from him.

3rd January 2004, 05:14	#5 (permalink)
numlock Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,011	It would be bad for the u-19 and the youth cup run though. I just gotta ask how did this serbian get the job and why in gods name did utd not influence the decision of a new manager? I mean antwerp has on average 2-5 utd players in their squad a season

3rd January 2004, 05:24	#7 (permalink)
numlock Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,011	Mulesteen is more with the youngest ones. I remember seeing him on mutv where they had this show called something like skill school and they would do a stepover, maradona and all that. I think he is teaching technique atleast to that age group. Think he said in the show it was all about having fun while doing it but he seemed quite disciplined. I think they filho and maybe sbragia could do the job but i rate mclair very highly. There is something about him

3rd January 2004, 05:56	#9 (permalink)
Gazza Magic Carpet Pilot Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: "The great thing about United, as a result of Matt Busby, is that they have a philosophy of a club that is very discernable. You know what Manchester United stand for." Posts: 26,629	Would surely be the first case a manager takes charge at another club on loan? Antwerp sound like a terrible team, but it would be good for Choccy to get some experience in the hotseat.

3rd January 2004, 06:14	#10 (permalink)
MelvinYeo I'm only here for the post count Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 14,859	Speeaking of Antwerp how are HEath and the other guy(Jones?) doing

3rd January 2004, 09:09	#11 (permalink)
tine forum totty Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Brugge Posts: 10,135	Heath is involved in most games, but as a sub. Fox never seems to be involved, altho he has been away for some time playing for England (U19? U20?)

3rd January 2004, 13:42	#13 (permalink)
MelvinYeo I'm only here for the post count Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 14,859	I can see our newest member is from Antwerp. Maybe some of you who has access to the newbie can post his thoughts here?

3rd January 2004, 14:38	#14 (permalink)
The Red Machine over 2 months in exile Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On Our Way to 19/7 Posts: 1,313	I'm guessing he's one of the many people from Antwerp, who actually support Anderlecht (looking at his fav. player).

3rd January 2004, 18:59	#15 (permalink)
tine forum totty Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Brugge Posts: 10,135	McClair isn't going anywhere, Antwerp picked someone else

3rd January 2004, 19:25	#17 (permalink)
The Red Machine over 2 months in exile Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On Our Way to 19/7 Posts: 1,313	Antwerp have just appointed Marc Grosjean - the former Mons-Manager - to be their fourth Manager in 7 months. Grosjean was the first Manager to be given the sack this season, after just five games into the new campaign. Grosjean - who doesn't speak Dutch and will manage only his 2nd top flight team - was nr 2 on a list of three candidats that included McClair.

3rd January 2004, 19:42	#21 (permalink)
The Red Machine over 2 months in exile Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On Our Way to 19/7 Posts: 1,313	Same story as everywhere... You have SAF's, Houlliers, Wengers, Keegans everywhere, I guess... It is true, however, that sacking a manager is something that some teams see as a "quick fix" (Antwerp is the prime example of this). Some - again Antwerp is a classic example - don't even consider their options, but seem to pretty much appoint the first one to open the door (how else would you appoint a Serbian Taxi Driver with no experience?) Their seems to be less stability, allthough the top-4 teams have had the same Manager for a while now... Anderlecht (Broos) 2 years + new deal for additional 3 Genk (Vergoossen) 3 years + new deal - undetermined duration Brugge (Sollied) 4 years Standard (d'Onofrio) 3 years (I think)