Kieran McKenna | Close to signing long term deal to stay at Ipswich

crossy1686

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Unfortunately, we have a bunch of players that moan about pretty much everything.
Actually at that time the complaints were justified. He had just been promoted to first team coach from the reserves, he had very little presence about him with the first team and by all accounts was a bit shy around the big names, a lot of that had to do with the fact he wasn't much older than them and had very little experience at their level.

Now you could argue it's a different story.
 

humdinger

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I would much prefer a talented young manager like McKenna to a jaded ex-Chelsea manager. He knows the pressure of this club and the league and I actually think our young squad would suit him. This would be genuinely exciting.
 

Red_Aaron

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The smart move for McKenna is surely Brighton. No matter how well he's done at Ipswich survival for them next season will a massive task and it remains to be seen how well it'll hold together once they're facing no win in 10 type form

Chelsea and United especially need major improvements and are still in enough disarray that he may well fail no matter what.

Brighton have shown they can change manager and keep their levels, any kind of European football or Cup final will be seen as a success. At least 1 of Chelsea, United, Liverpool and maybe even City will want a manager the season after next and his stock is more likely to remain high there than at Ipswich

I know where I'd go if I were him
 

CM

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Brighton would be the sensible move for McKenna's long term prospects as a coach but I can see why he'd be tempted by the bigger jobs in case they don't come around again for him.

It feels a bit soon for him at a top 6 club but I guess I'd rather he got the opportunity with us than Chelsea.
 

3KDré

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Why? He has shown nothing of importance to stick with him through thick and thin.
'Nothing of importance' is just false - he's literally been our coach before and in his first job secured back to back promotions to the Premier League. And secondly, because if we bring him in it's because we believe in his potential. If we believe in his potential and we can see that the way the team plays is going in the right direction we have to stick by him.
 

luke511

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The smart move for McKenna is surely Brighton. No matter how well he's done at Ipswich survival for them next season will a massive task and it remains to be seen how well it'll hold together once they're facing no win in 10 type form

Chelsea and United especially need major improvements and are still in enough disarray that he may well fail no matter what.

Brighton have shown they can change manager and keep their levels, any kind of European football or Cup final will be seen as a success. At least 1 of Chelsea, United, Liverpool and maybe even City will want a manager the season after next and his stock is more likely to remain high there than at Ipswich

I know where I'd go if I were him
So even as a utd fan being offered the job of your dreams, you'd still choose Brighton?
 

Beachryan

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Feels to me like chasing potential. Would be an enormous risk for INEOS.

If it works out, would obviously be amazing, but he's outrageously inexperienced for such a position. Too big a risk for me.
 

kaku06

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I personally think to be successful as a manager you need to have some certain traits along with being a good tactician and football knowledge. Strong personality, Fiery character, a former pro who played the game at the highest level to command some respect.

You might not have all 3 but you need at least 2 of them to be successful. You see all the brilliant managers and tell me what they have. You see Klopp, Pep, Conte, Tuchel etc. They all have atleast 2 of the traits. I don’t doubt McKenna coaching abilities but I’m sorry neither I see him as a fiery character nor strong enough to take control of the our dressing room. Nice nice guys don’t succeed at big clubs unless you are Ancelotti but he was a top player himself so he got the respect straight away.

All the posters here who are mentioning Pep, Zidane and Arteta starting as rookies are forgetting they commanded respect from the beginning because they played football at the highest level to tame the egos of their players.
 

Munkehboi

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I dont understand why people think the Brighton job is that appealing? Whoever goes in is constantly having to rebuild a team every seaon or two. They sell their best players and have to start all over again. They will proabbly lose thier best player in Pascal Gross this summer. There is a plethora of young talent in that Brighton squad, all likely to go at some stage soon if they keep their form up. How that is appealing is beyond me?
 

AndySmith1990

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Brighton would be the sensible move for McKenna's long term prospects as a coach but I can see why he'd be tempted by the bigger jobs in case they don't come around again for him.

It feels a bit soon for him at a top 6 club but I guess I'd rather he got the opportunity with us than Chelsea.
Whenever I see someone say this, I often wonder what they'd do if Google or Microsoft offered them a job.

"nah, I'd rather go work in the IT department at Argos for a few years, but thanks"
 

AdNani

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Feels to me like chasing potential. Would be an enormous risk for INEOS.

If it works out, would obviously be amazing, but he's outrageously inexperienced for such a position. Too big a risk for me.
Was a risk with Pep at Barca, was a risk at Arsenal with Arteta, was a risk at Leverkusen with Alonso, at Madrid with Zidane

if they go for Mckenna it would be unbelievable story if he's a success given his history here and the fact he's a fan.
 

tomaldinho1

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I’m not sure about this. The club is too big the job is too big and we are too unstable at the moment. On top of that some of the egotistical maniacs are still here. And I don’t think McKenna is a fiery character either to deal with such a mess.
Yeah worries me greatly this one. We seem to be doing exactly what we said we wouldn't do i.e. Chelsea want him, oh my goodness we must get him!

The league 1 to PL jump is undoubtedly impressive but then, as someone who follows AFC Wimbledon, the standard in the lower divisions really isn't that good and you wonder if he's someone who has come from United (as bad as we relatively were) and been like signing a random PL squad player into a League One team who then just looks world class. He could be amazing but he is high risk, much higher risk than others and can he control the egos we have now, even factoring in the guys who are leaving us? We are a nightmare of a club for any manager/coach right now, we don't even know if Ineos will be any good in the transfer market yet. At least with Chelsea you kind of can see the team for next season already maybe minus a new striker and CB because they're all about 16 years old.
 

UpWithRivers

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The main worry apart from lack if experience for me is personality. He doesn't seem to have that big manager personality. Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, Ancellotti, Simeone etc Even someone like Arteta has more presence about him. Maybe its just me
 

VP89

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The main worry apart from lack if experience for me is personality. He doesn't seem to have that big manager personality. Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, Ancellotti, Simeone etc Even someone like Arteta has more presence about him. Maybe its just me
He didnt really change the squad at Ipswich and inspired them to back to back promotions.

Can he transcend that to big egos? Time would tell, but I'd be very willing to give him the chance to.
 

CM

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Whenever I see someone say this, I often wonder what they'd do if Google or Microsoft offered them a job.

"nah, I'd rather go work in the IT department at Argos for a few years, but thanks"
Brighton would be the sensible move for McKenna's long term prospects as a coach but I can see why he'd be tempted by the bigger jobs in case they don't come around again for him.

It feels a bit soon for him at a top 6 club but I guess I'd rather he got the opportunity with us than Chelsea.
Did you get to the second half of the first sentence?
 

surf

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The main worry apart from lack if experience for me is personality. He doesn't seem to have that big manager personality. Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, Ancellotti, Simeone etc Even someone like Arteta has more presence about him. Maybe its just me
The players will be on board with him if he is successful by winning games. Otherwise, no.
 

kaku06

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The main worry apart from lack if experience for me is personality. He doesn't seem to have that big manager personality. Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, Ancellotti, Simeone etc Even someone like Arteta has more presence about him. Maybe its just me
Exactly my thoughts. Other than being a good coach you need a have a fierce strong personality. He seems like a Potter to me more than Arteta. Good coach but lacks in presence and character required for a big club.
 

lsd

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So even as a utd fan being offered the job of your dreams, you'd still choose Brighton?
It's certainly an unreal take. I wonder if it's a sign of how some United fans standards are now so low.
 

Pexbo

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I particularly love how fans on here moan that clubs like Brighton snap up all the talent at the right moment, then when we have a chance to snap up talent at the right moment the consensus seems to be that they should definitely go to Brighton.
 

kaku06

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He didnt really change the squad at Ipswich and inspired them to back to back promotions.

Can he transcend that to big egos? Time would tell, but I'd be very willing to give him the chance to.
You might be right but look around and tell me the traits of all the successful managers. Sir Alex, Pep, Jose, Klopp, Conte, Enrique, Simeone, Ancelotti, Tuchel etc. They all have something in common along with being a good coach. And then you see managers like Pochettino, Potter etc. You just don’t succeed in this profession by being a nice guy. People seem to ignore that. And yes I do think he lacks that strong personality part.
 

Stack

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You might be right but look around and tell me the traits of all the successful managers. Sir Alex, Pep, Jose, Klopp, Conte, Enrique, Simeone, Ancelotti, Tuchel etc. They all have something in common along with being a good coach. And then you see managers like Pochettino, Potter etc. You just don’t succeed in this profession by being a nice guy. People seem to ignore that. And yes I do think he lacks that strong personality part.
What is it that indicates a lack of a strong personality?
 

city-puma

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The main worry apart from lack if experience for me is personality. He doesn't seem to have that big manager personality. Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Sir Alex, Ancellotti, Simeone etc Even someone like Arteta has more presence about him. Maybe its just me
Regardless what group you work with, a true leader will always find a way lead them to success (realistically of course). It’s the leadership.
I don’t know him in person and have no idea about what his personality is. Do you know actually? But I know he certainly has great leadership in some level at least.
He is not a newbie as many claim here. He has been in business for so long! I don’t know what people worry about.
Just ask yourself, everyone, how often do you make the right investment decisions during your life and then use that fact to reflect how often your reasoning in such a situation turns out a good one. A simple benchmark is how sure you think ETH will lead us to success two years ago.
 

Frank Grimes

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You might be right but look around and tell me the traits of all the successful managers. Sir Alex, Pep, Jose, Klopp, Conte, Enrique, Simeone, Ancelotti, Tuchel etc. They all have something in common along with being a good coach. And then you see managers like Pochettino, Potter etc. You just don’t succeed in this profession by being a nice guy. People seem to ignore that. And yes I do think he lacks that strong personality part.
I very much doubt he's soft coming from his part of the world. I agree he probably lacks the gravitas at this stage to take over United but he hasn't put a foot wrong yet in his managerial career.
 

GledTheRed

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Feels to me like chasing potential. Would be an enormous risk for INEOS.

If it works out, would obviously be amazing, but he's outrageously inexperienced for such a position. Too big a risk for me.
Those experienced fellas have worked out great last 10 years....
 

VP89

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You might be right but look around and tell me the traits of all the successful managers. Sir Alex, Pep, Jose, Klopp, Conte, Enrique, Simeone, Ancelotti, Tuchel etc. They all have something in common along with being a good coach. And then you see managers like Pochettino, Potter etc. You just don’t succeed in this profession by being a nice guy. People seem to ignore that. And yes I do think he lacks that strong personality part.
There's little to suggest McKenna doesn't have a strong personality.
You also have to strike a balance in the modern game in being personable and influential whilst not being overbearing or abrasive.
 

3KDré

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I dont understand why people think the Brighton job is that appealing? Whoever goes in is constantly having to rebuild a team every seaon or two. They sell their best players and have to start all over again. They will proabbly lose thier best player in Pascal Gross this summer. There is a plethora of young talent in that Brighton squad, all likely to go at some stage soon if they keep their form up. How that is appealing is beyond me?
In the same way it's appealing to the players. Plenty of chance to show your talent in the best league in the world and move on when you're good enough.
 

kaku06

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I very much doubt he's soft coming from his part of the world. I agree he probably lacks the gravitas at this stage to take over United but he hasn't put a foot wrong yet in his managerial career.
I don’t doubt his coaching abilities and I agree he hasn’t put a foot wrong but I hope he has that edginess and fire in him to tame the players.
 

city-puma

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I particularly love how fans on here moan that clubs like Brighton snap up all the talent at the right moment, then when we have a chance to snap up talent at the right moment the consensus seems to be that they should definitely go to Brighton.
It’s understandable, no? In such a situation, people express their opinions which actually reflect who they are intrinsically. With that kind of risk-aversion mentality based on the cited reasons, they don’t have the right mentality and mindset to be a successful decision maker in this business for sure.
 

kaku06

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What is it that indicates a lack of a strong personality?
After watching many of his interviews till date since I followed Ipswich results very closely and other things like seeing him on the touch line, reacting to results etc. Nothing suggests to me he has that fiery attitude and fierceness. He’s too much like potter to me. Good coach but you don’t succeed at a big club with just being a good coach and this is not just any big club. This is a behemoth and it swallows you. I know the reason Sir Alex succeeded at this club.
 

theatreofdreams777

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Was a risk with Pep at Barca, was a risk at Arsenal with Arteta, was a risk at Leverkusen with Alonso, at Madrid with Zidane

if they go for Mckenna it would be unbelievable story if he's a success given his history here and the fact he's a fan.
So, not really about his actual qualities as a football manager but the feeling it'd give IF he's a success here which is very unlikely.

He's a rookie manager who never managed in PL, has no trophies (didn't even win the championship), no playing career, no experience in any top league etc.

Looks like people learned absolutely nothing with the disastrous Ole era and are still wanting the Roy of the Rovers stuff with the Man United manager. I'm sure they'd take Ole back with open arms if we offered him the job right now.

The sentimentality is what brought us to this point and we absolutely can not afford to serve as a guinea pig once again after we did it with Ole and it backfired massively and set us back for years. We still suffer from that horrible period.

We need to be realistic and give the job to the best possible candidate. McKenna is far from that (at least for now).
 

Castia

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Would be a disaster if he came here. The squad already turned against him and the other coaches under Ole there was stories ever few weeks about the coaching team being poor.

On top of that managing Ipswich in league 1 and the Championship is a completely different stratosphere to managing United he’s not ready.

Brighton or staying at Ipswich should be his priority. If he moves too soon and it fails we’ll just look at Potter you can easily get lost.
 

luke511

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After watching many of his interviews till date since I followed Ipswich results very closely and other things like seeing him on the touch line, reacting to results etc. Nothing suggests to me he has that fiery attitude and fierceness. He’s too much like potter to me. Good coach but you don’t succeed at a big club with just being a good coach and this is not just any big club. This is a behemoth and it swallows you. I know the reason Sir Alex succeeded at this club.
 

Based Adnan

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Out of the 4 being reported (McKenna, Tuchel, Frank and Poch), I'd have him as the top candidate