From: cbas38@vaxa.strath.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: SOUNESS V SMITH (and McAvennie)
Date: 7 Jan 93 13:07:40 GMT
Organization: Strathclyde University VAX Cluster

In article <1993Jan7.123913.1@vaxa.strath.ac.uk>, clgs11@vaxa.strath.ac.uk writes:
> In article <1993Jan6.183038.2661@dct.ac.uk>, mcsdc1jpb@dct.ac.uk (john bell) writes:
>> at Liverpool: Given lots of dosh to spend. Is relying on reserve players these
>>                 days. team wins....
> 
> This also applies to Walter Smith
>> 
>> conclusion: souness is a crap manager, smith did all the work at ibrox, souness
>>             took most of the credit. 
>>  
> Conclusion: Both are average managers, but it just shows you what money in ANY
>             hands does MOST of the time, gets some success. !!!!!!

Nonsense.  It takes a reasonable degree of skill and judgement for a manager
to buy players who will form a good team.  The game is littered with clubs 
who have nearly gone bust or won nothing despite spending millions and 
millions.  Man Utd have been trying for years and years to win the league
despite being the biggest spenders in England.  Maybe this will be
their year but last season was supposed to be theirs.  Walter Smith is an
excellent manager, definetly better than Souness although Mr. S's contribution
can never be forgotten.  Along in the East End of this city, vast amounts 
of money have been spent on players who never fitted in --- Cantscorino, 
Hayes, Galloway (in spells), Miller (in parts), Gillespie, Dzieknoski (once the 
honeymoon was over) and recent arrivals Slater and Payton haven't come up
with the goals yet.
> 
> 
> If you look at the budgets of Aberdeen,Dundee Utd,Celtic,and Rangers when they
> 
> were competing and winning in europe you should conclude that these managers 
> 
> were the GREAT ones not somebody who has a blank cheque book.
>  

Rangers won in Europe as well without spending vast amounts.  Liam Brady has 
had the largest amount of money available to any Celtic manager and has yet
to come up with the goods -- a trophy.  It's OK playing nice stuff but I'm 
sure most people would like to see a reward at the end of it.

 
Whilst on the subject of Celtic, it's nice to welcome Frank McAvennie back
to Scotland.  Frank had agreed to join Partick Thistle, he was paraded 
at Firhill with his Thistle scarf and then ended up joining Celtic before
he kicked a ball.  It was probably Thistle's fault for announcing his
arrival before he'd actually signed a contract (there were some delays 
over his contract which allowed Celtic to nip in) but Celtic and any other 
clubs knew for months he was available. It seems obvious that his agent, Bill 
McMurdo, indicated to Celtic at the last minute that Frank was still 
available.  There was no fee involved and it must do the confidence no good
at all of the other strikers at Parkhead when they see a 33 year old 
signing who hasn't played at the top level for several years.  Mind you, after 
watching Andy Payton's attempt against Rangers at the weekend, Frank might
be able to better after all !!

 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
                                       +
Sandy Mackinnon,                       + 
At the Cutting Edge of Fuel Science,   + 
University of Strathclyde,             +      cbas38@vaxa.strath.ac.uk 
Glasgow,                               + 
Scotland.                              +  
	  	                       +
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
         "I'm glad to be back at one of the biggest clubs in Europe"
                   -Frank McAvennie on rejoining Celtic.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-