A year ago to the day...Pearson's unwanted reminder!

[Guy]

Of all the things, my Facebook status 'one year ago' reminder brought back unwanted memories and with it my comments of our 1-3 loss at home to Liverpool on there, on 2.12.2014 (Stevie G.'s goal et al). To say Liverpool have improved under Klopp since then is true while to say we've come on leaps and bounds since then is rather an understatement! It was also 'the night that was' re Pearson's spat with that fan. Never got the true version of events but I heard the altercation was none too polite re the retorted words coming from Pearson's' mouth! More to the point do people think we'd be doing as well under Pearson this season had he stayed and kicked it on from last season's brilliant finish - that as opposed to Ranieri's sterling time of it thus far??

[Mark_w]

It's hard to imagine we could be doing any better than 2nd at this stage under any circumstances, certainly Claudio deserves an enormous amount of credit for the work he's done. It's also hard to imagine us being in this division, let alone 2nd without the squad, scouting and sports science team Nigel Pearson brought to the club and he and they deserve an enormous amount of credit for their work. Not sure what the point of speculating about where we'd be now under Pearson or pitting them against each other is, should just say a massive thanks to everyone involved in getting us here.

[Oxfordfox83]

It's hard to imagine we could be doing any better than 2nd at this stage under any circumstances, certainly Claudio deserves an enormous amount of credit for the work he's done. It's also hard to imagine us being in this division, let alone 2nd without the squad, scouting and sports science team Nigel Pearson brought to the club and he and they deserve an enormous amount of credit for their work. Not sure what the point of speculating about where we'd be now under Pearson or pitting them against each other is, should just say a massive thanks to everyone involved in getting us here.

+1

[Guy]

It's hard to imagine we could be doing any better than 2nd at this stage under any circumstances, certainly Claudio deserves an enormous amount of credit for the work he's done. It's also hard to imagine us being in this division, let alone 2nd without the squad, scouting and sports science team Nigel Pearson brought to the club and he and they deserve an enormous amount of credit for their work. Not sure what the point of speculating about where we'd be now under Pearson or pitting them against each other is, should just say a massive thanks to everyone involved in getting us here.

Not much point in speculating really, my doing so re the Pearson v Ranieri 'what if' point was more just an 'add on' really to my initial main point, despite the wording! In that then I was mainly just emphasising the fact that we've come so far in a year really - and it was great that the Thai owners stuck with Pearson in the way that they did during times of adversity in order for us to be where we are now I'd say re what you said about him and his team's recruitment methods and nowse - not only for them doing so this time last year but also during the occasional indifferent times in the Championship years during his second spell with us also. Long may his successor keep us where we are...... 

[Lambert09]

Like others have said this position is an incredible achievement. I think we'd be doing okay with Pearson still In charge both great managers

[Finnegan]

[MooseBreath]

We'd be mid-table without Claudio's additional tactical knowledge, which would have been fine. Not as spectacular as this season so far, but still fine.

Imo, imo, imho

[Fox92]

Don't let this turn into yet another Renieri v Pearson thread.

[Footballwipe]

Jesus lord; people just won't let Pearsons's legend take shape will they? The man wasn't perfect, and I'm sure he wouldn't be proud of what went on, but the man dragged us from League One to the Premier League, learnt hard lessons, changed things and dragged us out of the mire to keep us up. Don't even begin to list what he did in the backroom to set the groundwork for how competitive we have become.

 

Will we be forever having this Ranieri v Pearson debate, and constant reminders. NP: one of our best ever managers. Ranieri: arguably a notch above NP's level and doing the business.

 

He's been gone over five months now and we're second in the table. Times have changed, let is rest.

[Fox92]

Jesus lord; people just won't let Pearsons's legend take shape will they? The man wasn't perfect, and I'm sure he wouldn't be proud of what went on, but the man dragged us from League One to the Premier League, learnt hard lessons, changed things and dragged us out of the mire to keep us up. Don't even begin to list what he did in the backroom to set the groundwork for how competitive we have become.

 

Will we be forever having this Ranieri v Pearson debate, and constant reminders. NP: one of our best ever managers. Ranieri: arguably a notch above NP's level and doing the business.

 

He's been gone over five months now and we're second in the table. Times have changed, let is rest.

 

Exactly.

[Izzy]

Don't let this turn into yet another Renieri v Pearson thread.

 

Well we haven't had one for at least a week. Must be about due a another one

[Dan]

I don't think we'd be this high and I say that as someone who had a lot of admiration for the bloke. I don't think Ranieri could have done the job Pearson did here and I don't think Pearson could've done the job Ranieri's done here. It's all been timed to perfection. I have a lot of time for both.

[Len Finsbury]

Just for my curiosity, was Pearson responsible for our 'behind the scenes' set up as much as people say? 

 

It always appeared that back in the day, managers were pretty much responsible for everything at the club but is that still the case now? Things like sports science, medical and training facilities and even recruitment could all be run as separate departments to that which the manager is responsible for. For example, the players seem to value this cryo chamber that is frequently used but was it the manager's decision to have it installed or the owners/directors?

 

I'm not attempting to take anything away from Pearson or indeed Ranieri but I do wonder whether the owners should take more credit for some of the things we give the manager credit for.

[davieG]

Just for my curiosity, was Pearson responsible for our 'behind the scenes' set up as much as people say? 

 

It always appeared that back in the day, managers were pretty much responsible for everything at the club but is that still the case now? Things like sports science, medical and training facilities and even recruitment could all be run as separate departments to that which the manager is responsible for. For example, the players seem to value this cryo chamber that is frequently used but was it the manager's decision to have it installed or the owners/directors?

 

I'm not attempting to take anything away from Pearson or indeed Ranieri but I do wonder whether the owners should take more credit for some of the things we give the manager credit for.

 

 

The owners obviously  paid for it but I think it's  well known from various sources that Pearson  was into all the background health and player stats stuff. Again he wouldn't  necessarily have had an in depth knowledge  of it but would have ensured he got people in who did the same as he go got Walsh and Shakespeare.

 

With those people he would have had to come up with convincing arguments to get the owners to make the investment.

[Guest Col city fan]

Well we haven't had one for at least a week. Must be about due a another one

[Guest Col city fan]

Pearson was a super manager.

I'm surprised he's not been snapped up.

Really surprised.

[Wymsey]

Pearson was a super manager.

I'm surprised he's not been snapped up.

Really surprised.

He's still on Gardening Leave with us; so don't know whether this is stopping/stopped him in getting another role for a certain period of time?

[Vicki Vixen]

If we'd kept Pearson and he signed David McGoldrick we'd be top by now.

[Guest]

I don't think we'd be this high and I say that as someone who had a lot of admiration for the bloke. I don't think Ranieri could have done the job Pearson did here and I don't think Pearson could've done the job Ranieri's done here. It's all been timed to perfection. I have a lot of time for both.

Well said.

[Dan]

Just for my curiosity, was Pearson responsible for our 'behind the scenes' set up as much as people say? 

 

It always appeared that back in the day, managers were pretty much responsible for everything at the club but is that still the case now? Things like sports science, medical and training facilities and even recruitment could all be run as separate departments to that which the manager is responsible for. For example, the players seem to value this cryo chamber that is frequently used but was it the manager's decision to have it installed or the owners/directors?

 

I'm not attempting to take anything away from Pearson or indeed Ranieri but I do wonder whether the owners should take more credit for some of the things we give the manager credit for.

 

The key factor is that a lot of it went to Hull when Pearson did and it came back when Pearson did. I think though having already lost Pearson once they might appreciate the good he has brought behind the scenes and there will be more of an effort to keep it. It's good that Ranieri's publicly praised it too. He even admitted that he wanted to change things but having looked around at the staff, the scouting etc... that he thought there would be no point. Even if it is Shakespeare whispering in his ear I respect him for listening and appreciating that.

[Babylon]

Not sure where we'd be, Claudio is brilliant tactically... but all I've ever heard is "Pearson won't be able to do this", "Pearson's not good enough to do x".... and he did it all.

[Len Finsbury]

The owners obviously  paid for it but I think it's  well known from various sources that Pearson  was into all the background health and player stats stuff. Again he wouldn't  necessarily have had an in depth knowledge  of it but would have ensured he got people in who did the same as he go got Walsh and Shakespeare.

 

With those people he would have had to come up with convincing arguments to get the owners to make the investment.

 

 

The key factor is that a lot of it went to Hull when Pearson did and it came back when Pearson did. I think though having already lost Pearson once they might appreciate the good he has brought behind the scenes and there will be more of an effort to keep it. It's good that Ranieri's publicly praised it too. He even admitted that he wanted to change things but having looked around at the staff, the scouting etc... that he thought there would be no point. Even if it is Shakespeare whispering in his ear I respect him for listening and appreciating that.

 

Interesting stuff. He always seemed to me to be a traditional English manager rather than someone who'd be a pioneer in sports science. I remember them making a fuss about Wenger's approach when he first joined Arsenal, with Tony Adams saying that his methods off the field increased his career by a few years.

 

I remember reading an article about McClaren, when he was at Derby. He was first to use cameras on each player to assess their performances, which is probably why Fergie took him for his assistant. 

 

There's so much more to football than hours spent running up hills and playing five-a-side, or whatever it is they do at training 

 

I'm glad Ranieri has stuck with it, although I'd imagine with the initial outlay by the owners, they'd have made sure he did!

 

Still, it this that should be the legacy of Nigel Pearson as it certainly seems to be working.

[Guy]

Well whatever all the 'ifs and buts' are in this unintended debate I appear to have started, then I'm sure Pearson will get a great reception should he one day return here as manager with an opposing team. I wasn't at the home game versus Hull in 2010 when he returned here with them that time but by all accounts he got a good one then. As others have said, I'm surprised he isn't in situ. with somebody else by now.......although Fulham came close I gather.

[Len Finsbury]

Well whatever all the 'ifs and buts' are in this unintended debate I appear to have started, then I'm sure Pearson will get a great reception should he one day return here as manager with an opposing team. I wasn't at the home game versus Hull in 2010 when he returned here with them that time but by all accounts he got a good one then. As others have said, I'm surprised he isn't in situ. with somebody else by now.......although Fulham came close I gather.

 

I think he'll only get a good reception as long as once his garden leave has finished he doesn't start slagging us off. There's no need for him to ruin his reputation here so I hope he doesn't but sometimes with Pearson, you never know what he'll say!

[Guy]

I think he'll only get a good reception as long as once his garden leave has finished he doesn't start slagging us off. There's no need for him to ruin his reputation here so I hope he doesn't but sometimes with Pearson, you never know what he'll say!

Yes, at times Pearson came across as being dour, level headed, sensible and such like - while on other occasions his reported 'changing room joker' side of him he had as a player came out during his more unpredictable, even quirky moments last season - as we saw during spells of last season in front of the cameras : re the playful MacArthur strangling episode, the Ostrich reference and the altercation with the fan at the Liverpool game at KP. A lot of it was blown right out of proportion though of course! I think he doesn't like the media a great deal basically and it caused him to act oddly at times....but his legacy is living on in a very positive way for now re the way Claudio R. has embraced it since Pearson's enforced departure in the summer.