ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Alan Irvine

I've just heard the news that Alan Irvine is going to be the new manager of Preston North End. On behalf of all Evertonians i would like to thank Alan for all of his hard work during his time with the Blues, and wish him all the best for the future.
Keith Slinger, Ellesmere Port Posted 20/11/2007 at 14:50:52

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Peter Pickles
1 Posted 20/11/2007 at 15:35:48

Those rumours wont go away: http://www.boltonbanter.com/forum/view_topic.php?id=11049&forum_id=
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A29288901

Just forum gossip...

Dan Parker
2 Posted 20/11/2007 at 18:06:26

Alan Stubbs for #2 or steal Colin Harvey back from Bolton?

Dave Lynch
3 Posted 20/11/2007 at 18:21:38

Whilst thinking about a replacement for Irvine a terrible thought crossed my mind. There are many good candidates for the job and most where mentioned in a thread previous to this post. Then it came to me. Archie Knox ! Please somebody, tell me it won't happen.

Jay Harris
4 Posted 20/11/2007 at 20:36:19

I would like to see a foreign coach who can take our technical and tactical level up a notch or two.
Having said that I would?nt mind Kidd or Newell who could be groomed to take over from Moyes.

Gavin Harris
5 Posted 20/11/2007 at 21:03:00

Speed would be a great appointment. Young, intelligent, an evertonian, a great footballer and athlete.

Jim Mc Doughnut
6 Posted 20/11/2007 at 21:10:18

If I remember rightly, the last time Alan Irvine left the club we managed to win some trophies. Hopefully this could be a lucky omen.

Keith Glazzard
7 Posted 20/11/2007 at 21:28:27

Something has been going right, so good luck to you Alan.

Now that we can see some daylight after five years of hard work, this next move will be interesting. If you were Moyes, what would you be recommending? Demanding? Surely he’ll get what he wants. So lets see, shall we.

At least we’re not talking about Kerby.

Stuart Fearns
8 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:01:06

Good luck to him, I think he?s done a tremendous job for us.
I just bloody hope we don?t stall and suffer with him going

Mark Pendleton
9 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:01:30

I hope the Speed rumours are true. I think that would be a fantastic move.

Kieran Kinsella
10 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:35:28

Gary Speed can kiss my arse and Archie Knox would be a no go too. I wonder what impact his departure will have because often times it is only when an asst manager or coach leaves that you realise what an impact they actually had on the team. I don’t think we should bring Harvey back for the same reason that we shouldn’t ever bring Kendall back: He is from an era that has past and the game has moved on since his coaching was at its peak. Personally I think we should consider Dewsnip who has done a great job with our youngsters. There is nothing wrong with promoting from within as the RS will tell you (exlcuidng Roy Evans of course)

Ben Jones
11 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:53:10

Well done Irvine.. good luck to him in Preston. And as for our assistant manager.. the main guy rumoured is Steve Round.. part of the England coaching setup and used to be McClaren’s assistant in Middlesbrough. Second is Brian Kidd... dunno who I’d prefer to be honest.

Dutch Schaffaer
12 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:56:23

Promote Jimmy Lumsden to assistant manager and then bring back big Duncan Ferguson as a new coach. I miss Dunc.

That said there are quite a few really good coaches around I’m sure Moyes will find someone suitable.

Irvine’s departure is either very bad (because he was undeniably a big part of the management) or it could be a very good thing (maybe the new coach will be better?).

I wonder who Irvine will take on-loan to Preston? Moyes will want to help him out so expect the likes of Vidarsson, Agard, Turner, Boyle and possibly even AVDM having loan spells at Deepdale.

Derek Pierro
13 Posted 20/11/2007 at 23:28:45

Dutch, you are the master. All bow down at his feet and hail the splinters up his arse.
"Irvine?s departure is either very bad...or it could be a very good thing.
If you are not too busy stating the friging obvious, the lib dems need a new leader.

Brian Garside
14 Posted 20/11/2007 at 23:41:22

Maybe Irvine will take DM as his Number Two!!!

Peter Pridgeon
15 Posted 21/11/2007 at 01:35:14

It would be worth Everton asking if they can speak to Rafa from across the park. This would be a great way to pay him back for the small club jibe and Evertonians would get years of good mileage out of it.
Not that we want the twat.

Rob Prince
16 Posted 21/11/2007 at 05:58:50

Neil Dewsnip of the under 18s used to be my PE teacher in the mid 1980s at secondary school in Liverpool believe it or not! I´m pleased that he´s got where he has. I think he could do a good job

Carl Wright
17 Posted 21/11/2007 at 09:26:51

What makes everyone think that Gary Speed would want to return to us after the amount of shit we have given him since he left!!??

Dave Trudgeon
18 Posted 21/11/2007 at 10:46:28

Gary Speed is still registered as a player so we couldn?t even speak to him until January ? that's a long time to go without a Number 2

Colin
19 Posted 21/11/2007 at 10:57:35

Good Luck Alan - I for one don’t blame you for taking this oppurtunity; Everton will miss you. However, it’s time for you to move up to a role which your capabilities deserve.

Simon Birdsey
20 Posted 21/11/2007 at 11:30:17

I’m not fussed on Gary Speed after he left us. Atleast Dunc was gutted to be leaving and he didn’t even grow up a blue! Plus, Speed will probably want to play on for another year or so.

I think that Kidd has probably had his day, although he has proven what an excellent coach he can be.

I think we really need someone who can act as a buffer between Moyes and the players, as we know he can be abrasive and a strict disciplinarian. Ideally, we also want someone who can help the gaffer with his tactical weeknesses...maybe Kidd is that man?

I do like the idea of a foreign coach though to help us to develop with Europe in mind.

Here’s a thought...if England get beat tonight, Steve Mclaren will be looking for a job!

Peter Pickles
21 Posted 21/11/2007 at 12:08:01

Somebody here just mentioned a possible replacement for Irvine.

Dean Saunders!!

I’ve spilt coffee over everything, its a terrible mess...

Graham Holliday
22 Posted 21/11/2007 at 13:03:51

Slaven Bilic

Peter Laing
23 Posted 21/11/2007 at 13:42:54

Leave Neil Dewsnip where he is in youth development, the production line of the academy appears to be in a healthy state so why change it ? We could always have John ’Bails’ Bailey back as assistant manager, would enhance the drinking culture to an entirely different level !

Allan Hobbs
24 Posted 21/11/2007 at 14:03:15

No offence but who are you aiming this at? Does Alan Irvine read Toffeeweb? I never understand these kind of threads where people ’speak’ directly to those concerned. Its just weird.

Peter Pickles
25 Posted 21/11/2007 at 14:12:12

I have it on good authority that Alan Irvine does in fact read Toffeweb, all part of the modern school of finger on the pulse management. He writes daft anecdotes for Bluekipper too.

Iain McWilliam
26 Posted 21/11/2007 at 13:58:42

Some ’interesting’ names being mentioned here but surely whoever gets the job will get it purely because he ’gets on’ with Davie Moyes?

Just because a coach used to assist Alex Ferguson doesnt necessarily mean Moyes will find it easy to bounce ideas of him. He will probably go for Round although to be quite honest I dont have a clue what assistant managers do apart from say ’yes boss’ alot and do TV interviews when the manager can’t face yet more tedious questions.

Stuart Watson
27 Posted 21/11/2007 at 16:20:13

Graham Sharp or Pat Nevin?

Stuart Watson
28 Posted 21/11/2007 at 16:20:57

... or even Joe Parkinson....

Taka Nyahunzvi
29 Posted 21/11/2007 at 17:39:32

I couldn’t help noticing how quick Alan Stubbs was to congratulate his namesake. I’m sure he has his heart and eyes set on becoming his next assistant!

John Martin
30 Posted 21/11/2007 at 22:44:17

Nightmare if it was Steve Mclaren cos he’s gonna be looking for a new job soon.
Joking aside i think it will be Steve Round seems like a typical low key Moyes appointment

Patty Beesley
31 Posted 22/11/2007 at 11:38:47

How about "up for the cup" patty beesley or Luc Glover.
Maybe a bit of girl power is what is needed - only kidding guys.