retired_mellnet

This is my Brian Clough Challenge or rather my Dave Mackay challenge.

I replaced Hartlepool with Swindon Town (Dave's first club.)

After that I will replace the steps on the Clough challenge by taking over clubs that 'the Hardman' either played for or managed. (Hearts, Spurs, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham, and Doncaster Rovers.)

retired_mellnet

When Kenneth Mackay, or Kenny, got off the bus at the Swindon Bus Station, he knew that people would say that he got the job just because of his dad. That is the way it had been his entire life. When he signed as a youth player for Spurs, it was because of his dad. When actually, he wasn't a half bad player, and many an old-timer said he played just like his ole' man, but just not like him in his prime when his dad still had a little pace. See Kenny was as slow at 16 as his famous dad was at fifty. Oh, not many could beat him to the dinner table, but out on the pitch it was a different story. But then again like his dad if he caught you, you would remember the thumping you took.

Then he heard the same murmurs when he gave up his stellar lower league career and moved into management, managing to get involved with the Spurs Youth Initiative during the ill-fated George Graham years. "That's the great Dave Mackay's son, he's only there because his dad is a legend here," he whispered occasionally when he walked by. Even a had seven year old kid say that to him when Kenny had to sit the boy down for flopping seven straight times during a match. (The David Ginola effect presumably)

Below is a transcript of the exchange:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Kenny: Ian I am sorry I had to pull you out, but you can't keep on falling down everytime someone gets near you.

Kid Well David Ginola does it!

Kenny Well, you ain't no David Ginola, now are you.

Kid Well you ain't no Dave Mackay either, but it didn't stop you from ridding his coat tails...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

From the Spurs it was the case of earning his spurs at host of sub pyramid structure clubs, Alphington, Egham, Purton and the Quarry Nomads. Places his dad never had to go, unless it was to have drink on a roadtrip with his buddies. Kenny did a respectable job at each stop, leaving the club in better shape both on and off the pitch than when he arrived.

It took awhile, but finally the call came. It was just a coincidence that it was Swindon Town, the same place that his father started earning his managerial wings. As soon as the rumor hit the fans, they were up in arms, saying the same ole' thing he had heard all his life, 'he's only here because of his dad.' But could the fans seriously believe that, Kenny thought, it isn't like his dad set Swindon Town alight when he managed there. But then fans aren't always ruled by logic. Anyways the most likely reason he was now at the helm of Swindon Town was that he came rather cheap.

shannon2007

You're gettin too old to be a rebel Mao :p

Oh well, good to see you writing again anyway

retired_mellnet

That is what listening to the White Stripes at story genesis will do for you.

From high up in the Nationwide Stand of the County Ground, well as high up as he could go, Kenny Mackay sat alone watching his charges run through their paces. He occasionally jotted down a few notes into a little black notebook, but spent most of the time silently watching the side practice, trying to figure out what he had and what he didn’t have and where his allotted £30,000 of transfer funds would be best spent. He wished he had a more to spend, but which manager didn’t wish that.

Here are a few of his notes:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

3:30 P.M. meet Mike Walsh and coaches at the Cricket Club for drinks.

Keepers: Rhys Evans and Steve Book: one young and one old. Evans looks decent. Has good hands. Book also, but less so.

Matthew Heywood, Alan Reeves, Sean O’Hanlon, Adrian Viveash, Jerel Ifil and Luke Garrard.

Decent depth in defense. Reeves might have to play as a defensive midfielder. Viveash is slow as caterpillar, but seems steady. Garrard might need sometime in the reserves, Ifil too. But both look to be decent youngsters. Heywood and O’Hanlon both look rather decent. The entire group seems strong in the air, which is a bonus.

David Duke, Andrew Nicholas, Ian Woan, and Brian Howard.

Duke and Nicholas are probably better on the wing than in a holding position. Neither are especially good in the air. Probably fight with Ian and Brian for the lone wing position. Ian has a lot of skill, but is as old as a Ford model T and moves as well as one too. Howard looks to have the inside track at the job. Maybe Duke and Nicholas might work out at DMC

Remember to call Sophie.

Steve Robinson, Stefani Miglioranzi, Grant Smith, Matthew Hewlett, and Sammy Igoe.

Five to play two spots or is it three. Can one of them can move into a defensive midfield position. Robinson and Hewlett seem to be hustlers, which is good. Stefani definitely has some skills, but needs to work on his stamina. Practice has just started and he is already huffing and puffing. Sammy looks like a decent attacking midfielder. Stefani? Sammy?

Defensive midfielders!!! Need at least one.

Sam Parkin, Andrew Caton and Rory Fallon

Caton is too young. Parkin and Fallon both look to be quality strikers. (At least at this level). Probably need to look for another striker or two.

Need to look for a used car.



<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_mellnet

The 6,142 that showed up for the teams first and only home friendly of the preseason were mildly pleased with the result, a 1-1 draw with Derby, a side one step up the pyramid ladder. Kenny was rather pleased with the side’s performance too, not only today’s but the two previous matches against Southport and Stafford. They were still lacking in depth at striker, and needed a good defensive midfielder to link up play, but the lads gave their all.

He made his way to his office, deep under the main stand. Before the match he had heard that Aston Villa’s young striker Stefan Moore had snubbed his loan offer, saying he was staying to fight for his position. What position Kenny thought, he’s behind several good strikers and would be lucky to play at all this season. But that didn’t miff him too much, what really got under his skin was Lilian Nalis’ rejection of moving to Swindon right out.
Well who would want a player named Lilian anyway, Kenny laughed, before hearing a knock on his door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and his chief scout Nick Lewis entered the dingy, dusty manager’s lair. After asking and pouring Nick a sherry, Kenny started a long conversation with Nick about what type of players he was looking for and the two talked for several hours about various targets. ‘They need to better than we have and cheap,’ was something that Kenny said more than once.

At least one thing positive came out of the discussion, the news that Watford had put Keith Andrews on the transfer list. Andrews was priced out of Kenny’s grasp, but maybe the club would consider sending him on a year-long loan to Swindon Town.

Another player that Kenny was interested in was Inverness Caley striker Steven Hislop. Hislop might never be a star at Swindon, but he would a quality reserve and man off the bench. Plus Scottish players, like Kenny, came rather cheap.

retired_rusty53

I don't really appreciate the name of the thread.Very dis-respectful.

Mike..

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nottmred:
I don't really appreciate the name of the thread.Very dis-respectful. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

&lt;sits back with a bowl of popcorn to enjoy the show....&gt;

Nice start btw Mao, great to see you back in action :cool:

mrsevans7177

Good start, hope to see this continue

btw, title is fine, dnt see a prob with. Damn pc lunatics with their funny books and mindgames...

retired_rusty53

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bartley_m:
Good start, hope to see this continue

btw, title is fine, dnt see a prob with. Damn pc lunatics with their funny books and mindgames... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is a problem with it when it tells the late Brian Clough O.B.E to kiss his arse.He's the best ****ing manager ever for ****s sake.Show some bloody respect.

mrsevans7177

So because hes dead it becomes off limits. Dnt tell me to show some respect

His managerial ability has no relavence. swearing adds nothing to ur arguement. Sort out ur argument m8. Its not malicious (the title).