Town fans' views on PDC

[oldboy]

Brighton fan in peace here, hope you don't mind me posting.  First off, great to see you guys back in the mix and poised for Championship footie. Always liked your team except when we're playing you. I was there at your place last year when you played us off the park and promptly stuck twenty on you chaps for promotion.

My question is this: how do Town fans now feel about PDC as manager? Have the stay-aways because of his politics warmed to him or is there still bad blood? And how did you fans take to his style of footie? It took some time for Albion fans to get their heads around a patient passing game but we're loving it now. And do you think he's there for the long-term?

That's 4 questions, apologies. My view, fwiw is that PDC is mad as hell but clearly got a very good footballing brain. I'd take him over Pulis or Mick McCarthy any day of the week.

[SuggWillSugg MBE]

Fucking love the man.


He's quite obviously a mental headcase but I love him.

He gets results which is the most important thing of all.

[LittleRed]

Ive got a bit of a love hate view on him. There have been times when I wish he would just shut his mouth, points where i was not bothered about when he left and there are times when the guy is absolutely talismatic if thats even a word! I was disappointed with the decision to let connell go on a free, I questioned his handling of the Caddis situation, dissappointed with how he has wasted a lot of money on silly signings, easy jet maggera, the italian goalie who's name i forget and how he sometimes makes knee jerk reactions in games. Then there is the talismatic side to him, the guy who flew off in a helicopter after his father passed away only to return a few days later to manage the team in their next game, the guy who i can imagines lives and breathes our club 24hrs a day preparing for our next game making sure all details are covered, the guy who has installed so much passion and determination in our squad that they are prepared to train harder than any other team in our league, the guy who has given us so many new songs to chant from the stands, the guy who is prepared to sell his image rights and put his own money in to benefit the club and finally the guy that punches the dugout and walks out onto the ground and holds the swindon town scarf aloft to all those that stay and the guy that has given us so many good memories on the pitch. All in all i absolutely love the bloke and will be sad when he goes but id imagine he will always be in our hearts and we will always be in his, but our club will move on a prosper with and without him.

[Batch]

^^^Agree with most of the above post ^^^

He's definitely frustrated and annoyed for the above reasons. But he sure gets result and passion out the team. Not sure that I can think of another manager that we could realistically attract I'd rather have here.

The only question mark over him is whether he can be effective with a tight budget. Up to now he's had comparative luxury in the transfer market of buying a lot of his targets, only to let them go again when he realises they are not good enough/falls out with them. It would be interesting to see what happens when he gets a "no, you bought them so you are stuck with them" answer. My personal opinion is the bloke wants to win at all costs, so he's not likely to stay at a club that won't support him with new players in such a situation. Thankfully even though we may have reached that stage, he's amassed a good squad while the cheque book was open...

I'm not sure the stay aways have changed their views as such, but I'm sure one or two are back to see the football.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

The above two posts pretty much sum up my views perfectly.

Di Canio is a very complex, conflicting type of person so that's going to be reflected in peoples' views and feelings about him.

I've been critical at times and make no apologies for that. However, one day he'll be gone without warning and when people look back at his time here, it will be seen as one of the most memorable/enjoyable periods in the Club's history. That is saying something and that is the ultimate compliment I can pay him.

Other than that, nothing to add to the above.

[jayohaitchenn]

Best manager we've had since Hoddle, possibly better.

[herthab]

Nice sideburns.

[skin_im_buzzer]

Eccentric managerial genius, that often tests the patience of the fans and players...And requires a patient and generous board (that's an understatement!)

But the brand of football we now play, the fitness of the squad, and the results are probably the best we've ever had.

[RWB Robin]

I think these questions are really hard to answer!  Like everyone above, I can only look on in wonder at what he has achieved on the field, yes with relative freedom in the transfer market, and a range of mistakes along the way.  The last three games - after a very iffy season at home so far - suggest that something key has clicked and very suddenly.  I believe that he has finally won the battle about discipline and who is in charge.  Whilst we would all have our favourite players, and in terms of objective quality, there are probably those who are better than others, what we are seeing now is fourteen players +, from whom it is really difficult to name 'man of the match'.  Whether it is Wes in goal, Darren Ward as a rock solid centre back, a renewed Si Ferry as the midfield engine room, or any of the forwards, each one uses his gifts for the whole team, and they all seem to know where everyone else is and what they are doing.  That is a huge achievement from two seasons ago.  It has been very uncomfortable at times, most obviously with the Caddis affair and the upbraiding of Wes, but PdC seems to have won, and has brought the current team with him, for whom there is now much praise coming from his lips!

Genius, however, is extraordinarily difficult to live with much of the time, and i think there are large areas of the life of the club (which is so much more than just the football of the first team) which is having to cope with a lot of fall-out from this particular genius.  And, however loveable and passionate the individuals within an institution are - and i know that we are blessed with some outstanding people, it is really difficult for an institution to deal with a genius, especially one in such a prominent position who doesn't have the 'benefit' of a diplomatic, media savvy, gentle, polite British way of doing things.  Can this be resolved?  Not by compromise - to compromise a genius removes exactly what makes him special.  Can the institution catch up?  I'm not sure.  There is really important work going on in business, in the community, in the lower levels of football development which has to be managed and inspired just as much as the first team.  I believe the board is absolutely key to the future.  I think it is wrong that the board is made up only, or primarily of the investors.  They, unless they are totally potty about STFC, have their own agenda - perfectly legitimate, but it is first and foremost about the management of their own money.  Unless there is a broadly-based board, representing all aspects of the club, with a charismatic counter-balance to PdC at its head, I think the dangers inherent in PdC's character could end up being very destructive for the club as a whole.  He has won a battle with the players he is responsible for.  Others in the club are not within his remit.

So, in short, I believe Di Canio is both brilliant and dangerous in equal measure.  His is a work in progress, which, as a supporter, I love....it has been fantastic going to the County Ground these past few weeks, and I have no doubt that (provided the bubble doesn't burst) the crowds will continue to grow as a result, in itself an important contribution to the development of the club.  But it still has to be managed, in a way which does not emasculate the genius, but which ensures the whole institution can flourish in the fertile soil of what he has achieved.  It is too soon to judge the new chairman.  He seems to have made sorties on the PdC front.  Has he made similar sorties with the board?  Who knows?  I don't envy him his job.

[RWB Robin]

Eccentric managerial genius, that often tests the patience of the fans and players...And requires a patient and generous board (that's an understatement!)

But the brand of football we now play, the fitness of the squad, and the results are probably the best we've ever had.

Sorry, skin_im....uve said in three lines what I was trying to say!!

[Flashheart]

L2 champions
Cup Wembley finalists
Multiple giant killings
Sexy football
L1 promotion candidates
Significantly increased media coverage

I'll take that

[Benzel]

I love him. I don't much care for every word that comes out of his mouth but it's all part of who he is and you can't and should never reign him in. His scatter gun approach to transfers was a little worrying last season but this season pretty much all of the summer signings are regular fixtures of the squad and the loans have been much more successful this time round.
Easily the most enjoyable period to support Swindon in my time as a fan.

[Red Squirrel]

I think these questions are really hard to answer!  Like everyone above, I can only look on in wonder at what he has achieved on the field, yes with relative freedom in the transfer market, and a range of mistakes along the way.  The last three games - after a very iffy season at home so far - suggest that something key has clicked and very suddenly.  I believe that he has finally won the battle about discipline and who is in charge.  Whilst we would all have our favourite players, and in terms of objective quality, there are probably those who are better than others, what we are seeing now is fourteen players +, from whom it is really difficult to name 'man of the match'.  Whether it is Wes in goal, Darren Ward as a rock solid centre back, a renewed Si Ferry as the midfield engine room, or any of the forwards, each one uses his gifts for the whole team, and they all seem to know where everyone else is and what they are doing.  That is a huge achievement from two seasons ago.  It has been very uncomfortable at times, most obviously with the Caddis affair and the upbraiding of Wes, but PdC seems to have won, and has brought the current team with him, for whom there is now much praise coming from his lips!

Genius, however, is extraordinarily difficult to live with much of the time, and i think there are large areas of the life of the club (which is so much more than just the football of the first team) which is having to cope with a lot of fall-out from this particular genius.  And, however loveable and passionate the individuals within an institution are - and i know that we are blessed with some outstanding people, it is really difficult for an institution to deal with a genius, especially one in such a prominent position who doesn't have the 'benefit' of a diplomatic, media savvy, gentle, polite British way of doing things.  Can this be resolved?  Not by compromise - to compromise a genius removes exactly what makes him special.  Can the institution catch up?  I'm not sure.  There is really important work going on in business, in the community, in the lower levels of football development which has to be managed and inspired just as much as the first team.  I believe the board is absolutely key to the future.  I think it is wrong that the board is made up only, or primarily of the investors.  They, unless they are totally potty about STFC, have their own agenda - perfectly legitimate, but it is first and foremost about the management of their own money.  Unless there is a broadly-based board, representing all aspects of the club, with a charismatic counter-balance to PdC at its head, I think the dangers inherent in PdC's character could end up being very destructive for the club as a whole.  He has won a battle with the players he is responsible for.  Others in the club are not within his remit.

So, in short, I believe Di Canio is both brilliant and dangerous in equal measure.  His is a work in progress, which, as a supporter, I love....it has been fantastic going to the County Ground these past few weeks, and I have no doubt that (provided the bubble doesn't burst) the crowds will continue to grow as a result, in itself an important contribution to the development of the club.  But it still has to be managed, in a way which does not emasculate the genius, but which ensures the whole institution can flourish in the fertile soil of what he has achieved.  It is too soon to judge the new chairman.  He seems to have made sorties on the PdC front.  Has he made similar sorties with the board?  Who knows?  I don't envy him his job.

Quality post absolutely spot on. For those who say he's better than some very good managers we've had in the past,he has also had considerably more financial backing than any of them.
We definitely have the best owners in the history of the club,but not perhaps, the best manager.

[Peter Venkman]

I love him. I don't much care for every word that comes out of his mouth but it's all part of who he is and you can't and should never reign him in. His scatter gun approach to transfers was a little worrying last season but this season pretty much all of the summer signings are regular fixtures of the squad and the loans have been much more successful this time round.
Easily the most enjoyable period to support Swindon in my time as a fan.

I pretty much agree with all of that Benzel.

Well obviously apart from the last part because I am a lot older than you and it is not anywhere near matching the Macari period or the rise to the Premier league for me....yet...but thats not to say we won't do it under Paolo.

You have to take him how he is, good or bad, and there has been a lot of bad but the good far outweighs that bad.

[Benzel]

I was born in 86 so I feel partially responsible for that rise