Willie Miller (Defence Consultant)

[Cambridge Red]

If I was in Dave Cormack's shoes I would have long before now reached out to club legend Willie Miller to help sort out our defence.

I would have him come and work with the defenders at Cormack park one or two days a month on an ongoing basis.

First hour or so would be spent analysing video of the goals conceded in the last 2-4 weeks (depending on if he's in 1 or 2 times a month). Discuss what they should have done differently than go on the practice pitch and recreate the play using our attackers and see if we can now deal with the scenario.

Break for lunch.

In the afternoon look at the attacking styles of the teams in the next couple of matches, discuss how to defend these styles then go out on the practice pitch and role play with our attackers again.

It is very obvious when listening to him on the radio that he still has a great passion for the club and I feel that if he was approached in the right manner he would probably enjoy helping one or two days a month and earn a bit of extra cash at the same time.

I am very likely losing the plot but why not try asking him ?

What do folk think ?

 

 

 

 

[Geoff_Tipps]

What would be for lunch?

[Cambridge Red]

I guess that depends on if they've sorted out the f'n problems 😂

[1903Fitba]

I wonder if Dave has a pair of sliders 

[aberdeen1970]

I think it's far too late for Willie Miller to have an active role at the club, particularly in a coaching sense. 

He's 68 and hasn't managed or coached for almost 30 years. 

We need to look forwards not backwards. 

 

[NorfolkDandy]

20 minutes ago, Cambridge Red said:

If I was in Dave Cormack's shoes I would have long before now reached out to club legend Willie Miller to help sort out our defence.

I would have him come and work with the defenders at Cormack park one or two days a month on an ongoing basis.

First hour or so would be spent analysing video of the goals conceded in the last 2-4 weeks (depending on if he's in 1 or 2 times a month). Discuss what they should have done differently than go on the practice pitch and recreate the play using our attackers and see if we can now deal with the scenario.

Break for lunch.

In the afternoon look at the attacking styles of the teams in the next couple of matches, discuss how to defend these styles then go out on the practice pitch and role play with our attackers again.

It is very obvious when listening to him on the radio that he still has a great passion for the club and I feel that if he was approached in the right manner he would probably enjoy helping one or two days a month and earn a bit of extra cash at the same time.

I am very likely losing the plot but why not try asking him ?

What do folk think ?

 

 

 

 

As an aside - Are you in Cambridge, and do you head up for games on a regular / semi regular basis?

[Don_Corleone]

1 hour ago, Geoff_Tipps said:

What would be for lunch?

A Willie Miller masterclass in frying fish.

[Reed or deed]

Have you ever pished yourself?

[sooth_stander]

Willie would want everything done his way. So no passing out from the back, don't get too tight on the player you are marking (drop off etc etc) and all that would fly in the face of what the main coach would want.

If a player comes to AFC and doesn't understand the basics of defending, I'd question why he is here in the first place.

Great idea, but will never fly.

[King Street Loon]

1 hour ago, Cambridge Red said:

If I was in Dave Cormack's shoes I would have long before now reached out to club legend Willie Miller to help sort out our defence.

I would have him come and work with the defenders at Cormack park one or two days a month on an ongoing basis.

First hour or so would be spent analysing video of the goals conceded in the last 2-4 weeks (depending on if he's in 1 or 2 times a month). Discuss what they should have done differently than go on the practice pitch and recreate the play using our attackers and see if we can now deal with the scenario.

Break for lunch.

In the afternoon look at the attacking styles of the teams in the next couple of matches, discuss how to defend these styles then go out on the practice pitch and role play with our attackers again.

It is very obvious when listening to him on the radio that he still has a great passion for the club and I feel that if he was approached in the right manner he would probably enjoy helping one or two days a month and earn a bit of extra cash at the same time.

I am very likely losing the plot but why not try asking him ?

What do folk think ?

 

 

 

 

Will there be a power point presentation with the practical?

[Fridge]

It might be inspirational to an extent but great players tend not to be able to coach because they just instinctively know what to do.

[sooth_stander]

1 minute ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Sometimes the allegations will be false

Go get the guitar 

[Millertime]

15 minutes ago, Fridge said:

It might be inspirational to an extent but great players tend not to be able to coach because they just instinctively know what to do.

Great point

[strachanmcgheegoal]

3 hours ago, sooth_stander said:

Willie would want everything done his way. So no passing out from the back, don't get too tight on the player you are marking (drop off etc etc) and all that would fly in the face of what the main coach would want.

If a player comes to AFC and doesn't understand the basics of defending, I'd question why he is here in the first place.

Great idea, but will never fly.

Cant help but recall when Smiffy first introduced Theo Snelders.  Willie says does he speak English?  Smiffy says a little.  Willie says right, whats Dutch for Stay on yer fucking line!

More seriously, I think its a great idea, but approximately 25 years too late.

Also to add I have a theory as to why great players dont make good managers and that is they dont understand why theyre having to explain this shit

(Sorry just noticed Fridge making the same point)

 

[Guest Matt Armstrong's Dog]

1 hour ago, King Street Loon said:

Will there be a power point presentation with the practical?

If there is, hopefully it's nae with the use of Dodgy Dave's software.

[Roberto]

It's honestly mad how we go after a result like.

[Joe pike]

I remember going to Skippers down at the beach for a fish supper.

It was rank rotten.

[DoonTheLine]

3 hours ago, aberdeen1970 said:

I think it's far too late for Willie Miller to have an active role at the club, particularly in a coaching sense. 

He's 68 and hasn't managed or coached for almost 30 years. 

We need to look forwards not backwards. 

 

This, a million times this.

Our club still referencing the 80's legends constantly shows the mess we are in. Its 30-40 years since these guys played or had an impact on the club. The game, structure of clubs, state of our league etc has all changed, yet our attitudes still are stuck thinking they will solve everything.

This would be like Ferguson taking over Man Utd in late 80's and having Paddy Crerand at training every day as he was one of the Busby babes. You have to move on...applaud, acknowledge and respect the past but don't live in it or you never move forward.

[Ramandu]

5 minutes ago, DoonTheLine said:

This, a million times this.

Our club still referencing the 80's legends constantly shows the mess we are in. Its 30-40 years since these guys played or had an impact on the club. The game, structure of clubs, state of our league etc has all changed, yet our attitudes still are stuck thinking they will solve everything.

This would be like Ferguson taking over Man Utd in late 80's and having Paddy Crerand at training every day as he was one of the Busby babes. You have to move on...applaud, acknowledge and respect the past but don't live in it or you never move forward.

Probably right with miller. But let's not rule out all of the 80s legends. Simmie's been involved in the club for a long time, and I think we'd all be happy to have him as a tackling coach for upcoming rangers games.

[DoonTheLine]

3 minutes ago, Ramandu said:

Probably right with miller. But let's not rule out all of the 80s legends. Simmie's been involved in the club for a long time, and I think we'd all be happy to have him as a tackling coach for upcoming rangers games.

Another 30+ year old reference. Id prefer we had new things to speak about, and celebrating victories than singing about injuring players as one of our shining moments personally, but i know i'm probably in the minority with that.

[Ramandu]

3 minutes ago, DoonTheLine said:

Another 30+ year old reference. Id prefer we had new things to speak about, and celebrating victories than singing about injuring players as one of our shining moments personally, but i know i'm probably in the minority with that.

Oh me too, absolutely. But we don't. Trophies I can remember us winning:

1) 2014 league cup

2) The inaugural Gordon Smith Top of the Bottom Six trophy 2001

[DoonTheLine]

6 minutes ago, Ramandu said:

Oh me too, absolutely. But we don't. Trophies I can remember us winning:

1) 2014 league cup

2) The inaugural Gordon Smith Top of the Bottom Six trophy 2001

I know, barely anything of note but i can't help but think that our constant longing for the 80's holds us back somewhat - from owner, to legends, to fans we hark for those days and can't pull ourselves away from it! Easier said than done I know.

[sigh]

6 minutes ago, DoonTheLine said:

I know, barely anything of note but i can't help but think that our constant longing for the 80's holds us back somewhat - from owner, to legends, to fans we hark for those days and can't pull ourselves away from it! Easier said than done I know.

It could be worse - we could be following Ipswich, or Notts Forest etc 

[Jocky Balboa]

On 1/19/2023 at 10:06 AM, aberdeen1970 said:

I think it's far too late for Willie Miller to have an active role at the club, particularly in a coaching sense. 

He's 68 and hasn't managed or coached for almost 30 years. 

We need to look forwards not backwards. 

 

I've heard a lot of fans, media and pundits say over the years that it's sad how Miller is lost to the game, with his vast knowledge. He certainly still talks a great game. I would however question the efficacy of such an appointment, given the long absence you allude to, as well as the fact he effectively lost his job because he ripped the team up and started from scratch (the classic 'too much too soon' scenario) because he couldn't handle second best (it's food for thought that the team he put out in his first two seasons would walk the SPLs of the last 10 years). Given our ceiling now is realistically far lower than back in 1995, what could he bring to the table that a younger, ambitious man couldn't?

I also note a few posters have touted a DoF type role and while that would be better than what we currently have, I'm mindful he was effectively Milne's flak jacket last time, where he went from being the Board's biggest critic, to its biggest apologist, thus buying time for the Wig Wam Bam to extend his tenure. Would Cormack escape scrutiny in a similar way, if such an appointment was repeated?

[The Boofon]

Needs to happen now.