A good start, but will lose some impetus. 10th at best, then moved on in second season when it's clear they won't be challenging for promotion.
I can't see him lasting 4 years in all honesty. Things could well go badly due to injuries ( which luckily didn't happen for him last season) and I think if they strayed out the top 6 the owners may well panic and go for a more established manager. I'm sure he'll do a good job though.
The blokes a winner can tell by his character and mannerisms, he came in here took over a team 4th bottom got them winning games and installed a confidence in the whole team. I think he will take them back up. His only problem will be his style of play requires great fitness levels a ageing team could struggle, clashing with west broms big egos in the dressing room.
I think he’s a brilliant manager and comes across as a top class bloke. Im gutted he has gone and in the right conditions I think he could do a brilliant job for WBA and he deserves a crack in the premier league. BUT I think everything fell into place for him at oakwell and he was the beneficiary of a clear vision and plan designed and executed by the much maligned at times board we have a brilliant group of young lads with mental strength and physical stamina. That was key to Val’s success as much as Val. They fully bought in to his ideas. WBA do not have that and you can’t just buy it… Is Livermore going to press like his life depends on it? No chance. he will need time because there’s so few players in that squad that fit his mould. Will he get it? Maybe not.
I think teams will suss a plan to combat his style quite quickly now. We went at least half a season before people took us seriously & started making plans to play us. Before that they just rocked up thinking they could outplay us. Will be much harder for him (& us) this season, just depends how well he can adapt & improve the style.
I think this is a great point which has been made elsewhere, we’ve built on the last three coaches thanks to a consistent philosophy of buying certain types and it’s taken 3-4 years to get to this point and it’s been a very rocky road but I hope that whoever we get is committed to the clubs direction of travel. We might not see a season like last but there’s no reason we can’t finish top half again.
I’be never kept an eye on any of our previous managers once they’ve left oakwell. I couldn’t tell you how Struber is doing and I’ve no idea if Lee Johnson is still at Sunderland. But I’m very intrigued as to how Val will do next season and will be watching closely. I wonder if he will adapt at all. For me that was a weakness in his management - he never changed formation, tactics, style at all. Be very interested if with a bigger budget and arguably better players he’ll change at all or stick to his guns. I think he’ll struggle unless there is some flexibility