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Post by The Concept on May 6, 2023 15:40:44 GMT
This season I've been looing at the pre-match warm-ups mystified at how many people we have in our half of the field in black tracksuits. The last few games I've counted 10 around the players' drills - some leading, some throwing balls, and others stood around arms folding chatting and watching on. In addition to the 10 there were others in black tracksuits: a couple wandering across the pitch, who I assume were medical staff (one of whom would have been Leighanne); a couple more who I think were analysts or media staff; then 3 others on the touchline by the tunnel, again arms folded chatting, who I guess again were part of the medical team, or analysts or media. Looking on the Rovers' website at 'Staff Profiles': www.bristolrovers.co.uk/teams/staff-profiles/We have 3 First Team Coaches. At the start of the year there were 4 First Team Coaches, with Kevin Bond leaving recently (will he be replaced?). We also now have 2 members of staff to wash the kit! :-) What it looks like is we reduced the Academy / Youth Team staff from the 2021/22, and have been building up the First Team staff. Thing is, the cynic in me is looking down at the warm-ups thinking - just how many people do we need to put cones out.  |
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Post by The Concept on May 6, 2023 16:13:37 GMT
So how does this compare with previous years? Going back in time, for the First Team...
2014/15 season:
- Manager = DC.
- Assistant Manager = MS (and I think he was in charge of the U23s / Development Squad at the same time).
- Goalkeeping Coach = Stuart Naylor.
- Physio = Phil Kite.
- Assistant Physio = Steve Bissix.
[In addition, Steve Yates had joined as Kit Manager]
2015/16 season:
The only change to the above was Phil Kite had left and a couple of posts renamed...
- Senior Physio = Paul Maxwell.
- Sports Therapist = Luke Almond.
2016/17 season:
WAQ had arranged for the players to receive meals at training, and DC looked to bolster the medical staff, and a new role for Yatesy...
- First Team Coach = Steve Yates.
- Head of Medical Services = Keith Graham.
- Strength & Conditioning Coach = Dan Nisbit.
- Sports Therapists = Luke Almond & Sarah Carr.
2017/18 season:
We started to concentrate a bit more on the U23s / Development Squad, and an increase from 2x to 3x Sports Therapists, with these new positions quoted in the programme...
- Development Coach = Chris Hargreaves.
- Assistant Development Coach = Brian Dutton.
- Development Goalkeeping Coach = Steve Mildenhall.
- Sports Therapists: Sarah Carr, Luke Almond & Callum Green.
2018/19 season:
Just a reduction back to 2x Sports Therapists, and no mention of a Development Squad Goalkeeping Coach ...
- Sports Therapists = Sarah Carr & Luke Almond.
2019/20 season:
Just a bit of musical chairs: Graham Coughlan had replaced Darrell Clarke; Joe Dunne in for Marcus Stewart as Assistant; Chris Hargreaves had moved to Academy Manager; Lee Mansell became Development Squad Coach, with no Assistant named.
In conclusion...
Since 2014/15: The Development Squad Staff and Medical Staff gradually grew.
Since 2020/21: The Development Squad Staff have gone, the Medical Staff has increased a bit more, and the First Team Squad Staff has mushroomed.
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Post by The Concept on May 6, 2023 16:27:27 GMT
Going back in time, for the Academy (8-16) / Youth Team (17-18)...
2014/15 season:
- Academy Manager = Tom Curtis.
- Youth Team Manager = Alan Walsh.
Over the years the structure didn't really alter, just a few personnel changes: Jonny Henderson became Academy Manager, then Chris Hargreaves; for a few years we were listing Head of Academy Medical as Steve Bissix; and I think the last Youth Team Manager was Tommaso Salvatore Parrinello.
2022/23 season:
Now the roles seem to have merged and we just have one post.
- Head of Academy = Byron Anthony.
In conclusion...
The reduction in Academy / Youth Team staff, in combination with the cancellation in U23 / Development Squad Staff, and the large increase in First Team Coaching Staff, seem to point towards the club sacrificing our own youth player development and concentrating all efforts on the First Team.
That seemed to me the plan last season, in getting promoted back up at the first attempt, and I would imagine the staff wages are a lot higher in the current set up.
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Post by a more piratey game on May 7, 2023 10:24:56 GMT
In conclusion... The reduction in Academy / Youth Team staff, in combination with the cancellation in U23 / Development Squad Staff, and the large increase in First Team Coaching Staff, seem to point towards the club sacrificing our own youth player development and concentrating all efforts on the First Team. That seemed to me the plan last season, in getting promoted back up at the first attempt, and I would imagine the staff wages are a lot higher in the current set up. nice job The Concept that seems to fit. Under the brilliant coach manager who produced the boring football the vision was bigger, and in line with Southampton/Barca etc - have a tippy-tappy first team, supported by a broader approach to get 'em young, build 'em up, play them or sell them on (remember Bristol Rovers London squad?). But the first team bit didn't work, and the young ones didn't really come through now it's concentrate on whatever the manager wants (usually for himself) - which translates as 1st team progress, a new stadium (probably to support and supported by Wael's gradual de-investment), and the development squaddy-type stuff when the Quarters can accommodate (with players attracted to the club as the 1st team is a more successful one, and on the same site) I was reading about Brighton, the wunderkinder of the current season, and how their backroom analysis has long been envied by other PL clubs ('moneyball' and all that). Which is probably why we hired that analyst from there (at about the same time that the Bristol Rovers London thing started I think). I don't know what happened to him, or his role |
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Post by swissgas on May 7, 2023 17:40:46 GMT
Good research from The Concept but most are not interested.
The Rovers way is that Wael puts the coins in the slot , Joey pulls the handle and we all hope three Kings come up.
That’s not how Brighton, Brentford, Burton or Cheltenham do it but each to their own.
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Post by a more piratey game on May 7, 2023 23:47:35 GMT
In conclusion... The reduction in Academy / Youth Team staff, in combination with the cancellation in U23 / Development Squad Staff, and the large increase in First Team Coaching Staff, seem to point towards the club sacrificing our own youth player development and concentrating all efforts on the First Team. That seemed to me the plan last season, in getting promoted back up at the first attempt, and I would imagine the staff wages are a lot higher in the current set up. nice job The Concept that seems to fit. Under the brilliant coach manager who produced the boring football the vision was bigger, and in line with Southampton/Barca etc - have a tippy-tappy first team, supported by a broader approach to get 'em young, build 'em up, play them or sell them on (remember Bristol Rovers London squad?). But the first team bit didn't work, and the young ones didn't really come through now it's concentrate on whatever the manager wants (usually for himself) - which translates as 1st team progress, a new stadium (probably to support and supported by Wael's gradual de-investment), and the development squaddy-type stuff when the Quarters can accommodate (with players attracted to the club as the 1st team is a more successful one, and on the same site) I was reading about Brighton, the wunderkinder of the current season, and how their backroom analysis has long been envied by other PL clubs ('moneyball' and all that). Which is probably why we hired that analyst from there (at about the same time that the Bristol Rovers London thing started I think). I don't know what happened to him, or his role |
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Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2023 8:50:22 GMT
Brighton, Brentford, Burton or Cheltenham Are you comparing us to our alphabetical neighbours? What about the 1982 club? |
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Post by swissgas on May 8, 2023 14:31:04 GMT
Brighton, Brentford, Burton or Cheltenham Are you comparing us to our alphabetical neighbours? What about the 1982 club? No, I was suggesting that the clubs listed may be at opposite ends of the football scale but in their different ways each of them take a measured approach to their business compared to Rovers haphazard approach. Brighton and Brentford used to be comparable to Rovers but now they are in a different stratosphere. Burton and Cheltenham didn't figure in our conversations years ago because they were small non-league clubs yet now they finish higher in the league that us. I think our terrible under achievement compared to these clubs is wholly down to the approach we take to the football business. Which includes the haphazard way we take in deciding whether or not development of young players is important to us. |
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Post by Bath Gas on May 9, 2023 15:31:20 GMT
Another one to add to the current list may be Nick Anderton, who has been told that there will be a role for him at Rovers, when he feels up to it.
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Post by laughinggas on May 11, 2023 7:29:22 GMT
Manager B*****.
Assistants Mangan, Ventre.
Keeper coaching Jaakola, Coles.
Coaches Whelan, Coutts.
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Post by The Concept on May 11, 2023 17:55:09 GMT
In conclusion... The reduction in Academy / Youth Team staff, in combination with the cancellation in U23 / Development Squad Staff, and the large increase in First Team Coaching Staff, seem to point towards the club sacrificing our own youth player development and concentrating all efforts on the First Team. That seemed to me the plan last season, in getting promoted back up at the first attempt, and I would imagine the staff wages are a lot higher in the current set up. nice job The Concept that seems to fit. Under the brilliant coach manager who produced the boring football the vision was bigger, and in line with Southampton/Barca etc - have a tippy-tappy first team, supported by a broader approach to get 'em young, build 'em up, play them or sell them on (remember Bristol Rovers London squad?). But the first team bit didn't work, and the young ones didn't really come through now it's concentrate on whatever the manager wants (usually for himself) - which translates as 1st team progress, a new stadium (probably to support and supported by Wael's gradual de-investment), and the development squaddy-type stuff when the Quarters can accommodate (with players attracted to the club as the 1st team is a more successful one, and on the same site) I was reading about Brighton, the wunderkinder of the current season, and how their backroom analysis has long been envied by other PL clubs ('moneyball' and all that). Which is probably why we hired that analyst from there (at about the same time that the Bristol Rovers London thing started I think). I don't know what happened to him, or his role Thanks. I'd been having conversations with people about the number of backroom staff we have, and what's happened to our Youth Team (no mention from the club all year) and U23 Squad. Also people speculating about the club's losses. So wanted to find out what the situation was and whether the backroom staff has contributed to increased expenditure. Yes, Brighton seem to be punching. Didn't go quite so well against Everton this week though! You might be thinking of Enda Barron - he was listed in the programme as 'Analyst' from 2016/17 season to 2019/20 season. Now we have Adam Mahoney (Head) and Lewis Mahoney (Assistant), I can't find any details for in between. Bristol Rovers London Academy!!  Wow! Forgot about that. Announced with a fanfare, then disappeared without comment. |
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Post by The Concept on May 11, 2023 17:56:43 GMT
Good research from The Concept but most are not interested. The Rovers way is that Wael puts the coins in the slot , Joey pulls the handle and we all hope three Kings come up. That’s not how Brighton, Brentford, Burton or Cheltenham do it but each to their own. Thanks! People may well be interested, just feel no need to comment or like. |
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Post by The Concept on May 11, 2023 18:04:20 GMT
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Post by droitwichgas on May 13, 2023 18:06:13 GMT
Another one to add to the current list may be Nick Anderton, who has been told that there will be a role for him at Rovers, when he feels up to it. So you think that is a bad thing for the club to indicate that they are prepared to look after a former player who helped us get promoted? |
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Post by droitwichgas on May 13, 2023 18:07:51 GMT
JB said on Having a Gas that Coutts has left the club, making no reference to him becoming a coach, which seems to be something Bristol Live have made a fact. |
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Post by Bath Gas on May 13, 2023 18:55:53 GMT
Another one to add to the current list may be Nick Anderton, who has been told that there will be a role for him at Rovers, when he feels up to it. So you think that is a bad thing for the club to indicate that they are prepared to look after a former player who helped us get promoted? Not at all, the exact opposite actually - I think that it's a very nice thing for the club to do, and also for Nick to know that there is a role here for him in the future. I was just indicating that the current list may need another name added to it soon. |
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Post by droitwichgas on May 14, 2023 8:54:15 GMT
So you think that is a bad thing for the club to indicate that they are prepared to look after a former player who helped us get promoted? Not at all, the exact opposite actually - I think that it's a very nice thing for the club to do, and also for Nick to know that there is a role here for him in the future. I was just indicating that the current list may need another name added to it soon. OK, but your post just seemed to add to the suggestion we've now got too many, when none of us really know how many similar sized L1 clubs employ, I seem to recall JB suggesting that he contributes towards their wages, I doubt he'd be doing that if he could work with less. |
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Post by Bath Gas on May 14, 2023 14:46:15 GMT
Not at all, the exact opposite actually - I think that it's a very nice thing for the club to do, and also for Nick to know that there is a role here for him in the future. I was just indicating that the current list may need another name added to it soon. OK, but your post just seemed to add to the suggestion we've now got too many, when none of us really know how many similar sized L1 clubs employ, I seem to recall JB suggesting that he contributes towards their wages, I doubt he'd be doing that if he could work with less. Yes, JB has said in the past that he pays some of the wages - I think that's why he talks about "working for free", as he uses his wages to pay for other staff, which means he can get the people he wants. I know that the players appreciated the upscale in the backroom staff, it's not only been increased in size, but the quality of medical care etc has improved - no point having a decent car if you haven't got a good mechanic to keep it running. It seems that we are a much more professional outfit now - all good in my book. |
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Wow! Forgot about that. Announced with a fanfare, then disappeared without comment.