09-27-2019, 06:23 PM
(09-27-2019, 03:32 PM)Spandaubaggie Wrote: Seeing the thread about the hope that Brunt may be an Albion boss of the future got me thinking the best player we have seen who was top drawer as a manager.
For me, I can't think beyond Johnny Giles and the fact he combined both at the same time makes me think this.
He was clearly one of the finest players of his generation, he'd be worth £50m today in his prime, and even at 35 he was a superstar for us and got us from a mediocre second tier team to 7th in the first division.
I think if he'd stayed we would have been even better than we were under Big Ron. After all, he signed Cunningham.
Only Batson of the 79 team was signed by Big Ron.
Bryan Robson is probably the only other superstar player we have had who did both jobs for us. Brilliant player, but a bit meh as a manager- despite the Great Escape being something we'll never forget.
Giles was terrible in his 2nd coming after he had hung up his boots. A major factor in us being relegated in 1986. Selling Regis and Thompson (when neither wanted to leave or had to be sold) 2 of the worst decisions any Albion manager has made (along with our worst ever manager Saunders selling Bull for next to nothing).
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