Bye Bye Baggy Bobby

[bibblebub]

Roberto Di Matteo has been put on "gardening leave" at West Brom. Who's going to take over that poisoned chalice?

[DTCwordfan]

Doesn't WBA stand for "Will Be Axed"

[bibblebub]

aka Wobbly Bottom Athletic

[joeluke]

Personally I thought he was doing a decent job there with limited resources

[piggynose]

lets ask mightywba, i´m sure he knows something

boing boing

[cazzz1975]

I thought it was a shame, martin o'neill may be interested as long as the gaffer has big deep pockets

[theweedrammer]

Frankly a disaster. He has done really well with no money and little support. He has shown great dignity. His problem was that WBA exceeded expectations first half of the season so it looks like a slump now. Why not spend money they will spend on getting rid of him in the transfer market instead? Smacks of desparation from the Board.

[The-HouseHusband]

Yet again the manager gets the boot for the players underperforming, you never hear it said that the manager is doing well because the players are performing well that is always down to the coaching staff and back room boys but as soon as the players go off the boil it is the managers fault. Roy got the chop at liverpool, they then sell Torres who was supposed to be the greatest player liverpool have ever had, what happens when they play each other the next week? Liverpool win and Torres proves he was worth 50 Quid not 50 Million

[daftgrandad]

IMO a manager who has to work under a "technical director of football" and with no
funds for transfers etc, has his hands tied from day one.
I feel sorry for him,as he tried to make something out of nothing.
You cannot make a silk purse from a sows ear.

[vauny]

Crazy decision - Brian Laws is available - The fans are lucky Gary Megsons got a job

[bibblebub]

yes, you wouldn't wish Gary Megson on your worst enemy

[alexanderd]

Really sorry for the guy, clubs like that are a poisoned chalice unless they have a good chairman. First sign of a dip,"Sack the Manager"

[sir.prize]

Sam Allardyce is a good 'un.

[jubieanna]

why do they call it gardening leave?

[bibblebub]

Sam Allardyce always gives me the impression that he'd be a good choice at most clubs but does his record bear this out?

[alexanderd]

Gardening leave is a euphemism for "Youre sacked" but they have to sort out compensation and if they cant find anyone else they can always bring him back

[jubieanna]

thanks alex
i thought it meant he had to go home and do some gardening lol

[bibblebub]

Can't find when or why the term "gardening leave" was first used in this context.

[jubieanna]

i just googled and found this.

'When placed on garden leave you are not allowed to work for another employer but still receive pay for the duration of the garden leave. Therefore, you have nothing to do besides stay at home and work in your garden.'

so he is at home doing his gardening!

[bibblebub]

I was trying to find out how this particular term has come into general usage; why "gardening leave" rather than something like 'DIY leave' or any other phrase meaning that they are effectively no longer at the club.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps Alan Curbishley will finally get a job.