‘I think your new Kuwait Owners are going to do the right things at MK Stadium’. Is Pleat right?

Tonight, David Pleat, ex Spurs and Sheffield Wednesday Manager was at the MK stadium giving a talk about changing managerial techniques in football over the last 50 years

alongside promoting his new book, ‘ just one more goal’ .

Some of MKFC’s players were also there at the MKFC’s first networking event to answer questions now that the first team has now moved up to 4th place at the top of league Two.

Pleat started wishing MKFC well. You have had probably had over 20 managers, new era with new owners. Now look like you have a winning team. Pleat used to be associated with Luton, spent some time at Nuneaton, moved to Luton after 2 .5 years after getting the sack at Nuneaton. ! Did well in the Championship with Luton. After winning the league cup in 1989, then moved to Spurs.

I think your new Kuwait owners are going to do the good things at MK Stadium. They seem to be doing the right things. It is a wonderful life football and I have had a great footballing life, I am a very lucky man.

Pleat went onto reveal the to date undisclosed price , ex MK owner Pete Winkleman sold Deli Ali to Tottenham for five million pounds. Deli’s long term career unfortunately did not take off as everyone expected., he added. What Pleat did not say is that when Ali left the club, MKFc’s performance and success also evaporated. It was one of the main reasons why MkFC went into demise before the change of ownership. MKFC were doing well thanks to Ali. Rather than keep things going and giving the fans value for money, profiteering went before fan entertainment value. Hence the sour taste it Left in the mouths of MKFC supporters following the sale. Winkleman was at MK Fc for 20 years, he probably had 30 managers. You need to develop relationships with managers in order to get success. Hopefully the new Kuwait managers will take this lesson learnt under the ex owner on board .

Jo and Nathan then took the stage.

Jo and Nathan answer questions at MkFC’s first networking event as the first team have now hit 4th place in League Two

Fist question, how can you improve channels of communication beteeen upper and middle management of a football club? When two nil down do you look at the bench or captain for guidance?

‘ Last year was tough here but I can now sense a whirl of change here’. Even when we go or one or two nil down I still think we have a good chance of getting back into the match. Pleat added, players can sort things out themselves without always necessarily looking up to some one more senior. The good manager incorporates the mavoroc. It’s not the individual but the team which is important in managerial football.

Pleat said George Graham was one of the most talented managers.

To be a manager today, what are the most three important qualities. Reply to be approachable, secondly, open mindnesd, with all the problems players experience on and off the pitch, managers need to be approachable and open minded. Pleat argued, first, intelligence, second, ability, third, patience. Pleat summarised unfortunately as far as intelligence I sometimes lacked it, he joked. Radio is better than TV because you can express yourself better. What is your view on var? Players Feet determines off side decisions, not officials and machines. sideVAR allows officials to look at too many reasons for not giving goals. What was the greatest moment in your footballing career. Scoring a goal at Wembley at age 15. What has been the biggest change which has impacted the game. The commercialism and tv sponsorship. The movement towards data and statistics. Everything has changed in football. The only thing which hasn’t changed is the size of the pitch. Two thirds of clubs in one and two are in foreign ownership, Only two premiership clubs don’t have foreign ownership. If you could manage club who would it be. spurs, Nathan answered. Jo said Man Utd., I believe I could go and change it. Pleat wrote his book during Covid. Wife died of motor neuron Desease. 50 per cent of the proceeds of his sales from the book will be going to this charity.