This morning’s Sunday People reports that the former Reading and Leeds manager, Brian McDermott, has signed a three year deal to work with the club as a scout.
The Gunners have been trying to add new blood to the scouting deaprtment for some time, and McDermott’s experience in the Premier League and beyond as a manager and coach would see him ideally suited for the role.
It’s the latest in a number of behind the scenes moves to revamp areas of the club, which have included the departure of Liam Brady and David Court from the youth set-up to be replaced by Andries Jonker and his team; the hiring of Shad Forsythe to overhaul the fitness regime as well as developments to extend the training ground.
McDermott, of course, is well versed in the way of Arsenal, having made 72 appearances for the club as a player between 1979 and 1984.
Can he play as a defensive mid?
LANS
Let’s hope Uncle Fester can spot a talent.
Is it that Bald guy who wears spectacles…
Is it that Bald guy who wears spectacles??
My phones not that nice that I had to type it twice…
Would bebsome banter if he was constantly reminded about the 7-5
There has been a lot of discussion about the Rooney Rule this week. Of the 46 coaching staff on arsenal.com, across the first team, the academy and the Ladies, 2 are black, 2 are women. Makes me wonder about our own club and its policies on diversity in recruitment.
Honestly this isn’t the place to be discussing racism in management and coaching positions since almost none of us will know of ‘our own club and its policies on diversity in recruitment’, which means all we’d be doing is speak nonsense that anyone can make up. You’re welcome to read more into the issue but there isn’t really any hot topic or news within the Arsenal fanbase on racism, so you’re practically writing to the wall.
I pretty much don’t care about the color or gender of the clubs staff, all that matters is that they are good enough for whatever it is the club needs them for. Race should not be an issue
From your extensive research, could you please confirm the ratio of black/female people working in football to non-black/female? If I had to guess, the 8.7% we employ is probably representative of the pool of people to choose from.
Trying to think of any precocious talent he’s may have unearthed. Hal Robson-Kanu is the only one I can think of. And yes, it’s mainly because of the name.
I probably wouldn’t say he discovered HRK as he was an academy product (he did give him his chance in the first team when he was manager). His finest achievement as our scout was popping over to Ireland and snapping up a couple of unknown youngsters from Cork City for €100k. You probably don’t think Kevin Doyle and Shane Long are/were of Arsenal standard, but they were superb for Reading and getting back £12m back in transfer fees isn’t too shabby. Off the top of my head, he also brought in Dave Kitson, Andre Bikey, Ibrahima Sonko, Stephen Hunt, Adam… Read more »
Sound appointment.
Penfold
Brian McDermott started his Football career with us as a youth apprentice and was the youth top goal scorer in 1979. I remember him playing for the first team, but he wasn’t as proficient. So yeah, why not? Come back home, Brian McDermott.
I really like him…top bloke.
I’d just like to say that calling John Terry a cunt on this site should be totally banned…..except on days when we play Chelsea so I do hope that by choosing my day very carefully I hope I offend no-one by saying
JOHN TERRY IS A CUNT
calling john terry a cunt should be encouraged in all walks of life
Can he play DM?
Varys has many spiders around the globe. Hopefully he helps pluck us some gems!
It has to be said that John Terry is a real cunt,there said it
What I am more concern is our way of dealing too lately with player. AW always says “that is not the right period”, or “players are focused on the world cup, on the domestic competition blabla” and then he at the P.conference that deal was done early before he was for Cesc and Diego Costa. The same for Lewandoski or all quality players. So if we can scout sooner and be faster in the transfert market, then great.
Bit of a step down from a manager to a scout? Although I imagine arsenals scouts are pretty well paid
Not really. Brian may be looking for a break from the pressures of managing and also trying to add a new set of skills to his CV for future endeavours.
Obviously a revamp has been done, coyg
My favourite AFC memory of BMcD was being at Villa Park when we won 6-2, Tony Woodcock got 5 and BMcD got the other one! A similar away win & scoreline today at Chelski would be most welcome!! 🙂 #COYG
Supermacs back hello hello
Nice to see a gooner return. Seems like a thoroughly nice bloke too.
Sorry for the double nice. I’m in descriptive mood today. Which is nice.
Nice? Wonderful.
Great to hear. An Arsenal man who has plenty of experience in the football world. Welcome back Brian!
How has he not got another manager position!? Good for us though! I remember him as a teenager playing alongside Charlie Nicholas! God, I feel old!
at reading before he was manager he was in charge of scouting and looking after players when they first arrived at the club. he was so good at it that they gave him the managers job. on that evidence it should be a good addition to the club.
I’m the one who scouts!
But can he play DM?
Doesn’t matter who he recruits, Wenger can kill any player.
With just a little push?