Our New Manager

[wellfan]

JBA has an aura about him that all successful managers seem to possess. It’s something intangible that’s hard to define or explain, but you know it when you see it I didn’t see much of it in Wimmer, and I don’t see it in Johansson either. Does that mean he’s going to fail? No. We just have to wait and see.

[Stratos]

58 minutes ago, wellfan said:

JBA has an aura about him that all successful managers seem to possess. It’s something intangible that’s hard to define or explain, but you know it when you see it I didn’t see much of it in Wimmer, and I don’t see it in Johansson either. Does that mean he’s going to fail? No. We just have to wait and see.

Hope he goes well , wasn’t really an awe inspiring first impression but maybe it’s a language thing. 

[Happy Dosser]

His English seemed pretty good to me. Askou played for Norwich and Millwall, so you would expect his English to be as fluent as it was, although I expect his swearing in English to have been pretty effective too. I get the impression Unai Emery's English is quite limited but it doesn't seem to affect his ability as a manager.

Every manager  is different and we'll just have to see how the dynamics work out.

Does anyone know if the AJ has children? That can be a factor in a manager "settling down" successfully, although JBA's wife and children stayed at home and he did fine.

🤞🤞🤞

[MJC]

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

[Onthefringes]

13 minutes ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

Not in a forward thinking footballing world. Age is nothing, the ideal is seen as a career path in nations who are way in front of our own.

Ian Cathro at Hearts? Football has evolved, maybe the psyche of some fans should too.

Suppose first impressions count, not sure how you conclude he hasn’t that aura about him from the clubs’ social media output. He was fairly open on not making wholesale changes so for me seemlessly transitioning hopefully building incrementally as is club board ethos which is very different to JBA arriving and having to put his stamp on things from the get go.

[stv]

27 minutes ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

He's been involved in management for the last 10 years missed out the playing career bit, . He's an experienced guy. Probly more experiance managing than JBA had. He plays an attacking style. 

 

[weeyin]

33 minutes ago, Onthefringes said:

Not in a forward thinking footballing world. Age is nothing, the ideal is seen as a career path in nations who are way in front of our own.

Very true.

Brighton, who have a decent amount of success recently, just appointed a 31 year old manager,

Andre Villas-Boas manged the Porto team that won the Europa League when he was 33.

Kieran McKenna was 35 when he took over at Ipswich in League One and and won promotion to the EPL with them last season.

I'm sure if you spend 10 minutes googling the ages of some of the other managers in Europe you'd find similar success stories.

[Motherwell Daft]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

Bloody hell, the poor guys just in the door, never managed a Super Well game yet, and in a few days before the ‘aura’ is supposed to appear, he can’t have been that bad managing Rosenberg for almost 2 years at 33 so give him a chance, actions speak louder than words as they say, the board took nearly 4 weeks to appoint a manager and we have to trust that their homework got an “A” and AJ can be successful for our wee club.

He’s not Jens, so at least give the poor guy even 2 games until we make any assumption!

[0Neils40yarder]

Not concerned by the guys age in the slightest and the fact he has a couple of years at the sharp end with Norways biggest club would take away any concern on that front.

He looked nervous in that meeting with the players right enough but im prepared to cut him some slack given he probably knows absolutely no one in the room.

[Spit_It_Out]

Aye i mind once this guy called Alex Ferguson got East Stirling job 32 years old,then went to St Mirren at 35 and I am pretty sure took over at Aberdeen at 36.Turned out to have a decent career from what I heard.

Pssst wait till he hears about Julian Nagelsman.

Age means nothing he has experience what counts of domestic league  and European football.

[wunderwell]

At that age he will get on well with our 35 year old chairman!

[Great Balls of Shire]

10 hours ago, Stratos said:

Hope he goes well , wasn’t really an awe inspiring first impression but maybe it’s a language thing. 

Must be the close season , finding things to judge people on that you can't " define" 

I agree re jba but this guy has a good reputation,  that'll do for me just now.

[Great Balls of Shire]

9 hours ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

He's managed at Rosenborg , he's not a novice...like I say it's the close season for folks.

[Great Balls of Shire]

9 hours ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

Jim Jeffries and Jock Wallace had an aura.

[star sail]

18 minutes ago, Great Balls of Shire said:

Must be the close season , finding things to judge people on that you can't " define" 

I agree re jba but this guy has a good reputation,  that'll do for me just now.

I think these comments come off the back of the BBC Sportsound article where there was discussion about the importance to players of a good first impression.

I suppose a first impression is by definition something you can't define. It's a feeling rather than something more objective.

Unfortunately he is going to be compared to Askou and unfortunately for Johansson that is going to be a very difficult act to follow.

We all hope he can match Askou's success but the slight nervousness is understandable because Askou has set such an impressive precedent.

 

[grizzlyg]

On 6/20/2026 at 5:40 PM, SteelmaninOZ said:

Bigus Dickus more like 

That made me titter 

[grizzlyg]

9 hours ago, MJC said:

The fact that he is only 35 concerns me. That is extremely young in managerial terms and something that has failed in the past at other clubs, Ian Cather at Hearts being the obvious example.

The ‘aura’ thing is on point too. Good managers have that air of authority about them, that bit that just makes players sit up and listen to them. It can’t be learned, you either have it or you don’t.

JBA had it, just that “I am in charge, I am your leader” about him. AJ? I’m not seeing it yet.

You are basing that on one video!.  Jeez gie him a chance, probably nervous as he has big boots to follow.    In Alfred we trust

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, wunderwell said:

At that age he will get on well with our 35 year old chairman!

Brilliant