[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[nicko]

What do you think of Hoddles suggestion? Capello as England boss with an English understudy. Put in Shearers name for the understudy and I think that is not a bad shout at all. I'd be quite comforatble, no, very comfortable with that arrangement. Cappello for the tatical nous and Shearer for the fire and brimstone. Could work.

I'm not arguing with that in principle...Shearer could always do it part-time.

[nicko]

He's a plonker and a damned bad man manager. The two yanks spoon fed him oodles of money in summer in response to his demands and now he wants still more. Looks like Hicks and Gillette have him and Prem football sussed now. I bet they never realised what they were letting themselves in for when they first viewed the opportunity to buy a Prem club. I've no time for him.

I wonder how long the yanks will stick around when it becomes clear that owning Liverpool FC proves to be a very poor return on investment?

I agree that Benitez has a cheek asking for more money. But they were superb against Newcastle yesterday...it would be a loss to Liverpool no matter what the politics are.

[American]

Then do you think Houllier's leaving was a loss? Rafa is actually doing worse....

[nicko]

Then do you think Houllier's leaving was a loss? Rafa is actually doing worse....

Benitez has won the Champions League once and reached the final another time...

I don't think Houllier can claim that. He did a good job in his way, Benitez has done better.

Neither will be true greats until they win the Premier League for Liverpool. I would not write them off just yet this season - certainly not after seeing Man U yesterday.

[LeChuck]

O'Neill recommends Shearer for England job

I'm not sure Shearer would go for a number 2 position, he had that chance when McClaren took over. Unfortunately the assistant gets tarred with the same brush as the manager if things go pear shaped, so it is a dangerous job for someone to take on if they're looking to move into management.

[EwoodGlory]

Rafa Gone?

[Ben-2000]

What is it with the high number of manager changes these last couple of weeks!

[The1mattjansen]

Still getting 8/1 on skybet...worth a few quid Nicko?

[nicko]

Still getting 8/1 on skybet...worth a few quid Nicko?

Leave it alone. I can't see him walking out before the Champions League game with Porto this week.

Benitez is playing a game here. It's dangerous but I don't see him going immediately. Mind you, if he lost at home to Porto and went out of Europe that might be a different matter.

On their current form I would think they will win, the Kop will back Benitez and the board will squirm...

[The1mattjansen]

Leave it alone. I can't see him walking out before the Champions League game with Porto this week.

Benitez is playing a game here. It's dangerous but I don't see him going immediately. Mind you, if he lost at home to Porto and went out of Europe that might be a different matter.

On their current form I would think they will win, the Kop will back Benitez and the board will squirm...

I'll take you're word for it Nicko. Cheers

[thenodrog]

No managers 'walk' volountarily (without prior agreement) nowadays.

[modes98]

Whats the deal with the birmingham job nicko?

Betting seems to have fallen away on everyone apart from Black and McLeish.

[neekoy]

Anyone know the odds of R Benitez going and Mourinho ironically being installed?

[philipl]

Rafa on the edge of being fired

I am not drawing conclusions at this stage BUT

- Rafa clearly believes he is a much better manager than he really is. Liverpool were on a real charge earlier this season but Rafa's rotation completely did for them. Arsenal are simply too good for any chasing club to be able to afford the loss of cheap points Rafa routinely gives away.

- If nicko is right about Rafa wanting to appeal to the fans (which I think he is), Porto is not the sort of team you want visiting at Anfield this week. They have players who can really hurt you and make your side look idiots in the process.

- The reality of Hicks and Gillet is every bit as bad as the Glazers down the road at OT in terms of saddling the club with never never land debt. Worse in fact because Liverpool have a stadium to build and what are the chances of building anything in central Liverpool on time and on budget?

- Mourinho is going to cost an unfathomable fortune to be brought into another EPL club during the course of this season. Abramovich paid him off handsomely but also stitched him up royally in terms of enforced gardening leave. My guess is Rafa is history and Rovers could be facing a managerial crisis much earlier than we thought we would as Hicks and Gillet are the sort of people to ignore the anti-Manc hysteria of the scousers.

Sorry to end on such a down note.

[nicko]

Whats the deal with the birmingham job nicko?

Betting seems to have fallen away on everyone apart from Black and McLeish.

The club is split, so I don't know how they can even approach a manager. Anyone considering going to a club in the middle of a takeover which could collapse would have to be desperate.

McLeish may just be using this to get a better deal with Scotland or let other clubs know he fancies coming to England.

Black will probably be offered the job - David Gold wants him to stay - but it would have to be a better deal than what Wigan are offering.

Give that market a body swerve.

[thenodrog]

My guess is Rafa is history and Rovers could be facing a managerial crisis much earlier than we thought we would as Hicks and Gillet are the sort of people to ignore the anti-Manc hysteria of the scousers.

Sorry to end on such a down note.

Well let em go in for Ferguson then.

Lpool is one of the really big jobs in the world which few would turn down BUT given that Hughes would list managing MU / Chelsea first in his career sights would anti-scouse hysteria count the other way by effectively ruling him out of the other jobs?

......

[trs]

The managerial merry- go- round goes on this morning with the sacking of Billy davies.

Good manager, with a lot of "personal" ambition which I think sometimes may just upset his employers now and again.

[LeftWinger]

The managerial merry- go- round goes on this morning with the sacking of Billy davies.

Good manager, with a lot of "personal" ambition which I think sometimes may just upset his employers now and again.

Good advice by Nicko to avoid the Benitez bet for now then.

[modes98]

Didn't see that one coming. So much for the 3 year building plan to get them in the premiership.

He must be on brum's list now he is unemployed.

Nicko: Black has been deadly quiet on the whole thing and he did a fairly good job at Coventry. McLeish looks happy in the Scotland job but is a much better name for a "Big Club" like brum.

[nicko]

Didn't see that one coming. So much for the 3 year building plan to get them in the premiership.

He must be on brum's list now he is unemployed.

Nicko: Black has been deadly quiet on the whole thing and he did a fairly good job at Coventry. McLeish looks happy in the Scotland job but is a much better name for a "Big Club" like brum.

You can't legislate for anything at Birmingham right now.

Black is still likely to go to Wigan, while I reckon McLeish is using this to get a better deal with Scotland.

Billy Davies is an interesting shout for the Birmingham post. Available, free, would work until the summer for a jackpot. I could see that - but that's not based on any knowledge.

By the way, if there is a Next Derby boss market let me know...

[trs]

By the way, if there is a Next Derby boss market let me know...

Only if you tell us his name first..............

[modes98]

No market as of this moment but give it a few hours and there will be one on betfair at least.

[nicko]

Only if you tell us his name first..............

It's a total shock name. A bit of an unknown, but from a decent source...a bit like the guy Burnley named.

Play this one cagey, wait for the name to appear and then it might be worth a sly tenner.

Checking by the hour!

[eddiewac]

Ladbrokes are on to it, Steve McClaren 5/2 favourite....

S McClaren 5/2

P Jewel 4/1

G Souness 6/1

G Williams 8/1

D O'Leary 10/1

D Saunders 10/1

G Johnson 10/1

N Clough 12/1

P Ince 14/1

S Pearce 16/1

G McAllister 20/1

M Allen 20/1

B Rioch 25/1

P Brown 25/1

[nicko]

I will give you the nod later on this - got a story to protect.

Leave it until about 8pm...

I don't have a Ladbrokes account before you ask. But the name is there, so somebody knows something.