New manager wishlist

[DanielMB]

What’s Judan Ali up to these days?

[DaveyB]

Honestly, before last Saturday’s almost heroic effort against Man City, would anyone have even considered Wellens? That one’s a big no from me. 

Gerrard did well when he had Beale & Critchley with him - it all seemed to fall apart quite quickly once they got their own jobs elsewhere. 
If, and it’s a big if, at least one of those were coming with him I wouldn’t be opposed to him getting it in the short-term - I don’t think he’s a particularly good manager, but then neither is Lampard and he’s got Coventry flying at the moment. A little bit of new manager bounce, feel-good factor, call it what you will, might be all we need to secure a playoff spot this year. 
Long term though I definitely don’t think he’s the right choice. 

And, if we’re going down that route of a big name former player, I’d much rather we pushed to see if Damien Duff would come. The feel-good factor of having Duffer come home might just lift everyone’s spirits and take away some of the doom and gloom around the club - in the short term at least, before it all goes to shit again in the summer.

But Rob Edwards or Gary O’Neill would be my more realistic choices. 
Edwards came into Luton in a similar position 2 years ago and had the sense not to change too much (despite having coached teams to play a different style previously) and carried them to promotion. And that’s exactly what we need here - a couple of tweaks, especially going forward, but not wholesale changes. 

And O’Neill I think is a steady, if unspectacular, manager who did ok at Bournemouth and then slightly better at Wolves in his first season there - this season they were playing well at first but not getting the results and then it looked like he’d lost the players at the end, but as others have said there were some mitigating factors. I think he’d keep us ticking over enough this season to push for a playoff spot and, probably more crucially, would have enough about him to keep us out of trouble next season if we’re still in the championship. 

[MarkBRFC]

It amuses me that anyone thinks that getting results to finish in the top 6 will be the clubs, Waggott's/Suhail's priority.

It will be whoever is the cheapest.

[roversfan99]

Gerrard used to plan his training sessions in Saudi Arabia around when Liverpool were playing.

[AvRover]

11 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

It amuses me that anyone thinks that getting results to finish in the top 6 will be the clubs, Waggott's/Suhail's priority.

It will be whoever is the cheapest.

From our, fans, perspective we'd like to see the club roll the dice, spend a few million on a 14-game "impact" manager to give the play offs a good go.

In reality, I think Waggot and co will be looking more "pragmatically" - yes, maybe someone to bide us over to the summer and go for the POs, but also someone who won't cost the Earth.

Chances are, I don't think there's enough for me to say we won't drop out of the top 6. Sunderland (A) and Sheffield Utd (A) in the last three could very easily be six points dropped - that's on top of any points dropped between now and then. Tbf, if we're serious all fixtures except those two could and should see results, with respect to our opponents.

Ergo, we probably finish 8th regardless and the summer fire sale begins, the search for a manager wanting to join the club or stay on beyond the summer looks like an uphill battle.

In many ways it's vital the 10-20% chance we go up does happen otherwise next season looks a challenge.

Edited February 14 by AvRover
Grammar & clarity

[RevidgeBlue]

We've got a fairly unique opportunity for the next 14 games, we've pocketed £750k for Eustace and Im all of a sudden reading names like Boateng, Richie Wellens and, unsurprisingly because he's the cheapest option and has won a game, David Lowe. (who equally unsurprisingly we're told hasn't ruled himself out)

Holy crap. If any of those 3 are appointed, the tanks should be rolling up to Ewood. I can only hope the media have it completely wrong and havent a clue what's really going on.

[davulsukur]

11 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Gerrard used to plan his training sessions in Saudi Arabia around when Liverpool were playing.

Haha, I thought you were joking!

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/liverpool-steven-gerrard-al-ettifaq-training-sessions-liverpool-games/blte2c52de4e4cabebd#cs8ce47ac81db0a517

[martonrover]

1 minute ago, RevidgeBlue said:

We've got a fairly unique opportunity for the next 14 games, we've pocketed £750k for Eustace and Im all of a sudden reading names like Boateng, Richie Wellens and, unsurprisingly because he's the cheapest option and has won a game, David Lowe. (who equally unsurprisingly we're told hasn't ruled himself out)

Holy crap. If any of those 3 are appointed, the tanks should be rolling up to Ewood. I can only hope the media have it completely wrong and havent a clue what's really going on.

Yes, it’s amazing how giddy and bullish some folk get after one win.

We’ve been lucky with the last two appointments.

I have a horrible feeling this could be a case of third time unlucky,

[rog of the rovers]

TIME FOR A POLL

 

 

[Tricky]

19 minutes ago, DaveyB said:

But Rob Edwards or Gary O’Neill would be my more realistic choices. 

i reckon its between these two, struggle to consider who i'd prefer.

[RevidgeBlue]

I wouldn't be totally against Gerrard until the end of the season, dont really rate him as a manager, but you'd imagine his appointment would pump up the motivation levels of the players temporarily. 

John Williams always reckoned we needed a famous manager to boost our profile.

It's still such a simple conundrum to solve. Warnock or Allardyce until the end of the season. The problems come after that if we dont go up.

[AvRover]

Just now, martonrover said:

Yes, it’s amazing how giddy and bullish some folk get after one win.

We’ve been lucky with the last two appointments.

I have a horrible feeling this could be a case of third time unlucky,

Especially given it's hard to smooth talk a candidate now the dirty laundry is very much in the open - the job lends itself to the desperate. If I were a decent manager the only reason I'd take the job now is if it were until May. That way I could say "Well, it'll be over by May at the worst, I'm getting paid and there's good mitigating factors if it all goes t*ts up. Best case scenario is a promotion on my record." A good manager, long term now isn't realistic.

[martonrover]

1 minute ago, AvRover said:

Especially given it's hard to smooth talk a candidate now the dirty laundry is very much in the open - the job lends itself to the desperate. If I were a decent manager the only reason I'd take the job now is if it were until May. That way I could say "Well, it'll be over by May at the worst, I'm getting paid and there's good mitigating factors if it all goes t*ts up. Best case scenario is a promotion on my record." A good manager, long term now isn't realistic.

Agreed, and I’m in the Allardyce / Warnock til the end of the season camp.

Will that happen?
Almost certainly not, and if the likes of Wellens gets it, I despair.

[rog of the rovers]

Thanks for those who have voted early in the Poll.

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, rog of the rovers said:

Thanks for those who have voted early in the Poll.

Looking at those early picks, it looks like this m/b should actually be tasked with choosing the manager!

[booth]

I voted Rob Edwards as he got humble Luton promoted and I can’t see Big Sam or Warnock being in the frame. Also age is against those two.

[Wegerleswiggle]

I voted Big Sam but only until the end of the season. If he gets us promoted then offer him an extension if not, thanks for trying 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, booth said:

I voted Rob Edwards as he got humble Luton promoted and I can’t see Big Sam or Warnock being in the frame. Also age is against those two.

Its a 3 month gig for them.

I wouldnt be advocating either permanently. if we're not treating age as a barrier to the temporary gig, how about going completely bananas and going for Sir Kenneth with Gerrard as his assistant?

[paullarrygher]

If you've heard Big Sam speak recently, he's obviously not the character he was.

[Ricceh]

Stevie G being linked worries me. He failed everywhere other than Rangers where the chat was his backroom staff did most of the work.

Also I can't even understand what he says half the time.

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, paullarrygher said:

If you've heard Big Sam speak recently, he's obviously not the character he was.

Not heard him.

Warnock's still ok I think.

[roverandout]

I've voted Gerrard.  Even though we've  no chance of getting him, he'd bring in instant respect.  

[rog of the rovers]

11am Update - Fair to say opinion is split

[davulsukur]

Just now, rog of the rovers said:

11am Update - Fair to say opinion is split

A difficult vote because in reality, i don't really want any of them.

Assuming Allardyce wouldn't be offered it and Warnock would reject the circus, I went for Duff, purely to be someone out of left field.

 

[booth]

19 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Its a 3 month gig for them.

I wouldnt be advocating either permanently. if we're not treating age as a barrier to the temporary gig, how about going completely bananas and going for Sir Kenneth with Gerrard as his assistant?

As has been said, Sam is a lot more softly spoken these days.

They won’t pick an elderly manager anyway or anyone ambitious.  Cooper is the obvious choice. Hughton is another one who could probably see us through, but neither seem to be in the frame.