Steve McLaren

[KevinGage]

I would like to know the Boro fans take on him. I seem to remember at the time he got them to the UEFA cup final, he was well liked and respected by Boro fans.

On the surface, a LC win and a UEFA Cup final for a team who had won nowt before would be enough to cement hero status.  But there were quite a few Boro fans happy when he got the England gig in 2006 - there were even suggestions that he was close to getting pushed a few months earlier.

They watch their team more than we do, so there must have been a reason for their dissatisfaction.

[hawkeye]

The fact thatMclaren would be a contreversial and unpopular apppointment would make it a huge mistake. We need someone to Unite the club, that gets the majority on side.

[Legion]

Oh, unconfined joy. Another speculative new manager thread. No, by the way.

[Damo70]

The press and fans would obviously be a lot more patient with Moyes than Benitez and particularly McLaren. There would certainly be an media agenda waiting to happen with the latter two. Certainly a manager that has been perceived to have failed with England is on a hiding to nothing from day one in that respect. Sir Graham has spoken of the national media suddenly becoming hugely interested in every defeat of a second tier side as soon as he was Wolves manager and the fact the fans were sensitive to having a manager who had been nationally ridiculed.

[Dante Lavelli]

The fact thatMclaren would be a contreversial and unpopular apppointment would make it a huge mistake. We need someone to Unite the club, that gets the majority on side.

I agree with this.  I want Houllier out for the similar reasons.  His problem is not anything specific he has done, his knowledge or tactical awareness but the perception of the majority of fans is that he is a clueless whatsit. 

On the other hand, take MON - bear with me - generally a pretty limited tactician, we've been told that he was hardy ever at the training ground, never invested much time in the youth, didn't bother with scouting etc etc, yet for the first three years he united the club and the fans and moved us forward.  Was it just his carisma, or was he lucky arriving after Doug and Dolly.

This summer is an opportunity to get a guy in that will unite the club again.  He might not have the best CV of all the candidates but he needs to be popular enough to get some feel good factor back in the club.

The only problem is, identifying that man.

[garyfouroaks]

I have just posted on another thread on this. A hugely reliable football insider has just text me that McClaren is "nailed on" for the job. Now he may be wrong, but I don't do wums or mindless speculation, check my post history.

[Meanwood Villa]

I would like to know the Boro fans take on him. I seem to remember at the time he got them to the UEFA cup final, he was well liked and respected by Boro fans.

On the surface, a LC win and a UEFA Cup final for a team who had won nowt before would be enough to cement hero status.  But there were quite a few Boro fans happy when he got the England gig in 2006 - there were even suggestions that he was close to getting pushed a few months earlier.

They watch their team more than we do, so there must have been a reason for their dissatisfaction.

I know a Boro fan who said to me "you'd think the only manager in our history to win us a trophy would be popular but he isn't" and was pleased when he left. His reasons as far as I can recall was that the team (and by association McLaren) were somewhat stagnant, uninspiring, settling for lower mid-table mediocrity. Now with what's happened to them since they might like to go back to those days but I could see where he was coming from. I might be putting words in his mouth here cos this is what I think but the smarm factor can't have helped. I just don't think he comes across as very likeable. Which shouldn't matter of course but it does help in getting fans onside

[Eigentor]

I have just posted on another thread on this. A hugely reliable football insider has just text me that McClaren is "nailed on" for the job. Now he may be wrong, but I don't do wums or mindless speculation, check my post history.

So last August when choices were limited we rejected one of the most successful England managers of all time, whereas now, when we should have more alternatives, we choose one of the least successful? Doesn't add up.

I know that a manager's England record (if he has one) should be the only criteria, but I don't think that McLaren has been a more successful club manager than Eriksson either.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Steve McClaren - Believe

[villa for life]

McLaren - please please no....

[citizenDJ]

Just put this in the other thread, but I'll put it here too; I reckon Schteve is one of the few English managers who would work with a Director of Football (I don't know if he did at FC Twente), which does make me think this could be a goer. Just a gut feeling though.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The question must be asked, is McLaren the board's choice because he's willing to work with Houllier (as his DoF)?

He's not as bad as some are making up but I just can't see it working out. Blackburn, West Ham, even Sunderland but I just don't see him up to the Villa job.

[hawkeye]

I dont like Mclaren, never have, I think he is a twat. Dont want him anyehere near The Villa, it would be a huge mistake.

[wozwebs]

Daily mail saying Houllier to be sacked and Moyes top target

[Sexual Ealing]

I dont like Mclaren, never have, I think he is a twat. Dont want him anyehere near The Villa, it would be a huge mistake.

Cool, cool. What's your take on DSK's replacement at the IMF, any twats we ought to look out for? Joe Longthorne?