Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the Lambert - O'Neill comparison is based on nothing more than the Celtic/Wycombe/Norwich similar clubs thing.

Don't forget the glasses.

The big difference is Lambert played in Germany.

I don't think Martin has even heard of Germany.

[Concrete John]

We need someone who is going to be a strong personality, as the other (non football) management of the club is so half arsed. It's pretty clear that, for all his faults, MON leaving exposed the naivety of the club on football issues.

What concerns me about the likes of Martinez is that he's used to working with a benevolent chairman like Whelan and not having to worry about much other than what was on the pitch. If he came here, would he get to work that way? I doubt it.

One thing I do think is important is that Rodgers, Martinez and Lambert are all young managers for whom we are an obvious next step. I'd like us to go with just this - young, done well so far, will get three years to build the club in his image.

What I do think would be a concern is that it wasn't too long ago Owen Coyle was getting feted as the next big thing, and look where he is headed now. Martinez has done good work in keeping Wigan up, but has he done enough to impress us?
Rodgers and Lambert also have the "next big thing" concern, too.

I do think, though that we have three options.

1. As above, young and upcoming manager proven self to have something

2. Season campaigner - and this is going to mean the likes of Curbishley or Bruce. Or, heaven forbid, McCarthy.

3. Something out of left field - a manager from abroad.

For me only 1 and 3 are even remotely appealling, and option 2 really is not going to do anything to galvanise the support now, and that (which isn't the same as "doing just what the supporters say", before anyone says it) right now is extremely important, as the club is sinking into a pit of apathy for too many of us.

Option 3 above - would they do that? Have they learned the folly of their "must have PL experience" being the biggest requirement on the list?

You'd hope so, but I bet they haven't

The thing about the likes of Coyle is there is very little difference in points/performances from keeping their clubs up to seeing them going down.  It's like 'arry getting a CL place one season, but not the next.  For the level they are managing at survival is like a title win - you can't do it every year! 

[rob_bridge]

Ranieri favourite for West Brom job apparently, in which case we should be in for him as an option.

No thanks - like Venables a track record that doesn't stack up to his reputation. Sacked 4 times out of 5 since leaving Chelsea.

[PaulWinch again]

Ranieri favourite for West Brom job apparently, in which case we should be in for him as an option.

No thanks - like Venables a track record that doesn't stack up to his reputation. Sacked 4 times out of 5 since leaving Chelsea.

I'd still take him over the current incumbant.

[Chrisupnorth]

Next season I think Barclays should rename the 'Manager of the Month' award to the 'Flavour of the Month' award.  Lambert and Rodgers currently fall into that category and quite possibly it'll be Nigel Adkins and Brian McDermott next season.  Whilst not averse any of the aforementioned gentlemen taking over at the Villa, a large degree of football management success relies on luck, so I too am suspicious about this bandwagon style of recruitment.  If we are to replace Big Eck in the close season, and I have my doubts that we will, I'd rather we didn't go for the obvious and did our homework.  After all, who would have thought Alan Pardew would have done so well at Newcastle to emerge as a leading candidtate for Manager of the Year.

[KevinGage]

I have no doubt Lambert is a promising young manager, but he's bloody dour.

If it's Premier League experience I'd prefer Martinez or Di Matteo still.

Only going by his press conferences that's the impression I got too.  Quite antagonistic with the press anytime I've seen him, despite them giving him far more leeway than he'd get at a club where he's expected to win more than he loses.

But he was on Goals on Sunday with Chris Powell and that ex Leeds United twat, the nightmare who used to have a hair don't straight out of Coming to America.   Long and short of it is Lambert came across well. Spoke about taking his players over to Barcelona to watch Messi and co train, had spoken to Guardiola and so on and so on. Also seemed like decent craic, away from the stuffy atmosphere of a press conference. Not as precious as MON, for example.

He might have picked up some of the better traits of MON, but -because of his age and previous experience abroad- that (hopefully) wouldn't be his only reference point.

[richard moore]

Excellent post Paulie, sums up my thoughts entirely (as you so often do!)

Option 2 is utterly unappealing and would almost be the final straw for me, option 3 just won't happen or at least is very, very unlikely. Leaving us option 1 - the 'next big thing' is a very valid and true argument but a risk we probably have to take. When all is said or done, there is frequently very little rhyme or reason why a manager does well at a particular club

[pauliewalnuts]

Next season I think Barclays should rename the 'Manager of the Month' award to the 'Flavour of the Month' award.  Lambert and Rodgers currently fall into that category and it'll be Nigel Adkins or Brian McDermott next season. 

Brian McDermott looks like some kind of overgrown man-baby.

[Chrisupnorth]

Next season I think Barclays should rename the 'Manager of the Month' award to the 'Flavour of the Month' award.  Lambert and Rodgers currently fall into that category and quite possibly it'll be Nigel Adkins or Brian McDermott next season.  Whilst not averse any of the aforementioned gentlemen taking over at the Villa, a large degree of football management success relies on luck, so I too am suspicious about this bandwagon style of recruitment.  If we are to replace Big Eck in the close season, and I have my doubts that we will, I'd rather we didn't go for the obvious and did our homework.  After all, who would have thought Alan Pardew would have done so well at Newcastle to emerge as a leading candidtate for Manager of the Year.

[richard moore]

Next season I think Barclays should rename the 'Manager of the Month' award to the 'Flavour of the Month' award.  Lambert and Rodgers currently fall into that category and it'll be Nigel Adkins or Brian McDermott next season. 

Brian McDermott looks like some kind of overgrown man-baby.

I was gobsmacked the other week to find out he is the same Brian McDermott who used to play for Arsenal as I have a recollection of a skinny player with longish black hair rolling one into the back of the net on a certain afternoon at Highbury as I watched on aghast from the Clock End...

[glasses]

I think the Lambert - O'Neill comparison is based on nothing more than the Celtic/Wycombe/Norwich similar clubs thing.

Don't forget the glasses.

The big difference is Lambert played in Germany.

I don't think Martin has even heard of Germany.

He'd have been sat on the bench there when he picked up one of his two European Cup winners medals as a player, but don't let that get in the way of a joke

[PaulWinch again]

I think the Lambert - O'Neill comparison is based on nothing more than the Celtic/Wycombe/Norwich similar clubs thing.

Don't forget the glasses.

The big difference is Lambert played in Germany.

I don't think Martin has even heard of Germany.

He'd have been sat on the bench there when he picked up one of his two European Cup winners medals as a player, but don't let that get in the way of a joke

It's weird that isn't it, having won the European Cup twice you'd have thought he'd have had to have visited Europe at some stage. However throughout his management career you'd have thought he'd never heard of it.

[TonyD]

Really don't see the attraction of Martinez.  For 80% of the season Wigan are truly awful.

[maidstonevillain]

I think the Lambert - O'Neill comparison is based on nothing more than the Celtic/Wycombe/Norwich similar clubs thing.

Don't forget the glasses.

The big difference is Lambert played in Germany.

I don't think Martin has even heard of Germany.

He'd have been sat on the bench there when he picked up one of his two European Cup winners medals as a player, but don't let that get in the way of a joke

From the bible that is Wicki.

Borussia Dortmund

In 1996, Lambert was signed by a manager and club he had played against for Motherwell in the UEFA Cup, Ottmar Hitzfeld of German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. Hitzfeld deployed Lambert as the team's defensive midfielder. In Borussia winning the 1997 UEFA Champions League Final against Juventus, he played in midfield to quell the influence of Juve's French playmaker Zinedine Zidane.[1][2][3][4][5] Lambert's cross also set up Karl-Heinz Riedle's opening goal. Dortmund won 3–1. Lambert's contribution has since been suggested as a man of the match performance.[6] He became the first British player to win the European Cup with a non-UK team, and the first British player to win the Champions League since its inception. Lambert had scored en route to the final with a 1996–97 UEFA Champions League group stage goal, the opener in a 2–2 draw at Widzew Łódź. Lambert's performance in the semi final elimination of Manchester United was praised in the autobiography of Roy Keane.

[Concrete John]

Really don't see the attraction of Martinez.  For 80% of the season Wigan are truly awful.

It's a fear I have aswell.  They still try and play good stuff for that 80%, but the results aren't there until crunch time.