and then who?

[richtheholtender]

Was only 2 weeks ago Yorkie wanted it.

[eastie]

Was only 2 weeks ago Yorkie wanted it.

Shush - someone might tell Randy

[silhillvilla]

Bowery for player manager. He is just that good.

With KEA as his Nr. 2

[N'Zimidy]

I'm dreaming I know but, I'd love to see Jurgen Klopp.  If only to see that infectious smile but, we'd probably soon wipe that off his face.

Seriously, it would be a great appointment.

We can't afford those gnashers , if its a good set of teeth you are after look further than Owen coyle and his ill fitting falsies

On a serious note Bielsa is far and away the best suggestion I've seen so far  followed by koeman - but would either take it?

Re Bielsa: In my opinion we're a similar if not more attractive option than Atheltic Bilbao. Plus he seems to be willing to get right into a job if, as reported, he was interested in the Ireland job - we're a much bigger job than Ireland. The only problem is that I don't think Lerner has the balls to hire such a controversial and mental character. Lerner's track record shows he places "Premier League experience" above all else which is extremely conservative. Unfortunately 'conservative' seems to be exactly what Lerner wants. Somebody who will get us finishing in the bottom half season after season and keep the budget low while Lerner rakes in the profit.

[brontebilly]

I don't know anything about Cocu in management but he's got the credentials from PSV and Barcelona, so presumably his football would be up to date. However, he's less than a season into his first proper job and he's not doing too well in Eindhoven so far this season, but who knows.

Cocu (and De Boer) were assistants to Van Marjiwk (sic) for the Dutch national side for a few years too.
A completely left field appointment would be someone like Gary Neville. Little enough experience but if his analysis is anything to go by knows his onions too. Always speaks well of the Villa and I think has the personality to thrive at a big club. Particularly if he brought a decent back room with him.

Lambert with his experience seemed the perfect fit for us and him. But the job has proven too much and he has made an awful mess of it. I'm not sorry for him though, he is paid to deliver results and has failed miserably.

To be honest having witnessed the last 2 utter clowns of assistant managers we have had, serious consideration needs to be given to who the new manager will bring with him.

[Dave]

On a serious note Bielsa is far and away the best suggestion I've seen so far  followed by koeman - but would either take it?

Eastie, I'm sure that in the last week you've made a post saying that you take no interest in foreign football apart from watching Barcelona play Real Madrid.

What exactly is leading you to the above point of view?

[eastie]

On a serious note Bielsa is far and away the best suggestion I've seen so far  followed by koeman - but would either take it?

Eastie, I'm sure that in the last week you've made a post saying that you take no interest in foreign football apart from watching Barcelona play Real Madrid.

What exactly is leading you to the above point of view?

His record as a manager with Argentina and Chile at international level and the style of football for one , i didn't see a lot of Bilbao during his reign but he got them to a couple of finals including the Europa cup -and he is currently unemployed I believe.

Having expressed an interest in the Irish job then maybe its worth asking would the premiership interest him - of the names bandied about he has experience and a decent track record which is more than some .

You obviously have watched his teams more than me as I know you take more interest in the foreign game - do you think he would do a job ?

[Monty]

Bielsa's great. Just the sight of him on the VP touchline, in his tracksuit, crouching to about knee-level and staring unblinkingly at the pitch with his big mug of espresso in his hand (yes, really, espresso in a big mug) would be fantastic in any given situation. But this isn't a serious suggestion, we're not there yet and would he want it and who knows and blah blah, but it is a nice thought.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wouldn't mind Bielsa as he seems a bit mad. Which is a bonus. Plus this from Wiki has for some reason amused me.

A fanatic of football videos that he adds to his collection, Bielsa on occasion checks pitch measurements by pacing them out before deciding on a particular formation. He allocates separate training times for different parts of his squad. Former Argentine national team captain Roberto Ayala and defender under Bielsa stated "Sometimes we wouldn't see any of the strikers, because he'd have them training at a different time, and it was the same with the midfielders."[2]

He is known for watching and collecting numerous football videos to the point of obsession. He edits and analyzes each video for each individual player. He also utilizes statistical software and other technological tools to prepare for games. John Carlin, an English journalist, has stated that Bielsa "has the most cultured library of soccer in the world." [26]
Athletic Bilbao's striker Fernando Llorente said in an interview "At first he seems tough and he may even annoy you with his persistence and don't-take-no-for-an-answer resilience, but in the end he is a genius." [27] Barcelona's Pep Guardiola called him the "best manager in the world" in 2012.[28]

As Bielsa refuses to grant exclusive interviews, the press conference has become his preferred method of communication. He has been known to field every last question from the assembled media during these gatherings. If the talk turns to the intricacies of the game, a three- or even four-hour press conference is possible. According to him: Every section of the media should get the same attention from me, from the capital's most prominent TV channel to the smallest newspaper in the provinces.[2]

[eastie]

Bielsa's great. Just the sight of him on the VP touchline, in his tracksuit, crouching to about knee-level and staring unblinkingly at the pitch with his big mug of espresso in his hand (yes, really, espresso in a big mug) would be fantastic in any given situation. But this isn't a serious suggestion, we're not there yet and would he want it and who knows and blah blah, but it is a nice thought.

He took on Bilbao who were possibly of a similar size to us in Spain - there were much bigger clubs there but he seemed to relish the challenge - the premiership is regarded by some  as the the top league in Europe - maybe he fancies the challenge as have many other foreign coaches.

[Legion]

I'd prefer to see Lambert sort it out, as opposed to Lambert out.

[aj2k77]

Lambert can't even sort out a decent set piece routine though, nevermind the club. We need a presence to get this tugboat moving properly in the right direction.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I'm dreaming I know but, I'd love to see Jurgen Klopp.  If only to see that infectious smile but, we'd probably soon wipe that off his face.

Seriously, it would be a great appointment.

We can't afford those gnashers , if its a good set of teeth you are after look further than Owen coyle and his ill fitting falsies

On a serious note Bielsa is far and away the best suggestion I've seen so far  followed by koeman - but would either take it?

Re Bielsa: In my opinion we're a similar if not more attractive option than Atheltic Bilbao. Plus he seems to be willing to get right into a job if, as reported, he was interested in the Ireland job - we're a much bigger job than Ireland. The only problem is that I don't think Lerner has the balls to hire such a controversial and mental character. Lerner's track record shows he places "Premier League experience" above all else which is extremely conservative. Unfortunately 'conservative' seems to be exactly what Lerner wants. Somebody who will get us finishing in the bottom half season after season and keep the budget low while Lerner rakes in the profit.

Agree. Bielsa would do my head in as to just how awesome it would be. One of the most influential managers of all time? Yes fucking please.

Of course he is batshit crazy and is getting on a bit so we might end up with a more mental version of Houllier without the Liverpool underwear.

I could live with that.

[Isa]

AVB would struggle badly. Not a chance he would be any better.

There is every chance actually. He is a far superior manager.

[Dave]

On a serious note Bielsa is far and away the best suggestion I've seen so far  followed by koeman - but would either take it?

Eastie, I'm sure that in the last week you've made a post saying that you take no interest in foreign football apart from watching Barcelona play Real Madrid.

What exactly is leading you to the above point of view?

His record as a manager with Argentina and Chile at international level...

He managed Argentina at one World Cup and they were knocked out in the first round. I think that's their worst performance in about forty years.

So you deciding he's 'by far and away the best suggestion' is based on abject failure ten years ago and a second round exit with a group of hugely talented Chile players four years ago?