OK we have a bit of a breather until our next game and we're almost half way through the season so who would you like to see as our new Manager when Laudrup goes? Some are saying that Morten Wieghorst is being groomed for the role. He knows the Club and they players know him. He's got a decent track record in Denmark as a manager and will continue our footballing philosophy. Assuming our Assistant Coach wants the role would it make sense to simply transition into full management with us or would you pefer to see a new Manager with fresh ideas? Bearing in mind that each of our appointments in the last few seasons has added to the mix and successfully enhanced what we already had who would be your choice? Another ramification of Laudrup's departure will be the possible loss of Weighorst himself of course and other important backroom staff such as Erik Larsen and Oscar Garcia who are both Laudrup appointees. Will this hurt us? Larsen's scouting capabilities are impressive and Garcia has done well in raising our team's fitness levels to cope with the demands of Europe. Yes it may be a little early to think about this and I'm assuming Laudrup won't extend further and we will stay up, which isn't a given. But who fits the bill and why?
Cracking thread. Sami Hyypiä Age: 39 Nationality: Finnish Current club: Bayer Leverkusen Expert Views: In his career as a player,*Hyypia*was known as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense defender. *But even then there was always a sense that he was readymade for a coaching role after he hung up his boots. *In fact, as soon as he completed his training courses, Bayer Leverkusen offered him a position as assistant at the club. *And after seeing out the 2011-12 season as the club’s caretaker he, alongside Sascha Lewandowski, took over in a dual coaching role for the 2012-13 campaign. A year later, Leverkusen qualified directly for the Champions League after a tactically transformative and impressive season. Despite his and Lewandowski’s dual roles at the club, it was*Hyypia’s vision that shaped Leverkusen’s style and success. *He transformed Leverkusen from a club without a true identity to one of the most dangerous and effective counter attacking teams in Germany. * His implementation of the 4-3-3 not only reinvented the team but also got the best out of several of their players. *Under*Hyypia, players previously criticized for failing to live up to expectations like Andre Schürrle or versatile yet underwhelming players like Gonzalo Castro and Stefan Reinartz, really thrived. So how and what did*Hyypia*do? *For one, instead of using Reinartz at center-back he put him alongside Lars Bender and Simon Rolfes in a three man midfield. *With three players equally capable of holding the ball as they are doing defensive work, it created a platform for the three attackers and fullbacks to focus largely on attacking with pace. *Rolfes was responsible for covering the left and Bender on the right while Reinartz sat in front of, or slotted into the backline. *Carvajal especially was a big revelation down the right, which is why Real Madrid have already activated their buyback clause. Alongside Castro in front of him they made up one of the best right sided pairings in the league and each helped get the best out of the other. Similarly, Schürrle was relieved of the defensive duties he had last year and became the prime initiator of their counter attacks. *As soon as the ball was won back in their defensive third, the ball was launched quickly forward to make best use of Schürrle’s speed. *With overlapping fullbacks and Kiessling and Castro ready around the box, Leverkusen became renowned for putting together deadly and precise counter attacks. *The system catered to each players strengths and also got the best out of Kiessling who was free to drop back but also had the kind of service that a striker his type thrives on. *They may be without Schürrle going into next season but the team’s development is far from over. *And all under the watchful eye of the hard-nosed, no-nonsense*Hyypia. This write-up was sent by German football expert, Cristian Nyari, you can follow him on twitter @Cnyari. He is the chief editor of bundesligafanatic.com (@Bundesliga4u).
Potential managers, will hopefully discuss why later - Lars Lagerback - Martin Jol - Slaven Bilic - Paulo Bento - Ralf Rangnick - Mircea Lucescu
just read the news about AVB and then thought about ML. I suspect it is the 'right' move for him and possibly shows how apposite is this thread. The OP probably rightly says that ML could be on his way at the end of the season as his contract runs out. But this news brings in the early move and (presumably) a bonus to Swans for buying out his contract. The question is......what more could ML do at Swans to enhance his reputation and make him more saleable.....and do you think he can do that this year? Even the die-hard fans on here are not talking higher place than last year so the only thing left is the FA Cup or a long run in Europe. All do-able but is it likely? So would ML be better going to Spurs now?
I can't see Lauds going to Spurs, for one thing I think Spurs will want a 'big name' (in management terms not as a player) although saying that two of our ex managers have teams in the top 4. If we were to sell him, much like if Michu was to go, we would capitalise on the cash and re-build, done it before, we can do it again.
"done it before,we can do it again". "If it were done when 'tis done,then 'twere well it were done quickly" - Maybe!!!
If they are interested I would agree that this seems like the 'right' move for him. They are a great club with World Class players and potential to achieve much more than they have been. Another factor is that the kind of players Laudrup's people were sniffing around last summer were out of our price range but definitely in Spurs'. Soldado has played for Laudrup previously, Chadhli was one that Laudrup publically stated he was interested in....it is rumoured we were looking to loan Holtby... Add in that he seemingly has taken us as far as he can (we could win the Europa but it is one hell of a longshot) and must be frustrated that despite dominating the ball and breaking at pace, in numbers, he simply doesn't have the quality of player here who will consistently play the right final ball or finish...there he most certainly would....I would think that if he is offered the position he would see enough there that he could never have here and whatsmore he has the ability to improve upon. Don't get me wrong I would be happy for him to stay here years, but if he were to leave the situation wouldn't be without it's positives....perhaps a new lease of life for the players under a new manager, the possibility that some of our boys will be going all out to prove to Laudrup that they are worth taking with him and of course a significant sum of money we hadn't budgeted for which could be spent in January on a winger and/or a defender. If he goes we have a lot to thank him for.
Didn't Zola's time as a Prem manager end badly? Wasn't he the Hammers' manager? I honestly can't remember. All I know is that he's at Watford now and they are bottom half of the Championship and have just lost at home to one of the bottom clubs. Hardly a recommendation. Then again your old favourite Brenda the Tea Lady came from a similar situation and look at him now. I don't know enough about Zola to make me believe he's be a good fit for us to be honest. Why did you choose him?
Zola's Watford are going through a tough time right now. The word is that their playing style has been sussed (a bit like us to a degree) and there is talk in the media that he could be on his way out. Fabulous player, lovely man but the jury's out for me.
I'll try and find the link but didn't he recently come out with statement that sides have sussed his team now and have adapted accordingly . if they can then perhaps he can't ?
The big worry is exactly the fact that Huw gets swayed and goes for a manager who will return us to our former passing glories, like a Zola for example. I posted a thread on thejackarmy.net about Zola and the article that went with it, saying how his style has been worked out and teams are flooding his deeper lined players and closing down spaces faster etc,etc. check the thread out . What i think somepeople are forgetting is that Laudrup has been modifying our game to negate that kind of thing,its why our passing average dropped and its why we are using longer balls to mix things up, the reasons are that if we stayed exactly the same we would have been in the championship by now, we saw how the team got sussed under Brnden second half of the season, so first thing laudrup did was try and move the ball quicker and faster ,we have regressed a little bit but alot of hard work has been done . If we get the next guy coming in under remit to return us to "pass,pass,pass" then we are doomed IMO. We need progression not regression, who that will be i dont know but i am concerned that our chairman might try and chase what we had before and that would be bad news i reckon . A part of our problem now is that some players are finding it harder to adapt to newer ideas imo , perhaps our old gaurd want to remain passing kings but others understand you need to have that and plenty more in the locker ,lets hope that the next guy is as progressive and as clever as the last few guys. The law of averages tells us we will get a dud sooner rather than later though !!
Agree. Never look back , we have to keep adapting making subtle changes , not only with players but also in the way we play , as we all know we are limited in terms of financial resources so to keep one 1 pace in front of our rivals means the above or we will fall
Yes Huw Jenkins has a major inferiority complex when it comes to dealing with big name managers by the looks of it
