Rumours on another board that the club are in negotiations with Harris about his compensation and are looking for a manager but there’s nobody suitable to be caretaker - so he’ll stay until a replacement is announced. Allegedly Tan is furious they aren’t in top 6 at least. If true then what state of mind will Harris be in for the upcoming games? Also if true how difficult is it to agree a simple contractual issue; he has 18 months left. Moreover how does this square with his comments he’s looking for transfer deals this month
Lots of speculation and smoke screens. In reality only the board and maybe Tan will actually know what's going on. If it's going to be more compensation paid out, VT definitely needs to look at the selection and recruitment processes at the club. Once again, and I apologise for sounding like a broken record, the club is feeling the effects of bad decisions being made by non footballing board members - or at least, bad advice being offered to VT.
So, back to it again then..... Who WOULD a realistic target as a replacement manager be if Harris were to be axed? Eddie Howe still without a job. Although we are arguably a "bigger" club than Bournemouth I just couldn't see him taking us on. The rebuild to get us moulded into his kind of team would take more time and money than he'd be allowed I'm sure. Mike Flynn from Newport. Has done an admirable job at County with very limited budget. From what I've seen their playing style has improved over time too (though my exposure to it has been minimal). Compensation to get him wouldn't be cheap but he'd come with decent knowledge of lower league players that may be able to step up to our level? Down side is he'd still be seen as a cheap option and would be afforded little time by our demanding fans. Ainsworth from Wycombe. Former loan player who ingratiated himself to our fan based with his work ethic. Done an incredible job at Wycombe on a tight budget. Downside same as above most likely. Monk. Lots of experience and done half decent job wherever he's been but gets sacked in short time. Pulis? Doesn't seem popular despite being a City fan in his youth I believe. Chris Coleman? Being an ex Jack and unpopular choice as Wales manager initially, couldn't see him getting it. I still maintain that whoever comes in (if anyone) needs to have a personality that suits the club. We have never been a "fancy dan" club and that's why the likes of Warnock suit us. Someone who understands the fan base and area. For all the talk of attractive football I still believe that all the fans in general want is a winning team. Anything more is a bonus. Our fans don't have the patience to watch our team pass the ball around the back 4 (or 3 or 5) and midfield for 15 minutes before trying to make an incisive forward pass... Despite Warnock's limitations and "ethos" I reckon he was spot on when he said that creating chances, taking shots and getting forward IS what we want to see but winning is ultimately what we want, regardless of "how" it's done. Personally if I could model our team on anyone it would be sort of Liverpool esq. Not averse to going long when it suits but also adept at playing through the lines if that suits the game / opposition. Though I'd do away with the insistence on playing out from the back at goal kicks etc... that sounds often proves to be madness.
We need to be thinking Flynn before Howe. Its back to that old chestnut though. Are we going to keep swapping manager hoping to hit the jackpot or put in place a strategy that allows us to progress in a straight(ish) line rather than take 90 degree turns every 12 to 18 months?
Good post Brizzle. Flynn or Ainsworth are probably the most likely ones from that list although there will be others we don't have in our sights. Paul Cook, ex-Wigan, is another one who has been positively mentioned on here. Of those three, Ainsworth would be my favourite having managed Wycombe up to Championship level and after a ropey start has started to pull things around. Also a character the fans would warm to. Being an ex-City player, albeit on loan would help as well. I always thought he was poorly treated with us and didn't get the opportunities he deserved. But, no sign of Harris being moved on yet so we have to hope he can start to turn things around, pretty damn soon!!!!
Have to agree that Ainsworth would be my choice too. Thing is, look at how long he's had at Wycombe. They stuck by him through some pretty tough times and are now reaping the rewards (of sorts). Would we do the same? As Remote says, we need to build our ethos / style, which will of course require time, money and patience all round. Even if VT were to tolerate mediocrity in the short to medium term while small steps are taken, would our fans exercise the same? I'm not too sure if I'm honest. The only way out that would be to everyone's satisfaction is change of manager, improved playing style within a season or so whilst challenging consistently for promotion / maybe even getting promoted (there were certainly a few grumbles about our play-off defeat last year). Pretty tall order, especially in tough times.
Paul Cook for me out of the names mentioned. Unless there’s anyone left field out there. Hate to say it but those down west did well with Potter and Plug, who’d neither been in EFL management before. They both especially Bash Streets finest have been helped with their contacts in getting decent players in. I just pray Dalman & Choo take independent specialist advice and not go it alone.
I'm worried Tan thinks Dalman can walk on water. Whoever comes in (if anyone) will need to be cheap and undemanding as far as available budgets are concerned. That rules out the likes of Eddie Howe and anyone else out there who has knowledge of what it takes to turn a drifting club around. The opportunity exists for an ambitious lower league or even foriegn manager who has nothing to lose and everything to gain. The biggest problem for me is that we haven't the footballing expertise at the club to source that person. The simplest option is to let things ride for the moment and see how the rest of the season pans out - that's what worries me for the future.
Harris is going nowhere. However id say realistically if he went now the best we could hope for is Paul Cook.
It has to be said.................. Has the upset and trauma at the club over Sol's terrible news saved Harris' job for now?