then we need to appoint a replacement sooner rather than later. It is unlikely that we will be fishing in the same pools as the likes of Forest and Birmingham. I know this may be premature but Malky has been and is going to be linked with other clubs until either he goes or Baz gives a 100% "hands off" message It will actually be a bit of a test of Baz himself - firstly that he is prepared to let Malky go - even though he has only recently signed a new contract - and secondly what sor to f manager he goes for Those old enough like me to remember back to the mid 70's will remember a new non-football owner taking over - named Elton John - and he was ready to sign up a "big name" Bobby Moore. Thankfully there were plenty of good footballing men around him and instead he was persuaded to go for a young but up and coming manager at an unfashionable bottom tier club named Graham Taylor. This time - who would you go for - I have always been an admirer of Hessenthaler - not only as he has "previous" with us but he has a competitive and aggressive style and is used to wheeling and dealing in the lower reaches - he got non league Dover promotion twice and into a play off the third season - he has now taken Gillingham to I think the highest position they have ever attained just missing out on the play offs. Worth considering . Or maybe there is Nigel Gibbs - a superb irony would be to poach him from Reading Any other favoured candidates?
Lee Clark from Huddersfield Town. I know they didn't get promoted but he had done very well at Huddersfield and I think it'll be time for him to move on. I watched his interviews after the playoffs and he came across so genuine and so full of passion for the job he is in I couldn't helpp but think he was an asset to football. Also his winning percentage is 49.64% out of 143 games - so proven to be quite good at the job too!!
He does look good - but would he consider Watford a sufficient step up? Historically they are a big club
Gibbs - legend, club close to his heart, years of coaching Hessenthaler - highly determined, managerial experience (albeit at lower levels in recent times) Tisdale - doing brilliantly at Exeter, I wanted him when Mackay took over. BUT could we lure him away? I doubt it Clark - same as above, but with Huddersfield. Even less likely that he'd leave for us, in my opinion Robins - highly doubtful; think he left Barnsley looking for a bigger budget. Not suited to Watford, then... Ward - not sure where he is now (if anywhere) but did well a while back with Carlisle and has history with the club Slade - terrific run of form at Leyton Orient brought him to prominence. No idea if he'd cut it a league above. Dyche - gamble, in much the same way as Mackay was. He's been learning behind the scenes: continuity candidate (a.k.a. cheap?) McInnes - St Johnstone, if I remember rightly, with a good reputation. Might see it as time to try his hand south of the border? I've tried to give a realistic appraisal there, using a list of possibles and highlighting which I see as likelier than others. We've got to remember that, thankfully, Mackay's not out the door yet, so this is all highly speculative. However, if he were to leave and we could have any of the managers on that list, I'd opt for Tisdale. I've been really impressed by what he's done at Exeter these past few years. But facing facts, we all surely recognise Watford isn't the most attractive propostion just now. I could therefore see us interviewing some of the less distinguished names on that list, or quite possibly some other unknown quantity. That doesn't bother me unduly, so long as Bazzini doesn't do something stupid like making a Vialli-esque appointment or someone antithetical to the Watford way. With that in mind, not Dennis Wise! He offends both criteria.
If he hadn't just gone to Oxford, I would've said Andy Scott as I was impressed with how he did at Brentford.
I think Gibbs would be up for the challenge of working on a relative shoestring here. But after the way he was treated, I suspect he will only come back if he is confident that he can trust the people running the club. I would therefore make Hessenthaler favourite, followed by Dyche.
I would hope Gibbs would forgive us and come back ,I think the continuity is very important especially as we are in such a transient phase!thus I know he said he wasnt ready but my vote would be Mr Dyche
Jsybarry, I did actually have Scott on that list but then remembered he'd got a job. I think he's at Rotherham, in fact. A couple of years back it looked like he was heading for big things. Maybe he'll still achieve that. Lenny, When typing the list I also managed a bit of optimism, because there are actually some good managers around. The last couple of years have seen Adkins, Hill, Robins and Tisdale catch my eye in particular. Shame that Adkins is now settled in at Southampton, Hill's been appointed by Barnsley and Robins looks like he wants to manage a club with resources. That still leaves Tisdale though... Even if he were to say no, there are some interesting names about. So, Bazzini (if you read fan boards, like Randy Lerner at Villa clearly does), have a think.
Well, don't believe MM will go. All hype!, But......If he did my management team would be to have Pat Rice as No1, (He's 10 years with Arsenal is a great benefit), with Nigel Gibbs as No2.. Would be very interesting combination!!!!
So much depends on the size of Baz's ego. If he takes good advice, great, but if he goes for unproven big names so that he can be in the same photograph then I will really worry for this club. As for my choice? I don't have one. Unless previous managers have had a Watford connexion I tend not to have heard of them. Of the previous four I'd only heard of Malky.
Malky will leave eventually, that is almost inevitable. We need to look for a replacement that can do the same, or an even better job than Malky has done, even if he doesn't go before the coming season. However, unless MM is certain on leaving for Cardiff/Forest, our priority should lie on keeping him at Watford. I'd love to see Gibbs back, Hessenthaler would also be a good signing. Basically everyone that OLM mentioned would be welcome here. I hope we continue signing less well known managers, like Boothroyd, Rodgers and Malky and hope Bassini makes no mistake, he has already shown he's probably not the best owner around!
I would like to See Nigel Gibbs get the job, with support from GT if he can find the time! However, whilst I accept that Malky will leave us one day for better things, I'm not sure that a move to Cardiff/Forest was what I had in mind. They're not exactly much bigger jobs are they? I agree with Max_WFC; we should concentrate on keeping Malky. It's never boring being a Hornet is it? Would be good to have no news for a few days, unless it's a signing!
BBC say there are too many TV cops so if Malky goes.... Frost - Too .........old. Morse - Too.......... intelligent Lewis - No original ideas Kojak - Too .........American Scott and Bailey - Too ...........of them Dixon of Dock green - Too ....Traditional. Barnaby - Too busy. I reckon Barlow with Watt as back up from Z cars could do a softly softly job for us.
Or, from the Jersey angle, how about Bergerac - he might bring some funds from Charlie Hungerford?! We could do with the
