As all of the press and most of the bookies now have MH sitting in the Villa Manager's office who should we appoint as our next manager? Bit premature but from reading all the reports it does seem very likely that he will be on his way - disillusioned with the club (apparently), frustrated with the Board (apparently), would have liked the job last year but had just signed with us (apparently) and has a break clause in his current contract which he can activate this week meaning he can walk away on 30 June (quite probably). Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Rather than recycling the usual round of suspects for the job perhaps we should spring a surprise and go for a lower profile manager from the lower leagues - one who will stay around for a few years and not disrupt our planning by leaving us in the lurch during the pre-season. Dave Jones is free at the moment and has Premier League experience. Or Olly - not so low profile but would be brilliant. Or that Jose Mourinho, whatever happened to him after he left Chelsea?
For me, however weird it may be I think Hughes will stay. He's always talked about the future and to me seems as if he is enjoying the job and wants to take Fulham on this Europa League journey. I hope Im not wrong, I think he's done a pretty good job since he's come here and to leave after bringing him back to PL management after 1 season would be pretty greedy, he would be in my hate book if he did. Talking of the worst, if he does move, why not Martin O'Neil? He did a fantastic job at Villa and I think he could replicate that here at Fulham, also having brought Villa through Europe before(I think) he has some experience and could lead our team to the latter stages of the competition.
As you say it's premature. Let's see what transpires. As to who we'd like, that whole merry-go-round exhausts me.
Regarding will MH stay or go. Personally I am p....d off with this ongoing saga,which has been going on since the end of January when we started to turn the corner,if he used FFC to resurrect his career,with the sole intention of immediately moving on when the club was on the up. "Then rap up and ship out now,"and dont leave us like Hodgson did,looking for a replacement,at the last minute.There are a lot of good talented managers out there,so if we are aware of any managerial changes soon enough,we can act appropriately. And no regurgitated failures in the frame please.
It's time for the board to take the initiative I think. Say to Hughes, sign the extension or leave and we'll advertise the post. At the moment, as rf says, it looks like MH is calling the shots. This needs to be sorted before the transfer season really gets into gear.
Do you go for experience or for an up and coming manager ? Experienced: Martin O'Neill, Martin Jol, Walter Smith, Ranieri, Ancelotti, Glen Hoddle, Paul Jewell? some others but hope not... Van Basten, Curbishly, Owen Coyle, Steve McClaren, Maradonna!!!!! or go for our fallback guy Ray Lewington as coach With someone like Walter Smith General Manager. Untested: Lee Clark, Sean O'Driscol, John Still. Lets hope it's sorted out quickly and Mark Hughes continues.
What is the delay in extending the contract when we get a good manager on board? I can remember something similar happened with Roy H..
While we shouldn't assume we know what decision Hughes or either of the clubs will make nor even the extent of the approach from villa to hughes, this must be concluded asap. Perhaps more concerning than hughes leaving is which of our players he might take with him. Hughes may not have signed many of our squad, but there are some players he clearly rates very highly. I'm thinking about the likes of dempsey, hangeland, duff and davies. On the plus side, maybe if he does go he will take salcido with him?
Hughes isn't going anywhere. He's simply letting the clock run down so he can get himself a better deal with Al Fayed. His contract is nearly up and Villa are expressing their desire for Hughes and that puts Sparky in the driver's seat for his own contract negotiations and in securing support from the chairman for new players. This is the end game in a chess match and Al Fayed is about to tip over his king. Villa is a big club with good quality players, but it's also a troubled club. Martin O'Neil walked out last year, about the same time Roy left us, because he wasn't getting adequate support from the owners. Does anyone think MH wants to step into that mess when he can stay on with Fulham in lovely SW London? I doubt it.
From what I have been hearing Hughes is desperate to sign Osvaldo. Al Fayed is unwilling to sanction the 13-15 million up front required to seal the deal. Al Fayed feels Osvaldo's sell on value won't be as good if he flops. Hughes is holding out for that and feels Osvaldo could be the difference between us being just a top 10 team and one that could be knocking on the door of the top 5. There is a willingness for Osvaldo to join as well which makes it even more frustrating for Hughes. Hughes could easily not sign on and still be with us next season. As he has a 2 year contract, so feels he can hold on for however long he likes as he has a contract in place for next season. He and his assistants recently bought houses in south London and are well settled. Will Al Fayed part with his cash? That maybe the key.
W D W W. I think its a different,senario comparing RH resigning his contract and MH, it appeared M A F offered RH a substantial increase in salary to stay, but Roy was looking at bigger fish all along, and at the last minute left and dropped us in the s..t.
I disappear away for 24 hours, still "up" from our EL Qualification and MH is now all set to go to Villa? It is odd IF(!) MAF and his crew have not decided what they want, especially given the mess last season that lead to MH's late appointment. My view remains that MH should stay and push on with job he's started, and so the Board should try it's damndest to make that commitment happen within days, if not hours. And if that doe snot work out - get the right person now. Jose would do nicely!
I hadn't been aware that things had escalated on the Hughes to Villa front? I really don't think he will go, he would be foolish to. Remember he is still in the frame for the Chelsea job. IF he were to go, and that's a big IF. I would want either Jol or Ranieri, but don't think we would go back in for Jol for obvious reasons...
I hadn't either. Came as a massive shock to me today to hear it was all but certain from being just paper talk.
MH is trending on twitter - not good news for us. However, if he's going to go I'd rather he went now so we've got time to get someone else in before the season starts (in about 3 weeks time!) The worst thing about is is the deja vu. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't Roy and we haven't just lost the Europa league final but I've still got this hollow feeling.
If he goes so does his motley crew. 3 weeks first game - who on earth would take charge? I saw Mike Kelly last game at the Cottage v Arsenal. Surely he was just hangin out watching a game.
