Personally I'll feel really cheesed off if Cardiff get him, because this is the guy I've wanted for about the past year. I know he'd be an enormous risk in terms of limited experience as a manager. But if he brings the same qualities to his management that he brought to his game - quick-witted, opportunistic, flexible (everything that CH isn't) - I think he's potentially a great manager. And also he played under one of the greatest managers of all times. Plus we'd get the pick of Norway's best and youngest at bargain prices (and Tettey hasn't done too badly, has he?)
Apparently Fergies advice to OGS was choose your owner before your club. If that's true he won't end up at Cardiff. Maybe why he didn't end up at Villa.
This is interesting: To me that doesn't actual indicate that OGS has been approached over the Cardiff job, but his mere availability has triggered the sacking, or am I misinterpreting that?
I have read, in several places, that he has already ruled Cardiff out. Words to the effect that he is taking the clubs owners in to account, and is being picky about who he works for but he wont work with/for Tan. Of course, this may just be rumour that has appeared in the press but I would like to think there is some truth in it.
I hope so, I really do. If we lose him to Cardiff and keep that effing dalek instead ... Oh God, how much more depressing can this season get?
Well if you want to start a rumour, how about it's us who have sounded out OGS, and we're going to get an overnight managerial change like Southampton?
I wanted Solskjaer even when Lambert left. I can understand if he doesn't leave Norway because of his kids' education, but to lose him to another Premiership side because we are loyal to Hughton when this guy is taking our club backwards!
There is no evidence at all to suggest OGS would be any better then CH! Maybe he would, but equally there is a good chance he wouldn't be. I wouldn't worry too much at all if we didn't get him, and there is not even a vacancy.
That's true, of course. He may not be better. But we are going backwards and any kind of decision seems better than drifting aimlessly. Why are you guys so loyal to Hughton? What has he done? Kept us up, yes. And maybe, maybe, he will just about keep us up again. Is that really such a wonderful achievement? Couldn't almost any manager in the Prem have done that given the players we have and the momentum that the past three years gave us? What evidence is there of any improvement whatsoever since Hughton arrived? Better players, yes, but worse performances. I am not trying to be contrary, I promise, but I really do not understand this loyalty to someone who is so utterly mediocre.
Its not so much I'm loyal to CH but this I don't believe is the right time for a change. As things stand we are not in the bottom 3 and haven't been for much of the season, so I would rather stick with him until the end of the season. Then if a change is required, it is a much better time to do it. As to the other questions I have answered them plenty of times elsewhere so won't bother again here. If keeping us up is not an achievement what is in your eyes?
I don't think it's about loyalty to CH, he clearly has limitations, but there is a dearth of managers/coaches out there. OGS built on the dramatic turn around achieved by Rosler for Molde. On the basis of some of the play today, he created a well organised team, who played well. There has been some ****e performances,- i just don't think that we are that much below where we could be. I guess the reason I would give him the rest of the season is that I think he can keep us up, I might then look to see what opportunities there are for the club to develop with a different manager/coaching staff.
OK, to try to answer your two key points. First, I think there is a real danger in waiting until we are in the bottom three before we change manager. By then it may be too late. Be honest and admit that we could easily have been in the bottom three with a little less luck (and I will accept that we could have been 10th possibly with a little more). But I don't think the fact that we are currently three points above the bottom three is sufficient argument for doing nothing. Second, what would be an achievement? Keeping us up last year was, I accept that. At times the football was dire, but he did his job. But this season surely we should be seeing some sign of progress and I cannot see any at all. I am not being bloody-minded when I say this - I simply cannot see anything other than slow decline. So what would be an achievement? A better quality of play and some sign that we are going forward. It's not much to ask really.
You can't say stuff like that!!! You will be accused of not being a proper supporter and slated! Go and sit on the naughty step and think about what you have done.
Well I say we are where we deserve to be really. Of course it maybe silly to wait too long but I wouldn't say we are suddenly about to get cut adrift at the bottom, and we haven't been in the bottom 3 for most of the season. So I would say we can wait now, we will have to disagree on that one. I agree an achievement is essentially progress. While on the pitch it has been limited I'll admit, it hasn't really regressed and off the pitch the longer we are in the prem the better off we are. I hate it, but money talks and if we can gradually improve our finances, hopefully this will lead to improved performances with the correct investments. So maybe on the pitch progress appears limited but as a club we are still progressing IMO. Your other point is basically do you want style over substance? Of course all fans want to see their team winning, determined performances playing flowing football. In reality very very few get that. Would you have been happy if we played the style we are and finished in the same position as last season? My guess is not. Personally I feel football in general is getting a bit more boring, largely due to the money involved and people are almost scared to lose rather then win. Winning is much more important then playing good football and providing entertainment. With clubs at the top having so much money overall competition will continue to decrease (in terms of overall league position) and imo sport at this level should be about competition.
There's no room left... Me & KIO are on there ! And just for the record I also believe that we are going backwards under CH, yes we played better today against THE weakest utd side I've ever seen but it's the same old story, we just can't score!! Last season could be seen as an achievement in just staying up as he was not allowed the complete summer window to do his transfer dealings, but since then he's had two full windows, spent **** loads on strikers, one he won't play, and we can't buy a ****ing goal for toffee! Hooper looks the only one likely to score right now but never more than one a game, and we normally concede more than that so that puts us up **** creak. If we loose to Palace on Wednesday then the board have to act or I fear we are screwed.
