OGS left Cardiff under a cloud with his reputation tarnished. He was the latest up and coming manager who was going to hit the highest levels. His experience in Cardiff meant he went back to Norway and possibly the managerial wilderness for a few years or longer. He was plucked from obscurity again by his old club and for the moment is enjoying his new found success in the higher echelons of the football pyramid. However, my question is, is he a great manager in the making of just lucky?
His time with Manchester Utd as a player, and as coach to the reserve team, meant he would surely return as first team manager at some point. His time with Molde was relatively successful and he has a long time connection to the club, in fact he's still their first team coach and is only on loan to Man Utd. Whether that remains to be the case, we'll find out soon enough. Molde have apparently told him not to go back there. This was, of course, wishing him every success not showing dismay.
His success at Molde and current success with Man Utd point to him being a good, if not great, manager. The anomaly that is Cardiff City, a blot on his CV sandwiched in the middle seems largely forgotten.
Whilst with the Bluebirds he tinkered with the side, brought in a few unknown Norwegians and seemed, at times, tactically inept.
Did his time with the Bluebirds come too soon? I think the answer is a resounding yes. He came into a club in turmoil and was too inexperienced to deal with everything going on off the pitch.
Was our squad that poor no one could save them? I thought the squad was good enough to stay up, but OGS wasn't the man for the job at that time.
Should he have been given more time? I believe he should have been given more time, but I think off the field pressure meant we needed a different kind of management...
Eddie Howe would be a sound choice as our manager, but he doesn't travel well. Apparently he missed Bournemouth too much to stay at Burnley. I doubt he'd come to Cardiff.
He has been given time as manager of Bournemouth, I am not sure he'd be given the same amount of time anywhere else. Tis a bit scary when we think of a long term job as six years! Although, he has been immensely successful, given the size of the club. Like Solskjaer he's still young and could step up to a bigger side in time.
If NW decides to retire who are the likely replacements? Bellamy was mooted as being a successor but it may be too soon for him. Is there any ex-Bluebirds player out there that fits the bill who would get the full support of the fan base? Ledley? (tongue firmly in cheek
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