I don't think for a second he would have ruled himself out had McNally not said we want somebody with 'top-league' experience.
Yeah he was already ruled out by McNally. Just had a look on oddschecker out of interest and Hughton is really odds on mainly 1/3 etc and the next favourite is like 6/1 on so they either know something or big money is being put on him - for some reason. Also if anyone likes a punt Holt is 10/1 to go Sunderland
I agree. I think most people - myself included - were saying his name early on because of his history with us.
Why all the fuss about Hughton, he always seems lost and a bit clueless when I see him. Not my cup of tea to be honest.
Done a decent job at Newcastle, I know he already had the players, but I think he done well there and implemented some stability within the club which they had been lacking. Personally I think the Birmingham job is harder, they have financial problems, not a very good squad done well in the division and had to slog it out in the Europa League. Their squad was stretched all season and they had to play catch up game wise all season. Must be exhausting and deflating having not been bad all season yet see you are way down in the division due to games in hand, I don't see games in hand as an advantage would much rather have points on board.
They struggled with him, don't know if it was him or Shearer sent them down. Done Ok getting them back, the team probably had twice the wage bill of everyone else. Done Ok in Prem, and got replaced by someone who took them much much further. He's Ok but I wouldn't find it an exciting prospect where I'd look forward to the new season
Well Supers, that is fair comment and exactly the same as I said regarding PL and the Villa job. Certianlt 1 year too soon, if he falls on his arse then his meteoric rise is in tatters. The pressure is on now as it is for Rodgers at Anfield.
Asked Newcastle fans about Hughton a month or so a go. They really liked Hughton and were very disappointed that he was sacked. They tend to say while they have done very well with Pardew they feel they may have continued in the same vein with Hughton.
Shearer sent them down, but Hughton hit their targets, agree Pardew has taken them further and Newcastle has a much bigger wage budget. But Leicester have a massive wage budget and they aren't up. It's still a difficult job to get out that league.
With the squad that Newcastle had in the Championship, a management team of Roy Keane and Bryan Hamilton could of got them promoted. I'd be more inclined to think about how he did in the Premier League up until December 2010. They were in the top half when he harshly got the boot. He brought Tiote and Ben Arfa to Newcastle, and while the scouts would of found those players, he would have had the final say on their signings. He's certainly the best British manager we can realistically afford.
Agree he seemed to manage the egos well too. I know that Norwich don't have any but I don't remember being too much trouble when he was there. Barton, Nolan and Carroll were fairly quiet although I do remember Carroll got driving ban or something. Basically my point is that probably indicates he is a likable guy, I remember the Newcastle players being pretty devastated when he left too. Also think Birmingham in the playoff's is quite an acheivement, not an easy job at all when you think of their circumstances.
bonkers post carrabuh. his win percentage over a period of time is fantastic - something like 50%. newcastle fans absolutely adore hughton - he laid the foundations for what they are doing under pardew. you totally underestimate how well he did at newcastle to get them back up. don't just look at the supposed talent he had (even though the exact same players took them down so they can't have been that good), look at the mess behind the scenes and the pressure heaped on them by the media - look how he dealt with that, got the egos in the dressing room playing for him and sorted them out tactically to inspire them to not only get promotion, but trounce all before them. check out some of his signings, tiote, ben arfa, simpson (not sure why he isn't in the england squad ahead of kelly). check out how well he was doing in the premier league on their return, before strangely being removed from his position. he has vast experience as a number two at spurs. check out the mess birmingham were until he came in - see how badly they are being run. he's signed one player (on a free) and lost 15 influential first team squad members - he's not spent a penny yet he's galvanised a relegated team to not only get in the play offs but also get to the 5th round of the fa cup and nearly qualify from a europa league group containing the previous seasons runners-up. check out what birmingham fans think of him. he's the current championship manager of the year (as voted by his peers). he adapts his team to play different opponents, can play direct and passing (like lambert), is tactically astute, good motivator, good man-manager and if you find one person who has worked with him or for him who has a bad word to say about him i'll be amazed. to cut a long story short: he's made for norwich city right now
Carroll did get arrested for assault, but to be honest at that time, Carroll could of picked a fight with a teddy bear.
