Next Senior Men's Team Manager - Runners and Riders

[EalingGreen]

I think Steve bruce would do a decent job.

He also has a strong connection to the countryYep, and he could employ that strong connection as his Assistant. Again.

https://trainingground.guru/articles/bruce-brings-three-staff-into-west-brom-including-son-alex

More here: https://nifootball.blogspot.com/2012/10/alex-bruce.html :cool:

[EalingGreen]

I wouldn't see Hughton as a bad appointment

- and excellent at Brighton.After BHA's rather turgid 0-0 draw at Brentford last night, some of their fans were saying that the fare on offer recently has been like a throwback to the days of Hughton.

It was not a compliment.

[CraftyToePoke]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0404/1441728-renard-pours-cold-water-on-ireland-vacancy-talk/

France women's boss Herve Renard refused to bite on suggestions he could be in the running to become the next Republic of Ireland men's head coach, instead training his focus on beating the Girls in Green tomorrow night.

[Crosby87]

After BHA's rather turgid 0-0 draw at Brentford last night, some of their fans were saying that the fare on offer recently has been like a throwback to the days of Hughton.

It was not a compliment.

Yeah, they've had such amazing rosters over the years. 1970 Brazil is jealous.

[Jolly Red Giant]

In fairness, you think Hughton would be better than everyone.
Never claimed any of the such - wouldn’t have an issue with Carsley, Barry or BBM of those who have been mentioned.

When you get to the likes of Lennon, the Keanes, etc or the racist - then Hughton is streets ahead of them in terms of achievements.

[EalingGreen]

Yeah, they've had such amazing rosters over the years. 1970 Brazil is jealous.Now you mention it, BHA's manager in 1970 was Cobh man, and former ROI international, Pat Saward. But I don't think the FAI should consider appointing him, not least because he died in 2002.

And getting back to the present, more specifically Chris Hughton, my point was that there is no great yearning for CH amongst BHA fans recent enough to remember him, make of that what you will.

[Jolly Red Giant]

And getting back to the present, more specifically Chris Hughton, my point was that there is no great yearning for CH amongst BHA fans recent enough to remember him, make of that what you will.
The overwhelming majority of Brighton fans recognise the outstanding job that Hughton did, saving them from relegation to League 1, getting them promoted to the PL, and keeping them there for two years on a shoestring budget. Hughton laid the foundation for the relative success that Potter and RDZ have had since. We do not know what Hughton would have done with Brighton if he had been given the resources that were made available to both Potter and RDZ - but that is water under the bridge now - and most Brighton fans have nothing but fondness and respect for Chris Hughton.

[EalingGreen]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0404/1441728-renard-pours-cold-water-on-ireland-vacancy-talk/

France women's boss Herve Renard refused to bite on suggestions he could be in the running to become the next Republic of Ireland men's head coach, instead training his focus on beating the Girls in Green tomorrow night.We have heard people saying Robbie Keane should not be considered for the job because he works in Israel.

Yet Renard was manager of the Saudi Arabian NT. And in case there should be any misunderstanding, that is the same Saudi Arabia which has inter alia killed thousands of people, including civilians, in Yemen; which regularly imprisons and even executes political opponents; which brutally represses gays, women and the Press severely; has made all other religions bar Islam illegal; regularly holds multiple public executions by beheading; and under the guise of providing consular assistance, lured a journalist and joint Saudi/US citizen to their Embassy in Turkey, where they tortured and murdered him, before dismembering his body (I am assuming he was dead by this stage) and disposing of the remains at an unknown location.

Of course, all sorts of governments do all sorts of nasty things in the course of their normal business, except that this Saudi government has also deliberately subverted Football, using outright bribery and corruption etc, in order to sportswash its own reputation.

[EalingGreen]

We do not know what Hughton would have done with Brighton if he had been given the resources that were made available to both Potter and RDZThere is no doubt that CH did a good overall job during his time at BHA. But the key behind BHA's remarkable resurgence over the last decade or more hasn't been solely down to their managerial appointments, rather it has been the stewardship of owner Tony Bloom.

And the fact that he didn't trust CH to take them to the next level after intial success, while his replacements Potter and De Zerbi both did, surely says something, no?

[Eirambler]

Kevin Kilbane fairly sticking the boot into the three not so wise men in the Times this morning.

[seanfhear]

There is no doubt that CH did a good overall job during his time at BHA. But the key behind BHA's remarkable resurgence over the last decade or more hasn't been solely down to their managerial appointments, rather it has been the stewardship of owner Tony Bloom.

And the fact that he didn't trust CH to take them to the next level after intial success, while his replacements Potter and De Zerbi both did, surely says something, no?Any / Many green-shoots coming from Michael O Neill's team at the moment ~ ~ We are on the look out for a capable manager (wink)

[Eirambler]

Interesting to read Kilbane's takes on the various parties involved, presumably from what he sees as a safe enough distance away in North America:

The FAI - a worldwide laughing stock

O'Shea - inexperienced and underwhelming as interim manager

Poyet - a journeyman looking for one of his last stops in a mediocre career

Hill - embarrassing, has damaged the association's reputation, setting the FAI back years

Canham - rhetoric straight from the coaching badge courses - fake it until you make it.

[Jolly Red Giant]

There is no doubt that CH did a good overall job during his time at BHA. But the key behind BHA's remarkable resurgence over the last decade or more hasn't been solely down to their managerial appointments, rather it has been the stewardship of owner Tony Bloom.

And the fact that he didn't trust CH to take them to the next level after intial success, while his replacements Potter and De Zerbi both did, surely says something, no?
There is no doubt that Bloom's ownership was and continues to be a key component of Brighton's success - he is one of the few owners who takes a hands on approach AND knows what he is doing.

As for Hughton - the person responsible for his sacking was not Bloom - it was Dan Ashworth. Ashworth is ruthless (more so in terms of his own ambition than anything else) and he was appointed by Bloom in February 2019 because Bloom felt he needed someone with a ruthless streak to oversee player signings. Ashworth immediately began undermining Hughton at Brighton. Two days before Hughton was sacked he held a four and a half hour long meeting with Bloom to discuss plans for the following season and transfer targets for the summer - and Bloom gave every indication to Hughton that he would be manager for the following season. It could reasonably be assumed that over the following 48 hours Ashworth shafted Hughton and convinced Bloom to sack him (and then bring in Ashworth's pal - Graham Potter - who is now being touted as Ten Haag's replacement if Ashworth joins Man U).

With hindsight the move clearly appears justified - although it could just as easily have blown up in their faces. Nobody knows how well Hughton would have done in season 3. But - and this is important - Hughton laid the foundation for the later success at Brighton. He was responsible for bringing the likes Pascal Gross, Viktor Gyökeres (who Brighton sold to Coventry after Hughton was gone for £1m and is now being touted as a €100m player), Jason Steele, Yves Bissouma, Alexis MacAllister and Dan Burn - and developing the likes of Solly March, Robert Sanchez and Ben White. Within weeks of Hughton being sacked Brighton significantly increased their playing budget (under Hughton it was bottom three in the PL with the entire Southampton starting eleven who finished just above Brighton, earning more than the highest paid player at Brighton) - and they broke their transfer record four times in succession to strengthen the squad over the summer. Hughton kept Brighton in the PL with a Championship level squad - he was never given the opportunity to have PL quality players (he did at Newcastle and was very successful before Ashley sacked him to give the job to his gambling partner). Brighton have been successful in consolidating as a PL club over the past four years and fair play to them - I hope it keeps going for them because they are one of the few clubs in the top two divisions owned by a genuine fan of the club (even if he is a billionaire). And by the way - I still think Potter is a spoofer - Brighton always had a very soft underbelly when he was managing them.

[Olé Olé]

Interesting to read Kilbane's takes on the various parties involved, presumably from what he sees as a safe enough distance away in North America:

The FAI - a worldwide laughing stock

O'Shea - inexperienced and underwhelming as interim manager

Poyet - a journeyman looking for one of his last stops in a mediocre career

Hill - embarrassing, has damaged the association's reputation, setting the FAI back years

Canham - rhetoric straight from the coaching badge courses - fake it until you make it.

Maybe I read too much into his references to Carsley before but even if he's informed by Carsley or other sources (since he left for Canada he's not going to be as familiar with current regime), he is very damning.

It would add up to deduce that Carsley would like the gig - but not now with these plonkers in situ.

He made a point regarding Hill flying over and back which was interesting. Said he had to work for Newstalk nightly on Off the Ball to truly understand Irish football himself.

[elatedscum]

At what point does early April become mid April? Was the theory that an announcement was going to be issued on the 10th, once the Ireland England Women’s game was done?

[Razors left peg]

At what point does early April become mid April? Was the theory that an announcement was going to be issued on the 10th, once the Ireland England Women’s game was done?

I think if we dont hear anything solid by this Friday we know they are in deep sh1t. But I think I've said before that if they genuinely thought they had Carsley for example and he fcuked them over last minute I think they need to come out a say that. We dont need more spin or "the process is ongoing and we are happy with it". It should be "We had our man, he decided last minute to change his mind after committing to us so we are now continuing our search".

[EalingGreen]

Any / Many green-shoots coming from Michael O Neill's team at the moment Actually there are - quite encouraging just lately.


We are on the look out for a capable manager (wink)Two hopes - None and Bob.

And even if he were interested - which he isn't btw - the FAI couln't afford him. Seriously. I mean, even the Scottish FA couldn't match the IFA's package last time round, leaving them to settle for Alec McLeish instead, he having been out of work for nearly two years, following 4 months at some Egyptian club.

[Jolly Red Giant]

At what point does early April become mid April?
Mid-July - when the racist is out of contract.

[EalingGreen]

There is no doubt that Bloom's ownership was and continues to be a key component of Brighton's success - he is one of the few owners who takes a hands on approach AND knows what he is doing.

As for Hughton - the person responsible for his sacking was not Bloom - it was Dan Ashworth. Ashworth is ruthless (more so in terms of his own ambition than anything else) and he was appointed by Bloom in February 2019 because Bloom felt he needed someone with a ruthless streak to oversee player signings.
There is no way Bloom would have agreed to the sacking of any manager on the mere say-so of a Technical Director, and a recently appointed one at that. For just as Brian Clough used to say that no manager ever signed a player - it's always the Chairman's signature on the cheque - so it is with the appointment, or dismissal, of a manager, and especially so with a hands-on Chairman like Bloom.


With hindsight the move clearly appears justified - although it could just as easily have blown up in their faces.Except that had eg Potter not worked out, it's not as if Bloom and Ashworth couldn't have found another manager. Just as eg they found De Zerbi after Potter left.


Nobody knows how well Hughton would have done in season 3. But - and this is important - Hughton laid the foundation for the later success at Brighton. He was responsible for bringing the likes Pascal Gross, Viktor Gyökeres (who Brighton sold to Coventry after Hughton was gone for £1m and is now being touted as a €100m player), Jason Steele, Yves Bissouma, Alexis MacAllister and Dan Burn - and developing the likes of Solly March, Robert Sanchez and Ben White.See my previous general comment about signing players.

While Bloom was one of the very first club owners in England (the first?) fully to embrace and exploit statistical-based player scouting and recruitment methods. I cannot believe that an old-school manager like CH was heavily involved in that, even if he was open to accepting and developing the players who were being signed.


Within weeks of Hughton being sacked Brighton significantly increased their playing budget (under Hughton it was bottom three in the PL with the entire Southampton starting eleven who finished just above Brighton, earning more than the highest paid player at Brighton) - and they broke their transfer record four times in succession to strengthen the squad over the summer.Do you reckon that Ashworth possesses some sort of Svengali-like influence over Bloom, persuading him to take actions which he otherwise wouldn't have considered, including wielding the chequebook like never before?

Or might it not be that Bloom, having decided that Hughton having done a good job, but also taken the club as far as he could, determined that it was time for the club to go to the next level? Which inter alia would necessitate a new recruitment set-up and Manager to spend the extra money which he hadn't been prepared to entrust to previous managers.


Hughton kept Brighton in the PL with a Championship level squad - he was never given the opportunity to have PL quality players.As I said, have you never wondered why not? I mean, it's not as if Bloom is an idiot; on the contrary, his decision-making is top class.


Brighton have been successful in consolidating as a PL club over the past four years and fair play to them - I hope it keeps going for them because they are one of the few clubs in the top two divisions owned by a genuine fan of the club (even if he is a billionaire). And by the way - I still think Potter is a spoofer - Brighton always had a very soft underbelly when he was managing them.Sorry, but they haven't merely "consolidated", they've continued to progress, first with Potter, subsequently with De Zerbi.

Think of it like a 4 x 100m relay race. Hughton may have run a good anchor leg, before Potter took the baton and made further progress before handing over to De Zerbi, who looks to be running a fine bend. If/when he leaves, then he'll be handing over to the next manager, who can hope to capitalise and take them home to a podium finish.

But either way, decent manager though he is, there is no real evidence on his CV that Hughton had what it took to swap places with the others.


And by the way - I still think Potter is a spoofer - Brighton always had a very soft underbelly when he was managing them.You may be right. Time - and his next appointment - will tell whether BHA was his limit, or whether he's still got more to offer.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Okay - let's deal with this


There is no way Bloom would have agreed to the sacking of any manager on the mere say-so of a Technical Director, and a recently appointed one at that. For just as Brian Clough used to say that no manager ever signed a player - it's always the Chairman's signature on the cheque - so it is with the appointment, or dismissal, of a manager, and especially so with a hands-on Chairman like Bloom.
Ashworth was undermining Hughton from the moment he was hired - Bloom hired Ashworth and if he wasn't going to listen then he never would have. From day one Ashworth wanted Potter and he set out to make it happen. 48 hours before he was sacked, Bloom and Hughton met for four and a half hours to discuss plans for the following season - Hughton is as honest as the day is long and he said that every indication from Bloom at that meeting was that he would be manager the following season. Bloom has never contradicted this. It is clear that Ashworth was the catalyst for Hughton's sacking.


Except that had eg Potter not worked out, it's not as if Bloom and Ashworth couldn't have found another manager. Just as eg they found De Zerbi after Potter left.
Bloom had owned the club since 2009 - in that time he has had success with RDZ, Potter and Hughton - he has also hired plonkers like Sami Hyppia, Oscar Garcia, Martin Hinshelwood and Russell Slade - and the nutcase that is Gus Poyet. He is not infallible.


See my previous general comment about signing players.

While Bloom was one of the very first club owners in England (the first?) fully to embrace and exploit statistical-based player scouting and recruitment methods. I cannot believe that an old-school manager like CH was heavily involved in that, even if he was open to accepting and developing the players who were being signed.
Here you are now talking nonsense - Yes Bloom uses statistical methods in all aspects of the club - but he is not stupid enough to rely solely on statistics. You are also talking nonsense about Hughton - who has always been regarded as a student of the game.

Hughton is not old-school - he is a realist - he looks at what he has available and he sets his team up accordingly. When he has players capable he will play an attacking game - when he doesn't he will set-up his team not to lose. At Newcastle he had quality players, played attacking football and had the team in the top half of the PL when he was sacked by Ashley. At Brighton in the Championship his team was one of the most attacking in the division and got promoted with 93 points. In the PL Brighton had a Championship squad and Hughton's job was to keep them in the PL - which he did for two seasons - a remarkable achievement with the players he had available.

As to the players signed by Brighton - MacAllister was a Hughton signing - as was Gross, Propper, Izquierdo, Locadia, Andone, Steele, Bissouma and Dan Burn - they are all Hughton-type players. He wasn't responsible for signing Ryan, Alzate, Button, Jahanbakhsh, Tau, - they are not players Hughton would sign. What his team did lack was pace - and that was a problem they weren't able to overcome with the budget available.


Do you reckon that Ashworth possesses some sort of Svengali-like influence over Bloom, persuading him to take actions which he otherwise wouldn't have considered, including wielding the chequebook like never before?
No - but I do believe that Ashworth was constantly in Bloom's ear - undermining Hughton. Remember this - by keeping Brighton in the PL Hughton brought £200m into the club - yet in his second season of the players signed by Brighton, several were free transfers. The most expensive was Bissouma who signed for £15m. Burn was signed for £3m from Wigan, MacAllister for £7m. The summer after Hughton was sacked Brighton spent more on players than they had in the previous two years - including £18m for Trossard (Hughton would not have been in favour of signing him), £19m for Maupay (again - not a Hughton type player), £20 for Webster and £20m for Mooy - and £5m for Lamptey (Trossard sold to Arsenal for slight more than Brighton paid - Maupay sold to Everton at a loss - Mooy ended up in China - and most Brighton fans regard Webster as a busted flush - not exactly setting the world alight). Potter was lucky with the kids that came through and the backbone of the team built by Hughton.


Or might it not be that Bloom, having decided that Hughton having done a good job, but also taken the club as far as he could, determined that it was time for the club to go to the next level? Which inter alia would necessitate a new recruitment set-up and Manager to spend the extra money which he hadn't been prepared to entrust to previous managers.
There is no argument that things have worked out well for Brighton - and they have kept the momentum going with RDZ (although the wheels have come off a little of late). But it cannot be predicted how Hughton would have performed if given the money that was spent after he was sacked.

The argument about taking the club as far as he could is valid - but there is a flaw in your argument - either Bloom was being a complete a*sehole in his post-season meeting with Hughton and always intended to sack him, deciding to string him along just to be extra cruel (and there is no indication that Bloom is that type of character) - or Ashworth got in on the act after the meeting (far more likely). After his sacking Hughton was nothing but complementary in his comments about Bloom - he never mentioned Ashworth.


As I said, have you never wondered why not? I mean, it's not as if Bloom is an idiot; on the contrary, his decision-making is top class.
As I have already pointed out - Bloom has hired some donkeys as managers - and a lot of the transfers since Hughton was sacked have not worked out. What Bloom does deserve credit for is building one of the best academy structures in the PL - they are a production line of talent - half the team has come through the academy (including Ferguson) and several more are out on loan and performing in the Championship.


Sorry, but they haven't merely "consolidated", they've continued to progress, first with Potter, subsequently with De Zerbi.
Hughton's first season Brighton finished 15th - second season 17th - Potter's first season Brighton finished 15th - second season 16th - third season 9th (built on a very good start - the rest of the season not so much). RDZ last season 6th - this season currently 10th and will probably finish 10-12 range. I regard that as consolidation in the PL - and it has taken 6 years to end up as a regular mid-table team - with a lot of transfer money spent - and, more significantly, a doubling of the playing budget.


Think of it like a 4 x 100m relay race. Hughton may have run a good anchor leg, before Potter took the baton and made further progress before handing over to De Zerbi, who looks to be running a fine bend. If/when he leaves, then he'll be handing over to the next manager, who can hope to capitalise and take them home to a podium finish.
Brighton have an opportunity of having a prolonged stay in the PL - with an occasional European run - but getting beyond mid-table is beyond them because Bloom does not have the same resources as the top six clubs. Bloom's main source of income is through his betting syndicates, and that can go belly-up at any time.


But either way, decent manager though he is, there is no real evidence on his CV that Hughton had what it took to swap places with the others.
I disagree - the one opportunity to show what he could do with a decent squad he was successful - with Newcastle - 102 points winning the Championship and he knew he had a team in the PL that wouldn't get relegated and he really opened up the playbook (for want of a better description).


You may be right. Time - and his next appointment - will tell whether BHA was his limit, or whether he's still got more to offer.
I think Potter has always been a spoofer - his time Östersund was a myth, bringing an unknown club to the top division with no money - for it to emerge afterwards that the chairman was running a massive fraud and funneling massive amounts of money into the club under the table. Potter ran out of Sweden just before the who scandal broke and the club chairman spent three years in jail. He then ended up with Swansea when the 'great mind' that Potter was supposed to be was more flash than substance. Swansea had just been relegated - had the wad of parachute payments. At then end of March in Potter's only season they were 15th and in a downward spiral - they got a run of three wins and ended up two months later in 10th in one of the weakest Championships in several years before or since. I have outlined his time at Brighton - 15th, 16th and then 9th based on a good start to the season. Then disaster at Chelsea. All of Potter's teams have had a very soft underbelly - playing pretty football - but can be torn asunder in an instant - and he will continue in this vein. He will be a disaster for Man Utd where he will likely end up if Ashworth gets the job - Man Utd already have a major soft underbelly and Potter will not be able to fix it.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Now - I get it - Hughton is 65 years old - Forest was a disaster and while I think people underestimate what he did with Ghana, it didn't end well (and Hughton took responsibility for that). He has a good record. Most PL managers spend less than 2 seasons in the PL - Hughton has more than double that, as well as getting two clubs promoted out of the Championship and getting a third into the play-offs. He also has experience as an international manager (with an FA that is worse than the FAI), including at a major championship (and was 3 minutes of injury time from getting out of the group). Would Hughton set the world on fire as Irish manager - I doubt it - but look at who is in the frame for the job. A misogynist with a poor club record - a spoofer with little club experience - an angry pundit who was a bully as a manager - a racist with a spotty managerial record - a guy who gets two interim games but has a bad coaching record. Who else is there?


Maybe what Ireland needs to do for the next couple of years is to steady the ship and allow the kids to grow - and Hughton would be a safe pair of hands - he would be 100% committed and his Irish team would be hard to beat and would give 100% every game. In two years time Hughton would have either shown that he could bring the team forward - or that the team now needed someone to come in and maximise the potential.


What other options currently exist?

[Olé Olé]

Looking at the odds out of curiosity.

There are 3 in the 3/1 to 4/1 range:
John O'Shea, Gus Poyet and Anthony Barry.

If I thought it were indicative of anything I would take solace in the fact that Barry is similarly priced to the other pair.

In actuality, there's nothing to read into it aside from a little bit of money coming from hopelessly hopeful punters.

[Olé Olé]

Anthony Barry into 2/1 since I posted the above and he's shorter in place.

[Razors left peg]

Anthony Barry into 2/1 since I posted the above and he's shorter in place.
I've been in Portugal last few weeks and I've heard multiple times that he's strongly linked with taking over Sporting after Amorim leaves. I'd be shocked if we got him, but at this stage he'd be an appointment most could get behind.

[jbyrne]

Anthony Barry into 2/1 since I posted the above and he's shorter in place.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-make-fresh-approach-for-anthony-barry-to-fill-vacant-ireland-manager-role/a1522251375.html

[JR89]

Probably more chance of Carsley being the next manager than Barry. Honestly don't know what the FAI think they can offer him at this stage when he's being linked with Sporting and Portugal likely one of the favourites for the Euros. Could double the wage Kenny was on and doubt he'd take it.

[pineapple stu]

Probably more chance of Carsley being the next manager than Barry. Honestly don't know what the FAI think they can offer him at this stage when he's being linked with Sporting and Portugal likely one of the favourites for the Euros. Could double the wage Kenny was on and doubt he'd take it.
Yeah, that's my thinking too.

But here we are, around the time the FAI said they'd be unveiling a new manager, and they're off making fresh offers to probably the least likely of the names bandied about since last November.

This is car crash stuff really; riveting for all the wrong reasons.

[SkStu]

Agree with you both. This comes across as a complete hail mary from the FAI here with little to no chance of landing. This is all a bit of a disaster.


This is car crash stuff really; riveting for all the wrong reasons.

oh to be a fly on the wall...

[SkStu]

oh to be a fly on the wall...

There'd be a lot of Packie Bonner just eating all the ham sandwiches and drinking tae i'd say.

[John83]

oh to be a fly on the wall...
Oh to be reading a wikipedia summary after the fact. Living through this in real time is just constant disappointment.

At this stage, it feels like we're going to give it to someone who once heard about football on the radio, and who strangles prostitutes recreationally. And we're going to overpay them.

[SkStu]

Oh to be reading a wikipedia summary after the fact. Living through this in real time is just constant disappointment.

At this stage, it feels like we're going to give it to someone who once heard about football on the radio, and who strangles prostitutes recreationally. And we're going to overpay them.

Genuine LOL there :D

[Snapshot]

Barry would be an excellent outcome. Beg, steal or borrow to get him.

[JR89]

At this stage, it feels like we're going to give it to someone who once heard about football on the radio, and who strangles prostitutes recreationally. And we're going to overpay them.

Wasn't Lennon already ruled out.

[pineapple stu]

Agree with you both. This comes across as a complete hail mary from the FAI here with little to no chance of landing.
And what's the Plan B?

I wouldn't mind Barry at all - though there's the usual caveat about a good coach not necessarily making a good manager. But I'm not alone I think in recognising Bayern (ok, maybe he's about to be sacked) and Portugal (going to the Euros with a seriously exciting team) is a better option than us. And if, as RLP suggests, he's being linked with a top Portuguese side where he can really launch himself in management, that gives us even less chance.

So - are we back at Square One if he turns us down?

[Olé Olé]

Even if he is in the frame for the Sporting job, there's no harm in asking.

Agreed, though, that it is Hail Mary stuff. He fits the brief - albeit he doesn't have management experience. But he has the body of work to suggest he's deserving a shot as "Head Coach", hence why he's being linked with a club role like Sporting Lisbon.

But, he fit the brief months ago as much as he does now and his situation with Bayern has been precarious for a while so his potential availability isn't news, more that it became relevant when Carsley turned on his heels which really does seem to be what happened...

[EalingGreen]

At this stage, it feels like we're going to give it to someone who once heard about football on the radio, and who strangles prostitutes recreationally. And we're going to overpay them.Would still be an improvement on Kenny, no?

[SkStu]

And what's the Plan B?

I wouldn't mind Barry at all - though there's the usual caveat about a good coach not necessarily making a good manager. But I'm not alone I think in recognising Bayern (ok, maybe he's about to be sacked) and Portugal (going to the Euros with a seriously exciting team) is a better option than us. And if, as RLP suggests, he's being linked with a top Portuguese side where he can really launch himself in management, that gives us even less chance.

So - are we back at Square One if he turns us down?

I think he will turn us down and I think we are, for all intents and purposes, back at square one. I find it interesting that this is leaked after the FAI running such a tight ship for the last 7 (?) months when previously barely a squeak got out...

[elatedscum]

most likely event is JOSH is still interim in June and the FAI see who leaves jobs after the euros. Any chance of Canham appointing himself?

[backstothewall]

At this stage just give it to Chris Hughton.

[SkStu]

Honestly, i could get behind that. He is 65 so could be a short term but stable appointment that doesnt have a whole lot of downside and has a little upside - and ultimately would be an upgrade on SK. At this point, would allow the dust to settle, the squad and team to move out properly from the previous regime and then could go back to the well in 3-5 years time when things might look a little better overall in terms of FAI leadership and candidate availability.

[backstothewall]

They could come up with some face saving BS about him not being available in March due to logistical diffilculties or legal issues after leaving the Ghana job in Jan. Everyone would know it was horse **** but it would be very difficult to disprove and we could all move on.

[Razors left peg]

Imagine Canham and Hill in charge of a club team, there'd be no manager for about 4 seasons and they'd keep promising there'd be someone in place for the start of every season before going media dark from August to May

[seanfhear]

At this stage just give it to Chris Hughton.
If he wants the job and if he is, happy / unhappy, with the way the FAI have treated him re; The job !

[zero]

wouldn't be disappointed. he's managed players around our level in the past to a decent level. would command respect i feel.

[Demesne Lad]

I might as well put €10 on Graham Alexander.

[Razors left peg]

All journos seem to be reporting announcement will happen next week

[JR89]

At this stage just give it to Chris Hughton.

Heck I'd be ringing Gordon Strachan before considering JOS.

[brine3]

I might as well put €10 on Graham Alexander.

Might as well be Alexander Graham Bell at this stage.

[Jolly Red Giant]

If you want to find a manager - rather than zeroing in on one (who then rejects you because he doesn't want to work in the shambles you created) - the you spread a wide net, do your deep dive, make contact with people you think might work and invite them to an interview. It is not that difficult to find people -

For example - this list is drafted from coaches who have managed one of the top three clubs in Holland (and currently don't have a high-profile job) - Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV - I am not saying any of these are an option, but there are a dozen former managers from just three clubs in one country. If you repeat this process of all the clubs in every premier league you will end up with hundreds of names - do your research - whittle it down to 30-40 - contact them and see if any want to come for an interview. But there is zero indication that Hill and Canham have done anything like this to resolve the catastrophe that the FAI are now in.

Maurice Steijn (out of work)
John Heitinga (coach at West Ham)
Alfred Schreuder (currently coaching in UAE)
Marcel Keizer (currently coaching in Saudi Arabia)
Martin Jol (not coached since 2016)
Fred Rutten (currently a coach with PSV)
Ernest Faber (out of work)
Phillip Cocu (out of work)
Dick Advocaat (currently coach of the Curacao international team)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (out of work)
Leon Vlemmings (out of work)
Mario Been (not coached since 2017)

And by the way - the three I would be interested in are Heitinga, Keizer and Faber.

[Olé Olé]

If you want to find a manager - rather than zeroing in on one (who then rejects you because he doesn't want to work in the shambles you created) - the you spread a wide net, do your deep dive, make contact with people you think might work and invite them to an interview. It is not that difficult to find people -

For example - this list is drafted from coaches who have managed one of the top three clubs in Holland (and currently don't have a high-profile job) - Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV - I am not saying any of these are an option, but there are a dozen former managers from just three clubs in one country. If you repeat this process of all the clubs in every premier league you will end up with hundreds of names - do your research - whittle it down to 30-40 - contact them and see if any want to come for an interview. But there is zero indication that Hill and Canham have done anything like this to resolve the catastrophe that the FAI are now in.

Maurice Steijn (out of work)
John Heitinga (coach at West Ham)
Alfred Schreuder (currently coaching in UAE)
Marcel Keizer (currently coaching in Saudi Arabia)
Martin Jol (not coached since 2016)
Fred Rutten (currently a coach with PSV)
Ernest Faber (out of work)
Phillip Cocu (out of work)
Dick Advocaat (currently coach of the Curacao international team)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (out of work)
Leon Vlemmings (out of work)
Mario Been (not coached since 2017)

And by the way - the three I would be interested in are Heitinga, Keizer and Faber.

But John O'Shea played for us, Gus Poyet beat us and Anthony Barry coached us before.

Need to meet a minimum of one of these requirements and, unfortunately, for Dick Advocaat, we beat him.