Guus Hiddink

[SK]

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/sto...861299,00.html

Benitez's future at Liverpool hangs in the balance following a diastrous season this term.

The pressure has increased on the Spaniard in the wake of the embarassing FA Cup defeat to Reading on Wednesday and Hiddink has been mentioned as a possible replacement if Liverpool decide to look for a new man to take charge.

Hiddink, who enjoyed a successful four-month spell at Chelsea last year, is expected to leave his job as Russia coach after they failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup finals.

The experienced coach is keen to ply his trade again in the Premier League, but he will first seek the approval of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich before making a switch back to England.

"I have to speak to the federation president before making any decision on my future, but it is true that I would like to coach in England again," said Hiddink.

"After all the support I've received from Roman Abramovich I owe it to them to discuss anything with them first."



He's a ****ing snake the kunt, unnecessarily putting pressure on Carlo Ancelotti with that comment IMO. I perfer managers with a bit of class.

it's nothing to do with chelsea mate, abramovič pays his wages for russia, and has supported his project there, which is not only about the senior russian national team, but more to do with building the whole footballing infrastructure from the ground up. they are building football academies and training centres, teaching coaches,..and they've been very succesful at that - with russian clubs winning the uefa cup a few times, and making their mark in the CL more and more with each season.

[BG1973]

Capello? **** no. The football would be given more dire than now. After Houllier & Rafa I want a manager with charisma, one that inspires the team to reach better heights. One that puts arms round shoulders where required and gives other a kick up the arse. There must be someone in the world?

I give you..

[Marky]

Not a big fan of Hiddink.

It has to be Martin O'Neill or The Special One(despite his previous with LFC) to take over if Rafa leaves.

[Craig_H]

One good week? We finished second and highest scorers.

I think the problem is that, whilst the period of the second half/final third of last season was a joyous time for us, it remains very much the exception to the rule, if you look at Rafa's tenure.

What people would like to see, is that kind of attitude and style adopted as the norm - rather than just the emergency measure for when we're chasing a rival who has a considerable points lead over us going into the final straight of the league campaign.

[Slinky Skills]

Why the hell would any decent manager come to us?.

-We have two owners that can just about stomach each other.
-Everything that comes out of their mouths is lies.
-We have no new stadium, not even one under construction.
-Feck all money.
-Champions league qualification looking decidedly dodgy.
-Average squad apart from a few
-Feck all money

It would be a stupid move on Hiddinks part.

We do have Torres!

[Guest]

I think the problem is that, whilst the period of the second half/final third of last season was a joyous time for us, it remains very much the exception to the rule, if you look at Rafa's tenure.

What people would like to see, is that kind of attitude and style adopted as the norm - rather than just the emergency measure for when we're chasing a rival who has a considerable points lead over us going into the final straight of the league campaign.

But that's obviously down to the players don't you think? I'm a bit dubious to think that Rafa would tell the players to play a systematic, boring game all the time, when the name of the game is to win. It is clear that Rafa wants to win all the time, and he also wants to play good attacking football at the same time.

For me, the players haven't been good enough to sustain those levels of excellence for a long time. They've always done it in spurts, or in the latter part of each and every season for the last 5 years. I find it hard to believe that is a trademark of Rafa, rather than being symptomatic of the levels the players can sustain or not during a whole season.

We still were a whisker away of winning the league last season though, which to me shows that we were getting it right. This season it has gone the opposite way.

[Angry Dan]

Not a big fan of Hiddink.

It has to be Martin O'Neill or The Special One(despite his previous with LFC) to take over if Rafa leaves.

Martin O'Neill would be a terible choice, his tactics are IMO generally poor and his record of playing players out of position is second to none.

The Villa fans I know are despite his record for them, not that fussed on him.

It would be a sad day for the club if we had to replace the manager and he was the best option available.

[Craig_H]

But that's obviously down to the players don't you think? I'm a bit dubious to think that Rafa would tell the players to play a systematic, boring game all the time, when the name of the game is to win. It is clear that Rafa wants to win all the time, and he also wants to play good attacking football at the same time.

For me, the players haven't been good enough to sustain those levels of excellence for a long time. They've always done it in spurts, or in the latter part of each and every season for the last 5 years. I find it hard to believe that is a trademark of Rafa, rather than being symptomatic of the levels the players can sustain or not during a whole season.

We still were a whisker away of winning the league last season though, which to me shows that we were getting it right. This season it has gone the opposite way.

It's down to the players to produce the form of course, but likewise, it's part of a manager's job to get the best out of his players and Rafa's evidently not doing that. The second half of last season has almost perversely worked against him, because it showed us exactly what we're capable of and that is now the benchmark we must aspire to. Fall below that standard (and let's be honest, we're a million miles below that standard now), and the burden of blame ultimately (perhaps via the players too) falls at the feet of the manager.

The buck always stops with the manager. One could certainly make a case for saying that we're not financially powerful enough to consistently compete with United and Chelsea for the title, and there may be some weight to that argument.

I'd agree that the players may not be good enough to maintain those levels of March-May of last season on a permanent basis. I'm not suggesting we should be expecting that.

But there's no way we should be struggling for 4th. Maybe in a year or two when City have truly made proper use of their wealth. But not now. We shouldnt be struggling to catch Spurs and Villa. And we most definitely shouldnt be looking over our shoulders at the prospect of Birmingham City catching us. No way. Our squad is comfortably good enough for these things to not be happening, and when we fall so far below what our level is (in relation to the squad we have), the responsibility is the manager's.

You're right that last season we went very close and the manager rightly got lots of praise for producing such a genuine challenge. I'm sure you yourself would've praised him hugely for it - and rightly so.

Likewise though, when it goes hurrendously wrong, as it has this season, he has to shoulder blame. Cant work both ways. If the success brings him praise, this season's disaster must also bring him stinging criticism.

[fah-q]

You're right that last season we went very close and the manager rightly got lots of praise for producing such a genuine challenge. I'm sure you yourself would've praised him hugely for it - and rightly so.

Likewise though, when it goes hurrendously wrong, as it has this season, he has to shoulder blame. Cant work both ways. If the success brings him praise, this season's disaster must also bring him stinging criticism.

Thats a fair point, and one that I totally agree with. Thats the reason you have a manager after all.

What ****s me off is the sort of fan who just comes on and says "this player is ****" or "That player is ****" or "Rafa's a ****ing idiot" or whatever without actually forming any other cogent argument.

Anyway back on topic, I like Hiddink and if Rafa has to go (for the record I want to see him turn it round) I wouldn't be unhappy to see him takeover.

Rather him than the Matalan coat any day.

[Le Chef]

Hiddink's biggest asset, for me, is his ability to get people to perform at their maximum possible level. If he (or anyone) got the best out of our squad, we'll be laughing.

Spot on



Good to see you back Craig

[joyno]

The mans a football prostitute, even if he won us the league and we came to adore him he would probably leave us to manage china, **** that

[Craig_H]

The mans a football prostitute, even if he won us the league and we came to adore him he would probably leave us to manage china, **** that

I'd happily take that scenario.

If he won us the league, i'd take him to China myself.

[joyno]

I'd happily take that scenario.

If he won us the league, i'd take him to China myself.

and then what!

[Craig_H]

and then what!

Then we'd be champions, we'd have removed the biggest monkey the club's ever seen off its back and we'd have the belief & confidence that comes with being champions, we'd have every top manager in the world wanting the job and we'd be the most attractive proposition to investors that we've been for ages.

[Molby]

I'd happily take that scenario.

If he won us the league, i'd take him to China myself.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the more i think of it - i'd take that in a heartbeat too