A poll

[Kenneth]

For me, Rafa is failing to get the team playing as well as the sum of its parts. I think a lot of this is because he is uninspiring. Even if Rafa is spot on about how a player should be playing, where he needs to be when etc etc, if that player doesn't feel fully motivated (knowing a good performance will be rewarded/thinking they can do something Roy of the Rovers style to great acclaim/that kind of thing) they won't do it enough. Would Stephen Hawkins be the best primary school teacher?

Most of Mourinho's players love him. The fans of his clubs love him. We have a pretty decent squad (despite when we pretend otherwide to criticise the Americans), and I think Mourinho might be able to get more of out it, even without huge sums.

[Kenneth]

Meh

[Shanks]

what about bringing in Steve McClaren to manage us? I think he would be a good choice. What you all think?

What!

[Craig_H]

For me, Rafa is failing to get the team playing as well as the sum of its parts. I think a lot of this is because he is uninspiring. Even if Rafa is spot on about how a player should be playing, where he needs to be when etc etc, if that player doesn't feel fully motivated (knowing a good performance will be rewarded/thinking they can do something Roy of the Rovers style to great acclaim/that kind of thing) they won't do it enough. Would Stephen Hawkins be the best primary school teacher?

Most of Mourinho's players love him. The fans of his clubs love him. We have a pretty decent squad (despite when we pretend otherwide to criticise the Americans), and I think Mourinho might be able to get more of out it, even without huge sums.

That's precisely my point.

I'm not saying he'd win the title with our current squad, but i'd put my house on him taking us to a comfortable top 4 finish (at the very very least), with zero investment. I wouldnt even be surprised if he put together a regular title challenge with it.

With £20m-£25m per season, i think he'd win us the league within 2 years.

[Kenneth]

That's precisely my point.

I'm not saying he'd win the title with our current squad, but i'd put my house on him taking us to a comfortable top 4 finish (at the very very least), with zero investment. I wouldnt even be surprised if he put together a regular title challenge with it.

With £20m-£25m per season, i think he'd win us the league within 2 years.

Fair play, it's a bold opinion. I think he would definitely give us a boost and bring some feel good factor back to the club. Don't know whether he could sustain it for years without more money, he isn't good at losing games.

[Shanks]

With £20m-£25m per season, i think he'd win us the league within 2 years.

I agree.

He'd probably bring a whole load of his own backroom staff, which would shake up the whole Spanish contingent though.

Would Mourinho be able to attract the likes of Silva and Villa in the same way Rafa would, or is this not an issue?

[Craig_H]

I agree.

He'd probably bring a whole load of his own backroom staff, which would shake up the whole Spanish contingent though.

Would Mourinho be able to attract the likes of Silva and Villa in the same way Rafa would, or is this not an issue?

Well, firstly Rafa hasnt attracted them himself

I think Mourinho's a winner and seen by most people in football as one of the world's best managers. Players love playing for him, and i think plenty of the world's elite would relish the opportunity.

[Guest]

Isn't Rafa a 'winner' too Craig?

[dom9]

Can we have an 'I don't know' option?

[Craig_H]

Isn't Rafa a 'winner' too Craig?

Has he won the Premier League, Pete?

Has he been an undoubted success at every major job he's had?

[Guest]

Has he won the Premier League, Pete?

Has he been an undoubted success at every major job he's had?

I won't go in there as it's not befitting of a proper description of 'winner'.

[Fan65]

I said no because the position is not vacant, we have a manager under contract for another four years. When those four years are over please ask again as there will have been a lot of water under the bridge by then and who knows maybe Rafa will have won the title and he'll be favouite to keep his position.

Also I'm not sure that if H&G sacked Rafa this season that they would have enough nous
to select a suitable canidate especially for the 30 bob they'd be offering.

[Craig_H]

Rafa wont be here for another 4 years.

[Rich]

Rafa wont be here for another 4 years.

Very matter of fact that dude.

[Craig_H]

Very matter of fact that dude.

IMO obviously.