New manager thread

[Vermilion]

"You first of all set the criteria very tightly," he said. "From my experience that led us to a shortlist of one. In each instance got the person we were looking for.

Parry talking about hiring Houllier and Benitez here. But, didn't we go after Maureen, Parry is making out they only targetted Rafa, and got him.

[Phoenix07]

Reality is he's not coming back so rest easy. However his removal still remains a terrible decision to many fans.

What's that supposed to mean? He'd be on my current shortlist as I've said twice in the last week.

[Phoenix07]

But, didn't we go after Mauree, Parry is making out they only targetted Rafa, and got him.

Yep, three times throughout 2003-2004, Parry made contact with him. One was on the eve of Porto's Champions League Final, the other just after. (According to Mourinho's book).

[Vermilion]

Yep, three times throughout 2003-2004, Parry made contact with him. One was on the eve of Porto's Champions League Final, the other just after. (According to Mourinho's book).

I thought we were chasing Maureen as well as Rafa, more or less right up untill Maureen agreed to join Chavs.

[Kenneth]

Have we improved or declined since he left?

Have better managers become available?

No and no.

We find ourselves substantially worse off which was quite easy to predict.
Unfortunately there was a large number of people who felt what Rafa achieved was not good enough despite the limitations and the obvious advantages at a couple of other clubs.

Reality is he's not coming back so rest easy. However his removal still remains a terrible decision to many fans.

Those fans are not the ones who deserve criticism. The shortsighted ones who don't know a good thing when it's there in front of them should be in the firing line.

Whinging about things you can't change from history is not to anyone's credit either.

[malg]

Unless I have missed something (which is possible) but all these managers that are turning us down is this official or just paper talk.

[Pablo]

That's no way to treat a new poster.

Does anyone think that given the current state the club that if Benitez was at Valencia having just one those two La Liga titles now he'd turn us down as we were less of a draw now than we were back in 2004?

I think the old Benitez of 2004 might well have, we're just not that exciting a proposition right now are we?

[Vermilion]

Does anyone think that given the current state the club that if Benitez was at Valencia having just one those two La Liga titles now he'd turn us down as we were less of a draw now than we were back in 2004?

I think the old Benitez of 2004 might well have, we're just not that exciting a proposition right now are we?

Tbh, that all depends on our owners plans, and how much a new confident in his own ability manager will get to shape the team.

We are still one of the biggest names in football, however bad our league position.

It's also possible to climb up a table as quickly as youve dropped, managers will know this.

Thing is, we have to find a manager now, in this moment in time, so that means certain candidates are out nof reach, for many reasons other than us not being an exciting prospect.

[Roboklopp]

I dunno FakePabs. We arent in the CL & getting back there will be harder, but we are a long-term building project & I suspect we would appear to have better owners than we used to at that point. Not saying you're wrong like, cos that's how I see it too, just trying to be objective.

[Vermilion]

Unless I have missed something (which is possible) but all these managers that are turning us down is this official or just paper talk.

Think they've been official releases. Not heard any denials from anyone about anything, that they hadn't been contacted or hadn't declined.

[Corndog]

Does anyone think that given the current state the club that if Benitez was at Valencia having just one those two La Liga titles now he'd turn us down as we were less of a draw now than we were back in 2004?

I think the old Benitez of 2004 might well have, we're just not that exciting a proposition right now are we?

There may be some truth in that but i think it depends on the attitude of the manager. There is a certain romantic challenge in trying to take a club that was once the best in the world and get it back there and in theory under FFP rules this club has a huge advantage. The Northwest of England as an area has produced many great players over the years as well but i think that until we clearly see how FFP will impact the game managers are always going to lean towards the sides with massive transfer budgets, and why not as its easier to assemble the squad you want in this topsy turvey world of modern football.

[Pablo]

With hindsight that was a bit of a masterstroke by Parry to get Rafa in the first place (his only one!), him and Mourinho were the two outstanding up and coming managers in European football at the time. He was above our level at that particular time really.

I guess you could equate it to bringing in Klopp now, which seems virtually impossible.

Essentially we’ve somehow regressed since 2004, and I remember thinking we were in a bit of a mess even back then!

[Phoenix07]

Interesting to speculate.

In 2004, we finished 4th and Man City and Tottenham weren't threats. Our budget was only fractionally smaller then as it is now. We were in the top 4 teams in the country.
We had a core of players amongst some real dross. The board were stable but seeking investment at the time.

Now we're 8th albeit reaching two cup finals and there are stronger challenges from Man City and Tottenham. We have a squad filled with overpriced, overpaid players, but there is a spine to be worked with and potential to be used. Our budget is around the £20m-£25m (estimate). We don't have ownership issues.

Which is better to be in?

[Vermilion]

With hindsight that was a bit of a masterstroke by Parry to get Rafa in the first place (his only one!), him and Mourinho were the two outstanding up and coming managers in European football at the time. He was above our level at that particular time really.

I guess you could equate it to bringing in Klopp now, which seems virtually impossible.

Essentially we’ve somehow regressed since 2004, and I remember thinking we were in a bit of a mess even back then!

It was a master stroke yes, but unless we know what other offers Rafa had at that time, how much of it was down to Parry's persuasion and the clubs standing at the time is debateable.

He'd fallen out with the Valencia board or part of it, so was maybe always going to leave that season.

Can't remember if he had other offers at that time tbh.

I still have a nagging feeling that Maureen was our first choice, but he went to the money.

But considering he didn't bring in Hodgson at the time, yes, a true masterstroke.

[Corndog]

Whilst the team has not progressed ideally in the past couple of years, lets not forget that the general standard of the league has also risen quite a bit int he past five years. the premierleague is the most watched football league in the world and this has led to increased investment which has imo pushed up the ability of your average prem player. Teams like Norwich and Wigan can on their days take points off anybody but in particular the standard of player playing for the middle to uefa cup placed teams has risen imo, the Cisses, Cabayes, VDV's Adebayors, Modrics etc. Even teams like QPR have some decent players in them like Cisse and Taiwo or the fact that Sunderland were able to attract players like Bent, Sessegnon and Gyan (the latter wasnt anything special but was highly sought after and chose sunderland of all clubs)

and obviously the emergence of Man city has shaken things up.