Next Manager

[Tommy Fresh]

14 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

It's early June. While we would all prefer it to be sorted out sooner rather than later, if there is one period in the entire calendar year when clubs have the luxury of taking their time over a managerial appointment, surely it's in the month after a season ends when the players are all away? I'd much prefer the club took its time to make a decent appointment rather than rush to appoint somebody unsuitable just because they're out of contract and want the job. 

I think it's probably the lack of transparency, they may well have things lined up to go as and when our league status officially changes, but the silence means everyone's just guessing about what's going on.

However I would argue depending on how much we let a new manager affect our transfer targets, then the summer is probably the most improtant time to act as quickly as we can. 

[James and his giant peach]

1 hour ago, StevieH said:

Why is everyone presuming Dyche would take the job? I don't think he would want it. 

Come off it, he'd absolutely be frothing at the mouth. He lives fairly local, our facilities and size of club, decent payday, if he fails just blame the finances and behind the scenes. Anyone half decent would still take the job because we have such amazing facilities and potential. 

[ClaphamFox]

Just now, Loxm said:

I agree with most of that. It's still early June and there is some breathing room to get this right. Rushing into the wrong appointment (like cooper) would be a disaster and the club has to be thorough.

 

But the extremely concerning part, and where this whole thing feels off, is the alleged lack of communication with Ruud. If he's been left completely in the dark, that’s not just unprofessional, it’s disrespectful.

Imagine being him. If all the other candidates say no and the club comes crawling back, how is he supposed to feel? That’s a terrible message to send to any manager, let alone one who might end up staying.

 

For the record, I really want Ruud to go, and I don’t think he’s done anything to warrant the job moving forward. But the disrespect is mad.

I suspect the lack of communication with Ruud is because they want to keep him as a back-up option. If they sack him before finding his replacement there is a risk they could end up with somebody worse. And given the threat of a points deduction is hanging over us for the second consecutive summer, finding a quality replacement may not be straightforward. 

[fox_up_north]

1 hour ago, FosseSpark said:

Player signings: If we are late to the party for key positions, particularly in the striking dept then we will be at a massive disadvantage. We are currently well stocked elsewhere for the championship, depending on departures but have zero up top. 

DO AYEW AND DAKA MEAN NOTHING TO YOU? 

[Loxm]

1 minute ago, ClaphamFox said:

5 minutes ago, Loxm said:

I suspect the lack of communication with Ruud is because they want to keep him as a back-up option

Yeah, I get that logic and its maybe what is happening. It makes a certain kind of sense.

But if that’s the plan, the least they could do is be honest with him about it. Even saying, “You’re still under consideration but we’re exploring our options,” would be better than radio silence. Right now it just looks like they’re stringing him along while quietly hoping someone better says yes. That’s not how you treat someone who  you might have to rely on to get you out of a rough situation next season!!

 

I still don’t think he’s the right man going forward, but if we do end up having to stick with him, this whole approach risks starting the season with a manager who feels undermined and disrespected before a ball is even kicked.

[winteriscoming]

Maresca was appointed 16th June Cooper even later than that. 
I think we’re still a couple of weeks away from getting anyone in. 

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

54 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

This might seem an odd thing to say, but we aren't in the sort of trouble that Dyche specialises in.  We are i day 2 of the summer transfer window preparing for a preseason and a 46 game championship campaign where we likely will have one of the strongest squads available, and some amazing academy prospects coming through. 

 

What we need is solid strategic thinking, off loading deadwood and players that dont align with our strategy, working out the pathway for the youth and buying players who are going to add value. Then we need a strong preseason with everyone on board and everyone hungry for success.

 

You call on Dyche when you are 3rd from bottom after 20 games.

Interesting points 👍

[Ricey]

1 hour ago, teblin said:

Agree its screams no plan again. But is this true? Or is it just based on what he’s had at his disposal?

 

Im not saying it isn’t true, just wondering. 

He sneers at anything new or modern at any opportunity, in the same way Allardyce did towards the end of his career. Watch his Stick to Football interview and it’s really clear that he doesn’t really believe in data, analytics or any new tactical trends. He’s entrenched in the old ways.

 

He’s another one that we did a talk with when I worked on FM and a lot of questions were about data, recruitment, how he worked with Directors of Football etc. Most questions were answered quite dismissively, as if he knew those things were unavoidable nowadays but he didn’t believe in them. They were a hindrance to him.
 

When we have a state of the art training ground and fruitful academy, we need someone that believes in that. We need someone that’s innovative in their thinking, in the same way Pearson was all those years a go.

[ClaphamFox]

1 minute ago, Ricey said:

He sneers at anything new or modern at any opportunity, in the same way Allardyce did towards the end of his career. Watch his Stick to Football interview and it’s really clear that he doesn’t really believe in data, analytics or any new tactical trends. He’s entrenched in the old ways.

 

He’s another one that we did a talk with when I worked on FM and a lot of questions were about data, recruitment, how he worked with Directors of Football etc. Most questions were answered quite dismissively, as if he knew those things were unavoidable nowadays but he didn’t believe in them. They were a hindrance to him.
 

When we have a state of the art training ground and fruitful academy, we need someone that believes in that. We need someone that’s innovative in their thinking, in the same way Pearson was all those years a go.

Very succinctly put. This is why it always surprises me when people compare Dyche to Pearson. Pearson wasn't the most tactically sophisticated manager, but in every other respect he was very modern and forward-thinking. If he was more tactically savvy in addition to his other qualities, he'd have been highly sought after. Dyche is not only a dinosaur tactically, he's a dinosaur in his approach to management in general. 

[LVFox]

27 minutes ago, winteriscoming said:

Maresca was appointed 16th June Cooper even later than that. 
I think we’re still a couple of weeks away from getting anyone in. 

I was talking to my brother when it looked confirmed to be Russell Martin and then realised that two years ago we had exactly the same conversation about it looking like it was Scott Parker (but without a real major media source confirming).

 

It will be mid-late this month that we appoint someone and it's still anyone's guess

 

 

[kingfox]

Doubt they’d consider him, but I still wouldn’t mind taking a gamble on Cleverley. 
 

Mixes possession based football with direct attacking, Watford ranked in the Championship’s top 10 for fast breaks, direct speed and direct attacks. 
 

Also big on youth development, he made some really positive selection calls last season, while leaving more senior players on the bench. 
 

For what our squad needs right now, he ticks the boxes. 

[teblin]

16 minutes ago, Ricey said:

He sneers at anything new or modern at any opportunity, in the same way Allardyce did towards the end of his career. Watch his Stick to Football interview and it’s really clear that he doesn’t really believe in data, analytics or any new tactical trends. He’s entrenched in the old ways.

 

He’s another one that we did a talk with when I worked on FM and a lot of questions were about data, recruitment, how he worked with Directors of Football etc. Most questions were answered quite dismissively, as if he knew those things were unavoidable nowadays but he didn’t believe in them. They were a hindrance to him.
 

When we have a state of the art training ground and fruitful academy, we need someone that believes in that. We need someone that’s innovative in their thinking, in the same way Pearson was all those years a go.

Brilliant, thanks for the insight. On the face of it people see Dyche as a Pearson type but in reality he isn't. 

 

Pearson(not just him as he hasn't quite been as good anywhere else), brought a lot of innovative stuff in to the club. To be fair to big Sam stuff that Nigel picked up whilst working with him. (earlier Big Sam career)

 

He comes across worse on Stick to football than he does with Lineker. Though I think most people do, as they are all a bit more abrasive than Gary.

 

Edited 2 June 2025 by teblin

[The boy Linacre]

On 28/05/2025 at 19:49, worthosoriginals said:

 

Blimey he's aged in half a season at THIS club under RVN, but totally understandable of course

[VLC86]

8 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Doubt they’d consider him, but I still wouldn’t mind taking a gamble on Cleverley. 
 

Mixes possession based football with direct attacking, Watford ranked in the Championship’s top 10 for fast breaks, direct speed and direct attacks. 
 

Also big on youth development, he made some really positive selection calls last season, while leaving more senior players on the bench. 
 

For what our squad needs right now, he ticks the boxes. 

I’d be worried about a lack of experience when our club is in such a state.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

1 hour ago, Tommy Fresh said:

I think it's probably the lack of transparency, they may well have things lined up to go as and when our league status officially changes, but the silence means everyone's just guessing about what's going on.

However I would argue depending on how much we let a new manager affect our transfer targets, then the summer is probably the most improtant time to act as quickly as we can. 

No club provides a running commentary on these things.

 

But one thing a lot of people have failed to consider… what if the reported lack of internal discussion with Ruud is because a key person that will be part of making the hiring/firing decisions going forward is not at the club yet? 
 

i.e. could there be changes to be made at board room level first?

[OriginalRobboFOX]

Some stinkers on this list 🤯

[KFS]

Like Rosenior but cannot shake the way he and his dad behaved after the Cunningham leg break. Basically ended the lad’s career

[Foxmeister]

My hunch is we have a clear out of senior players and stick with Ruud. Few arrivals, focus on youth, the board think we’re easily good enough to stay up and maybe squeak into the play-offs.

[Chico1958]

Richie Wellens, Been there and done it with Orient. (On a tight budget)

 

Wellens, favours his teams to play attacking football, believing long ball and defensive minded football to not be suitable to long-term success. He cites former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as a major influence on his approach. Using a preferred formation of 4-2-3-1. Wellens likes his teams to play out from the back and be patient. Wellens likes his player to maintain a high level of intensity, even during training sessions. (Wiki)

 

 

[Happy Fox]

2 minutes ago, Chico1958 said:

Richie Wellens, Been there and done it with Orient. (On a tight budget)

 

Wellens, favours his teams to play attacking football, believing long ball and defensive minded football to not be suitable to long-term success. He cites former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as a major influence on his approach. Using a preferred formation of 4-2-3-1. Wellens likes his teams to play out from the back and be patient. Wellens likes his player to maintain a high level of intensity, even during training sessions. (Wiki)

 

 

 

He's on Charlton's radar, which is funny, as he lost the playoff final to them, as Nathan Jones is rumoured to be going to manage Cardiff his boyhood club.

[Happy Fox]

If Sean Dyche becomes our manager it's nailed on that Ben Mee would be our first signing..

[Gazza3]

11 minutes ago, Happy Fox said:

If Sean Dyche becomes our manager it's nailed on that Ben Mee would be our first signing..

Hope so massive upgrade on our current crop 

[Groby_Blue]

Enzo is 40/1 to return 

[LVFox]

12 minutes ago, Happy Fox said:

If Sean Dyche becomes our manager it's nailed on that Ben Mee would be our first signing..

Michael Keane and Ben Mee at CB. Ayew and Kieffer Moore up front.

 

Football heritage

[ClaphamFox]

Just now, Groby_Blue said:

Enzo is 40/1 to return 

That explains the delay. We're waiting until after the Club World Cup. Makes sense now...