Realistic Managerial Replacements

[ClaphamFox]

19 hours ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

Bo Diddly 

Of the Legion.

[cityfanlee23]

The worrying thing is that, while appointing a Technical Director is clearly the right decision, it’s created another problem. Realistically, we should be hiring the TD before appointing a new manager. But that process alone could take weeks. Then the new TD needs time to assess the squad, decide how we implement a long-term plan, identify managers who fit that philosophy, and properly vet them.

That could easily turn into a 6–8 week process and that’s assuming everything moves smoothly, which we wouldn’t know because the club never communicates. By that point, Marti could have us closer to the bottom three than the top six, especially if the points deduction doesn’t go the way we’re all hoping. And let’s be honest: when those deductions land, there’s a real risk it crushes what little belief some of these players still have.

That’s what makes it even more frustrating hearing about Top and his polo escapades. I’m not saying he needs chaining to his desk, everyone’s entitled to a hobby but it’s now been five weeks without a single update. Five weeks where a new TD could have been speaking to clubs across Europe to shift the dead wood. Five weeks where we could have been in active discussions with clubs to move on Faes and Winks and wages taken off the books. Five weeks where a TD could have been quietly assessing managerial options or lining up January loan targets.

And yet, through sheer dumb luck, the rest of the league is almost as bad as we are, bar two teams. Somehow, we’re still within touching distance of the play-offs, despite declining even further under MC to levels we haven’t seen in well over a decade.

All we really need right now is an interim appointment. Someone to steady the ship while the boardroom mess gets sorted and a proper reset happens. Someone who can reconnect with the fans. MON, Warnock, or even Pearson (health permitting for a short 5–10 game stint) would all be far better options than whatever it is we’re doing right now.

I'm looking at this in worst case scenarios because pessimism is the only thing this club deserves, I can see us hanging on for another 4 weeks, blowing January because we have no plan, bringing in a TD who doesn't rate the manager, taking another 6 weeks to replace him, getting hit wiht a 9 point deduction and then losing the only players we actually want to keep. 

[F T Fagos]

Bo Ned

Happy Monday  everyone. 

[Lesterlad]

Santa would do a better job then this guy

[gurru991]

On 29/11/2025 at 09:11, danny2997 said:

We'll be having the same conversation about the new manager in a month, so what's the point? Will the same useless wasters on the pitch either way. Rather focus on getting rid of them in Jan.

Giving a new manager this group to work with is just nasty... nobody deserves that.. Clean house, get rid of those who cant play & those that don't want to play.  Marti doesn't appear to be very clever but he's trying to fix a leaky roof using paper mache.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

We are genuinely close or perhaps even in the territory of plucking someone who’s doing well in League One.

 

 

[blue army 1988]

9 hours ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

We are genuinely close or perhaps even in the territory of plucking someone who’s doing well in League One.

 

 

Planning for the future maybe!?

[winteriscoming]

10 hours ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

We are genuinely close or perhaps even in the territory of plucking someone who’s doing well in League One.

 

 

If we go that way I wouldn’t be against Challinor or Skubula. 

[Claudio Fannieri]

2 minutes ago, winteriscoming said:

If we go that way I wouldn’t be against Challinor or Skubula. 

Skubala or Wellens for me and I would also eat humble pie and test the water for Barry-Murphy 

[winteriscoming]

2 minutes ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

Skubala or Wellens for me and I would also eat humble pie and test the water for Barry-Murphy 

I’d forgotten about Wellens. 
Yes he would be another decent option from league 1. 
I just think Barry-Murphy gives off Chris Davies vibes at Birmingham last season. 
Cardiff should be up there challenging for promotion. 

[CornwallFox]

20 hours ago, cityfanlee23 said:

The worrying thing is that, while appointing a Technical Director is clearly the right decision, it’s created another problem. Realistically, we should be hiring the TD before appointing a new manager. But that process alone could take weeks. Then the new TD needs time to assess the squad, decide how we implement a long-term plan, identify managers who fit that philosophy, and properly vet them.

That could easily turn into a 6–8 week process and that’s assuming everything moves smoothly, which we wouldn’t know because the club never communicates. By that point, Marti could have us closer to the bottom three than the top six, especially if the points deduction doesn’t go the way we’re all hoping. And let’s be honest: when those deductions land, there’s a real risk it crushes what little belief some of these players still have.

That’s what makes it even more frustrating hearing about Top and his polo escapades. I’m not saying he needs chaining to his desk, everyone’s entitled to a hobby but it’s now been five weeks without a single update. Five weeks where a new TD could have been speaking to clubs across Europe to shift the dead wood. Five weeks where we could have been in active discussions with clubs to move on Faes and Winks and wages taken off the books. Five weeks where a TD could have been quietly assessing managerial options or lining up January loan targets.

And yet, through sheer dumb luck, the rest of the league is almost as bad as we are, bar two teams. Somehow, we’re still within touching distance of the play-offs, despite declining even further under MC to levels we haven’t seen in well over a decade.

All we really need right now is an interim appointment. Someone to steady the ship while the boardroom mess gets sorted and a proper reset happens. Someone who can reconnect with the fans. MON, Warnock, or even Pearson (health permitting for a short 5–10 game stint) would all be far better options than whatever it is we’re doing right now.

I'm looking at this in worst case scenarios because pessimism is the only thing this club deserves, I can see us hanging on for another 4 weeks, blowing January because we have no plan, bringing in a TD who doesn't rate the manager, taking another 6 weeks to replace him, getting hit wiht a 9 point deduction and then losing the only players we actually want to keep. 

You absolutely do not wait to appoint directors before sacking poorly performing managers. Managers last a relatively short period of time, you don't bring in a director for a single management decision.

[ClaphamFox]

7 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

You absolutely do not wait to appoint directors before sacking poorly performing managers. Managers last a relatively short period of time, you don't bring in a director for a single management decision.

You do if the current directors are completely incapable of choosing the right replacement.

[FLAN]

Rowett been sacked. Any worse than what we have?

[Claudio Fannieri]

1 minute ago, FLAN said:

Rowett been sacked. Any worse than what we have?

Wouldn’t want him here however if Oxford have sacked him as they think they are performing below par then when does the penny drop for us. 

[ClaphamFox]

14 minutes ago, FLAN said:

Rowett been sacked. Any worse than what we have?

Not obviously better. What would be the point?

[Wink84]

What we need is a Puel kind of appointment that can reshape us, who that is though I don't know. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Surely the most pointless thread on Foxestalk. 

Edited 23 December 2025 by Sol thewall Bamba

[HankMarvin]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

Not obviously better. What would be the point?

Derby to the playoffs 

Millwall top 8 twice 

Out of his 12 seasons managing in the Champ he has only less points per game than Marti once and thats now with Oxford after 22 games 

Edited 23 December 2025 by HankMarvin

[cityfanlee23]

2 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

You absolutely do not wait to appoint directors before sacking poorly performing managers. Managers last a relatively short period of time, you don't bring in a director for a single management decision.

You don't need a TD in place to bring in an interim, but we absolutely should not be appointing a full-time manager on a 3 year deal now, especially this close to a transfer window imo. The technical director is responsible for the long-term football foundation, overseeing strategy, development, recruitment etc. The last thing we need is to bring in a manager now who we think is the right appointment, then getting a real quality TD in the door, only for him to say "yeah this manager isn't right for the club" because we immediately then have a manager and TD pulling in different directions. If we get the appointment wrong (and this lot have proven they have a knack for bad decisions across the club) it could cost us multiple millions to sack him, plus could cost us in January if a new man brings in more rubbish. 

Waiting for a TD is not an excuse not to sack a manager, but we should be replacing with an Interim if we do it now, someone who can use what we have as a safe pair of hands to tide us over and pick up some points before we bring in a Manager/TD who can work together. Sadly right now we need a back-to-basics interim type who can come in, solidify the defending, simplify the attacks and utilise the pace we have on the wings and will bring in a solid couple of loans in Jan. 

I'd genuinely rip Warnocks hand off to come in. 

Edited 23 December 2025 by cityfanlee23

[cityfanlee23]

1 hour ago, Wink84 said:

What we need is a Puel kind of appointment that can reshape us, who that is though I don't know. 

I'd take him. We are already boring to watch, might aswell bring someone in with an affinity to the club who has a proven track record of leaving us in a better place than he inherited. 

[Chelmofox]

21 minutes ago, cityfanlee23 said:

You don't need a TD in place to bring in an interim, but we absolutely should not be appointing a full-time manager on a 3 year deal now, especially this close to a transfer window imo. The technical director is responsible for the long-term football foundation, overseeing strategy, development, recruitment etc. The last thing we need is to bring in a manager now who we think is the right appointment, then getting a real quality TD in the door, only for him to say "yeah this manager isn't right for the club" because we immediately then have a manager and TD pulling in different directions. If we get the appointment wrong (and this lot have proven they have a knack for bad decisions across the club) it could cost us multiple millions to sack him, plus could cost us in January if a new man brings in more rubbish. 

Waiting for a TD is not an excuse not to sack a manager, but we should be replacing with an Interim if we do it now, someone who can use what we have as a safe pair of hands to tide us over and pick up some points before we bring in a Manager/TD who can work together. Sadly right now we need a back-to-basics interim type who can come in, solidify the defending, simplify the attacks and utilise the pace we have on the wings and will bring in a solid couple of loans in Jan. 

I'd genuinely rip Warnocks hand off to come in. 

All talk of a TD has gone quiet. Would put money on it not happening this season.

 

And you know, when appointing an interim, our regimes first question is going to be 'Can you make us play like Man City'.

[gurru991]

2 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Surely the most pointless thread on Foxestalk. 

That's a big statement !!!

There has been some classic pointless threads !!!

[Heathrow fox]

Rapidly heading into Gary Monk territory.

[foxtillidrop]

Not saying he would be the right man but would Steven Gerrard be interested?

 

Wellens seems like a good shout to me, knows the club and worked under Vichai and Nige previously...

Edited 24 December 2025 by foxtillidrop

[ClaphamFox]

30 minutes ago, Heathrow fox said:

Rapidly heading into Gary Monk territory.

 

10 minutes ago, foxtillidrop said:

Not saying he would be the right man but would Steven Gerrard be interested?

I know Davis Walliams has been cancelled, but…