Thetownend.com

Would love to get Dennis Wise back...i would forget instantly that the little fuck left us for dirty Leeds...get him back here now.
It aint going to happen though so i would like us to take a punt on a young ambitious manager with an energy for the game.
One name not mentioned is young Pitman at Hereford,feel he could have a long and good career as a footy manager....please the board get someone with thought energy vigour and fight....i really want to look forward to next season,i am finding matchdays tough(cept the bevvy's of course).

Get someone in now..........its time to move forward,not tread water as we are doing at present..........bye the way..HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ALL YOU MOTHERS :D

That could be read two ways.

We all know it will be trollope though!

That would have read...........muvvers.....a kind of west country black twang dialect ;)

I'd have Robbie Savage or Teddy Sheringham.

This is simply jest, right?

Not sure about Sheringham but Savage is a good shout.  He'd lay into the boys and bring back the passion which is lacking in our game.

I'd have wise back on one condition, he brings his brains (Poyet) with him.

He left here as soon as it started to go wrong, so we have no idea how he would cope in adversity.

And as soon as Poyet left Lids they went downhill

Gary Neville

Kevin Phillips?

No chance of Wise. Turned down Charlton earlier in the year.

Andy Scott

Or Keith Scott

But would prefer Andy

Can we have Luc Nijholt yet? He always applies and I have no idea whether he'd be any good or not but he'd sure as hell be fun.

We need someone with experience. We've been on a downhill slide for about a year now. We need someone who can guide the players.

No ex managers, as that never works.

lee dixon, and his assistant could be martin (monkey) keown, alot of contacts and no messing :D

that's the thing with the managers position.  I know who I don't want but I'm not sure who I do want

I'd rather have Trollope than Wise.

Tommy Mooney.

Anyone but that boring, emotionless, negative clown we have at the minute.

Did anyone listen to his interview on RS yesterday ? Really inspiring stuff.

We need a manager to lift the players and fans, not Paul fucking Trollope.

Hart seems like a man who has accepted we're down too. Didn't have a clue how to answer half of the questions put to him.

I don't want Trollope here but we could do worse, namely a midget cunt who fucks off quarter way through the season.

Keown's a scummer. Don't understand the Trollope hatred tbh. I wouldn't be overwhelmed by his appointment either but I'd be prepared to see how he did before jumping all over him. But some of the responses to the prospect on here have been way OTT - don't see that it's merited, if only out of respect for his old man

From what I can gather Trollope didn't do badly and on limited resources.

I know that things went a bit Pete Tong for him at the end, but things far from improved at wovers once he was sacked!

I would't want wise and i dont think we can expect any big name as it's more likely to be Richard Money or someone like that etc.

I would be over the moon if we could attract someone like Hughton but that's living in a fantasy world unless Mr Fitton digs deep and makes him an offer he cant refuse.

Yeah it was an awful interview. Hart won't be here come May. He hasn't done enough to merit it IMO.

We won't get Hughton, but we could get someone like him in the sense of "the next Chris Hughton". But if we did, our fans would go mental because (by definition) he wouldn't be "a name"

Money is a cunt, if you did get him it would definitely add even more spice to our meetings.

 Les Ferdinand

No chance for Hughton although I'd bring out the back flip I used to be able to do if he got him.
Sir Les is probably my all time fav player but as a manager, maybe not such a good idea.

It'll be Paul Trollope... If we're looking for football cliches then at least he's got Swindon Town in his blood.

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/Trollope-new-favourite/article-3269640-detail/article.html

Latest from my end of the stand in DRS is Trollope will be appointed Swindon Manager at the end of the season and Hart will move into a upstairs role

Trollope's only succession was when Lennie Lawrence was at Bristol Rovers once Lawrence left Trollopes managerial career nose dived big time.  

I hope to fuck this hearsay isn't true it will reaffirm that Fitton is only interested in doing things on the cheap which is ludicrous really considering they've pumped in £8m to keep this club a float. Fittons managerial appointments have just been one fuck up after another.

Well, that would make it interesting.

What about David Wear as player manager? Nicky Butt?

Ince has just got the gooner from Notts County. Thoughts?

Never going to happen because he's does doing a good job at Hibs but i'd like Calderwood as manager

I said that a few days ago, I've also been thinking of Dean Saunders lately, don't know why but...

Stop thinking of appointing Oxford favourites!

Would love him here.

Oh yeah, missed that one...

Trollope won't be going to Grimsby because they've just appointed the guy who was the manager at Boston United

Maybe we should raid Boston for their current (caretaker) boss then?

[url width=400 height=558]http://www.baodatviet.vn/Uploaded_CDCA/viettuan/20090413/Jason_Lee_280x390_779890a.jpg[/url]

I would take a gamble on someone like Steve fletcher who is assistant manager at Bmuff

Ah the famous pineapple

Would score a few as player/manager

Could be a good shout. All of our current lot would be shitting themselves apart from Frampton who would be following him around all over the park leaving a bloody great big space behind.

I know loyalty is always overrated by fans, but the dude has a stand named after him and is the best part of a living god at Bournemouth. Plus, I think he was offered the job when Bradbury was but said he didn't want it. Not much chance on that one...

We have a generation of football fans now who don't remember just how much stick Jason Lee received for that hairdo.

It was quite harmless but he hated it.

Curse them Fantasy Football boys  ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8HIoaM99Xs

Would still like Luc Nijholt to be given a try. Not sure what his record as a manager with that Dutch club Stormvogels Telstar, but he's been learning from Co Adriaanse at Red Bull Salzburg for the past couple of years. They won the Austrian League and played in Europe when Luc was assistant. Would of picked up a few things I'm sure.

Has no idea of L2 football though, having said that he did play in the SPL...

If next season goes as we hope he has experience of getting a side promoted from League Two. If it goes like this one, he has experience keeping a side up in League Two against the odds

Sure he knowns an old-school assistant who could be brought in who knows the score. Shaun Taylor or someone could teach our defenders a thing or two.

I miss that show. Wonder if it would work now (plus being older I may not find it funny).

Do you remember the Swindon/British Rail pisstake ad they did "We do this ...We don't do this...Swindon..we don't do it very well (But at least we're better than Sheffield United)" ?


Wonder if Badiel and Skinner ever apologised for ruining his career (well it was the start of the slide). Hes got a pineapple, on his head...

tehehehe, Gorman as you've never seen him before:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNYpz-oQ1ao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VCJVZ2I9zY

when gary neville had a mare vs west brom months ago i mentioned he should go into management sooner, rather than later.
i'd love him to come in as i think he'd whet the fans appetite.can't see it though as i think he'll start his management career up north.
what i've heard for ages though is that the job has been trollopes since the time of wilsons departure.

i'll eat my words if they go down but i reckon mad dog allen will keep barnet up.
he is perfect for us where we are now.think we've missed the boat there too.

get used to trollope.i'm trying to find a bookies to get a bet on as its a 99.9% gonna be him.

WHy wasn't Trollope brought in right away (if Trollope was nailed on for the job)? It doesn't make any sense.

Because he's technically still employed by / contracted to Rovers.

I heard he is still employed by Rovers, technically. Gardening leave.

Quite why they wouldn't release him from that makes no sense, I agree.

makes perfect sense si.why sour it for him in a gamble to stay up, when he is seen as a long term appointment.
if he came in and we went down he would have it all to do with our fans.
hart was the short term stay up gamble.nothing to lose.

Judging from the majority of comments, he's already up against it and he hasn't been appointed.

Apparently, not good enough to keep us in League 1? Bodes well.

he'd be more up against it if he was the manager now.

Yup, any you know us doubters are fickle enough to shut up if it did actually work out.

Any manager will get the backing of the crowd who can at least get the team playing with pride and guts............Wilson and now Hart seem unable to do this so fans are not happy.
Its not just about results......the attitude yesterday was shocking.
The crowd yesterday was outstanding in its support in my opinion......the min silence and then the support was second to none.

Not going to argue with that, but if Fitton is really concerned with the fans response then he should realise Trollope isn't the man at all.

fitton has already shown he does as he wants.
nobody knows if trollope is the man or not anyway,but his job to win over the fans will be harder if he came in when we were on our way down.
i dont think anyone would have kept us up personally,maybe fitton thought the same?
like i said, hart was a no lose gamble.

I think people are being unfair on trollope

People are unwilling to credit him with wovers relative success when he was there, and also unwilling to accept that his failures were down to a lack of resources. Look what happened to them since he left.

He could do a job................ (take note leefer of an appropriate "......." moment) .....................................








With Alan Mac as number 2. He'd sort the cunts out!

The original gamble in sticking by Wilson was the thing that's fucked me off the most. I'd have preferred Trollope to be appointed before the January transfer window closed. How brilliant would it have been if he'd come in and saved us but Rovers had gone down?

I had a sinking feeling when I heard Hart's name mentioned as next in line, but I changed my mind thinking any change to freshen things up would be better than Wilson. The problem is nothing has changed. Hart hasn't got a fucking clue and this was evidenced so well yesterday. He must have got lucky in keeping Palace up.

From what I've seen of Rovers under Trollope they were a hard working team who played to their strengths and did well out of it. Even when they sold fatty Lambert they still did alright. It was only this season he didn't do well but that's got to be due to budget restrictions. In contrast we've spent big. What a shambles.

I am not impressed with Hart for one reason - style of play. 1) Playing 1 up front against Walsall and Daggers AT HOME is unforgivable 2) A season of that would drive me mad.

I do however think he had taken on mission impossible, I don't think it is the fact that we will be relegated that should prevent him getting the job, more the way we have gone down.

If we got Trollope I'd simply lose all of my already negligible interest in STFC so I quite hope he gets it, then I can knock this stupid football lark on the head.

Maybe they've got some gardening they want him to do and he hasn't finished it yet?

He could come and take a look at our pitch.

Whoever got the job when Wilson was dumped was going to be manager of a relagated side, lets not kid ourselves.

Lack of ability in replacing players who moved on is what has screwed us.

With the exeption of Grella, I can't remember a player who has come in this season and done anything resembling the business.

As for replacement for Hart, I stick by my opinion that we should look at finding another player manager in the Macari/ Ardilles/ Hoddle/ McMahon mould.

Kevin Phillips, Gary Nevill, Paul Scoles. It doesn't matter a jot who they really want to be manager of. Persuade them that learning their trade at Swindon is a good idea. Sign them on a 2 year contract, let them loose to do their stuff on the pitch and then, when we have been saved, let them go if they want.

Was Trollope in charge of the Rovers team that stuffed us 4-1 at home last season....?

It was 4-0, and yes, yes he was.

I could have sworn we scored but maybe it was 3-1 at there`s...they were the one team that I remember we struggled against last season. No big fan of Trollope but I dont think he would be the worst choice. And if he made a job of it...what a returning hero he would be.....

The more I think about it...give him a go, fuck all to lose in my book

It was 3-0 at their place ;)

(I have a mate who is a Rovers fan and he has great delight in reminding me on a regular basis of both games from last season)
Oh, and since they won on Sat and are looking much more likely to stay up than us he's become even more of a cunt.

Fuck all to lose? Aprt from doing as well next season as we did this season and getting demoted to the Blue Square Premier League....

Oh. Hang On.....

"We Are Premier League say We Are Premier League!"

Keowns son plays with my boy at Reading (U16s) both been given scholarships for next year. I'll ask Martin tonight at training if he fancies a job at Swindon.

Glass half full or glass half empty...this season is a one off, which will not be repeated. Club is reasonably secure with Fitton and his backers so...the only way is up........isn`t it or is it really Bath City in the Blue Square...personally I think not but my glass is half full.... :)

Interesting that a lot of people assume we were pretty much already down when Wilson left. I disagree. don't get me wrong, rot had set in, but had we brought the right man in I think we could have stayed up (I do think we're down now, I accepted it when we appointed Hart). Christ we had enough winnable games left.

We had three games against teams around us at that stage, and even one win in that lot would have left us in greater shape than we're in now. I don't care what anyone says, the squad we have should be nowhere near the bottom of the table, so the problem is clearly getting a sensible system the players understand (Prutton's arrival definitely affected the midfield), sorting the supposed cliques out – possibly changing captain – and getting back to basics. We know we haven't replaced the players we sold, but Frampton/Grella/Benyon/Prutton should still be good enough to beat Hartlepool, Exeter, Walsall etc. From top to bottom, it hasn't been good enough and the board/manager/players should all take responsibility.

The board made two major mistakes in my opinion. 1. Not getting a new manager in sooner. It didn't make much sense leaving Wilson in for so long. if they were thinking about making a change it should have been done in Jan, when a manager would have had a chance to assess the squad and strengthen with their own players. The Charlton win clearly papered over the cracks - let's face it, this terrible run started before the end of last season. 2 Their second mistake, arguably the biggest, was getting Paul Hart. I don't care what he did at Palace last season. For a start, they had some quality players at that level. We needed someone to come in and inspire the players and fans, an immediate pick-me-up. What we've got is a duo who thrive on safety first, who play one up front. not losing is fine, but winning is essential when you're in the shitter. Draws aren't good enough. If a short-term deal was on the table, then someone like a Martin Allen would have been better. He might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he's the ultimate man-motivator and would ruffle a few feathers. We would have won A game with him in charge, I'm sure. Maybe he wasn't available or didn't want it, but it was that sort of bloke we needed.

We might be in League Two next season but as showed the last time we went down, we are still an attractive proposition. Wise and Sturrock took it on last time, so why should we think it'll be different this time? We will have a strong squad for that division and the club has a semblance of financial stability - a lot of managers would bite your hand off for that.

If we appoint Trollope I think he'd do ok. Like others have said he did a great job until this year, when he's had his best players sold (like wilson) and little money to spend (unlike wilson). BUT I think it would be a huge mistake not to see who else applies. I think the board would be pleasantly surprised. I also think it would make sense getting someone on the coaching staff who cares - an Alan Mac, Shaun Taylor, I don't know who, but someone who gives a sh1t when the chips are down.

This season has been a calamity, no question: but if the board play their cards right we could smash League Two and bring that momentum back into League One. Do that and everyone will be able to look back and laugh at this season's car crash. Well, maybe!

Inevitably some fans won't bother next year, but most of us will. If it's good, and we learn from this year, it could be good in the long run, but only if the right decisions are made.

Excellent post Juddie.

Word

been storing that one up for some time. Can you tell?

Excellent post, Juddie.  Nail on the head.

Well, I'm as livid as the next man about what's going on, but the fact is it's happening, so we all better deal with it.

But, the board can redeem themselves with a barnstorming year next year and then it's as you were.

personally, regardless of what league we're in, the prospect of a new manager and new players and a fresh start is quite exciting. Anything but this endless crock of wank.

What a great post Juddie

Not if the next man is DVinho! :D

I concur :nod:

Pretty much agree with all of that.

That's depressing enought that son of a Town fan plays for Reading juniors :(

They have an academy, no contest really.

Add to the fact they are two leagues higher,almost.

True, although the aspect of an academy set-up is more important at that age.

Southampton and Reading have first dibs on Wiltshire kids.

we are both season ticket holders

It not the case of the likes of Reading or Southampton having first dibs on kids, its all about the scouts and the scouting network, my little'un played local football from 8 years old to 12 years old, his team won the league 3 years out of 4, won their cup, and played on the County Ground pitch 3 out of 4 years, played for the league reps team for 4 years and played for Swindon schoolboys, YET was never offered a trial at Swindon or asked to come in and train. Reading saw him play twice and offered him a trial.
The academy set up at Reading is good, training 3 times a week, at good facilities and playing against better oposition.

But if he was offered a trial at Swindon he would have taken it like a shot

Really surprised by that lazyboy. My lad plays Under 9s and his team at Under 7s and Under 8s were pretty good. We had scouts from Swindon watch our lads about 3-4 times a season, esp Kevin. And not just watching us, obviously, sometimes he'd be there watching the opposition. We also had the Reading scouts a couple of times, but Swindon were, if anything, there too often. And Kevin was an ever-present at summer 6-a-sides etc, always saw him there.

i think i know who your boy is .js?
my lad played against him years ago in local footy,but your lad was a year group older.my boy was 6 in a team of 8 year olds.
they go to the same school now too.
my lad is on swindons books but wasn't scouted.his coach at the time had a son at the club and he recomended my boy.he had a 6 week trial and he's been there ever since.swindons scouting has improved but alot are recomended by other parents etc.
my boy played in tournaments during previous summers for a local team my mate runs,and had reading and fulham enquiring about him,but as he was signed to swindon it was left at that.

i aint seen your boy play for years but have heard good things about him.to be honest i thought there were better players at his local club all those years ago,but your boy obviously came through and reading brought him on big time.
good for him.

another lad who was at swindon and then went to reading for a fee,was recently released,came back to swindon and wasn't offered anything.that lad was dynamite 3 or 4 years ago.
some lads improve and some dont meet their early potential.i think your boy would have eventually ended up at swindon but reading got in first.

the best lads will always get spotted and get trials eventually.it's all down to timing though.

we have a 7 year old lad in my sons team that plays for both reading and swindon too.  they were both scouted playing in the local league by swindon.  I was surprised that happened so much at such a young age. but of course it does.  get the most promising young and from then on its survival of the fittest,  pretty ruthless.
................

on an unrelated note I just booked a days holiday so that I can take my lad to goalkeeper training course organised by fraser fraser digby!  is it wrong to be more excited than my son? !

 
Yes thats him, he has come on leaps and bounds from when he was playing local football, different player totally, due to the coaching he has revieved, I would also agree that he wasnt the best player in his local team, but worked at his game and has worked hard at Reading, and has bought himself up to that level.

Agree some boys mature at different rates and its not always the best boys
at 8 or 9 that are the better boys at 15 or 16.

Good luck to all the boys that are in schools of excellence or academies or even playing local football, they are all doing it because they want to and it keeps them busy and focused

I know it's not meant this way but that makes you sound like a massive patronising cunt. 

why say it then?
was never meant that way at all, and i explained the point in detail so whay be a twat about it?

please dont think i was being patronising to youabout your son.(dont think you did judging by your response)i think i expalined myself well enough but just want to point that out nonetheless.
i have heard your lad is different class now and also a great athlete.
i wish him well.
must be great to see all that money forked out on petrol by yourself,up and down the m4 3 times a week pay off with a scholarship.

Because i'm upholding the age-old right of all TEFers to take something completely out of context and call the poster a cunt.  

Seriously, nothing meant by it at all.

Arriba no problem dont worry about it, i'm the first to say he wasnt the best player in the team, or in any subsequent teams hes played for. Hes worked hard and got his reward. Also 3 times a week is just training, the game could be anywhere, this weekend hes got Norwich away, I was going to drop him off at Reading so he could take the team coach and then catch the Brenford game, but he wants me to go and watch him instead.
so line well and truely drawn under the matter !!

In this case, no. :)

My son's team used to be coached by Tom Jones.

I was definitely more excited about this than he was.

That's not unusual

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Tish Boom!

Where was the green green grass of home for the team?

I knew someone who was coached by Paul Bodin and he couldn't give a fuck. That's why (in my mind) he's playing Sunday League now

I remember Shaun Taylor coming to my school a few times to do a bit of coaching, I thought that was bloody brilliant.

Why ?  (Why Why .....)

Just think, if he makes it he could play on the green, green grass of home.

Back to the who do we appoint manager debate.....

I wonder if Jamie Redknapp fancies a crack at managment, he's been doing a bit of coaching at Chelsea / Spurs part time not sure if he's got his coaching badges but he may fancy keeping his seat warm in the sky studio though...hopefully he may want to follow his father into managment and start in the lower leagues failing that Adi Boothroyd he's previously been accused of playing direct style but I think managers adjust to the tools that they have and as we are a footballing team

What about Ray Wilkins?

get out

Not a chance of getting Jamie Redknapp he's too highly paid by Sky and we'd never be able to meet his wage demands.

I wouldn't want Hoothroyd either we'd get smashed apart with his style of football in League 2

Jamie Redknapp?
Jamie Redknapp?

Come on he has all the personality of a piece of chewing gum and judging by his mumbles on Sky has about the same level of tactical grasp.

Ray Wilkins – lovely bloke, awful manager.

I’d take a Stan Ternant over any of the above and even pay his wages.

I'd swap him. He can come and manage Town and I'll take care of his missus

Got a job doing something at Brighton according to my bumder flat mate.

Back doors smashed?

I would like Martin Keown as our next manager, believe he coaches the Oxford University team part time and when I see him on telly or hear on the radio he sounds perceptive, intelligent and that he reads the game and players well and has worked under Wenger. Would be good for him to take over a club in the league that is relatively financially stable if he wanted to step into management but, as with all top ex-players in the modern game, what's the incentive when he is financially secure and do media work

Robbie Savage is a very very good shout  :pint:

"We are Robbies Savage Army!"....

Yup, works for me :D

Ray Wilkins as manager would be on the same level as John Barnes.

#
If we're going on that basis, "We are Paul's Trollopey army" would be pretty good :)

Seriously? What makes you say that? It's academic because we've got no chance whatever, and I'm not having a pop, just curious as to why you think that. Wilkins seems to have established himself a good rep as a cone gatherer at least.

out of curiosity, why is it important for the manager to speak sense on television?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bury/9450456.stm

Lets keep up the record of getting great ex players cut thier teeth....

Worth a pop!?

I saw this....doesn't Fowler own half of Liverpool or something.  On reflection I think the last Scouser here has put me off for life

"We all live in a Robbie Fowler 'ouse, a Robbie Fowler 'ouse, a Robbie Fowler 'ouse"

Marcus Stewart's retiring at the end of the season. Think he's been involved in the coaching down in Exeter the past couple of years.

Keep thinking of Dean Holdsworth athe moment, also I wonder what Horlock is up to?

Why, do you fancy a threesome?

not quite what i had in mind...

glad to hear it

My vote goes to Darren Bullock. He's well up for a scrap and any team of his would kick the shit out of League 2 teams.

Could well be shite as a manager but 1) Nobody would dare tell him and 2) It would be fucking hilarious.

Don't think he'd spend much time in the dugout though........

Bad wind up

A wind up...but hes got a point....fans would love it.

What do we have now?  'Driving Miss Daisy' Hart....slow and steady wins the race...guess what...it doesnt!

Darren Bullock was an obnoxiuos useless cunt

There are plenty of No 2's around that have been coaches for a few years and would like to step up, ok I know it does not always work but I'm sure there must be some decent coaches

I'd like Adi Boothroyd though, he may be a little direct at time but I think we are guilty sometimes of over playing the pretty pretty football and then get battered by teams that can play direct when it is needed

Stand out by about a million miles for me, but possibly a little too obvious?  Mr Fitton does prefer to surprise us.  And if it hasn't happened now, maybe it won't be happening at all.

So, anyone but Driving Miss Fucking Daisy and preferably someone who's been there, done that...Trollope, Keith Hill, must be a good few others?

Coleman at Accrington seems to be doing well worth little to no budget. Buckle at Torquay to a slightly lesser extent.

But yeah, Boothroyd is a really good shout. Questions would be asked over his loyalty though? But in order for him to be snapped up by another club, he'd need to be doing well here which ... would be nice.

I must admit i can't quite get my head around the even if Hart keeps us up i don't want him comments

I wouldn't waste much time worrying about it, as he won't

I'm as anti Hart as they come but if he gets us 6 wins from the last 6 games and keeps us up then he deserves the job.

But as Lumps said he won't.

I'm liking Hart more and more to be honest, seems like a top bloke if a bit negative tactically. As said above if (big if) he keeps us up he will (rightly) get the job.


Don't think we'd have a hope in hell of getting him but that comment made me think of Steve Clarke, don't think he's been mentioned yet.

People in football seem to have nothing but praise for him, surely he'd fancy a crack at managing a team himself?

Unfortunately think if he wanted it there's be queue of clubs higher up the leagues than us outside his door.

That's probably because he's only just started as the power behind the throne in Dalglish's efforts to get Liverpool back to the side they were. I'm guessing that may be a fairly long-term project

When he joined i thought that if he can keep us up or go close then he deserves a crack.

So far one win, some wanky draws and some shocking defeats mean it aint going to happen or even look like its going to happen.

Wasn't quite what i said though Flash.

This isnt quite what you are saying but:

When he joined i thought that if he can keep us up or go close then he deserves a crack.

So far one win, some wanky draws and some shocking defeats mean it aint going to happen or even look like its going to happen.

He won't keep us up with that form Flash. If by some miracle we do stay up then that form will have obviously changed dramatically and then will probably have earnt a permanent deal.

I'm starting to agree with Hart's comments about our strikers being the key problem area. I know we've been shocking all over the pitch but we're looking better at the back. The midfield is a problem and I'm thnking it's because there is little spark in any area of the pitch. I reckon if we can pose danger up front it will pin back the opposition back and allow our other players the freedom they had last season.

Out of our current team (non-loan players) I'd say only Caddis and Ritchie look likely to make something happen. The problem is Ritchie gets bullied off the ball a lot, probably due to him being lightweight and having too many players mark him out and Caddis is a right back and not an attacker for fuck sake.

So is it tactics or players? I'm starting to see why Hart plays one up front if Andrew is the only one capable of scaring the opposition. We're treating every team with too much complacency and respect and that's got to be a mental issue with the players and not the manager.

I'm not a fan of Hart but I don't think it's fair to write him off until the season has run its course.

How about Shearer - he wants to get back into management - would he drop to our level ?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1376274/Alan-Shearer-reveals-management-desire-despite-doomed-Newcastle-tenure.html

Thought you meant Duncan for a minute there.

It should be a simple equation....stay up, get the job....go down, someone else gets the job. As soon as we're mathematically down, Hart should go.

Hart should only be released to make way for a new manager, like what happened with Wilson. Hart's a good coach and players do need to keep training, unless of course you're Andy King and you just let them get on with it.

What we need is another manager who's in the Macari mould, I don't think Macari would come back into football management but what about Gordon Strachan? Don't think he's doing too much at the moment. He's got the know how, don't think we could do much worse.

sometimes i despair!

Whats there to despair about, loads of other names are being bandied about, was only saying we couldn't do any worse than what we have at the moment. He's a biggish name, got experience up to international level, could probably motivate the players and don't think he would take any crap from them and has probably got quite a few contacts for bringing in better quality players, can't see any problem there.

Arghhh

Its going to be fucking trollope

Yep i still reckon it will be Trollope - Manager / Hart - Director of Football / Charlie P - 1st Team coach.

If it's not that then:-

Charlie McParland Manager / Hart - Director of Football /  Another - 1st Team Coach

We're a Div 4 club, that operates on a tiny budget, Strachan is still probably being paid 75% of our turnover, by clubs that he's been sacked from and still being paid.

Back in the days of Louy, players although wealthy by most standards, generally still needed to work, and there was much less media stuff available.

Now big names, are much less inclined to go into management and risk humiliation.....look at someone like Tony Adams.

You get the odd one with something to prove like Paul Ince....I wouldn't be adverse to giving him a go, if we want a retread.

Is that the same Tony Adams currently managing in the very splendid and worthwhile Azerbaijan Premier League?

That cunt thinks hes a greek god...

The England role is below...talks a good game....i will always remember the Toon going down with a whimper with the Messiah in charge.

Great coup if we could get him at our level.......unlikely!

I say fair play to Adams, he might be a bit of a loon, but at least he's out there working, rather than just sat on his fat arse talking about it.

Apart from mumbling platitudes on Match of the Day and getting the Newcastle job on the back of a wave of "He's the Messiah" fan clamour (a job in which he signally failed to achieve any kind of upturn in form or results), precisely what is it that Shearer's ever done to make anyone think he'd be a good manager? His sole qualifications seem to be being a bit of a media darling and in his own head.

Who's Charlie McParland? Ian's brother? And who's this other Charlie, Charlie P? You've got Charlies on the brain, lad :)

 :D My bad I assumed Charlie was his name as Hart always refers to Ian McParland as Charlie.  I think it's because his full name is Ian Charlie McParland but everyone around the club calls him Charlie.

Fair enough, you win on insider knowledge

Maybe he's got a monster coke habit? :)

I'd like to see Hart move to DOF so Fitton doesn't get too involved in the playing side of things. Think that would be a good move. Can see that happening if it's Trollope but if not it will just stay the same as it is now *gulp*.

Now your confusing him with an ex player of ours ;)

I think you should be using plural as in players as I can think of two who played in the same team

I think that's part of the problem though Rich.Fitton will get involved either way making a DOF role pretty pointless.

True enough. I think it would be a good idea though. Not sure Fitton being so involved has really benefited us fully this season.

Me either,its a fucker as he clearly has the best interests at heart but it has proved costly.

How about this John McGlynn chappie? Seems like he knows his stuff and would surely jump at the chance to manage a full-time club.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13069008.stm

That kind of form is how he kept Palace and Pompey up, but he had more time

How about the Rochdale mananger Keith Hill. How the fuck you can take Rochdale into a play off position is beyond me.

Hill is in a position to take a step up....if we wanted to get somone looking maybe to take a step up, then Mickey Mellon has done a very good job at Fleetwood Town...if we're not playing them next season, then he might be tempted away.  Seem to remember him playing for Bristol City, which might be a problem for some.

Have Fleetwood thrown money at it? Rochdale certainly haven't and Hill would know Div 4 inside out and has done a cracking job at Div 3. Mellon has done a bloody good job as well. He was a Slave Trader but he wasn't a Scummer so I wouldn't hold that against him.

Hill would know Div 4, but why would he want to go back there, other than for a sack load of cash. Chances are he might get something better....Mellon however is a Sweatie, young for a manager, and been around the lower divs and non league for years.  Probably had to work hard and has something to prove. 

However Fleetwood may go up, so chances are he'd want to stay unless offered a sack of cash.

If we went for either but couldn't attract them then we'd really need to start looking at ourselves. Wasn't Bobby Smith the last manager we got from another club?

I think the point with Hill, as Reg alluded to, was that if he was to leave Rochdale it would be for a step up.  Sad as it sounds to us, we are a step down from Rochdale at this point in time.

We got McMahon as player manager, after some negotiations with Man City. To expect us to attract Hill is just unrealistic, unless we're going to start paying over the odds, for which there's no evidence will happen.

Mellon though could be a possibility as Fleetwood have only been full time for 3 or so years.

Eric Canteloupe as assistant ?

I like the idea of a manager that celebrates the end of the season by getting so blitzed he wakes up the next day in a hedge.  If I'm right (and there is no guarantee of that), then I reckon we should go for Klaus Toppmöller.

Also he has worked with assistant Ralf Minge.

Go Klaus!

only one man for this...... Lou Macari. 

can't see fitton forking out compo for a manager currently employed elsewhere.

There's only one man for the job and that man is Steve Bleasdale.

the best man for the job would be Sturrock.

To be honest it doesn't matter who you bring in as manager it won't guarantee success..

Fittons first appointment was a 'CV' appointment - qualifications on paper looked fantastic with Malpas - but as history showed he couldn't manage/inspire people.

Wilson was an experienced manager who had come close to promotion a couple of times but had also experienced relegation - something that was ironically mirrored here.

The natural next appointment would be a high profile player manager but unfortunately we are likely to be in the bottom run so would be a high risk strategy as another relegation would see us out of the league.

We would all like to see a manager with a proven track record here we are not an attractive package in division 4 so unless fitton digs deep we have to accept this is unlikely.

So to summarise we need a manager who

1) Has a personality to bring the best out of the players and unite the fans
2) Has the ability to identify formations that rip the opposition apart
3) Can bring a series of promotions back to the championship
4) Is committed to the club and prepared to stick with it even when bigger clubs come knocking during success (the club has already demonstrated that it sticks with managers when things go bad so expecting the reverse isn't unrealistic)

These may not seem like a big ask but getting all four is almost impossible and I don't think any of us know the answer.  The problem is Fitton will get slated at some point as he is the one who has to make the decision.

The other alternative is to hand all management responsibility to the TEF...

Harts out......he fails with number two....no need to look at the rest.

I disagree - he know's we don't have the firepower to shoot ourselves out of trouble and doesn't want to play risky tactics that could have seen 3-4 goals conceded per game.  If we only have the capability to score a goal a game we have to ensure we concede none - if we were scoring 3-4 goals per game after Austin left then it would be different and he probably wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation.  

Our problem was that under Wilson we were conceding more goals than we were scoring so the biggest problem to sort is goals conceded which I think he has stemmed to a degree but we were never going to start winning our games as we just don't have the firepower to do it

 The main problem this season has been an inability to score goals at home...and therefore win rather than draw games.

 Our present total of 18 = the worst ever season of 55/56, when we finished 24th and had to apply for re-election.

 All other seasons with a low total of home goals have ended in relegation 73/74....22 goals, 93/94....25 goals, 99/00...23 goals.  This season will be no different, apart from as things stand it will be the only season in our history, where we've failed to score at least 3 goals in any single home game at the CG. Thereby providing further evidence of the historic shitness of this squad.

Add Charlie's goals and we'll be rising up the table.

Something we weren't doing under Wilson.

They aren't going to increase the payroll for a DOF role, I don't think at our level there is a requirment, and I do not beleive that Fitton interferes any more than any other chairman does

You are right in some ways, however, its his abilty to do nothing when the shit hits the fan that fucks me off.

Losing 1-0 or 4-0 makes no difference...so .... when we are a goal down to Plymouth or Exeter....fucking go for it and gamble....but oh no....we play it nice and cagey and still fucking lose.

I was there and saw it...

When we are still in with a chance of surviving, losing 1-0 or 4-0 can mean the difference between relegation or survival based on goal difference so again I have to disagree - the line is that fine, come the game where we HAVE to win and we find ourselves a goal down then I agree there is nothing to lose

I think its pretty fucking pointless worrying or even caring about goal difference when you are as far from safety as we are.

Losing 1-0 or 4-0 will have no part in whether we stay up or not.

However, the difference between losing 1-0 and going for it and snatching an equalizer or even more so the difference between settling for 1-1 or gambling and winning 2-1 will be.

Every game Hart has taken charge of has been must win. He hasnt gambled and we havent won enough.

Arsene Wenger is bracing himself for a major shake-up of Arsenal's backroom staff in the summer, with the possibility that assistant Pat Rice could leave after 15 years working as his right-hand man.
Full story: Daily Express
From BBC news - he could come here if he wanted to with a few Arse rejects.

Further evidence of historic shitness, comes in the shape of a new record for league games gone without a home win....11, which shades the 10 of 55/56.

Notts C next up who themselves today set up a record of 9 successive losses. Should be a cracker....

Two impressive records on the line and head to head - one of them has to end - can't not go now

It'll be a veritable feast of football all right. Sadly my lad's playing in a tournament at 5.30 so won't be able to make it. Gutted

I don't think Fitton interferes per se, but the enforced club policy is completely inflexible. Get the contracts sorted in the summer transfer window for example.

I don't he interferes anymore than the average chairman.

If i owned a club I'd find it pretty hard to not interference to some degree. As a fan we all think we are potential genuises at the management game, signing players, team lineups, tactics, etc.

If he interferes people would say he shouldn't

If he didn't interfere people would accuse him of not doing enough.

And I too don't think he interferes that much. It seems to me that the current squad was Wilson's work.