Thetownend.com

The decision's been made.

What do you hope to be watching at the CG next season? Passion? Pride? Determination? Players with a bit of self belief and swagger?

I for one am going to spend the next couple of months daydreaming about match days ahead, hopefully a far cry from the shit served up last season!

A few weeks ago I couldn't wait for the end of the season, now I can't wait for the start!

I'm feeling the same Hertha. Let's bring it on. Get some players in and hit the ground running in July ready for the big kick off.

I want to see players that are here because its 'convenient' shown the door.  I want to see more pride, more fight (although its not hard to show more fight than what was on display last season) and a real desire to win.

I can't bloody wait!

Spot on Herthab.

Bring on the football.

Good post Herthab, got to get behind him regardless of race or creed - looking forward to the new season.  Just remember folks, negative people = negative results.  Give the guy the break the board has obviously given him!!  That is not a knock at anybody in particular, it may all end in tears but let's just enjoy the buzz he is going to bring to the club in the next few weeks!

I'm looking forward to hearing the players are made to work as hard as Di Canio did (did he not use to do extra training) . Some of them might have a bit of a shock coming.

Not if you believe Harry Redknapp, he said Di Canio used to walk off the training ground when he'd had enough.

Yup, agree there Hertha.

The biggest disadvantage of hiring Paolo Di Canio is I can't get his (West Ham) chant out my head.

When does pre-season start?

I'm looking forward to a possible pre-season tear up against Lazio. Perhaps we could hold some sort of triangular Emirates Cup style tournament with Lazio and West Ham.

I want to see a sense of enthusiasm being bought back to the players, they were all left so despondant for the last few games of the season, totally unmotivated by that dick Hart.

I want to see the spark put back into Douglas (if he stays), JPM, and Ferry. That plus a motivated and improved Prutton (if he's still around).

I can't imagine what Ritchie would be like with even more spark, it'll certainly be exciting to see!

I certainly wouldn't feel like this if Burley had got the job and I'm only a fan and I won't be working for him.

Can't wait for the season to start although I don't know how long I can keep singing La Donna e mobile though.

I must say I can't remember being this excited about a new season for years. Still in shock. I know it was rumoured but never actually believed it would happen. Paolo fucking Di Canio.. our manager ?! mental !!

It's going to be very interesting to see what backroom staff he brings in and Wray mentioned players from Italy !

Unfortunately it was only last season i was so excited about a season. Despite PDC my feet are staying firmly on the ground unless he can put his boots back on. I am, however, looking forward to him shipping out our overpaid, whimppish, underachievers - even if it means a near complete restock.

Nah after the play off final I was majorly down in the dumps. Now I feel like we're going places again.

Read somewhere he will be bringing in an all-Italian backroom team? That right? Be interesting to see if any of those are famous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_managers_and_coaches_who_have_qualified_for_the_UEFA_Pro_Licence

I notice 123 games for Lazio Giuseppe Signori took the course at the same time as Di Canio. As did 152 games for Lazio Giuseppe Pancaro.

Signori was quality, remember watching him on Football Italia on C4 back in the 90's. If Di Canio brings him in that would be amazing, although to be honest he probably needs an experienced head with knowledge of League 2 alongside him.

Not sure it would be wise to have an entire backroom staff comprised of people with little knowledge of 'inferior league' English football.

Di Canio has played and coached in inferior Italian leagues. Can't be much difference.

Getting players to play football is pretty much the same across the world, PdC should be able to do this, which players you need is a 'local' job.

One season at Cisco Roma?

Year Longer than Hamaan.

Two.

Though I dunno why I said he coached before, he hasn't I don't think.

Wise and Poyet hadn't touched the basement league before us, we did well out of it.

It could be a stupid mistake or a brilliant move. Time will tell.

Fair point.

I am trying to get behind Di Canio's appointment and detach myself from the politics of the man but all I can see is an inexperienced manager with no coaching experience, a fiery temperament but he could very well be the most exciting thing to ever happen to STFC - that inexperience may translate as a fearless approach to management with no loyalty to individuals, no preconceptions and a desire to play football his way. The fiery temperament may turn a squad of frail egos into a unit of hardened warriors.

I'm only sure of two things - we'll either sink without a trace of walk this league, I can see no middle ground with him and that it'll be a hell of a ride.

If he's a disaster I think he'd walk, unlike our other previous managers.

I have massive reservations about the whole thing myself, but in all honest I have been craving something exciting to happen to the club. It's great things have been stable but there's been a lack of passion about the place for some time.

I just hope my optimism is right and my reservations are wrong.

Make no mistake this is a gamble that many West Ham and Owls fans would have liked to occur at there respective clubs.

The interview with Wray on the official site went some way to removing some of my fears. He described him in a way that made him sound quite different than I expected. He sounded fastidious and knowledgable.

I imagined him walking into the interview with a wide slow swagger in jeans and sunglasses. He then sits in front of Nick Watkins, nods, leans back in his chair, puts his feet up on the desk, lights a cigarette, then places his hands behind his head and asks when he starts.

I just watched some videos of his goals on Youtube.


All hail our new robot fascist overlord!

Hi Sonic

Could you spell it like this on purpose for future reference..... Facist


It really annoys people

It is spelt Fashist.

only if you're drunk

It's spelt Racist actually  :eek:

Rapist?

Very interesting times ahead.