[jjamez]

I'll start a new thread for this so any future news can find a happy home.

For me as I've mentioned on the other thread, would like to see Wagner return, if he was willing to do it that is. It would be worth the investment from nagel in all fairness as he would probably reignite the fans again in the most part. We know his old style of football, but he's seemingly changed to what he finished with when he was last here, it's no longer heavy metal football that klopp defined his style as, more sedate now, pop rock so to speak.

Yes his previous management jobs haven't been a success, schalke fell apart at the seams during COVID it seems and he played a part in that and the price, they haven't really improved and I'm sure I saw an article stating they were close to 3. Liga and oblivion. He didn't do that. Bad spending and a heavy reliance on gazprom of Russia for money is what cost them, Wolfsburg suffered too when VW were hit with a major scandal but they are slowly rebuilding. His time in Switzerland didn't go to plan, he lost out to Andre, or yb bern did, he didn't see the season out, I believe the gap widened and his replacement didn't last long. He did beat manure again, but that seems to be the highlight. Linked with a few jobs, including us, he ended up at Norwich and was unfavoured by fans before he started, he thrashed us at home 4-0, lost his main striker and finished in the playoffs albeit at a limp, some of the football was good, some not so much so. In the end they got thrashed by Leeds and he was shown the inevitable door. They tried to be smart with their replacement and aren't close to the playoffs this time really. He's been interviewed for the Blackburn job and was in the final two and he was apparently interested in the Bolton job, possibly the Markham factor but I doubt it, Markham left town because Wagner didn't want to use that department as much and the role became less and less. Would he come back, perhaps, especially if Bolton was an option, the question is would he come back minus Hoyle, be like moving into your old house after someone else has lived in it for a few years, it's the same, but different and so is Huddersfield town as a club. I think it'll all come down to what's on offer. The issue this time is, the market that made him successful is no longer new and with the esc laws we can only have two players that wouldn't normally qualify, we have one in balker, who, after his injury this season, will probably have to be one again, the other is bojan, who may lose the esc tag having played enough for us and being on loan in the Dutch top division, thats why rooskens didn't need it. But the whole thing means we can't find the likes of heff willingly and instead we have to be more prudent with it, but the options are definitely out there.

Now I won't be writing as much on the others don't worry.

I'm not sure what I can say about foreign options, I think Andre showed last season that you need to know the league or at least some of the players to have a chance of success. If not, you need a portion of the season as a free hit to learn and evaluate, much like Wagner did here, that would mean appointing someone now and letting them learn for the rest of the season. I don't really have names of people who could be enticed having never been over here, but ones who have would be the likes of Erol bulut, formerly of Cardiff, Tim Walter, formerly of hull and then the likes of slavisa jokanovic and slaven bilic, all of whom either wouldn't come or wouldn't fit in my mind.

Now domestically, is it going to be a case of approaching someone out of a job but fairly young. If so then the names I'd look at would be

Des buckingham- a quick look calls his style of football a 'reverse mullet" (bet snoots would rock that) whereby it's business at the back and all action at the front. Wingers get wide and two of the midfield three push high up the pitch, leaving one sat in front of the defence with relatively conservative full backs. High reactive pressure and the aim of getting around the back of the defence. He would be fairly high up on my list, not because he got Oxford promoted, which was a good feat and he started this well before fading, but this philosophy which could fit us well. If we had wingers...

Rob edwards- maybe not as good a fit, his style is more robust and direct aimed at two taller strikers, which we lack. Did quite well at forest green earning a move to Watford, where he struggled before going to Luton to replace Nathan Jones, ultimately getting them promoted via the playoffs and then relegated after one season. This season Luton struggled and he wasnt able to arrest their slide. Was it his system got sussed out and he wasn't able to change effectively or was it players, either way it could be a cause for concern as will his usage of Joe Taylor.

Luke williams- impressed at notts county getting promoted via the playoffs in his first season, with his side dominating possession, using short corners and overload the attack, he left in his second season to join swansea to replace duffball. He actually begun managing a decade ago at Swindon, but moved on when Tim Sherwood took more control as director of football. He became assistant manager to Russell Martin at mk dons and Swansea. He struggled at Swansea, despite implementing an attacking possession based style, they appear not to have had enough quality to match or out play other teams in the division and he was sacked last month.

Russell martin- one of two huge long shots, possession based football but maybe not as attacking. Somewhat doubt he would drop divisions having been sacked by Southampton after getting them promoted last season to the premier league beating Leeds at Wembley. I think Martin as a person would fit the club, but his style might be a struggle considering the types of player we have at the moment, but if he was given a rebuild then maybe, but I think he would want something higher up the ladder, and maybe in the summer.


Or maybe it would be someone in a job, for me that would be

Michael skubala - I was impressed by Lincoln when we played them at our spot, especially in the first half. Second half they tired a touch but once we got one back the atmosphere arguably drove the team, probably the only time it has done this season, and the only time they've given fans something to get behind. But they made us look poor at times. I liked the pace of their attacks especially out wide and would welcome that here. Although I think he will move on from the imps eventually, I think it will be in the next season or, into the championship

Dave challinor- Stockport are regular overachievers, I know there's a bit of money but not as much as some other clubs, including us. They've played the market well, Louie Barry in the first half of the season, using their links and locality to Manchester for other players. They are structured defensively and attack in an organised fashion. I think it may feel like a slightly more attacking version of duffball and may lead to early groans if it doesn't come off.

Some would say Richie wellens- I'm not so sure, he was struggling at orient and under pressure before going on a run. They have plateaued recently and I don't think he's as sought after as some fans would think.

I don't really see anyone in league two that are worth a go, you could argue mat sadler of Walsall, but would that just be because of where they are in the league? Elsewhere Graham Alexander at Bradford to throw a spanner in their works, but his football isn't exactly known for being great, I've said that just to piss the bantams off really. In our league, it's really a case of see above.

And then we have the inexperienced ones who would be early in their managerial career

Ryan mason- worked with the likes of poch, Jose, Conte and Ange in some way shape or form, these experiences should have moulded him well and given him new ideas each time, in relation to his own. Personally would want an experienced man alongside him, but this could be similar to lee clarks first season

Rob page- not been much of a club manager, instead been an international manager but like Southgate, I'm not sure how much he would like a return to club management

Brian barry-murphy - former man city eds manager and now first team coach at Leicester. Forget his early stint at Rochdale, his time at city saw him work with the likes of foden, Lewis and Palmer. His links to city could prove helpful, he probably knows which players could be available for loan and which city would be okay with letting go permanently. Will he play peps tiki taka, I doubt it, but there could be quite an influence there.

Pep lijnders- began at Liverpool as a coach under brendan Rodger before klopp arrived. He went solo in Holland with NEC, but was sacked after missing out on the playoffs. Rejoined Liverpool before moving Salzburg this summer. Was sacked with there being a fairly long wishlist. Would be a risk but could bring contacts and a good fresh outlook.

Jack wilshire- even more inexperienced and now a first team coach. Had often mentioned wanting to go solo but is now the ideal time we

John heitinga- current Liverpool assistant, knows English football fairly well and may be tempted in his first full role but it might be a case of wanting to seal the title first was a tough tackling defender which could be handy

Or then we have the dour, boring options that would probably take the job and see the switch off continue

Paul warne- we thought duff was dour, this goes one more. We should be fitter in general but we'd have to look and evaluate everything first. Think a lot of fans would switch off from the club with him at the helm. His positives are his promotiona front he league, but he has struggled after promotion

Ryan lowe-not for me. A striker who struggled to play attacking football. Our resident prestonian might be able to help, but I've been under the impression it's direct and fairly dull. Set a record for more draws

Ian evatt- came close with Bolton but not close enough wheels fell off this season. Hard to say what his position would be. But for me it's a good one to pass on

Michael beale- plays decent football, but prone to walking out on a club at the first chance of asking, they say there's no loyalty in football and very much so in this case.

Wayne Rooney - erm erm erm not good enough erm might bring money into the club from America via sponsorships erm did well at derby, nearly saved them. Erm his time at Brum was a disaster and didnt bring much revenue in. He continued in the same fashion at Plymouth. I think he needs to move abroad and find his system or stop and going into punditry

[jjamez]

Apologies if any typos, I wrote this in bed and think I fell asleep once or twice and kept typing

[Lord Snooty]

I never did get a mullet, jjamez. Always fancied dreadlocks but Chaffers said I'd look stupid.

---

As for the new boss. I want someone who'll give us watchable football, not tippy tappy cautious rubbish we've gotten used to. Football like we had under Lee Clark. Fast attacking football. If we let three in, we'll score four. That's what I mean.

Good article though, jjamez.

[WakeyTerrier]

I look at David Wagner and think is he the man that just fits a certain club? A bit like Eddie Howe was for Bournemouth, brilliant for Bournemouth, went to Burnley and was nowhere near good enough, went back to Bournemouth and was brilliant…he just fits that club and is Town and Wagner that fit? It would certainly get the most of the support onside. I’d take him back now but off the back of that I’d tell him that his job would be safe should we fail to get promotion this season.

[jjamez]

Forgot to say, my top five would be

1-wagner
2-wagner
3-wagner
4-wagner
5-wagner

Joking aside

1- Wagner, like wakey said, sometimes the gloves just fits

2- Buckingham, I think from reading up on his career as a head coach, his style might just fit us properly as a club and a fan based, it feels first season lee Clark, defenders defend, one midfielder helps, everyone else focus on attacking and putting the opposition under pressure.

3- skubala, like I said I was impressed by his Lincoln side and whilst he's not the finished article and there some obvious developments needed tactically, the principle and basis are there. I was equally impressed with Jovan mokama when they played here and would be bashing the door down to sign him. Inconsistent yes, potential definitely. He's also worked closely with Taylor and Sorensen.

4- mason, it would be a punt like lee Clark, but I can't help but think he'd have learnt a lot from the managers he's worked under. If he hasn't, he's in the wrong industry. I think he'd need someone experienced or two like Clark did and I'm not counting kev Russell, it needs to be his own team

5- would probably be Luke Williams, similar style to Martin, both do have lower league experience as well, but I think Martin would need more money in wage and for players than Williams and Martin would probably be waiting for a decent championship side in the summer. Norwich or Swansea for example. Think Martin is being linked with a return to Wales.

[Lord Snooty]

Mark Briggs is the first name on the social media rumour mill. Never heard of him? He's an ex Sacramento head coach.

[theo_luddite]

The biggest problem we've got now is we don't score goals. The biggest problem we had under Wagner (and it was the same at Schalke) was we didn't score goals.

[Lord Snooty]

Ryan Lowe out of the running. He's got the Wigan job.

[jjamez]

Thankfully

[theo_luddite]

The bloke with the fake tan from Sacramento ruled out by Kevin the Gerbil - per my match thread