• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Next Manager Thread (2026 Edition)

Who Is Up Next?

  • Alonso

    Votes: 23 27.4%

  • Xavi

    Votes: 3 3.6%

  • Poch

    Votes: 41 48.8%

  • Mckenna

    Votes: 1 1.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 16 19.0%
  • Total voters
    84
IulianSteaua said:
Would love Poch or Alonso. I don't think we have a bad squad. I know this might be unpopular, but you don't get to win the EL and finish 4th in the UCL league phase with a bad squad. Nearly added the European Supercup to our trophy cabinet too. Some things need to click for them to work in the league and Ange and Frank didn't manage to do that. Ange did it in the first season, we finished 5th without Kane and very close to 4th. So the potential is there. I also think the summer signings weren't that bad, I mean I would still take Xavi S. over Eze at this point. Palhinha has definitely been a plus. Kudus has started the season well but his performances fell as the season progressed. We just need to find the coach that can get them to click and maximize our strengths.
Click to expand...

I do agree with most of that to be honest, probably going to upset a few but i really am not conviced we need Pooch back. He had a great squad of players during his time here yet still won nothing.
 
parklane1 said:
I do agree with most of that to be honest, probably going to upset a few but i really am not conviced we need Pooch back. He had a great squad of players during his time here yet still won nothing.
Click to expand...
Most of our managers have won nothing....Ange won something by focusing very very hard on one thing just to get over the line.

Poch was a magical time at the club, if during such time you don't get over the line, it's still a magical time.
 
ricky2tricky4city said:
Most of our managers have won nothing....Ange won something by focusing very very hard on one thing just to get over the line.

Poch was a magical time at the club, if during such time you don't get over the line, it's still a magical time.
Click to expand...

Not saying i did not enjoy it at all [ most of it anyway] truth is though we has some really top players yet failed to get over the line on a few occasions.
 
parklane1 said:
I do agree with most of that to be honest, probably going to upset a few but i really am not conviced we need Pooch back. He had a great squad of players during his time here yet still won nothing.
Click to expand...
Have reservations about Poch for different reasons. Was ahead of the curve, but is he now? Not done all that well since leaving us. Would pose a challenge for him and the club to have him come back.

But depending on the options he's still one of the better candidates in my mind, and maybe we have to scratch that itch at one point or another... With just about everyone at the club gone from when he was here and a lot of young talents here the timing could be good.
 
IulianSteaua said:
Would love Poch or Alonso. I don't think we have a bad squad. I know this might be unpopular, but you don't get to win the EL and finish 4th in the UCL league phase with a bad squad. Nearly added the European Supercup to our trophy cabinet too. Some things need to click for them to work in the league and Ange and Frank didn't manage to do that. Ange did it in the first season, we finished 5th without Kane and very close to 4th. So the potential is there. I also think the summer signings weren't that bad, I mean I would still take Xavi S. over Eze at this point. Palhinha has definitely been a plus. Kudus has started the season well but his performances fell as the season progressed. We just need to find the coach that can get them to click and maximize our strengths.
Click to expand...

Did you see this that explains why English clubs do so well in the league phase - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy0520ey7jjo
 
ricky2tricky4city said:
The players he started with and the ones he developed were not top players...some became that on his watch. And HE made the team was greater than the sum of its parts.
Click to expand...

The team had some top players [ i agree he helped improve them] but we should have won somthing with them. The likes of Erikson, Son, Kane etc etc and we did not do so. We had chances to do so but fell short and he has to take some of the weight for that. IMO
 
ricky2tricky4city said:
Most of our managers have won nothing....Ange won something by focusing very very hard on one thing just to get over the line.

Poch was a magical time at the club, if during such time you don't get over the line, it's still a magical time.
Click to expand...

Was a great time but circumstances were also very different, we also have no idea if he actually wants to come back. Why come back if the board keep being stingy?
 
braineclipse said:
Have reservations about Poch for different reasons. Was ahead of the curve, but is he now? Not done all that well since leaving us. Would pose a challenge for him and the club to have him come back.

But depending on the options he's still one of the better candidates in my mind, and maybe we have to scratch that itch at one point or another... With just about everyone at the club gone from when he was here and a lot of young talents here the timing could be good.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but as far as i remember he has only won a couple of things at Psg [ and lets be honest at that time there was only one team in that league] Do not get me wrong i enjoyed his time here but i am not conviced we should go back.

I relise that i am probably in the minority about that.
 
GGyid said:
Lads, it's gonna be Dyche :tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy:
Click to expand...

I’d take him over De Zerbi.

braineclipse said:
I know he's pointed to as a bit of a nutter/dingdongead. Another Conte type figure. Which could easily be a bad thing, particularly longer term. But to me seems to have a pretty good track record of instilling a style of play quickly (we need that), has PL experience and experience managing in difficult circumstances.

Wouldn't be on my list of attractive targets permanently come the summer, but if the options now are him, Mason, Redknapp etc i can't see better options than him.
Click to expand...

We don’t have the squad to play the kind of football he plays. He could build that eventually (in theory, obviously, because we’d never do the level of business needed) but eventually is no good at the minute. We’ve got 13 games.

We also need a calm head as manager in a relegation scrap, not Romero on speed.
 
Mcfee said:
Fecking hell we need to hire Poch if only to move on for once and for all.
Click to expand...
What happens when Poch is no longer an option/savior? We could potentially put that off for now, and do as you say and appoint Poch (again), and maybe wallow in a temporary solace, of sorts. But even then, at some point, sooner or later, he won't be here...
 
Last edited:
parklane1 said:
The team had some top players [ i agree he helped improve them] but we should have won somthing with them. The likes of Erikson, Son, Kane etc etc and we did not do so. We had chances to do so but fell short and he has to take some of the weight for that. IMO
Click to expand...

I think the context is really important. He had us as CL regulars while building a new stadium and not spending anywhere near as much as competitors. He was clearly told that consistent league finishes and CL money would be more valuable to the club so that is what he did. If he had the luxury of doing what Ange did, I’m sure he would have done it.

I think it’s interesting how much people discount the impact of the manager. In the same way we’re saying that Poch had this amazing squad, people have been saying this year the squad under Frank is bad and about deserves what it’s getting. Poch for sure improved players individually but built a culture that meant that they all improved together, and fought for each other. His unique advantage was in building a culture where all of the players ran harder, ran together, and played with the intensity to beat out richer teams. When those players got older, he wanted to refresh the squad to maintain that advantage and wasn’t allowed to do so. He was then blamed for the results sliding when he predicted that they would 2 years in advance.

Since then he has shown with PSG, Chelsea and the USMNT that he takes an initial few months to establish his principles and build that culture, but then it starts paying off.

I do agree that there is a question now as to whether his advantage around pressing has been nullified and whether we might be better served trying to get the ‘next’ Poch, one who is on the upswing and represents better where the league is going. With that said, I always found him quite adaptable. As Conte showed how 3-4-3 could work in England, Poch made it work with us. He also played more of a diamond with Chelsea and I think was always looking at where the game was going and how to adapt. He is pragmatic, but with a sense of still wanting to seize initiative of the match.

I think the main question I would be asking him in interview is how he feels about the games evolution in the last year in the PL, and how he would adapt his philosophy to succeed in this new environment. If he gives a great answer to that question, I’d hire him back like a shot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back