Next Manager Thread (2026 Edition)

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

Our previous high positions had more to do with Harry Kane than any of our managers, he is a unique forward.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

We've been shifting players for the last few years. We brought in 7 new players last summer alone.

Its such a poorly put together though, stockpiling CMs, RBs playing LB, an average level of wingers and Richy is still at the club. Other than that its splendid

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Our previous high positions had more to do with Harry Kane than any of our managers, he is a unique forward.

First Bale, then Kane & Son

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

ruthlessly, yes, that's what would make sense.

What I would say is, this squad is deeper (not better) than the one he had, and we financially can compete way more than then, so there is some potential for him finding upside in that time. We should also be smarter and try to work with him (and all managers) to improve their abilities over time, add additional coaching (I'd be happy if we kept our set piece coach as example for next manager). I'd also work with him to push on one of the domestic cups, him winning even the league cup would buy a lot of time/favour beyond what he already will get.

But football is a long game (something our previous chairman did understand), having us back at top4/6 for next 5 years, playing attractive football and waiting for that moment (this year, the Leicester year) where the others fudge up, isn't the worse strategy.

I disagree on Poch being purely someone to get us back into the top 5. But I appreciate we won’t agree there.

What I will say as another reason I think Poch Round 2 will be better for all concerned, is the sale of Brennan Johnson, because of what it shows. It shows that we will sell players at the peak of their value, and I think that is a big part of what Poch wanted, and when he didn’t get it, everything else started to slide.

If he can come in, develop our young players again, re-establish a culture, and actually be trusted to maintain that culture by moving players out when they are no longer suited to it, then I think we will do extremely well with him. In addition, it looks like we have loosened the wage structure. We still aren’t going to get the very best if a truly top club wants them, but I think we can get the very best younger players who still have room to develop that can ideally be more effective early on.

Those two things I think can really help Poch be more successful than he was here the first time.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

I am really mixed about a return of Poch, I love the bloke and love what he did here, just something niggling with it

I think if you strip it back.....we are on a run of nothing working since Poch, and that has generally fed into a declining spiral.

So, what difference does it make if Poch comes back and it's more of the same, we've lost nothing (apart from a load more games)....so you give it a go and fingers crossed the magic man is back with his lemons.

And I'm happy to to sacrifice his legacy if it goes tits up, but it's always felt like an itch that needs itching.

Plus, I think the timing isn't bad squad wise and if a bit of extra kitty money is true.

He may even get a month or two more leeway from the baying mob

 

[Raziel]

Why do you think top 6 is his floor, when he never had us out of the top 4 last time?

We lack an elite player right now, there is no Son or Kane, and I was trying to temper expectations, he might do slightly better (still don't see top 3 being possible with this first 11)

They think he held us back from winning rather than the squad not being deep enough to compete with the richer clubs across multiple competitions

Not taking the bait mate

 

[billyiddo]

We lack an elite player right now, there is no Son or Kane, and I was trying to temper expectations, he might do slightly better (still don't see top 3 being possible with this first 11)

So the problem is the team not the managers limitations? Presumably that gets addressed through the transfer market... unless you think there's a manager out there who can take this team to the top 3 I'm not understanding your position

 

[Raziel]

So the problem is the team not the manager? Presumably that gets addressed through the transfer market...

As I've said repeatedly, it's both but measured against expectations/targets

- Do I think this team is capable of top 8? yes, possibly top 6 if full squad is available
- Do I think this team is capable of top 4 consistently? no, that needs to be addressed over time.
- Do I know that this team is better than 14th, should do better at home than Leeds, do better across numerous measurements than it currently does? yes, and that's on the manager.

It's been the crux of my concerns with Ange & Frank, if they had both got us 10th-12th and had the injuries as a caveat, there would be a genuine conversation about how they did what they could with what they had.

Just as easy to sit here and say -> we have no Kane, we lack an elite player/s, just as easy to say -> Frank and Ange had glaring tactical errors that every single manager in the PL sussed out and failed to adapt.

We need a manager to make us more than the sum of the parts, or at minimum get us par for the better players we have than the bottom 10 or so clubs in league (win consistently home and away against the trash in the PL and you will be in a Europe spot almost regardless of other results)

 

[billyiddo]

As I've said repeatedly, it's both but measured against expectations/targets

- Do I think this team is capable of top 8? yes, possibly top 6 if full squad is available
- Do I think this team is capable of top 4 consistently? no, that needs to be addressed over time.
- Do I know that this team is better than 14th, should do better at home than Leeds, do better across numerous measurements than it currently does? yes, and that's on the manager.

It's been the crux of my concerns with Ange & Frank, if they had both got us 10th-12th and had the injuries as a caveat, there would be a genuine conversation about how they did what they could with what they had.

Just as easy to sit here and say -> we have no Kane, we lack an elite player/s, just as easy to say -> Frank and Ange had glaring tactical errors that every single manager in the PL sussed out and failed to adapt.

We need a manager to make us more than the sum of the parts, or at minimum get us par for the better players we have than the bottom 10 or so clubs in league (win consistently home and away against the trash in the PL and you will be in a Europe spot almost regardless of other results)

I meant in relation to your Poch comments. Surely the target for any manager is to get us back in and around the European spots, whoever that is will require strengthening of the team and the injuries to ease off. To go beyond that again will require strengthening and/or developing the youngsters to a point where they are at that level. No ones challenging at the top without investment and the investment paying off over a few windows

 

[Mabspurs]

We need a manager to make us more than the sum of the parts, or at minimum get us par for the better players we have than the bottom 10 or so clubs in league (win consistently home and away against the trash in the PL and you will be in a Europe spot almost regardless of other results)

Who would these be? Just curious?