[ex coseley kid]

I'm cautiously very very positive 

[halifax_baggie]

Pity we didn't really break the mould and instead going for a "not known here" , as an option get someone we don't know from Central or South America - They must have good coaches out there, mustn't they?
Then we could all unite and moan about the potential appointment

[NJS]

I have seen no evidence that Moyes, Potter or Cooper and the like were beating down the exec doors of The Hawthorns to press their case.  I'd be interested if anybody can produce any.

In fact two of those above have already found a berth in the Prem.  I guess Cooper only has to wait until another EPL side slings its manager out and he gets his opportunity.

Yesterday, on the box, one of the commentator implied that Villa are far the biggest thing in the Midlands - (not just the West Mids).  That might give some indication of how we are regarded by the Moyes/Potter/Cooper sort of manager.

We need to build back slowly and without sudden sizeable injections of cash.  I'm going to give the Nestor/Wicky combination a chance to do that.

Ideally I would like to retain Abela.

[Mo]

He has Brunt and team to smooth the transition plus you normally get a new coach bounce as players seek to impress the new boss.

Yes , he seems an intelligent bloke so I don’t think we will see too many changes to the coaching staff at this stage , all he has to do is oversee it .

[baggie38]

Really? It was good before that then? You enjoyed the entertaining football under Bruce, or Ismael, or maybe big Sam? The well used phrase "Be careful what you wish for" springs to mind. Personally, I hope whoever we appoint keeps the good organisation and 50% win ratio we were achieving under CC. I sincerely hope we don't go back to the winning every 4 matches we achieved under Bruce, or the 15% win ratio under Allardyce, but each to their own I guess.

That just backs up my point further that we have watched pure dross for a long time and a change In style is long overdue

[The Black Pearl]

It certainly wasn't dross under Carlos, he did a fantastic job steadying the ship which enabled us to get a stable owner in and now a manager with Champion league experience, if fans can't see that I despair that they will never see the true picture.

[zippyandbungle]

He has Brunt and team to smooth the transition plus you normally get a new coach bounce as players seek to impress the new boss.

Let’s not forget we also have some pretty decent players.

[baggiejohn]

I will always support this club, including whoever they choose as Head Coach/Manager (initially at least).
I have to say I am extremely underwhelmed with the apparent choice.
The period of time taken over this appointment has been sufficient to examine the credentials of many potential people experienced in English football at the level that we are currently playing as well as the level that we aspire to.
It would be helpful to our loyal supporters, if we had some names of candidates with such experience that were actually considered to be good enough to be interviewed.
I do not buy into the notion that x,y and z blokes have no desire to manage this great club

I'm not sure that anyone has said that prospective head coaches "have no desire to manage this great club".

I believe we did approach Tony Mowbray for talks, but TM declined for health reasons, Lee Carsley was alleged to have said he was not ready for Club Football yet &, I belive it was Russel Martin who said he didn't want to work in a continental style model.

In my opinion, a number of prospective head coaches with English backgrounds would find it difficult to operate in a Nestor/Continental model.
It appears that Nestor has found a coach with continental experience who he considers would be capable of delivering his vision. To be fair, Wicky, as an experienced continental coach, has a far better chance of success than trying to shoe horn a reluctant coach with an English background.

[timdon]

That just backs up my point further that we have watched pure dross for a long time and a change In style is long overdue

You literally made a point in your original post that we had been watching dross for the last 2 years, which was the period that Carlos Corberan was here. My reply was pointing out that previous to that was much, much worse. Now you have moved the goalposts to try and suggest you meant for a long time 

[The Black Pearl]

Let’s not forget we also have some pretty decent players.

Yes, I'm as optimistic as I have been for a long while, a couple of decent signings and we may yet seriously challenge for promotion.
The club turnaround is quite remarkable really, facing bankruptcy and oblivion only two years ago to where we are now, secure and looking upwards, 

[zippyandbungle]

Yes, I'm as optimistic as I have been for a long while, a couple of decent signings and we may yet seriously challenge for promotion.
The club turnaround is quite remarkable really, facing bankruptcy and oblivion only two years ago to where we are now, secure and looking upwards, 

For the avoidance of doubt I AM NOT saying sell fellows
But if we did …Mikey Moore on loan from spurs would be fantastic .

I agree with your couple of good signings and we could be right in there .

[BaggiePhil]

Like SmethDan said, I think BalisPen is exercising a cautious approach as opposed to shunting the idea of Wicky and that is absolutely fine and his right as a fan.

Going to what you have said about better options with experience it really depends on what we wanted and the varying factors to consider. Out of job managers meant no compensation and the CC compensation being “money in the bank” which further helps us so that could limit the likes of Eustace or even those on gardening leave (I’m not sure the legal restraints on that and who needs to pay to release) so if we’re then also considering coaches that play the football they want and then would work within the structure they want it really begins to narrow down.

I would’ve said the best, modern manager that seemed free to join and had experience at this level would’ve been Schumacher but his experience isn’t exactly reassuring. It seems we approached Mowbray. Then the likes of Cooper, Martin, Moyes would potentially all be on decent gardening leave pay.

So for me it then becomes a no-brainer to look to Europe or assistants so from every time a new man was linked and I go down the rabbit-hole of researching them and committing the sin of falling in love with a coach not yet employed, for me, it came down to Fischer and Wicky when I dropped my pie in the sky thinking.

TL;DR - I’m happy with Wicky even though I’d never heard of him 4 weeks ago!

My bad on Steve Cooper. Its a huge positive that Wicky has managed a team that has played in the champions league and beat Man Utd and Man City. Football is football I think he knows how to manage a team of championship standard and not having experience  of the British leagues is not that big a deal. But time will tell.

[robnewbold]

If i were Wicky i would keep Abela for continuity reasons while he gets his feet under the table.. If it is Wicky i am glad its a sort of left field appointment, exciting and different.
Lets see how Moyes does at Everton( dinosaur central) by comparison.

[kanu]

Like SmethDan said, I think BalisPen is exercising a cautious approach as opposed to shunting the idea of Wicky and that is absolutely fine and his right as a fan.

Going to what you have said about better options with experience it really depends on what we wanted and the varying factors to consider. Out of job managers meant no compensation and the CC compensation being “money in the bank” which further helps us so that could limit the likes of Eustace or even those on gardening leave (I’m not sure the legal restraints on that and who needs to pay to release) so if we’re then also considering coaches that play the football they want and then would work within the structure they want it really begins to narrow down.

I would’ve said the best, modern manager that seemed free to join and had experience at this level would’ve been Schumacher but his experience isn’t exactly reassuring. It seems we approached Mowbray. Then the likes of Cooper, Martin, Moyes would potentially all be on decent gardening leave pay.

So for me it then becomes a no-brainer to look to Europe or assistants so from every time a new man was linked and I go down the rabbit-hole of researching them and committing the sin of falling in love with a coach not yet employed, for me, it came down to Fischer and Wicky when I dropped my pie in the sky thinking.

TL;DR - I’m happy with Wicky even though I’d never heard of him 4 weeks ago!

We’ve had 2 years of exercising caution under Corberan. Thank you King Carlos you steadied the ship and made us a threat again, all fans will remember you fondly. But now it’s time to see some front foot attacking football. Wicky’s goals for stats and win %’s are very impressive. 10 draws in a row doesn’t get you far in this division but 3 defeats and seven wins does. I’m expecting the latter with this guy, I think it’ll be good to watch and we need to take the odd defeat on the chin.

[gazberg]

Let’s not forget we also have some pretty decent players.

If we could get a decent number 10 in then we are a match for anyone. We are lacking there big time.

[TheBaggieMan]

If we could get a decent number 10 in then we are a match for anyone. We are lacking there big time.

And a ‘natural’ goal scoring poacher in the mould of a Kevin Phillips but as we know, they are as rare as rocking horse Man Utd!

[gazberg]

And a ‘natural’ goal scoring poacher in the mould of a Kevin Phillips but as we know, they are as rare as rocking horse Man Utd!

I think they are out of our price range at the moment or we need to unearth a gem from somewhere!

[miggybaggy]

I'm just hoping the new bloke (if it is Wicky) puts a stop to subbing our best players to defend a 1 - 0 lead with 35 minutes left!!

And yes.....agree that a new No.10 is a huge priority. It'll be interesting to see how any discussions behind the scenes regarding budgets and future plans will be revealed in the near future. Overall very optimistic though, at last!

[lewisant]

We’ve had 2 years of exercising caution under Corberan. Thank you King Carlos you steadied the ship and made us a threat again, all fans will remember you fondly. But now it’s time to see some front foot attacking football. Wicky’s goals for stats and win %’s are very impressive. 10 draws in a row doesn’t get you far in this division but 3 defeats and seven wins does. I’m expecting the latter with this guy, I think it’ll be good to watch and we need to take the odd defeat on the chin.

Not even remotely what my post is about. It’s not about playing style at all.

[Blowee]

If we could get a decent number 10 in then we are a match for anyone. We are lacking there big time.

Maybe Maja is that player. Especially, if, Dike could prove himself fit and take over at centre forward. A fit Dike alongside Maja could be fantastic.

[robnewbold]

I regret that the re-emergence of Dike is as likely to succeed as well as candy floss in a tornado. We need to look elsewhere i feel.

[kanu]

Not even remotely what my post is about. It’s not about playing style at all.

That’s fine, all I was saying is I’m glad the club have not been overly cautious and gone for previous championship managers. It’s nice to see a calculated risk being taken on a young manager with an attacking style. Let’s hope we see some of that soon.

[zippyandbungle]

If we could get a decent number 10 in then we are a match for anyone. We are lacking there big time.

Agree ,I’m a bit surprised that Mowatt hasn’t been tried there with Diakite/mulumby behind him.
It is difficult to have a striker and two wingers and afford a 10 ,unless we find one that can also tackle and drop …big ask

[gazberg]

Maybe Maja is that player. Especially, if, Dike could prove himself fit and take over at centre forward. A fit Dike alongside Maja could be fantastic.

I agree, shame Dike is cursed!

[gazberg]

Agree ,I’m a bit surprised that Mowatt hasn’t been tried there with Diakite/mulumby behind him.
It is difficult to have a striker and two wingers and afford a 10 ,unless we find one that can also tackle and drop …big ask

Mowatts the 'baller' of the 3, i'd give it a go.