[Dan]

There's nothing more depressing than watching a team that struggle to score, and I've seen a few. It means that if you go behind, you've as good as lost the game. Yes, you need flair players, but it basically stems from the manager's tactics. In that context, it wouldn't surprise me if Dyche had a role in the disappearance of Everton's flair players. Not that Everton are a club with a reputation for free-flowing attacking football. So when even their fans were up in arms about Dyche and his non-scoring record, it must have been a hard watch.
Steer well clear.

They sold Richarlison before he came and Gordon one day after. No good blaming him.

The reality is if you don't have resources and you don't have some amazing scouting system (we have neither) then you need to play pragmatically to stay in the premier league, he shouldn't be judged for doing that. Anyone sensible would do the same if we somehow got promoted this year.

Everton gave him very little funds on a side that was already struggling for 18 months before he arrived while also selling first team players. He did all you could reasonablly expect in the conditions he was givne. I don't care who you put in charge of that team they're not going to be anything other than a pragmatic side.

If Dyche had the same achievements he did at Burnley from say Bundesliga or La Liga doing the exact same thing, people on here would be lapping up the idea of him. Because he's some gruff nothern bloke who did it with unfashionable clubs people are being snobbish and calling him a "dinosaur". How much better Burnley were with Kompany when they loosened the purse strings and gave him >100m to spend only to be battered every week....

People need not worry though, Dych won't be coming here, I'm sure we'll be better off scraping round unwanted pile of managers from Europe....

[alex1]

Perhaps he google street mapped Smethwick and got cold feet.

Maybe he watched the Bournemouth match.

[NJS]

Maybe he watched the Bournemouth match.

Aha Poirot!  How do you do it?

[Blowee]

The blame game starts.  Come all and sundry on here and cast your blame for whom you have a particular and probably unfounded dislike.  No doubt some will be blaming Carlos Corberan

The comparison with Plymouth is a little unfair as their directors knew they were going to fire him.  In our case, the last manager stomped off out of the blue.

My guess is that Wicky came over here and got cold feet "at the altar" and cooked up the story about his assistants.

That’s why I wrote if that’s the case in brackets. I accept that we don’t know the reason and perhaps never will.

[gazberg]

Maybe he watched the Bournemouth match.

More likely to be fair

[Blowee]

For me the situation is that we are not much further than were on Christmas Day. We have perhaps ruled a few potential candidates out and know who is interested but we are no nearer now to deciding who we want. It also makes any transfer dealings more tricky. A sale of Maja and or Fellows would put any potential applicant right off.

[darbolina]

I cannot see Dyche or Cooper being realistic options at all? Why would they leave a long, very well paid holiday to take on a championship club on lower wages who are beginning a period of massive transition?

It's telling our apparent short list were foreign coaches I've never heard of and who seem to want to make a name for themselves in England. Nothing wrong with that on paper but I'm not sure Wicky or Hake for example are better than Schumacher, Edwards or Lowe - it just seems they're unknown as championship managers so carry a bit of excitement vs those who have all done well in the past but have also failed. The last time I had to research a head coach we appointed was Alan Irvine so not the best memories..........

Often simple is the best and I can't help think a coach who has already managed in this country, achieved a promotion, built a team with younger players and on a budget would be worth a go at the moment e.g. Schumacher, Lowe, Edwards to name three out of work who immediately spring to mind.

[halifax_baggie]

For me the situation is that we are not much further than were on Christmas Day. We have perhaps ruled a few potential candidates out and know who is interested but we are no nearer now to deciding who we want. It also makes any transfer dealings more tricky. A sale of Maja and or Fellows would put any potential applicant right off.

Not necessarily, a new coach will not know the players and wot no doubt welcome some additional funds to bring in players he wants
Time is ticking though

[WBA]

This doesn't look good. I thought with a new owner and some management personnel changes we would see a more proactive and productive approach to recruitment yet the evidence so far suggests otherwise.

Interpreting the reason for the breakdown it would appear that the club wants Brunt as part of the management/coaching team.

Think that's very wide of the mark. 

[WBA]

I've checked again Steve Coopers CV - cut his teeth as Liverpool academy coach and cites Barcelona B coach as his inspiration on tactics.

Someone said he is on gardening leave so assume we would have to offer him a lump sum to forgo his salary which is akin to compensation...so that rules him out then!

Shilen's influence at Bologna has worked wonders so I'm trusting him to get it right.

Can someone point me to actual evidence that Shilen or Nestor actually did anything of any significance at Bologna? 

[WBA]

I’m not convinced it’s all that attractive anymore. The squad still needs clearing out and financial restrictions will mean there are going to be 7 or 8 clubs that will have better resources. Playoffs is where we should have been for the last couple of seasons and we met that expectation. Unfortunately, we are no longer in the bracket of clubs that should be at that level. We are financially midtable currently over achieving. The expectation on the new Head Coach will be beyond our current situation. For me that’s not an attractive opening for a young ambitious coach.

Without mentioning all the obvious,  the club is on the up and currently 6th.  That is surely attractive to a young ambitious coach.  What appealed to Danny Rohl about Sheff Wed? 

[WBA]

"DOOD-WBA @EyaWeGew

What we know so far

Urs Fischer didn't have an interview last time.

Schumacher & Mowbray
Where both spoken to.

Dyche is now out of work but on a very nice salary with gardening leave, currently in ibiza 😂

#WBA"

Absolute nonsense as usual from this chancer. 

[BAGGIE5]

Absolute nonsense as usual from this chancer. 

just needs to give up. All ive seen is retweeting news from elsewhere. literally must sit on his phone all day.He did have a source but its dried up.

[BalisPen]

Martí Cifuentes is someone we should consider imo, but he signed a long term contract a few months back despite the R's doing badly at the time, so it shows how highly they rate him.

He'll probably have a big release clause and will be unattainable I fear.

As it stands I would see if Schumacher is still on gardening leave and if available bring him in until the end of season.

His stock his low and he may accept he has to prove himself.

Short term deals do happen as evidenced by Rowett at Blues last season.

[wimbledon baggie]

Can someone point me to actual evidence that Shilen or Nestor actually did anything of any significance at Bologna?

Had a dig around and it seems Nestor is the energy behind their revival but Patel is the finance guy with good instincts for putting Nestor in place to nurture his investment.
https://www.wba.co.uk/news/bilkul-ceo-andrew-nestor-assumes-sporting-director-responsibilities

[bangkokbaggie]

Think that's very wide of the mark.

Maybe so, it was just a hunch. Having since learnt more about Brunt's role at the club and of these foreign coaches attached to Wicky, I am probably wrong.

[WBA]

Absolutely 

We don't know what the process was and the sequence.  Maybe Wicky took it for granted, who knows.  Or maybe it's just an excuse as he changed his mind.  No-one even knows who these people are and it's tomorrow's chip paper so is forgotten quickly.  I suspect he's had an offer from Switzerland/Austria or such like. 

[Blowee]

Without mentioning all the obvious,  the club is on the up and currently 6th.  That is surely attractive to a young ambitious coach.  What appealed to Danny Rohl about Sheff Wed?

But my point is that 6th is probably over achieving. Would a new guy coming in knowing that they are at least expected to keep them there or would be considered a failure see that as an attractive challenge? Our position based on resources at our disposal is not as high as 6th plus we may still have to sell our better players in this window. Personally, I think we will have to go backwards before we go forwards again.

[WBA]

Maybe so, it was just a hunch. Having since learnt more about Brunt's role at the club and of these foreign coaches attached to Wicky, I am probably wrong.

I think Brunt has said he's happy in his current role. He's not even a coach so it would be incredulous if the Board lost Wicky by saying Brunt had to be part of the coaching team.

[bangkokbaggie]

The explanation we have heard so far from a source(s) is that his 2 preferred coaches were unable to be part of the package, one for visa reasons and the other personal choice. I just wonder whether these two same coaches were with him in America and if so the issuance of a visa would appear not to have been problematic.

[Hunnington Baggie]

Without mentioning all the obvious,  the club is on the up and currently 6th.  That is surely attractive to a young ambitious coach.  What appealed to Danny Rohl about Sheff Wed?

money, lots of guaranteed money.

[MarkW]

The explanation we have heard so far from a source(s) is that his 2 preferred coaches were unable to be part of the package, one for visa reasons and the other personal choice. I just wonder whether these two same coaches were with him in America and if so the issuance of a visa would appear not to have been problematic.

The UK has a specific set of visa rules for footballers, coaches etc, that will be different from other countries. I laid out our rules in a post on a previous page

[WBA]

But my point is that 6th is probably over achieving. Would a new guy come in knowing that they are at least expected to keep them there or would be considered a failure? Our position based on resources at our disposable is not as high as 6th plus we may still have to sell our better players in this window. Personally, I think we will have to go backwards before we go forwards again.

You may be right re backwards before forwards but the club overall is clearly on the up and we are currently 6th with 20 games left so have a chance.  I don't get the overachieving when we have thrown so many points away. 

Speculation about sales is just that, lazy journo speculation but every player has his price.  We don't NEED to sell any player in this window.  If we don't go up then who knows?    I personally think it'll be 2026/7 before we really start to make progress - but if opportunity knocks you take it.  Whatever happens,  next season will be another massive season of transition.   

[gazberg]

"Steve Hermon
@SteveHermon


A bit more info on the earlier breaking story on Raphael Wicky. I  understand a visa application was turned down for a goalkeeper coach but that wasn’t the deal breaker.

The man that Wicky wanted as his Assistant turned him down & that led to the whole thing collapsing #WBA"


If your heart is set on one bloke as your assistant surely you ask him days before you are ready to sign.

[Blowee]

You may be right re backwards before forwards but the club overall is clearly on the up and we are currently 6th with 20 games left so have a chance.  I don't get the overachieving when we have thrown so many points away. 

Speculation about sales is just that, lazy journo speculation but every player has his price.  We don't NEED to sell any player in this window.  If we don't go up then who knows?    I personally think it'll be 2026/7 before we really start to make progress - but if opportunity knocks you take it.  Whatever happens,  next season will be another massive season of transition.   



I honestly don't think we're overachieving.

I base my comment on the fact that there are other clubs who have more financial clout than us. I would argue that Luton, Burnley, Sheffield Utd, Leeds, Sunderland, Watford and Norwich are all able to spend more than us based on parachute money or revenue. A new Head Coach has to compete with this.