I always look forward to your posts. They’re thought through, rarely knee-jerked based, and interesting to read. I’m hoping you’re a tad emotional now, and will have clearer thoughts come breakfast time. Hopefully obscurity isn’t still on the menu. Chin up! Interesting times ahead.
Just finished breakfast. Still raging. Specifically "long term project" is adding insult to injury since January 2014 we have had 5 permanent Head Coaches
Pepe Mel 17 games
Alan Irvine 22 games
Tony Pulis 121 games
Alan Pardew 21 games
Darren Moore 38 games
They last an average of roughly 40 games stripping out Pulis it is down to less than 30. The only thing that looks like a long term project was Pulis and frankly we are still recovering from it.
We keep firing Head Coaches and installing a new one often with a competely different style of play (or in Pardew's case no style of play) and after the initial bounce we regress and fire the coach. Brunt and Morrison will be on their 9th coach when we appoint the next poor sod. If either player extends their stay at the club they will probably get to double figures by the end of next season. The last one to resign was Hodgson.
Moore was a long term project or at least should have been viewed as such. If you appoint a Head Coach who is inexperineced give him an almighty task to sort out and very little support (i.e. DOF not appointed until after the season started) then you have to take the rough with the smooth.
So who among the runners and riders is the next long term project?
Forget anyone who is in employment for this decision to have any logic someone has to appointed almost instantly.
Slaviša Jokanović has had almost as many clubs as we have had managers. He took Watford up but failed to agree a contract extention joined Tel Aviv that summer and was Fulham's manager by Christmas. His reign at Fulham had a constant soundtrack of discontent with him being reported on the verge of quitting on numerous occasions. This is not a long term project it is a quick fix until the next crisis or a better offer comes along.
David Wagner sorry scratch him just seen that he has ruled himself out (smart guy)
Michael Appleton Yes in theory but won't be seen as good enough by the fans who will be 3 games away from them turning and he then becomes the next victim.
Hughes/Redknapp/Allaydyce/Moyes Saints preserve us best leave that lot on the pundits couch even if they could be lured to a Championship club.
There is no logic to this decision if there is it is purely to get a result across the next 10/12 games the one thing it isn't is a long term project.
Oh for those moaning about us not buying out the contract of managers currently in employment really what is the point? We are going to fire them probably before their contract at their old club expired anyway.