Re: New Manager Poll
Of the available options I chose Frank de Boer because he does look like the best fit on paper. But realistically it's always the luck of the draw as to whether a manager fits with the club... the players, the hierarchy and the fan expectations.
I'd also be happy to see a couple of the others get the job as a caretaker until summer if it meant we got a better long-term replacement for AVB. In particular, if we do have to wait until summer, I'd like to see Hoddle as interim manager. Yes there's the possibility of a Dalglish-type fiasco and that would be horrible. But football is about hope and glory... imagine what a rush it'd be for all us fans if Hoddle returned and it actually worked! Not saying I have high expectations of it happening, but isn't it worth the risk?
And as I say - only as a caretaker option, and only then if Levy is forced to wait until summer to bring in the man he wants. But with the understanding that if it all comes together, thumping the lesser sides 5-0 playing an attacking 3-5-2, while deploying flying wingers in a counter-attacking 4-5-1 against the bigger teams... and Hoddle finishes in the top two, that he gets a crack at the Champions League next season..
Again, I'm not saying I believe Hoddle will work this time around, I just don't think it's impossible. And if we have to wait six months anyway, then let's see if the dream can come true.
The one name not on the list, but jumps immediately to mind, is Jurgen Klinsmann. We'd definitely have to wait until after the World Cup to get him though. His international coaching record seems pretty decent, his players say he's great to work with, and he knows the club and the fan expectations. But would he want to come back to London? Apparently he's quite happy living in the States, and international management is a very different job to managing a team with ambitions on the premiership title. So there's no guarantees.
Interesting times though.