So it looks like various rumours are wrong and there is no announcement that Martin O'Neill (or anyone else) is taking over the reins. Which gives me the opportunity to add my thoughts of the managerial candidates to be lost in the deafening din which is speculation, prejudice and opinion.
Firstly the man tipped to be, then tipped not to be, then tipped to be our next leader, if he doesn't end up taking charge of England that is. And my opinion is that while he would be so much better than the man leaving that national role (and better than quite a few others too) he is not the ideal candidate his supporters tell us. Perhaps one of the reasons he has such a large number of supporters is one of his main assets; O'Neill is undoubtedly a likeable man. Being likeable doesn't exactly win you anything though. While his motivational skills in the dressing room may be good it's arguable as to whether they'd actually be any better than the current caretaker setup. O'Neill's achievements themselves aren't exactly that great. Whilst successive promotions with Wycombe are notable it's not exactly management on the highest stage. When he did get the chance to perform at the higher level he didn't exactly make Leicester into world beaters (let's not forget that their premiership status was only achieved by the backdoor sixth place entry into the playoffs and a last gasp winner in that year's playoff finals). Whilst he solidly kept Leicester in the upper half of the table he didn't exactly drive them onto better things---winning the league cup is more like winning a lottery, especially when some of the better teams aren't really too interested (not that I wouldn't take that for starters at the toon; just it wouldn't be enough). O'Neill's other claim to fame is his achievements with Celtic. Here we can basically leave aside the league championships etc as being a two horse race. More impressive is his guidance of Celtic to the UEFA cup final. But then, Newcastle have achieved almost the same feat recently. Celtic's performance in the Champion's League was a different matter entirely. And then he vanished from football. Yes, he hasn't exactly been actively scouting players of late. And there in lies a problem. O'Neill's loyalty is somewhat fabled (though perhaps one should ask Norwich, the team people conveniently forget he managed briefly, only to walk out on---Ok, probably honourably but when the going gets tough with our chairman?). The biggest problem is a sad one. Should O'Neill's wife 's condition worsen who could blame him for walking away again? And who would expect him not to? This club needs long term stability and, whilst that can obviously never be guaranteed, O'Neill unfortunately offers a greater chance of sudden upheaval.
So who else is in the running. I mentioned O'Neill's motivational skills in comparison to the current "hold the fort" men. Could they be the answer. I doubt it. Whilst they're doing a fine job at the moment all the pressure is off. Were it suddenly on I can't help but think it would be a very different story.
There is one stand out name in world football at the moment who doesn't have a job of course. That is Ottmar Hitzfeld; twice world coach of the year and winner of the european cup with two different clubs. Any truly top class team would be lucky to have him. His desire to return to football in the summer would even seem to fit in with our stated desire to "take our time". The only problem would seem to be whether he'd be crazy enough to take on such a role as attempting to lead Newcastle. That and the fact that the chairman seems to be more an idiot than ever in effectively directly ruling out the most qualified available candidate (something he has done with no one else---surely he can't really believe rubbish about betting scams?) Apparently he's now denied ever saying anything about Hitzfeld, which is good. Come on then Freddie, call him.
Having ruled out O'Neill and not being allowed Hitzfeld who does that leave? Well... Ranieri has actually said he might be interested and I think we could do a lot worse than give him the shot he was never really allowed at Chelsea. But without that sort of budget it's certainly a risk. Yet after him the pickings become slim. The real worry is who the chairman might actually have on any short list he's drawn up. Names like Bruce (in a worse position than us for fucks sake) seem to get mentioned "because he's a Geordie". He's also a useless manager... Allerdyce isn't exactly the sort of person who springs to mind when thinking of top european action. He may be capable of getting the little guys there (but not actually achieving) but we're supposed to be a big club. We shouldn't have to put in some sort of rough, tumbling bumbling display to get a lucky win through to the next round of the UEFA cup. We should be in the Champion's League. And it just gets sillier, and worse from then on.
What is the best realistic option then? Actually I hope the board really are waiting. For the best option may be, as someone put it, pick from the traditional world cup fallout. Whilst far from ideal we'd probably end up with someone of higher calibre than if we rushed in now (just not Sven---he would spend all his time chasing the quayside girls). But one has to feel the board, or at least Stupid Freddie, aren't content to do that. One can only hope they haven't set their heart on Bruce, or Sven or some other disaster. At least O'Neill wouldn't be that bad.
In the end I'm still not sure who I realistically want. And hopeful that means he isn't either, so we'll wait. But while waiting go on Freddie, give Ottmar a call; you never know.
(@23:02)
