The College Dropout

I hope we don't appoint Hughes. I hope we don't appoint KK really either, but if it's a choice between the two I know who I'd prefer. Come to think of it though, it's getting to the point now where no matter who we appoint, I don't think we'll ever amount to much as a club other than what we've witnessed over the past decade. Aye, lets get Mourinho in. Howay man, we'll win a trophy before either of us die.

There really isn't much in the Premiership that is different to "Allardyces Newcastle side", bar Arsenal,Manure and Chelsea and we've no hope of getting their managers. After that it's made up of the other teams who have their moments, the perennial strugglers and the yo-yo's. Hughes is probably the best (realistic) bet. agree, i think that is the way the premiership is tending to go for the past few years - physical, robust, defensive, highly tactical, direct 4-5-1. just that allardyce was a bit ahead of the game and understands that way of playing more than others. on the downside that this is the only football he knows so can't adapt if the circumstances change - ie if there is a shift in philosophy so clubs follow arsenal/man utd rather than chelsea/liverpool or if he goes to a club that won't stomach his style. he also relied on a lot of backroom support which inevitably takes a while to bed in and he didn't get the time here. would hughes be able to adapt where allardyce couldn't? big question. he did well with wales in a completely different environment which bodes well. role model - it is great that he has managed to find such good players on a tight budget, but it is no guarantee he will succeed when dealing with bigger budgets, which is likely to be the case here. £9m odd for Bentley would be a good move. Blackburn often play 4-4-2. they used to play 2 small quick strikers in Pongolle and Bellamy and now play 2 big clinical strikers up front in McCarthy and Santa Cruz so it's not like he only has 1 method of play. Their midfield isn't even as robust as a Pompey.

I hope we appoint Hughes. And I hope i'll be laughing when I read this thread back 2 years from now (omg, i'll be 30).

Playing long-balls Sam needed instant success. We don't like that shit.

I'll flip the coin. What has Hughes achieved that Allardyce hasn't? A manager you were vehemently against, no? Achieved similar results, with less money, players on probably smaller wages. Signed and nurtured young talent into very good players (Bentley in particular). Played good football. 2 good wingers and 2 good strikers with big fuck-off defenders at the back. Y'know not signing golden oldies and playing long balls. And no initially I was fairly pleased with Big Sam. I wanted Hughes instead but I was happy with Sam. The man just look incompetent. I thought he would evolve and play better football because he was at a bigger club. I was wrong. Sam's a 1 trick pony.

Totally agreed. Hopefully he can prove it here and silence the critics.

I wanted Hughes when we got Allardyce. I think he has the potential to be a top, top manager. He doesn't rely on computers and 1 method like a Big Sam.

Are you saying if we aren't in the top 8 within 4 months a manager like Hughes will be under huge pressure? Nope he'll have until atleast this time next season to prove himself. This season is a write-off. I don't expect much from here till May. Look at Allardyce. No different to Hughes, if he doesn't do better, people will be on his back too. It's how things work at this club now. Like I keep saying. Sam's brand of football along with strange tactics was ultimately his downfall not just the results. He also made some very s**** signings, these all attributed to him being hounded. Have you seen Blackburn? They are not exactly a footballing team. They are more Bolton than Portsmouth or what our fans have quite clearly shown they want - attacking football. Under Hughes it would be much of the same, lots of scrapping and battling with the odd decent performance in terms of football. No it wouldn't. Blackburn attack weaker sides and actually put them to the sword. Against Bolton and Derby they dominated and were a cut above. Completely different scenario to Sam. Hughes at Blackburn has had less money than Sam did at Bolton and plays far superior football. Totally agree. I've always rated Hughes as a superior manager to Big Sam. I wanted Hughes before we got Allardyce. Hughes has been at Blackburn a shorter time than Sam and had achieved arguably better success with far less resources, whilst playing football. Big Sam at Bolton over the past 3 years had a better record than Hughes at Blackburn and spent less money. If you think he's far superior to Allardyce, then Hughes must be the next Wenger or something. Go re-do your figures. Blackburn have spent less money than Bolton in the last few years. Bolton also had a very big wage expenditure. Hughes took over a team in the relegation zone and got them in the top 8 the next season (or 2). They play good football. He's made great signings. What did Allardyce achieve in the Premiership that Hughes hasn't?

he also spent alot of money, all 3 times. No more than any other club has spent to reach the summit of the Premiership or in Man City's case to get out of the second tier and into mid-table safety and European football. Everton have spent a fortune recently, Spurs have too. That's what a manager needs to do to achieve something. People talk as if KK spending money was a bad thing. I'm sure Man City fans didn't mind seeing the likes of Anelka play for them when only a few years before they were in the old 2nd division and who without KK would probably still be in the championship today or just another mackems, up and down. What Everton fortune? Yakubu apart who has cost more than £8million? Blackburn qualified for Europe for alot less money than what KK managed. You fail to mention KK nearly getting Man City relegated and being one of the reasons why they where skint by the time he left. The man has never had prolonged success in his life. Spent more than we have in the past few years believe it or not, a fortune for them. KK didn't nearly get Man City relegated either, that's hyperbole. They were not skint per se either, they had debts like every club. Anyway he actually left them in very good shape with arguably the finest academy in the country which KK kick-started back when they were in the 1st division. As for prolonging success, he's achieved far more than Hughes has ever done and if we are getting into that kind of debate I'd like to remind you in today's football it's very rare for anyone to prolong success. Hughes if he joins us, where would the prolonged success be at Blackburn? He'll leave them having achieved less than what Souness achieved for them. But hey, lets appoint him. He'd be another appointment that I just couldn't get behind, seen it all before, will end in tears. Give me someone credible or someone I can feel good about Mr Ashley and Mort rather than a flavour of the month manager who does nowt for me. Didn't Man City go on a long, long run on which they didn't win a match. Finishing 15th? And no.. i'm pretty sure they were skint. Samaras aside before the take over not much money left whilst they sold Wright-Phillips for ALOT of money. take off the rose-tinted 1996 edition glasses. Hughes would leave Blackburn in the top 8. Souness left them in the relegation zone. Aye let's get someone credible..... Kevin fucking Keegan.

he also spent alot of money, all 3 times. No more than any other club has spent to reach the summit of the Premiership or in Man City's case to get out of the second tier and into mid-table safety and European football. Everton have spent a fortune recently, Spurs have too. That's what a manager needs to do to achieve something. People talk as if KK spending money was a bad thing. I'm sure Man City fans didn't mind seeing the likes of Anelka play for them when only a few years before they were in the old 2nd division and who without KK would probably still be in the championship today or just another mackems, up and down. What Everton fortune? Yakubu apart who has cost more than £8million? Andy Johnson? Perhaps. But that was some 3 years ago, they've spent less than any other team in the top half this year than every other team except for Blackburn. It was a season and a half! Same summer we signed Martins. They spent in the summer too. He's doing a fine job though is Moyes. Aye lol. When you support NUFC things seem to happen so quickly. I don't know why I'm talking about Moyes but he's spent less money this summer than Sve, Curbishley, Spurs, Villa & Liverpool and that was my point really.

Are you saying if we aren't in the top 8 within 4 months a manager like Hughes will be under huge pressure? Nope he'll have until atleast this time next season to prove himself. This season is a write-off. I don't expect much from here till May. Look at Allardyce. No different to Hughes, if he doesn't do better, people will be on his back too. It's how things work at this club now. Like I keep saying. Sam's brand of football along with strange tactics was ultimately his downfall not just the results. He also made some very s**** signings, these all attributed to him being hounded. Have you seen Blackburn? They are not exactly a footballing team. They are more Bolton than Portsmouth or what our fans have quite clearly shown they want - attacking football. Under Hughes it would be much of the same, lots of scrapping and battling with the odd decent performance in terms of football. No it wouldn't. Blackburn attack weaker sides and actually put them to the sword. Against Bolton and Derby they dominated and were a cut above. Completely different scenario to Sam. Hughes at Blackburn has had less money than Sam did at Bolton and plays far superior football. Totally agree. I've always rated Hughes as a superior manager to Big Sam. I wanted Hughes before we got Allardyce. Hughes has been at Blackburn a shorter time than Sam and had achieved arguably better success with far less resources, whilst playing football.

he also spent alot of money, all 3 times. No more than any other club has spent to reach the summit of the Premiership or in Man City's case to get out of the second tier and into mid-table safety and European football. Everton have spent a fortune recently, Spurs have too. That's what a manager needs to do to achieve something. People talk as if KK spending money was a bad thing. I'm sure Man City fans didn't mind seeing the likes of Anelka play for them when only a few years before they were in the old 2nd division and who without KK would probably still be in the championship today or just another mackems, up and down. What Everton fortune? Yakubu apart who has cost more than £8million? Andy Johnson? Perhaps. But that was some 3 years ago, they've spent less than any other team in the top half this year than every other team except for Blackburn.

Are you saying if we aren't in the top 8 within 4 months a manager like Hughes will be under huge pressure? Nope he'll have until atleast this time next season to prove himself. This season is a write-off. I don't expect much from here till May. Look at Allardyce. No different to Hughes, if he doesn't do better, people will be on his back too. It's how things work at this club now. Like I keep saying. Sam's brand of football along with strange tactics was ultimately his downfall not just the results. He also made some very s**** signings, these all attributed to him being hounded. Have you seen Blackburn? They are not exactly a footballing team. They are more Bolton than Portsmouth or what our fans have quite clearly shown they want - attacking football. Under Hughes it would be much of the same, lots of scrapping and battling with the odd decent performance in terms of football. I don't agree there. Let's look at some of their midfielders. Bentley, Pedersen, Dunn, Tugay, Reid. I'm sure i'm forgetting someone but these lot are hardly Geremi's, Butt's and Smith's. Tugay can run no more than Geremi but he's a damn good passer. They used to play Bellamy and Sinama-Pongolle upfront and they played some marvellous football. they scrap but they have some good ball players. Bentley shits on everyone of our midfielders from a great height in terms of technique. I reckon they play better football than Pompey who are a counter-attacking team who mostly play 1 upfront.

he also spent alot of money, all 3 times. No more than any other club has spent to reach the summit of the Premiership or in Man City's case to get out of the second tier and into mid-table safety and European football. Everton have spent a fortune recently, Spurs have too. That's what a manager needs to do to achieve something. People talk as if KK spending money was a bad thing. I'm sure Man City fans didn't mind seeing the likes of Anelka play for them when only a few years before they were in the old 2nd division and who without KK would probably still be in the championship today or just another mackems, up and down. What Everton fortune? Yakubu apart who has cost more than £8million? Blackburn qualified for Europe for alot less money than what KK managed. You fail to mention KK nearly getting Man City relegated and being one of the reasons why they where skint by the time he left. The man has never had prolonged success in his life.

Are you saying if we aren't in the top 8 within 4 months a manager like Hughes will be under huge pressure? Nope he'll have until atleast this time next season to prove himself. This season is a write-off. I don't expect much from here till May. Look at Allardyce. No different to Hughes, if he doesn't do better, people will be on his back too. It's how things work at this club now. Like I keep saying. Sam's brand of football along with strange tactics was ultimately his downfall not just the results. He also made some very shite signings, these all attributed to him being hounded.

Not sure it's going to be as easy as just choosing Keegan or Shearer if all else fails. They will want guarantees for spend in the transfer market and I'm not sure Ashley and Mort (bring money in before we spend) is going to be that easily swayed. 10 or 20m net won't do it. Just need the fans to fully be behind whoever is appointed as well. No they don't. A few big signings and good football and the new man will be sorted for some time.

I don't think he needs to hit the ground running at all. He'd make it to next season barring a huge relegation struggle. That's a good 4/5 months to get comfortable without loads of pressure. We've missed the European boat already. From there he'll take off. Really? And what if he lost 4 of his first 5 games which he could quite easily do. You know as well as I do fans have little patience left for this anymore, just look at how restless they grew under Sam who actually has a better record than Hughes. No, in my opinion there are only two types of manager who fans will be willing to be patient with and that's an absolute top drawer manager or someone like a KK or Shearer. Remember, fans are of the mentality that if we are to sack Big Sam, then it better be for a much better manager. Now that he has gone, Redknapp and Hughes do not inspire or shout out "much better". I think things could get nasty I really do. No-one has the stomach for "he needs more time and money" anymore. Souness, Roeder, Big Sam and Hughes? Same old same old... Ashley and Mort will have to stand by their man. Simple really. It won't be Hughes team that will be playing. he may not have had any time to bring in new people. The dislike of Big Sam was largely down to weird tactics, baffling team selections and long balls. Hughes doesn't do this. Our fans have the mentality of bringing in a much better manager like fans favourites Keegan/Shearer? Like I said, stick with your man and support him. Sam was never Mort's man.

he also spent alot of money, all 3 times.

Are you saying if we aren't in the top 8 within 4 months a manager like Hughes will be under huge pressure? Nope he'll have until atleast this time next season to prove himself. This season is a write-off. I don't expect much from here till May.

Keegan is a born & proven managerial loser. We know this, the man will crack when the pressure cooks. Blackburn finished 6th last season, playing good football and reached the FA Cup semi-final beating some good teams in the process and narrowly getting beaten by a side assembled for atleast 10 times the amount of Blackburns. Hughes will put us in the top 6 and perhaps even further. Keegan has had his day.

2 of them will definitely not join us isn't it? (Klins, Van Gaal?)

That's what I'm incline to think too but he's never really played in a settled defence at the same time. In Titus defence, put him next to a top CB and he'll play well andall.

Howay man, when the pressure cooks Keegan breaks.

Shearer would be inexperienced. Hughes has achieved more in football than Big Al as well. Winning the FA Cup 4 teams, the Premiership twice and 2 European Trophies. He's also won more international caps than Big Al. He's done alot in the game. As for Keegan, the mans a nervous loser.

I don't think he needs to hit the ground running at all. He'd make it to next season barring a huge relegation struggle. That's a good 4/5 months to get comfortable without loads of pressure. We've missed the European boat already. From there he'll take off.