Cronky

I find it equally strange that, for many people, it would apparently have been okay if Jol, Klinsmann or O'Neill were brought in. They're bigger names, but who's to say that they'd be better people for this situation? Just people using comon sense to come to an opinion realy, a bit like saying "I'd rather I found a tenner on the floor than this quid" or, "I wish I got a new tele for Christmas and not this bag of coal". With managers, it’s about the right person for the right job at the right time. It’s better to employ someone who’s going to see the job as a step up, rather than a step down. Klinsmann has been very in and out of management – ie just 2 and half years out of the last 6. He took Germany to the semis of the World Cup on home soil – fine, but not a stellar achievement. Then went on to Bayern Munich – again not the most demanding of roles but he was sacked after 8 months. Then, after a long gap, he’s surfaced as a consultant in the MSL. He has little experience of club management and none at all in England. Why should we think that he has the motivation or the background to manage our club at this point? O’Neill has a good record and has experience, but he’s just walked out of a job. We wouldn’t be a step up for him, and it looks like he’s missed the boat as regards the big jobs that would really have energised him again. He’d have been a great choice three years ago, but not now. Jol has a good record as well, but got fired at Spurs and Ajax. Something of a nearly man. He’s probably the best bet of the three, but a far from certain one to succeed. Even Brian Clough – probably the most talented manager the English game has seen – failed when he was put in the wrong job. When looking at potential managers, you have to apply a bit of thought and imagination. Public reputations about who is ‘good’ can come and go very easily.

I find it equally strange that, for many people, it would apparently have been okay if Jol, Klinsmann or O'Neill were brought in. They're bigger names, but who's to say that they'd be better people for this situation? All sorts of assumptions are being made about Pardew's ability, based on very little knowledge or insight. The anger about Pardew being sounded out well in advance is also a bit misplaced. Do people seriously think that doesn't normally happen? That an owner who's unhappy about his manager never approaches anyone else before the actual sacking? This decision is a massive gamble, but one that Ashley felt he needed to take. It's normal to wait until a team is in trouble before making a change, but in this case he's decided to act now. The die is cast, and we just have to hope it works out.

Jol said he wasn't interested in the job because we'd sacked his friend, Pardew was packing his bags a month ago. Pardew is as bad as his mates who now employ him. Jol was reported as saying that - I've never seen a quote - but Pardew and Hughton aren't mates anyway so I'm not sure of your point. It's clear now that Ashley never had confidence in Hughton being the man for the long-term. I don't agree with that, but it's an opinion that was shared by many on here. Pardew may have been sounded out some time before, but the overall plan is the responsibility of the owner. It's not as if everything was going well between Hughton and Ashley and Pardew undermined it.

He dealt with the press conference very well. The real test will come when he meets the players but he doesn't seem to lack confidence. Ultimately this is Ashley's decision. We can't blame Pardew for wanting the job. Clearly Ashley didn't feel that he could give Chris a long-term contract and felt that he had to act now.

And who's to say that Klinsmann would be a success? This would be a very different job to anything he's faced before.

It's all a worry. I'd thought we'd finally got some kind of unity at the club, between supporters, players, manager and owner. Now it's been disrupted, for the sake of a strange and unorthodox decision. Pardew will have to bring the players round, and that'll be a very difficult task. I can't imagine what the atmosphere will be like when he first meets the players. I can imagine our most important player - Barton - never accepting him. As supporters, I think we just have to give Pardew a chance, now that the decision is made. Let's face it, we don't know a lot about the bloke's ability. My straw-clutching is that both Hall and Shepherd are backing Ashley's decision, which surprises me.

This is what I had feared. Ashley resents the idea of having to pay off managers who have failed, and wants to introduce the same kind of incentive schemes that he uses in his other business. I don't know about Sports Direct, but my impression is that a lot of these retail chains tend to be hire and fire outfits. I suspect that Hughton was offered a contract at the start of this season, but it wasn't a great one, Ashley feeling that he still needed to prove himself. I would be very,very surprised now if the job didnt go to Pardew. He fits the profile of a manager desperate to get his career back on track, now that his earlier reputation has faded.

Not being funny, but list them for me please. Two promotions, three play-off places, an FA Cup Final, the Football League Trophy. Not Mourinho-esque, but he has clearly shown some ability. My point is that whatever his level of ability, the circumstances of him getting the job will be a big handicap to him in performing the job successfully.

Managers acquire and lose reputations too easily. Pardew has had his previous successes, so it's difficult for us to have a clear idea of his ability. Trouble is, if he's only got this job because he's a mate of Llambias and Ashley, with Hughton pushed aside in an unjust way, then it won't matter what ability he tries to bring to the job. He'll be a dead duck.

I find these discussions about who might be a 'better' manager than Hughton a bit frustrating. Hughton had taken the club forward, was continuing to do so, and even if Mourinho had been available, Hughton should still have been given the chance to keep up the good work, unless there's some issue we're not aware of yet.

Sad and worried, because from what I can see at the moment, this decision is a mistake. There's every reason to have confidence in Hughton's ability to take things forward. I also didn't see any problem with how he had worked with the Board during the transfer windows. There may have been an issue over promoting from within, but that isn't usually an issue that causes a sacking or resignation. Ashley may feel that he had his fingers burned when he had to pay up all the people that Allardyce brought in, and doesn't want managers to bring in their own staff who have to leave when the boss goes. Whatever the rights or wrongs of that stance, I'd see it as something that Ashley needed to accept. A football club is a club, not just a company, and it can't be run in exactly the same way as a normal business.

Ah, now who's ignoring what we learned.

You mean it isn't fucking obvious? Not to me. You never know, if we just wait a few days, we may just learn something. I'm saying this as a big supporter of Hughton. I'm baffled and disappointed that this has happened. If this decision has been made because of supposedly poor performances, then it's the wrong decision IMO. Last time we waited and learnt something you completely ignored it. What makes this time any different? When Keegan walked out, if people had known that it was over one loan signing, the reaction at the time would have been different.

You mean it isn't fucking obvious? Not to me. You never know, if we just wait a few days, we may just learn something. I'm saying this as a big supporter of Hughton. I'm baffled and disappointed that this has happened. If this decision has been made because of supposedly poor performances, then it's the wrong decision IMO.

I rate O'Neill, and I'd have loved to have seen him taking over instead of Souness, Roeder or Allardyce. Unfortunately, I think it's now the wrong time. I doubt whether his drive and appetite is the same as before. Only a bigger job is likely to get him going, and I don't think that'll happen for him now. I hope they've got someone lined up, but I suspect that this is the aftermath of a row behind the scenes.

Could we at least wait until we have a better idea of what's been going on and why? More will emerge over the next few days.

The end result of the last protest was no change of ownership and relegation. Maybe it's not such a great idea.

I'm completely stunned and confused. There's got to be more to this than simply wanting someone with more experience.

You just sense that opposition players look at him on the ball and know that it's worth pressuring him.

Completely dominated in midfield and reduced to hitting it long - and that's not good enough at this level. Our 4-4-2 just didn't get going. I don't blame Hughton, because with Nolan and Barton out, we didn't have any alternative. But they just passed the ball all around us. Carroll needs bringing down to earth. He wasted a couple of good positions by trying to hit shots that Messi wouldn't have attempted. Surprisingly, Campbell was our best passer today.

I'm sure Andy can improve.

It sounds like we were involved in the same kind of horse-trading as everyone else. The only difference was that we felt bound to our informal agreement, and thought others were as well.

Next time it's Europe's turn, we should take the piss by getting the Vatican to put in a bid.

It's a sign that the club feel that he has left his wayward days behind him, so good news. Athletically, he's a great build for striker, being tall, strong and quick. He just needs to work on his reading of the game.

True. He's looked a completely different player since his loan move.