GM

Paulo di Canio's first touch was pretty spectacular. Especially the one on Paul Alcock.

You're such a card.

Amen to that! Best man for the job i say. Of course that's the way it should be. I have a feeling our new board will have the competence to think outside the box. They dont strike me as people who will have narrow minded views on big decisions which would effect the future of the club. None of this Geordie nation bollocks.

Marcus, maybe.

I personally would want Klinsmann over Shearer. Like Parky says, he would have far more contacts which are vital in finding plyers. He's got a bit of experinece on a massive stage and been successsfull and has implemented a good style of football as well. Shearer is such an unknown quantity and i's rather not risk thenew found stability we have at the club on a complete unknown. Its begging for failure in my eyes. The thing that irratates me with Shearer is that he seems to be waiting for the job, fully aware that his hero status will always propels him to the top of every new managers list there is at the club. If he has a style of management, i want to see it implemented at a different club before he takes ours. Sorry to be flogging this horse to death but what's to stop Klinsmann turning into another Gullit? I can well remember people being temporarily enthused about his promises of "shexy football, yah?", only to become equally disenchanted as they are now with Allardyce not too many months afterwards when he fell out with Lee and Shearer. Ain't no such thing as a guaranteed recipe for managerial success.

Aye man - just to be clear, I'm just saying that I fear it would be unpopular with a large section of the fanbase, possibly also with local press as well...not saying, nor would I ever say we shouldn't appoint a foreign manager (if he was German, Italian, South Korean, whatever matters not to me, just so long as he has the ability to inspire the players, the fans and the board that he is the right man for the job.

In that "Goal!" movie, which lacked credibility before the off, the piece de resistance was the fact that the coach was clearly meant to be a German. I mean...as if! In all seriousness, we do probably need to look abroad - although you'd always want to find a British managerial gem, it's clear they're thin on the ground (to wit, the appointment of Capello to the England job).

So why is he failing in the league in England? Maybe it's actually harder to win games in the Premiership than in La Liga.

That was years ago now. Give NSG a break, ffs.

Think the best have already been mentioned. But I'm wondering whether David Beckham should get an honourable mention as well...

Who?

Codswallop. He is moving back to Europe. I have it on good authority was sounded out for the Spurs job before Ramos and the Chelsea job when Mourinho left. He's played with and under some great managers and players and he's also reagarded as the man who turned around the German public who were fast losing interst in a boring national side. He loves attacking footie. "Besides playing for German clubs VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich, Klinsmann played abroad for Internazionale, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Sampdoria. During this time he was under the tutelage of such coaches as Arsène Wenger and Giovanni Trapattoni, among others." Shearer might be able to do the job who can tell. But imo a silly and unnecessary risk to take given our new found financial stability and club management and behind the scenes ongoing improvements. I'd accept the French grandad (Houllier) rather than Shearer. Now he's moving back? So i was right! I'd have Houllier, but i'd prefer the board go for someone we've never heard of, take a massive chance on the worlds most up and coming whoever that is. Ideally they should take strong advice and 'look outside the box' before the next appointment I agree. I'd like someone from South America, bring a bit of samba style or Argie technique to our club, maybe even a Mexcian magician. Sao Paulo have won the league in the last two seasons, no idea who their manager is though, how old, previous record etc...But it would be nice to bring a totally fresh approach, not just to our club, but possibly the league. Having Julio Geordio as manager would be excellent

The German thing is a bit narrow minded, why would nationality come into it? It shouldn't do, but I fear it still would.

Sounds ideal fodder for us then.

I could say that about the vast majority of the squad, in fairness, but it's never going to happen and I can't help but feel we've got unrealistic expectations of the types of players who should be currently playing for us. Well, precisely. Do you think we can get better than Martins, Owen and Viduka? Probably not, in all honesty. Well I believe we can certainly expect better levels of fitness, technique and effort from our strikers.

When have Germans ever been successful at SJP? Or come to that matter, given a proper chance at being successful? Maybe it's a generational thing, maybe people would be OK with the idea, but I can't see it.

Not as good as Klinsmann or your French man imo. At what? Attracting quality players and also knowing the hidden gems around Europe etc..... Who were the hidden gems Houllier took to Liverpool & did well? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=264163&root=england&cc=5739 Err...Baggio's your man. I'm more Klinsmann. Which hidden gems has Klinsmann ever found? He hasn't had a chance yet has he? The core point being top players will hear him out if he approached them to play for us. If he hasn't had the chance then how can you say he'll know the hidden gems out there more than Shearer? Cause he's played all over Europe? Managed a national side. Has contacts in Germany, Italy and England. Little bit more than smug face Shearer eh? Stop being silly. Sorry, but how is Baggio being "silly"? He's simply pointing out a logical inconsistency in your argument. So you think people won't pick up the phone if Klinsmann calls? So you think playing and having a big reputation in the game across Euro won't help him as a manager? It's about opinions and that is mine. Kilinsmann would be a better bet than Alan Shearer. Outside of England no one gives a fuck about Shearer. Fair enough. I shouldn't have to prod you like this to get you to explain yourself properly. That said, a German manager at NUFC? Just can't see it happening.

Not as good as Klinsmann or your French man imo. At what? Attracting quality players and also knowing the hidden gems around Europe etc..... Who were the hidden gems Houllier took to Liverpool & did well? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=264163&root=england&cc=5739 Err...Baggio's your man. I'm more Klinsmann. Which hidden gems has Klinsmann ever found? He hasn't had a chance yet has he? The core point being top players will hear him out if he approached them to play for us. If he hasn't had the chance then how can you say he'll know the hidden gems out there more than Shearer? Cause he's played all over Europe? Managed a national side. Has contacts in Germany, Italy and England. Little bit more than smug face Shearer eh? Stop being silly. Sorry, but how is Baggio being "silly"? He's simply pointing out a logical inconsistency in your argument. So you think people won't pick up the phone if Klinsmann calls? So you think playing and having a big reputation in the game across Euro won't help him as a manager? It's about opinions and that is mine. Kilinsmann would be a better bet than Alan Shearer. Outside of England no one gives a fuck about Shearer. Fair enough. I shouldn't have to prod you like this to get you to explain yourself properly. That said, a German manager at NUFC? Just can't see it happening.

Not as good as Klinsmann or your French man imo. At what? Attracting quality players and also knowing the hidden gems around Europe etc..... Who were the hidden gems Houllier took to Liverpool & did well? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=264163&root=england&cc=5739 Err...Baggio's your man. I'm more Klinsmann. Which hidden gems has Klinsmann ever found? He hasn't had a chance yet has he? The core point being top players will hear him out if he approached them to play for us. If he hasn't had the chance then how can you say he'll know the hidden gems out there more than Shearer? Cause he's played all over Europe? Managed a national side. Has contacts in Germany, Italy and England. Little bit more than smug face Shearer eh? Stop being silly. Sorry, but how is Baggio being "silly"? He's simply pointing out a logical inconsistency in your argument.

In your opinion. I think we'd have done a lot better with Bellamy in our team, especially after Souness left. For one we wouldn't of bought Owen, that alone is a huge reason why Bellamy's sale was a massive mistake. Benefit-of-hindsight-tastic. Regardless of the miserable saga his signing has become since, surely you can't be pretending that you weren't excited by the prospect of Owen & Shearer up front when it became a possibility? Isn't that what this thread is about? Every sale is in the past, don't have a go for a fact i cannot change. Yeah. Sorry mate.

In your opinion. I think we'd have done a lot better with Bellamy in our team, especially after Souness left. For one we wouldn't of bought Owen, that alone is a huge reason why Bellamy's sale was a massive mistake. Benefit-of-hindsight-tastic. Regardless of the miserable saga his signing has become since, surely you can't be pretending that you weren't excited by the prospect of Owen & Shearer up front when it became a possibility?

Not as good as Klinsmann or your French man imo. At what? Attracting quality players and also knowing the hidden gems around Europe etc..... Anthony Le Tallec? Bruno Cheyrou? I'd say winning trophies was a better reflection on how good a manager is, not what hidden gems he bought. Just to be clear, I was being sardonic when suggesting these two players. And yes, trophies are an indicator of how good a manager is, but it's not done us much good over the past few years.

Seems like Sir Bobby just can't help himself - it must be hurting him badly watching the sort of football Sam's churning out week in, week out - and I'm sure he must be thinking "If only..." and wishing he could take the reins himself again.

Not as good as Klinsmann or your French man imo. At what? Attracting quality players and also knowing the hidden gems around Europe etc..... Anthony Le Tallec? Bruno Cheyrou?