Kid Icarus

Don't think there's been a DoF linked that I'd say no to tbh. Just purely based on their players, the type of football I like, and his very strong link with Howe, I'd go for Michael Edwards, but Michael Emenalo, Henrique, Ralf Rangnick, and Luis Campos are all basically the best DoFs out there aren't they? Should probably be looking at Tony Jimenez as well like.

Chuffed that watching that mic'd up session 27 times hasn't been for nothing

Northern Echo claiming that Michael Edwards is the leading candidate. Good to see that that names being thrown around are all elite level.

Looking at that article it seems that Michael Edwards is the leading candidate for the DoF role and it seems like no one really knows how Graeme Jones fits in. Not sure why it isn't being asked why he's been promised a role, mind. Seems like an odd promise to make.

Didn't Ashley sell them and then whoever got them sold them off for charity or something? Would love to get some that are backlit.

Can definitely see that happening when Ritchie starts

Just goes to show how much it's often about being the right fit or right place at the right time. No one would have had Moyes where he is after Sunderland or before his West Ham renaissance.

Yet Ranieri won the league with Leicester and finished 2nd with Chelsea, semi finals of the Champions League, won the Copa del Rey and the Coppa Italia and it's fine that he's not rated that highly by anyone either.

1) Antonio Conte 2) Jurgen Klopp 3) Pep Guardiola 4) Thomas Tuchel 5) Rafa Benitez 6) Marcelo Bielsa 7) Brendan Rodgers 8) David Moyes 9) Eddie Howe 10) Sean Dyche 11) OGS Have to be honest and say that I can only really rank the managers I know or have watched enough to make a proper judgement on and most of it's to do with the type of football I like to watch really.

Arsenal are being very Arsenal

I know circumstances have changed, but I wonder if we'll bring Leif Davis home at some point.

I know everyone's all there's no excuse and all that and the performances have been poor, but drawing away to Palace and Brighton, and losing at home to the European champions at home isn't just not bad, it's good. You'd think he was Steve Wigley with the amount of stick he gets

I know the performances have been shite, but picking up points away to Palace and Brighton (including being robbed of a win) and losing at home to Chelsea since Bruce went doesn't sound all that much of a bad base to improve upon, let alone impossible. All 3 teams are much better than Newcastle's.

I thought you all rated Potter/Brighton? Surely a point against them is good considering we're totally shit?

Am I right in thinking Jones was coach of the squad that just got to a World Cup semi and a Euro final? ie is he really that important outside of his job as a coach?

It really does sound like the Celtic situation, that's the thing.

Think it's because Emery just very recently pulled out of a deal with Newcastle and Howe pulled out of one with Celtic like. Don't think it's an Ashley thing.

I still have this weird faith that Isaac Hayden's going to turn into a much better footballer and I'm not sure why.

I'm absolutely buckled

I didn't rate him either but the last few years I've been impressed with him every time I've seen him. Big personality in the England group too. If it is definitely going to be Howe, then full backs are going to be really important you'd think.

Still can't read Jamie Reuben without immediately thinking of Jamie from the band Reuben

Was that not King Dawson? I always mixed them up, but some of the outlandish ITKs were funny.

His work ethic and especially that work ethic about learning more about the game rather than just pure graft is a huge box tick for me. Howe might end up being a complete disaster, but having someone who puts the work in to the point of obsession and is likeable is a really important thing and was a big part of why it was easy to give Rafa a lot of leeway when things weren't improving straight away. Him getting involved in the community would get a lot of people on his side as well, every little thing like that helps. It was hard for Rafa with certain sections of our support at times and that was someone with an excellent CV to point at, so Howe might need everything he can get if he doesn't hit the ground running.