I could be wrong but I think the Scandi leagues are now very difficult to get players from with the points system. Probably talking pretty well known players from the top sides there, and/or internationals. The bargain bin there will be harder to utilise than years gone by, when I agree it was under-utilised.

The 6-1 dismantling of Roma aside, I'm not seeing much about that which is more impressive than Deila's record in Norway. He also took a relegation threatened side and made them champions. Albeit Knutsen did it a bit faster and won it the season after, whereas Deila finished 2nd the next year before leaving. Stromsgodset have a bigger stadium than Glint, but still much smaller than the big boys over there. Knutsen's achievement does seem a bit bigger, as he did it faster, followed up on it a bit better the next season, and with a slightly smaller club, but there's not orders of magnitude difference in it as far as I can see, mostly it's just more recent. Deila went on to two more clubs in two different countries and won titles and cups there too (albeit not that hard in Celtic's case), showing he probably isn't a one hit wonder. I'm mentioning all of this because there seems to be much excitement at the thought of Knutsen but Deila got a mixed response. I'm probably missing something though.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20194519.blackburn-rovers-announce-gregg-broughton-new-director-football/ Not someone that was mentioned I believe.

Well that's an interesting article. Thing is, if I believed him, I'd say I could understand where he was coming from at the time. Givet, as he is clearly referring to, should never have been refusing to play and let an injured teammate take career-risking injections to play instead of him. Nobody should be throwing cricket balls at the manager no matter how much we hate them. It would all make his words at the time far more understandable (although fans not resorting to violence had every right to throw vitriol at that snake). But, I don't believe him. For one thing, if a cricket ball was thrown at Keane and nearly hit him, I'm 90% sure I'd have heard about it before now. Not the sort of thing everyone except Bradley Orr misses. Not the sort of thing Kean wouldn't mention, or the club wouldn't mention. Not the sort of thing the press would have ignored whilst they were busy villifying our fans and bumming the charlatan. It would have been rocket fuel for them. The only conclusion I can draw is he has made it up several years after the event because it helps his narrative. The man he came out in support of was a fraud and a liar, who antagonised fans. Orr tied his colours to that mast, and that doesn't reflect well on his character either. Nor does his covid violation, where he kept running his business illegally whilst the country was on lockdown. I feel like I remember him being caught in a lie, or at least some arrogant entitled comments, during that. He tried to quote the magna carta or something too, adding evidence he may be delusional. I could believe that Givet acted selfishly, he had a bit of form for it. I can buy that the players downed tools, they were shit although who would be inspired under him? Kean could have walked away if he had lost the dressing room, but no he hung around it like a wet steaming shit on the towels, condemning our great club to certain relegation. Agents ruin football, so I could also believe the part about them telling clients that it would be easier to get them a move after relegation. But because I absolutely don't believe the cricket ball shit, or Orr in general, I can't consider the other things true without verification from other sources.

Win percentages for managers are not a sensible method of figuring out how good they are. That said, the best two spells there are either very brief (Brodd, 4th tier in Norway I believe too) or when managing the only side who had a remotely realistic chance of winning their league at the time (Celtic), so it's extra unhelpful. I'm not familiar with the guy, but looking through his Wiki to get an overview of his career, it seems he did a stellar job with Stromsgodset, taking them from relegation-threatened in his first two seasons (2008-2010), to cup winners in 2010 and champions of Norway in 2013. I don't know much about that club to know how much of an achievement that was, except that it was their first time as national champions in 43 years. So a pretty good start to his career, albeit a couple of years before success came. Off to Celtic for two years, a side who had no peers at the time in a poor league, where he won the title both seasons and the Scottish League Cup once. Hard to judge his time there without being a regular SPL watcher due to the disparity between clubs, but despite the two titles he stepped down end of the second season, to go back to the Norweigan league for some reason, which can only be seen as a backwards step. Presumably because of things like his poor performance in Europe, and losing a domestic semi-final to Rangers in his second season. Didn't excel at Valerenga, finishing 8th and then 6th in a 16-club league that he had previously conquered with Stromsgodset. Then went to New York City FC (not to be confused with New York Redbulls) in Jan 2020. Think the season became disrupted by covid later, but no real success there until winning the MLS Cup in 2021. I don't understand the MLS structure very well, but apparently that makes them the winners of the whole MLS, as they have a playoff after the season. It was the first MLS championship won by a New York club, and it looks like it was after a season in which he oversaw quite a lot of ins and outs, which could bode well here. In terms of other recruitment objectives we seem to have...has worked with a Sporting Director before, at Stromsgodset if nowhere else. Hasn't managed in England. Presumably compensation required. Overall I think his CV reads as 'we could do better', but there's also a solid chance we won't.

So, he's off his tits then. That may help in dealing with our lunatic owners.

It's kind of crazy to leave it til now to start speaking to people in work. Those will take longer to finalise due to clubs needing to give permission and agree compo.

I think an early sale for good money for BBD is the ideal outcome. Getting nothing for him next summer isn't an acceptable result. We also need the money for a rebuild, and it's not much good to us if it only comes in with a day left of the window.

I haven't misunderstood your comment. I was pointing out how little sense your comments made, because they were only relevant if they were still players.

Only 6 weeks? Major improvement on the previous incumbent.

If that's true, the Mowbray excuses wagon was trundling along right up until the last day. That man is incapable of accepting fault in himself. Also shows how much of a bitter prick he is, that he would further erode player belief in the club when we still had 3 out of contract players we wanted to sign on. On top of which, I don't believe him. He would have snapped up a 5 year double your money deal quicker than you can blink, even if they offered him it today. That said, yes the club is organisationally a mess.

Has a saviour complex anyway. Apparently in negotiations to work on the catering team though. Could feed about 5,000 with very little, so Waggott is keen.

Was he playing in the French second tier when you watched him?

Judging by your comments in the other thread, you seem to think Ferguson and Unsworth are still playing. Tyrone, who you quoted, was talking about our imminent gap at CB. David Unsworth has got nothing to do with that unless he has cloned a younger version of himself.

He won't be on the pitch you know.

Thing is, there isn't much left to hold out for anymore. Probably about the best remaining candidates on the market for a club our size would be Dyche (not really realistic), Ainsworth and Manning. The latter two could be good appointments potentially (I don't know much about Manning, mind, just some on here seem to rate him), but they hardly set the pulses racing and are both under contract. We know how Venkys feel about paying compo. I think either they get over that, or we end up with a very disappointing appointment. Which do sometimes turn out surprisingly well but is far, far from ideal. Especially with the state of our squad and budget after the departures. Edit - there's Rooney too I guess, I forgot about him, did a decent job with Derby in the circumstances and has the profile to attract players. It wouldn't be as devastating as if we appointed a no-mark like Ferguson, wouldn't be my ideal pick either though.

I think you mean thank him.

I can see this 'top head hunting firm' thing running away with itself so I feel the need to remind people - that claim came from Nixon, which automatically files it under 'dubious'. For one thing, it would be odd to use a top head hunting firm to find the DoF, whilst simultaneously using a totally different process of inviting everyone to apply and running two rounds of interviews, for the manager role. Which appears to be the process we are following for that. I'm not saying it isn't happening, after all things seldom make sense at this club these days, but we should remember Nixon frequently talks guff and isn't always right by any stretch.

You think they're two of the biggest stars around?

Ok, so I guess you'd also be happy with Tyson Fury as manager?

But, that would be a surprise appointment. Not been mentioned in the press I believe, and not good enough for this club at all. Although I suppose that last part wouldn't be surprising. But why do you expect him rather than any of the other dross that has already been mentioned?

Your optimism won't change the outcome.

So, Stuart Ripley - not even the 'best candidate for DoF who was a winger in the 1995 title-winning side'.

Would fit in with the other jokers at the club.

Borussia Monchengladbach. Farke has been rumoured to be in advanced talks with them.