Ok so when you said 'vast experience of that market' shortly after mentioning 'different parts of Europe', the market you referred to was just Norway.

Yep. When you have someone who is quick, they can get on the end of that at even longer distances.

Of course, winning is the be all and end all. But in modern football, it's a lot harder without pace. Watching Rovers the last couple of seasons has shown me this squad doesn't have much else in its locker when it doesn't counter attack with pace. Sure, we will recruit, but if that's for a different approach we will still end up with half a squad who can't play it.

Does he? I thought he just had a little under 5 years experience of Norway. Not sure that translates into 'vast experience' of the whole of Europe.

Ahh ok, so Giles wasn't played out of position? He's a right-sided forward is he? Bradley Johnson is a natural false 9? 'Start' to play players out of position...he did it through most of his tenure. Gally, Bennett and Bucko at RB, Dack as false 9, Rodwell as CB where he hadn't played since he was about 18, JRC at LB, two big lads on the flank with a little fella in the middle. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

We will look very pedestrian without the pace of Rothwell and Khadra if we don't replace it.

Is it? He won the Swedish title a couple of times with one of the biggest teams in Sweden. It's decent but it's not all that impressive. Nothing compared to what Knutsen did. Malmo have won the most Swedish titles and the most national cups. Prior to that he got fired after getting Dutch side Roda relegated. Mowbray had won the league we actually play in, reached an FA Cup semi final with a Championship side and had more experience than JDT does when we signed him. This is not a defence of Mowbray of course, but JDT's CV really isn't all that impressive.

I suspect he will be released next summer when his contract expires. Without making an appearance for us. It's probably a testament to both of those things.

Exactly. It's an advantage, but it's a secondary or even tertiary consideration.

Absolutely. I don't see promotion as being remotely on the cards this season though.

Sorry, yes, you're absolutely right. I nearly phrased it differently to include about Kidd having been a successful player and assistant too, but it seemed superfluous as I forgot about Bowyer. I think it's a little bit different when someone has been handed the reins on a caretaker basis first and shown they can handle it. Otherwise appointing Bowyer straight to first team boss would have been a bit batshit. Then again, even then at least he would have had the advantage over the likes of Carrick in terms of knowing the club. I still wouldn't do it though, as some have advocated doing with Damien Johnson.

I was being general, as Kidd has come up a few times lately as Joe said. I'll take your word about the specific reference. But it's still a fair point for Sparks to make - it's close to irrelevant whether a manager won trophies as a player. Being a great player doesn't make you a great manager, but some like to talk as though it does. I prefer to judge managers on their management.

Yes, it's in reference to the rumours (and recommendations, from some batshit fans) about the likes of Ferguson, Carrick etc.

So what you're saying is Rovers need to have a shower and put some makeup on. Maybe wear a nice dress.

Not the point being made. Of course most managers are ex players and someone has to give them their first job. It shouldn't be us though. It's too much of a risk, too much of an unknown.

Both of those had actually managed though. Ince had even had success with MK Dons. That's why Kidd is being brought up, he's the most recent example of us giving someone their first senior management role.

Bacuna always seems to cause us problems. Dunno if Josh Murphy is as good as his twin. Flint is getting on a bit now but might be good for a season.

Lol!! Yeh, sure, ok.

Nor good assistants. Those are the two contexts in which Kidd is brought up as an example. It's not to say they can't be successes, either. It's just for when people talk about prospective managers with no managerial experience and talk like a great playing career and/or being a number 2 at a big club compensates for that lack of managerial experience. It doesn't. We shouldn't ever appoint a manager who hasn't managed. Let other clubs take that risk. Sometimes they'll reap the benefits but more often it will go wrong.

It would be nice to think that, but there is no real logical basis to think it. The process alone shows we are still a mess.

I very much doubt Venkys spend enough time thinking about us to scour the forums.

Difference is, Brentford actually know what they're doing.

There will be some players available in Europe that meet the points requirements, but the fact is most of them won't. The realistic market is smaller than it used to be.

Every time any club appoints a manager it's a gamble. Almost everything in life is a gamble of some sorts. There is a difference between being a small gamble and being a big gamble. It's a non-point to observe that all appointments are gambles. We know that. It's the degree of the gamble which the poster is questioning.

Having looked over JDT's 'CV' today, my verdict for now is it would be...an ok appointment. With as much chance of going wrong as going right. A mostly unknown quantity really, but with some experience and success at least, unlike absolute gamble appointments like Ferguson or Carrick. With how dysfunctional the club is, the position our squad and staff are in, I think we needed better than ok though. A Farke, Carvalhal, Knutsen or even a Deila would have been better options for me. Of course, we have tried at least 3 of those and 2 have gone elsewhere, probably due to our offering shite wages, budget and flexibility though. But it's hard to know how much chance we really had to land the first two over the clubs (and money) they went to without making excessive offers. Acting months ago may have helped, mind. I think we should be able to do better than JDT (in terms of CV) but if he's what we get I'll see how that pans out. We have to wee with the willy we've got, as Souey used to say.