If not Billy, then who?
The club have apparently decided to 'move on' in their search for a new manager, and sent poor Billy Davies back to Preston with his tail between his legs after some misguided comments that suggested the ball was actually in his court. Obviously the big question the fans are asking this morning is, "if not Billy, then who?". It is certainly making for a lively betting market.
It does create the possibility of a rather worrying potential scenario playing out....Dowie indeed chooses to head back up North, whilst Colchester persist (as is their right) to prevent Parkinson from talking to us, which pretty much leaves us back at square one. Based on everything I've read and heard about Adrian Boothroyd, we should be constructing a complex swap deal involving 8-10 of our squad players (Jeffers, Johansson, Fortune etc..), but somehow I don't think the Hornets board will play ball.
All of this (again) leaves me surprised that one of the most qualified candidates remains a rank outsider, on Betfair at least namely George Burley. With all the boardroom shenanigans going on at Southampton, the Scot would surely be chomping at the bit if Charlton approached.
Worryingly both Sammy Lee (untested, uninspiring) and Mick McCarthy (tested, uninspiring) remain solid 3rd and 4th favourites right now, and I'm confident that the club will not be offering jobs to either which suggests that if they can't get (or choose not to get) any of the Dowie/Parkinson/Burley triumvirate then they might just infact be about to spring an almighty surprise on us. Whisper it quietly, but Martin O'Neill anyone?
It sounds outlandish, but thousands of pounds have been gambled on him becoming the next Sunderland (!) manager at odds of less than 2-1. Come on Martin, you know it makes sense.....the Cutty Sark, the Thames Barrier, Millennium Dome, Wing Shing Chinese restaurant.....you are probably salivating as we speak.
posted by New York Addick @ 1:09 PM
6 comments
Charlton are certainly keeping very quiet on all this and are leaving it to all the perspective candidates and thier employers to do all the spouting off.I liked the idea of Davies at first, but my enthusiasm has cooled over the last day or so.After all,he never actually got Preston promoted after two attempts, which may show that his teams tend to run out of steam at the end of each season.Just what we don't need!I reckon the Charlton board really want to speak to Parkinson and are giving him enough time to put a bit of pressure on Colchester.As for O'neill,why not.What better way to get yourself back into the game than the friendly and excellently run CAFC!
You'd have thought after observing the Sven debacle, Charlton would learn. Looks like this is going to be another Sven-esque nightmare and God forbid we end up with Iain Dowie or someone like Mick McCarthy. Davies would've been exciting in the mould of Aidy Boothroyd. So does this mean Sammy Lee is back in the running? Are we big enough for O'Neill? Methinks New York you should send in your application again...
I think Dowie would be a reasonable appointment (my very first post-Curbs blog suggested as much), but I'm a little concerned about this North vs South family issue. It must be hard to be fully-focused in this situation.
With many fans in the process of considering whether to renew their season tickets, I'm confident the Board will be wise enough not to appoint McCarthy, Hoddle or their ilk.
Dont forget O'Neill's family home has never moved from High Wycombe, despite all his moves around the country. Secondly, Murray has changed the management structure, the first time in fifteen years that the club could even think of doing that, so with a General Manager, ex-agent, Andrew Hill, and Les Reed still around, do we need a normal UK type of manager, rather than coach of the first team, al la Sammy Lee?
Personally, I really don´t want Dowie - we may lose a lot of season tickets over this if appointed... Davies excited me so my perception is that we still have someone better in mind. I don´t think the structure will be complex (Mills to have a short shelf life while setting things up), and whoever comes in will bring their own assistant manager and coach.
Is O´Neill in the running? If not Celtic, Geordies, Boro, England, and anyone else, why Charlton?
If I was betting today, I think I´d go for Sammy Lee, with an announcement when he is out of England duties after the B game, but don´t rule out a complete surprise (from abroad).
I'd definately like to see O'Neil in the driving seat... Highly capable to bring fame and fortune to the Club and possibly the best Man to attempt to fill the huge shoes left by Curb's!
McCarthy - NO! Please!!! We'd be playing in the championship the following season.
Can't wait till the 30th!