The managerial shortlist

[Pragmatist]

If candidates had been successful at previous clubs they wouldn't entertain the idea of coming for an interview. Our best bet is someone that has been underestimated in his work with an average or below squad and dumped. Other than that it's a lower league poaching gamble

Or achieving well with a bang average squad. 

Ladies and gentlemen…. John Eustace.

Would ask the question what has Eustace achieved to date.

If we are going down the road of a more pragmatic approach, personally I would like to see more than he has done at Birmingham and Blackburn.

Blimey - what a bizarre post. He has punched massively above his weight at both clubs despite both having clown owners at the time. 

What more exactly do you think he should have achieved at either club?

No doubt he appears a safe pair of hands at this level. But is he more than that, not enough evidence either way. For reasons beyond his control he hasn't had chance to show what he can do over a whole season. 

When we appointed Corberan we knew he could manage an unfancied club and get them to the play offs. Eustace hasn't done that yet. 

So when I ask what he has achieved to date, it's not an unreasonable one.

Well he didn’t fail to reach the playoffs at either Blues or Blackburn. He was very harshly terminated at Blues when he had them in the playoff zone, and Blackburn are there or thereabouts now.  Both with h fancied teams which points to an ability to get the most out of his playing resources.

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Former Young Boys and Chicago Fire coach Raphael Wicky into the betting now from nowhere. Can’t say I know anything about him.

There was noise around him becoming Sunderland and Burnley boss in the summer with both clubs denying it - sounds like his agent likes to talk him up and link him to any Championship job going.

Managerial career looks a bit ropey - nothing really worth writing home about, but again, fits the expected background of being a coach first and foremost.

I really hope we steer clear of Pep Lijnders, yes he's an intelligent and highly regarded coach, but has a track record of pissing people off and being an absolutely atrocious manager - anyone who can get Salzburg 10 points off the top in a league where their budget is basically bigger than the other 11 teams combined should be avoided like the plague!

Agree - anyone but Lijnders for me. 

Pretty sure Young Boys won the league under Wicky?? But it is a pub league.

When he managed Basel to the Swiss title they beat both City and United in the Champions League.  Clearly has something about him.