Badger

He was in a constant strop with his team mates at St Mary's this season. Didn't strike me as a team player at all.

That's good in theory but no one has yet identified the up and coming manager that we might realistically attract. Hate to say it but this was also the theory on appointing Pellegrino as well.

Would need to convince him of big ambition to attract him.Not sure we have that anymore.

Wise yes, but during this season I have felt that 'major change' of the playing squad has been called for. Not convinced that Reed/Wilson should be entrusted with it, and wouldn't want to allow Hughes a licence to recruit solely as he sees fit.

Credit to the Stoke board though, if they have firmly identified their target then going back in for him. Contrast this with dither over appointing Puel dither over sacking him, dither over his replacement, then dither again before sacking him. Could also be argued appointing Hughes is the easiest and most convenient option rather than having a strategy in place for identifying a realistic target and and appointing someone as soon as the season ends.

Stoke tried for him in January. He then signed a new three year contract at Derby.

Initial thought was to vote "go", but have reduced this to a reduce influence, perhaps dealing with the issues he was initially brought in for, administering the Academy, and ordering the cones. But nowhere near the first team, and on a significant £cut. Same goes for Ross Wilson also. Only redeeming feature of these two, is relying on Gao's knowledge to recruit anyone better.

Had a review of Oatcake last pm, and found a few Stoke fans saying, as on here, that a lot of Derby fans known to them would be glad to see the back of him, a hoofball merchant. Thought Les was meant to be one of his admirers as well.

Very much as I see it. I was hoping both he and Bertrand would have outstanding World Cups to see the values rocket, but not going to be the case.

As we expect Bertrand to be off, it begs the question why we aren't in for Bryan, never mind releasing McQueen. I'd like to see a replacement LB for Bertrand, and McQueen or Targett on loan somewhere, keeping the other as back up.

Beggars belief doesn't it?

Plus a GK assuming we are able to offload FF.

This name has been on here for some time, and at one point I thought this might have been the bloke we were waiting for. Downside of this though is that he hasn't managed in the Premier League before.

Definitely, in the bleakest part of our season I often felt be glad to see the back of some of many of our side. Staying up hasn't changed that too much.

If he can string it out for another six day, there's a possibility that Jokanovic may want to talk to us.... And when he doesn't, Les will start the search in earnest.

Given our (well, Reed's) record of addressing the shortcomings in the squad over the last two years, yes.

One where he isn't asked to wear the straightjacket Les provides, or rely on Wilson's recruitment policy. But you're probably right, I don't see West Ham or Everton going for him, or Newcastle should Benitez leave.(Matter of opinion whether they are better of course, but probably the only ones likely)

Remember the interview and have been wondering the same. For me, if it isn't nailed down/announced tomorrow then I suspect it will not materialise, and we'll again be left to Les to do what he does best throygh June and into July.... dither, dither, and dither some more.

Wouldn't we be looking at this if we were to sell Cedric?

I thought Curbishley went elsewhere but was a flop on leaving Charlton.

Someone raised an interesting question in the early stages one of the Hughes threads. When has appointing the 'firefighter' who has kept the team up, and then been offered the full time post proved successful ? Not too sure of those who have succeeded but others I can think of haven't turned out too weell. Sunderland - D Canio, and Advocaat spring to mind. Leicester - Shakspeare Of course, Di Canio is a special case, and not necessarily a good example, and Sunderland has proven to be full of other problems (but we have Les Reed making decisions). Hughes can't be faulted in his time with us, has done all the right things needed to rescue us. Longer term? Not too sure given his track record at Stoke, but he might be as safe and experienced pair of hands as we can expect at the moment. If he is appointed I hope it falls into the 'Strachan' type appointment, questioned at the outset but proves a good fit. Out of interest Pilchards, who do you want ?

Good interview by Adam Blackmore.

Any word as to who else is under consideration?

Yes, agree, can see that standing out . Perhaps he'll replace Hughes in two years then. Is it too early to start a new manager for 2020/21 season thread ?

I think the stand out name in the Championship is probably Jokanovic,although rumour on here is that Reed is a long term admirer of Rowell at Derby. Of the overseas 'up and comings' the name in the press last week was the bloke at Red Bull Salzburg who reached the EL semi finals, but of course unproven in a more competitive league. Then again it won't take long for the name of Potter to be thrown into the mix.