Badger

He was certainly an appointment that Lowe did well to avoid after Hoddle left.

Zola would be preferable to Pearce, who like Platt, Bryan Robson etc continue to live on their playing reputations. Zola can also string a more coherent sentence together in English which always seems beyond Stuart Pearce.

I suspect Tisdale was sounded out by MLT and Pinnacle and thats as far as it went.

An alternative theory: NC speaks to Zola shortly after the Orient debacle as there 'might' be an opening for him. We win at Rovers on Saturday. Sunday :NC phones ZOLA "hey,Gianfranco we won so we can't do anything just now..." Z : "perhaps we'll speak again in a day or so.." Monday 3AM : Mrs Cortese awakes to find the head of a dead horse at the bottom of their bed 8AM : NC tells AP he's on his way...

I think his managerial pedigree is questionable. But can see it happening, unfortunately. Would preferred to have retained AP to be honest.

I was told its on Friday, but as I'm out of area, that is third hand info really.

I don't understand why he would be compelled to sack APand two of his team in these circumstances. An answer to the question I raised, below, might go some way in explaining it however. Someone earlier in the day suggested AP and NC had a major row on Saturday before the match about a potential transfer. Anyone know anything further on this issue ?

Perhaps he'd rather manage Bradford before coming to us. If we are going eastern European then lets bring Ivan Golac in.

But who exactly are these 'staff' at Staplewood, so intergral to our future, that NC jeopardises our prospects this season ? Notably,no one is saying the players were p!ssed off with AP etc.They are critical to our success, other 'staff' may not be.

And the GK after 1.43minutes !

Surprised no one saw fit to post that earlier. Unless they did and I missed it as I was away.Perhaps someone can post me a link to the spotting of MON after the Orient game if posted previously.

I have been reserving judgement on this, but am drawing a similar concludsion.

Article states : Really ? I'm not aware of any, although have been away for two weeks.

O'Neill Keegan O'Driscoll is indeed an interesting suggestion. I would not be surprised if Shearer's name is mentioned. After that the rising stars are: Howe Tisdale. oR Lee Clark, lets bugger up Huddersfield's chances whilst we are at it. Please not: Turdishley Zola Svenis or Southgate.

Timing is a bit Rupertesque, ie sacking Luggy after a win.

We've exceeded 50 posts, surprised Dalek has not been on here to suggest Hoddle.

Seeing your avatar - it must be a divine message from above - has made me realise Branfoot is coming back.

I'd put him in the same category as Tisdale.A good up and coming manager, but NC is unlikely to appoint a manager to build over a couple of seasons. He is more likely to appoint a name, possibly a 'proven one' such as Zola or Turdishley.Neither of whom I would want, and I'd prefer Howe or Tisdale to either of these frankly.

Enough ££££ and surprising how that might change his view.

Zola achieved less at West Ham than AP did.No knowledge of L1 and would be a backward step. Turdishley can f^ck off,a slimey creep who once did a good job at Charlton but on the 'West Ham scale' is probably below even Zola. O'Neill would be an outstanding recruit - but not likely. Coppell might have been NC'S NO 1 target twelve months ago but could'nt hack it at Bristol City. Tisdale is an up and coming manager, but probably not what we immediately need.

Ridiculous decision and even worse timing. Agreed.

Indeed I agee

Good, lets hope he realises that he can play in a better venue than their shanty town stadium, and that Blackpool is a dump by the seaside. AP/NC should have no problem convincing him his career prospects are better served on the south coast. And then tell him the story of Matt Piper who chose not to come to Saints.That'll sort the bugger out.

Barnard scores 4-0

guly on