NJS

De ja vu, for the fourth time. Possibly - though I think if you did rate them then Souness and Allardyce could have been long term/top 4 appointments. Roeder was never that which is why it was so daft imo.

I'm seeing Redknapp as a man to stabilise and improve us up to a decent level over 2/3 years - we can then get someone in for the next step - this hopefully fits in with his age/retirement.

While certainly not a disaster on a Sounessesque scale I can't help but feel we could've done better. Still he'll have my full backing and hopefully he can surprise us all, one big plus side is that it seems he was the man Ashley wanted for the job and so will have his full backing. We could have tried for better, not 100% convinced we could have got better though. I think trying to be positive that it does count for a lot that he is Ashley's choice which should see full backing which can be questioned if not the case. My view is that if the realistic posters are right and we couldn't have done better then hopefully Redkapp will improve us to the point where we wouldn't be seen as a joke by "elite" managers. This would take UEFA qualification/sniffing at top 4 in my view.

Thats exactly how I feel - Redknapp and Allardyce aren't/weren't bad Shepherd era appointments - but in the supposed brave new Ashley world they are small beer imo.

Hmm - for a so called "British hero" I'd forgotten he was a Kiwi.

It is but I would add that this "commuting" angle does worry me.

I think the possible levels above us are: Stage 1: Get to Everton/Villa/Man City level - ie battle for 5th/6th/7th every year - some years yes/some years no. Stage 2: Make 5th "our position" - maybe miss out in some years, maybe punch above our weight into top 4 occasionally (I think we got here under Bobby) Stage 3: Pretty much always top 4 but stretching to win it. Stage 4: Challenging the bastards. With Redknapp I think stage 1 is doable - maybe even this season at a push but certainly next year - the year after or maybe 2 years for stage 2. Being optimistic I think he could possibly get to stage 3 but here's where time goes against him unless he had an apprentice (Shearer by then?) No chance of Stage 4 with him imo. If we're happy with that considering the possible transfer backing then fine - lets enjoy it. As I said I think we could have done better but I'm reasonably happy.

I think the reactions to Souness and Roeder were in the context of Shepherd with a limited (though generous) budget - its the waste of the chance to spend big with someone up to it that actually makes me feel this is more disappointing.

I agree but still feel disappointed - we have a billionaire chairman and that was a chance to go for it - now as I said the bar is set as 5th for me.

If he wants top 4/title he has to think bigger - Mourinho or Hiddink. Do you really think Mourinho would be interested? Surely he could have any job he wanted, why Newcastle? What's Hiddink up to these days? I think the challegne would appeal to the arrogant twat - I also think Bobby would put a word in. Hiddink is manager of Russia - I'd be happy to get him pending the Euros and leave Pearson in charge until then.

If he wants top 4/title he has to think bigger - Mourinho or Hiddink.

To me Ashley has now set his level. Forget the title, forget top 4 - settle for good football with a probable perennial UEFA cup place battle. I think the added and unseen cost of buying the club has dampened his ambition.

So is that the same person as Akabusi on here? Someone on NO claimed it was. Maybe if someone told me what it said I could help you?? Don't think so - theres a poster called Kats whose bloke is a journalist for the Sunday Mirror and he's texted her saying Redknapp has accepted - use of Ashley's jet as sweetener - will be in papers tomorrow. The big hope is its a wind-up.

Anal extract:

I meant wanting to win every game is not a bad starting point - something Allardyce failed to realise. I don't expect "gung-ho attacking" - as I've said elsewhere I want football combined with practical ruthlessness - I don't know who would bring it but my opinions are fuelled by a certainty that Allardyce wouldn't have.

Keano?

I agree - they had a "ruthless bastard" approach to away games which I liked (and hoped Allardyce would bring) but on top of that their home approach was excellent. I remember my ideal being Dalglish making Keegan's team into ruthless bastards - it worked in his honeymoon period but then he stupidly decided he wanted "his own team".

Total bollox that like. It's the performances/decisions which were booed. The fans want to see a team play to win. If they lose that's okay as long as they were trying to win. Ah right. So if we have 30 shots at Derby and lose 2-0 we wouldn't be booed? Bollocks. Just joke-fans thinking we should beat everybody we play. I wouldn't say it was a majority, but a sizable percentage. I doubt we've had more than 30 decent shots this season - thats the core issue. Also I remember years ago whinging to my my Dad about Emlyn Hughes saying that Liverpool should beat everyone and win everything - "Whats wrong with that?" was his comment.

Hang on If you can't take it, don't give it.

Ah the casual racism of the musically tasteless.

"Brutality" Especially the "small-town mentality" jibe. Bit harsh on Cacapa and Enrique though

I'd also add that the press speculation reflects their view of us as a "big but not that big" club - its up to Ashley to hold two fingers up to them on that score as well.

Taking into account Ashley's ambition of PL/CL titles, appointing the Redknapp brigade would seem to be nonsense - in the context of what he wants from the club in terms of success/return on investment he has to be going for someone stupid. That's my optimistic angle.

Yeah good piece - my only comment is that he never explained what this "5 year/long term plan" was so I have doubts it existed.

In the cold light of day my "they must have someone lined up" optimism of last night has been replaced by Shepherdesque deja vu.