[valpayne]

I can't see much changing with results but as people have said Big D might at least carry some fight but we've had it still.
The question is who next coz if the board mess this up then we could be in even deeper do do and personally the new owners
have no background in this country in football or in wba so I'm worried real worried. I remember how people moaned about JP and i used to say be careful what you wish for
how true was I then and now

[drewks]

Pardew has had both brilliant and terrible runs throughout his managerial career. That has even applied at the same club with very few changes in personnel.

Unlike Pulis he could have been a fit at West Brom', but he presented the wrong pole and the iron filings have been going all over the place. You had to ditch him even though it sadly can't change your fate now.

I hope you can find a man who will win you games in the way West Brom' want to win games. If Paul Cook had played in midfield for West Brom, instead of Wolves, I'd have been suggesting he could win you the Championship with football you'd enjoy (if you didn't mind seeing him in the pub on a regular basis).

Keep smiling, it's three more relegations to catch up with the team I support! You do have another boing in you!

That's a great post. Thanks Devongone!

[BaggieSteve]

I think it's a good job he's gone now as it prevents a potentially messy situation at the end of the season when we've been relegated but he's still hanging on and scouting new players. I really do believe this next appointment is one of the most significant we'll have made for years; I also think it's the perfect opportunity to take the club and it's playing style in a different direction than the last 5 years because we won't have the spectre of staying in the EPL hanging over us, the "stay up at any cost" mentality regardless of how we play. (I'm working on the, possibly foolish, assumption we won't be fighting to stay in the Championship).
As regards who we appoint, just someone young and ambitious will do for me although I think an awareness of good players from the lower leagues would be a help, as I think that's where we'll be fishing. The last thing we need is to sign more has-been players like Barry who are just topping up their pension pots.

[turkeydinner]

Chuffed for you lot!

5/1 Michael Appleton - Long Ball
8/1 Marco Silva
10/1 Mad Mick - Long Ball
12/1 Michael O'Niell - Long Ball
12/1 Owen Coyle - Long Ball
12/1 Paul Cook
14/1 Dean Smith
14/1 Derek McInnes -Perception of SPL is horrific so no McInnes, Lennon, Rodgers or Clarke

An Interesting choice would be John van de Brom (great name!) who has worked miracles at AZ Alkmaar but lacks experience outside Holland

The worrying thing being Gary Monk, Gordon Strachan, and Steve McClaren are all available

[Worldclassalbion]

Whilst I love Big Dave he certainly isn’t the answer in my opinion because he has been a big figure on the touch line recently and made no difference. We need an appointment before the end of the season to get that ‘new manager impact’ if not to complete a miracle but to bring some momentum and winning mentality back before we say good riddance to 2017/18.

Mind you WTF do I know as I thought Pards would do a job.

[4evaabaggie]

Worldclass, Pards did do a job ..... he was a dingle secret agent and it's mission accomplished! A clean pallet and I like the sound of john Van West Brom from Holland, could be a perfect fit .....

[WBA-Josh]

An Interesting choice would be John van de Brom (great name!) who has worked miracles at AZ Alkmaar but lacks experience outside Holland

Interesting suggestion. Has taken AZ Alkmaar to 3rd, 4th, 6th and now 3rd again in the Eredivisie. Would be a very ambitious move but probably out of our league.

---

There is Michel Preud’homme who has been on a year sabbatical and is still being paid by his former club Club Brugge in Belgium until the end of next season. That means WBA would have to pay £2 million for him. He was linked with Rangers a few months ago and held talks with the club and he has rejected jobs in Belgium including the International team (Before Roberto Martinez). He is from the Wallonie region of Belgium (Southern half) so French is his native language but he also speaks Flemish and English so there wouldn’t be a language barrier.

He has a track record of success with Standard Liège, Gent, FC Twente and Club Brugge with the latter being his most successful winning the League, Cup and Super Cup. His teams play attractive football in a Belgian and Dutch version of the 4-3-3 (the midfield consists of 1 defensive holder, 1 central box-to-box, 1 attacking creator and 2 fast, direct wingers).

He could be a good left field option if he’d be interested in working in the Championship.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michel-p...ainer/3729

[drewks]

I just wish our board knew half as much as you Josh; we'd be laughing.
Can't you email them?

[Baggiebob(BBB)]

A smile on my face at last as I've never thought Pardew a fit and never in the building - just a toe. And though there's no chance now, it will at least stem the tide of alcoholism after each defeat, so that's a good thing.

As for a new Manager, and players, look at the lower leagues to find them. As for our players, the incentive of winning seems not to be there enough under any manager - they need a serious sifting, and retain younger players WANTING to win or not being chosen to play.

[WBA-Josh]

I just wish our board knew half as much as you Josh; we'd be laughing.
Can't you email them?

I think I’ll pass on that. The club management has enough on its plate without a nobody fan like myself emailing them ideas.

I’m intrigued by how Big Dave is going to do in temporary charge. If he coaches the same way as he used to play then the players could be in for a big surprise. It’s his first time as a number 1 at a decent level so I’m not expecting too much from him. All I’d like to see is some passion back in the players, a change in personnel with some of our talented young players (Field, Harper and Leko) in the starting 11 or on the bench to get them ready for next season and better passing football with more emphasis on playing through the centre of the pitch rather than just pumping balls into the box for Rondon from out-wide.

That would be all spiffing.