Brendan Rogers Please

[Deathy]

People remember what he did for Charlton, but forget his record at West Ham.

He has a better win record than Zola and people see him as doing a good job.

People also forget how difficult it proved to be working under that Icelandic egg head. Pardew was doing a terrific job there until that bloke started interfering. I'm prepared to give Curbs the benefit of the doubt that he too had to deal with interferance, as Pardew did.

With what he did at Charlton and the similarities of them and us, I think it could be a great relationship. Hope so.

[Stranded]

If it were Curbishley then I think we can almost discount his West Ham time. As a club we are pretty much on a par with Charlton size wise (certainly a stronger club than them currently) - he has shown how to succeed at a club of this size and how to survive and to a certain extent thrive in the top flight.

For me, that alone, makes him a very strong candidate for the job.

[Royalwaster]

I agree with Dirk on Curbishly.

He did well at Charlton, partly because of his history there, when he was a hungry young manager. I put a lot of weight in that, and although I think he's a good manager I just don't think he's really what we need. We need invigorating and an injection of energy.

Don't forget it took them along time to get things right at Charlton. I just don't think he's the right man for us right now.

If we'd got him in 18 months ago to tweak Coppell's Premiership squad and keep us moving forward slowly then he would've been perfect. That's not what we need now though.

Spot on - a young hungry manager is the way to go. I hope we get Rogers.

SC wasn't young and hungry, but he still got us to the Prem, so I'm afraid that argument really doesn't wash. As young and hungry often also equates to young and inexperienced = one hit wonders like Incey, Hartson, etc.

[Royal Rother]

Hartson?

I'm thinking you probably meant Dowie....?

[Hoop Blah]

SC wasn't young and hungry, but he still got us to the Prem, so I'm afraid that argument really doesn't wash. As young and hungry often also equates to young and inexperienced = one hit wonders like Incey, Hartson, etc.

Difference between then and now is that Pardew (the young, hungry and ambitious one) had already built the core of a very good squad.

All it needed was a bit of continuity and tweaking to progress it. Coppell was ideal for that job as he didn't need to do too much to reinvent the side, just some intelligent tweaking and cajouling to success.

We're at a stage now when the squad seem to be tired and deflated. We're not on an upward curve that just needs a final push, we're in need of a total overhaul and a new dynamic being introduced. Personally I think a young and hungry manager is more suited to that, or at least one with a more inspiring approach than Curbishly.

[Baines]

Hartson?

I'm thinking you probably meant Dowie....?

Hartson's certainly hungry.

[papereyes]

Ask Brkovic about Hartson being a one hit wonder.

[(.)Boobies(.)]

Ask Brkovic about Hartson being a one hit wonder.

Eyal Berkovic isn't it?

From what I understand, talks are on going with Watford. Rodgers is keen though - very reliabel source.
I'm also led to believe we've also made contact with a Premiership club regarding their assistant manager - I don't know the source that well though.

[Franchise FC]

Sorry for the major delay but broadband has been down since Friday night !!

Now the real story.

I met Ian Holloway at the MK Dons v Scunthorpe game on Friday night and asked him if he'd applied for the Reading job, because we wanted a like for like replacement.
"What, short and balding ?" he said.

He then said that he'd love the job but hadn't applied because he was certain that the Reading Board had already decided who they wanted and that it was Brendan Rodgers.

You heard it here first (well, somewhere in the list, anyway)

[Norfolk Royal]

Ian Holloway being the first person JM rings when a decision is made of course.

[readingbedding]

I'd be surprised if the Watford manager joined RFC.

[Sun Tzu]

By the time he joined Reading he wouldn't be the Watford manager....

Anyone being surprised at Rodgers getting the job would be a bit foolish. I can see reasons why he might not be the next manager but to be surprised by the red hot favourite is bizarre, especially when his credentials are spot on for the role !

Do you get a shock every December 25th ?

[Cookie]

Ian Holloway being the first person JM rings when a decision is made of course.

He's going to tuned into the vibe, the grapevine or whatever you'd call it of the football world. Someone in the game knows.

['lista]

He's going to tuned into the vibe, the grapevine or whatever you'd call it of the football world.

He's got it in his locker.

[phil in cornwall]

He just wants to learn how to do a phantom goal.

[Millsy]

Ian Holloway being the first person JM rings when a decision is made of course.

[Deathy]

Ian Holloway being the first person JM rings when a decision is made of course.

Because football people don't talk to football people who don't talk to football people.

I know you're in an inbred society over there in East Anglia, but ffs!

[Alan Partridge]

Holloway =

[Royal Lady]

I really really don't think it's Rodgers. I can't say this enough.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

I really really don't think it's Rodgers. I can't say this enough.

You could be right Royal Lady - Rodgers odds have drifted from odds on to evens and been there a few days - Curbishleys odds are now drifting, but out of nowhere Tisdale is now 5/1 - latest odds are :

Brendan Rodgers 1/1
Alan Curbishley 11/4
Paul Tisdale 5/1
Eamonn Dolan 8/1
Paul Ince 9/1
Glenn Hoddle 9/1
Gus Poyet 10/1
Aidy Boothroyd 10/1