Alright, so my biggest criteria for a coach is stability and longevity. No matter how much we all talk about success and trophies, as a supporter of Newcastle (for no real reason, but the heart has reasons the mind blah-blah) I will always vouch for stability over anything.
So I need a coach who
1. Can play beautiful yet practical
2. Has proven capable of handling and using multiple flair/star players at the same time
3. Create a monster f@ckin defence.
4. Be quiet and diplomatic in the media and not say anything dumb. (Ranieri's 'Chinese' democracy, Mou's 'old man')
5. Follows omerta. What happens in the club, stays in the club.
6. Is transparent with his selection policy.
7. Excellent tactician.
8. European pedigree or at least the ability to rough it out in Europe.
9. Not weighed down by the expectations of the club, and is calm enough to do his own thing.
10. Can handle a long term project. (>5 years) And not abandon ship at the first signs of a storm/@ a better offer.
So, now looking at the names around, the results were really surprising. (They're subjective so...feel free to disagree). I'll just put up the names and point out where they fail for me...
Carlo: Fails @ point 6, and does somewhat at 50% for 3,9 and 10. So that means he scores 7.5/10
Spalleti: Fails @ 8 (Roma just doesn't do it!), half point off for (3,4,6,7). Score: 7/10
Mourinho: Fails @ 1,4,5,10 Score: 6/10 (Yes, might be a biased view!) (IMG:
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Frank: Fails @ 10(But only just!). Iffy for (3,6,7) Score: 7.5/10
Rafa: Fails @ 1,5. Iffy at (2,4,6) Score: 6.5/10
Prandelli: Fails @ 8. Iffy at (3,9) Score: 8/10
MvB: Fails @ 10,8,2. Iffy @ just about everything else.
Donadoni: Same as above.
So I think right now, it looks like Prandelli is the best to succeed Carlo (to me). But Rijkaard gets brownie points for being ex-Milanista. Prandelli is ex-Juve, and might like the chance to get a shot at a big club once again. But he doesn't seem likely to come.
So I would think my vote is with Rijkaard to succeed Carlo. Though I would prefer Prandelli for the long term. But Fatih Terim set a bad precedent for coaches who do great with Fiorentina re-building, and then flop at Milan where we prefer evolution to revolution.
This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Mar 10 2009, 10:58 AM