Gianfranco Zola - Ex Manager

Zola

So if this takeover happens, would anybody else be displeased at Zola becoming our new manager? With the correct backing and recources avaliable I truly think Dyche could do just as well.

 

I would be pleased that the future of my club is a hell of a lot more secure than it was. Whoever is manager would have my support.

 

I'm cool with Zola. I'm cool with Dyche. I'd feel sorry for Dyche but at the end of the day I'm a Watford supporter not a Dyche supporter.

 

We're probably jumping the gun a little with this thread, but I personally would not like to see Dyche go. I've heard of the Zola link through other channels, but it doesn't necessarily mean that Dyche would be relieved of his duties.

But we have to face facts, the club as it is now will radically change from top to bottom once this takeover is complete. I don't see many key staff members remaining, although this is speculation right now.

 

I would be pretty disgusted to be honest.

 

Obviously I will welcome anybody who can give our club a sustainable, secure future. I'm sick of almost going under every year.

That said, I will be gutted if they got rid of Dyche, he did a magnificent job and I think he could be an absolute legend. He deserves a statue, not the sack. It would prove they have no idea what they are doing if they did get rid of him.

 

The one benefit I can instantly think of is Zola has a much higher profile and reputation in world football. I'd imagine that any fancy Italians etc we're likely to get will be more motivated and excited about playing for a legend like Zola as opposed to a balding ginger bloke with a voice like death.

I think it would be incredibly harsh on Dyche who has done a pretty magnificent job under such hard circumstances. I really think he's proven himself to be a fairly hot prospect as a young manager and I'd be really interested to see what he could achieve with a bit more spending power and pitch that is capable of supporting good football. More than this though, he made this team feel like a "Watford" team again and deserves great credit for what he achieved with so little.

I'd be very disappointed for Dyche if he was moved on as part of this deal, it'd be a real shame. But equally, I can see the thinking behind Zola - and I think he'd probably do a decent job. There are definitely worse managerial prospects that they could go for over Zola, a guy who is massively respected in football and has experience at a high level already.

So I guess to wrap it up, I'd be disappointed for Dyche, but equally, fairly positive about what Zola could bring us.

 

It's just that whole 'having to start again' syndrome. Just like we had to at the start of last season..even more so actually, as at least Dyche was there before.

It'd take any new manager time to find his feet, whereas under SD we are ready to go, with at least the foundations of a decent side building plus a big knowledge of all the players, senior and academy.

I'm not saying that a 'bigger' name wouldn't ultimately achieve more success (though how well would Zola know our league?) but personally I'd like to see Dyche given the chance to build on last season, obviously with better funds to spend.

 

Dyche deserves a chance, he's earned his role this year, but as long as we don't get T.B.I. I'll be happy

 

Personally I wouldn't want Sean to go. IF the rumours are true and the 'new' owners have attended a number of the last home games, then hopefullu they will have seen how well Dyche has come on and seen the ethos of the club. If it's the accademy model they are after then Sean has been involved with that from the start.
I am just very nervous about all of this. I am sure it is for the good bt why did GT leave? If he thought it was going to be good for the club he has at heart would he not have stayed on? Believe me I only want what's best for the club and I am sure if we all sit tight then things will iron out but at the moment I am quite nervous for 'lil old Watford'

 

I agree with this 100%. We've had to rebuild a new side too often recently, it would be nice to keep some continuity - especially since last years team didn't finish far off the playoffs

 

I would be furious.

 

+1..

 

I know I was never that pro-Dyche until near the end of last season..so in a way I guess I'm a bit of a hyprocrit..

I guess I just remember the Vialli era. Big name ex Italian international coming to us on the back of a relatively successful spell in charge of a big London club (he won the FA Cup as a manager, after all)..me getting very excited at how we'd soon be in the big time ourselves..and Lawro on Football Focus commenting on the day it was all but confirmed he was coming 'yes but does he know much about the Championship?'

 

Then why not have both, as SD would be invaluable with his knowledge of the Championship and WFC, and as said in the post above, Zola would raise the profile of the club, making us more attractive to a better quality of player!!!

 

Exactly my sentiments.

 

I (like so many other people) had a massive turnaround of opinion on Dyche last season. Fairly sceptical to begin with and by the end of the season I was pretty much hailing him as our saviour. I think at the very least he should be given the opportunity to prove himself with a financially secure business and a bigger transfer and wage budget. If he doesn't meet expectations, that's a different story. But let him show the Pozzo's what a weird little ginger man can do.

 

If it happens, Dyche won't be short of job offers. He did a fantastic job in difficult circumstances, and received a fair amount of media recognition for it.

 

Not really the point though, we all asked where Malky and Brendan's loyalty was? Dyche is a former captain who has worked his way up to be Manager. As Dychey himself put it, "Loyalty works both ways."

 

Dyche has done a miracle job on last season for us to finish in the top half of the table... but

1, will he be able to handle the pressure of having a higher level of expectation on the club if more money was about?
2, Will he be able to bring in the players that the owner would see fitting for the club (if the budget was there ofc)?
3, Handle a team of higher profile players, at present he has got a team to over perform and to work 110% for each other... will he be able to do that or have the knowledge to do so.


In an ideal world I would hope to see (if any off these rumours are true ofc), that Zola would take on a *Head of football role* and Dyche still be the manager. So at least we had the higher profile person within the structure but Dyche would still be able to prove himself.

That being said this is all whispers from the pub (as nothing is confirmed).

 

Wouldn't mind Zola at all. Dyche as assistant if he would be willing.

 

It's almost as if he knew what was happening and was saying 'Oi, I'm doing a pretty good job here already by the way.'

 

Perhaps but he does have a point.

 

http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=361216

Gianfranco Zola is to return to the bench, in England. Magic Box has received a proposal for four years from Watford, so much so that his lawyer at this time is in London to define the details. The operation appears in the pipeline, expected developments in the coming hours.

 

Pretty much what I suggested then, in my earlier quote, glad to see we agree

 

Let's just hope this doesn't end the same way it did when Vialli was in charge if it all does go through. I like Zola and thought he did ok at Wet Spam considering it was his first job as manager. I do feel that I will be disappointed if Dyche does go because he did a superb job last season (although I personally wasn't thrilled by his appointment).

 

I would rather carry on with Dyche and build the club up slowly. Too much success would be expected from Zola straight away. And as already mentioned, how much does he know about the Championship?

 

I don't care what happens to Dyche. His life expectancy at our club is 1 more year at best. If he goes or stays, I will support the boys 120%

 

A few people have raised the spectre of Vialli with regard to the possible appointment of Zola, should the proposed takeover go through, but that was a completely different scenario and bears no comparison, as the main problem back then was the collapse of the "Squarial" TV company, their name escapes me right now?

 

Im not so sure the new owners would want to replace Dyche when they come in tbh. If anything couldnt they see keeping Dyche on as an attractive option? I mean, no one else presently at watford knows the club or the championship like Dyche does and he has been heavily involved in the development of most of our young players starting to come through the ranks like Murray etc. Not to mention the way Dyche turned the team around after a poor start to the season and if the new owners are so keen to develop young talent than presumably that wouldnt just apply to the playing staff only

 

Italian press seem to think this would be pozzo's first priority

 

Surely where it is a reasonable comparison with Vialli is Italian, big name ex Prem League manager, sacked and out of work, who has never managed in the Championship? That was the point I was trying to make when comparing, rather than anything to do with the finances.

No slur intended on Zola, who seemed to equip himself fairly well at West Ham. But I'd be nervous of removing a manager who knows the Championship and finished top half without much money to spend to be replaced by somebody with no experience of it.

 

Zola isn't Vialli. I don't think there's a shred of arrogance in the man. Unlike the bald headed uber**** that is Vialli.

 

I'd be pretty devastated and worried if he sacked immediately, more rumours coming out now, please no.

 

Some players Zola and Gianluca Nani signed when they worked together at West Ham. It's not pretty....

Luis Antonio Jiménez
Frank Nouble
Fabio Daprel*
Manuel da Costa
Benni McCarthy
Mido
Ilan
Tristán