Next Manager - Ivic Confirmed

They’ve certainly earned those holidays for all their efforts last season.

 

They could stay on the beach for that...

 

The discussion was specifically relating to the suitability of Gerhard Struber. I shall leave the decision of choosing the next first team coach to Watford, but I am sure that there are plenty of more experienced managers who might represent less risk if the primary aim is to return immediately to the Premier League. The reason that I know more about Struber is because I live in Austria and I watched some of Wolfsberger's games when he was manager.

I do not pretend to know much about Vladimir Ivic, but he has been a manager for more than three years. His team won the Greek Cup in May 2017 when he was manager of PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv won the national championship in two consecutive seasons (losing only one game in each season), which is impressive even if the Israeli League is a weaker league than the Championship. His disadvantage is that he has no experience of the Championship, but that was also true of Struber when he joined Barnsley.

I presented other points to counter your arguments and to explain why I thought that Struber's appointment represents an enormous gamble, although his appointment might prove successful. All of us are entitled to our opinions, but I shall support whoever the club appoints and I shall hope that they bring success to Watford.

 

If Andre sends out the invites they’ll be there no problem.

 

Maybe Gray will have a BBQ

 

Seeing the length of delay has been extreme for a Pozzo incoming coach, I can only assume the next guy will not be Ivic. He's available and if it was going to be him I'm sure it would have been announced by now.

Struber is still possible, considering there is a compensation package to talk about, hence the delay, but I just cannot see the Pozzo's paying for a coach, who they will probably be sacking in 3 or 4 months time. I just don't see it.

It wouldn't surprise me if the new coach is someone who has not been mentioned yet. That would be typical of them.

 

6 weeks off then an afternoon to just stretch out and touch their toes and then back to football.

It's only the Championship so we won't need to take it too seriously.

 

Steven Gerrard being linked with the Bournemouth job this morning. Makes sense given how much they deal with Liverpool - they can just hand him over in a few years.

Can’t imagine we are looking at Gerrard so means we may get a clearer run at any targets we have.

(Watch him take Morelos with him if he goes there and then Morelos score 20+ goals)

 

Bournemouth's owners will actually want them to get back to the PL.

Ours are focusing on which cheapo coach to get and how many players they can sell.

 

We will tear up this league with the quality we have.
They should have finished 7th the season before last y'know.
Just need a few £15m signings to strengthen the defence and 100 points could be in reach.
Can't wait to murder the scum twice. Alcacer and Success to both reach 30 goals.

 

Sven Kums to be the new Gianni Munari.
Adrian Mariappa to be the old Matthew Connolly.

Thank you Gino.

 

Very strange update with the bookies. Gotti is now favourite again with Struber's and Ivic's odds drifting.

 

Perhaps he can cover both roles from his base in Udine ? with Garibaldi chipping in ? Save us some wonga.

 

It just proves that nobody has a clue what's happening. A few articles written and the price drops significantly. But absolutely no clear indications at all.

 

Bizarrely, every single odd has drifted today. All of them. I think Gotti is favourite not because his odds have shortened, but because Struber's odds have drifted by a bigger margin.

I had a hunch early this morning that the new coach wouldn't be anyone who has currently been mentioned so far.

 

Because Sky reported it and then when they were wrong they didn't bother reporting that he had signed a contract with Udinese so stupid people have just took a punt on it I assume.

 

Didn't even realise he'd signed a contract..

 

Can you honestly see Gino paying off a club for said manager? No doubt it's going to be somebody currently out of work or soon to be. So your hunch could well be solid.

 

Not official Gotti has signed that contract yet. There’s various unofficial sources carrying quotes from him about it. But nothing verified from what I can see.

So long as he’s officially available, can see why he’s in the odds on a lazy post-season betting market...

 

That would just take the biscuit.

 

If they are serious about structural change as Leventhal has suggested (which I’m not at all convinced he knows) then they should be open to paying reasonable/affordable compensation for a coach they want.

 

Ok but does it sound nailed on?

 

Well you would hope so. But it goes against everything they've done so far regarding manager/coach at Watford. Not sure with any other clubs they've currently or used to own.
Agreed with Leventhal he seems to be just bumbling along.

 

I am beginning to suspect that there is an element to all this of Gino biding his time to allow the anger towards Giraldi, Duxbury etc to subside.

Then appoint a unimaginative head coach and have him work under Giraldi again, Eric Roy leaves but the club never even mention it and the circle turns again....

I long for an exciting appointment and an announcement that leaves fans in no doubt about the structure he will be working in. For me, that’s the only way to get all fans back on board.

 

Morelos won't drop to the Championship surely? Last I saw he was being linked with Lille and surely a PL club would also move for him.

Gerrard and Muff would deserve each other though, the tw**s.

 

I'm just wondering if the Wigan appeal is why we haven't appointed anyone yet. If Barnsley go down then there could be a clause in Struber's contract that reduces his release fee?

The Wigan decision will be announced at 4.

 

Good detective work Sir. Very good points.

 

Gino is waiting to see if Troy leaves, otherwise Troy will continue to manage the team.

 

So the Cristiano Giaretta rumour is to replace Roy and not Giraldi?
Jesus I really need to pay attention. I was assuming that he'd come in replacing the fat useless ****.

 

Were you here for the Chalobah signing? This is basic stuff.

 

More than happy for them to take their time. These players are at rock bottom and need the right manager.

 

That's the spirit

 

So far as I can see, that’s correct. But the Giaretta/Lucarelli things have gone quiet as well - Eric Roy supposedly left at the end of his contract but nothing confirmed by the club.

As far as any stories that affect Giraldi go - so far we have had Leventhal mentioning we are ‘restructuring’ and that may or may not include him going back to a role based on scouting and not being involved in the coaching/tactics etc.

But really, who knows. We aren’t in the throws of desperation yet. However, I just cannot shake the feeling that it’s going to be purposely murky still and we won’t be told who still works behind the scenes and what they actually do.

All I want is an announcement:

‘Watford Football Club are happy to announce the appointment of ________ on a 3 year deal as Manager/Head Coach. He will report directly to the owner/chairman on an interim basis and be responsible for all first team matters.

Further to this, Filippo Giraldi has left his role at the club. A further announcement on the role of Technical Director will be made in due course.’

 

Exactly. Giraldi will still have free reign to meddle, but we will have to make our own assumptions based on managerial changes, incident rumours etc.

Nothing will improve.

 

As has always been the way- with the exception of Pearson.

 

True, although there is nothing subtle about the fat man's influence. It's clear as day. So not sure how they'd expect to get away with it