I've always felt MON would be a good choice to replace Harry as next Spurs manager, way before he took over at Sunderland. I think he's the candidate who would keep things most similar to Harry than others. A few reasons why:
He's British. He would maintain the English contingency which I like. I wouldn't want to see us turn into Arsenal or Chelsea and lose our identity, with a foreign manager coming in. I'm not saying they're all like this, but naturally under a manager from another country it's more likely to happen.
Similar levels and patterns of success. If you look at his career at Villa it's not too dissimilar to Harry's at Spurs. He came to an underachieving Villa side near the bottom of the table and transformed them into a top 5 side. During that spell he got Villa to a Carling Cup final, like Harry at Spurs, an FA Cup semi final, like Harry at Spurs, got them into the top 3 position with 51 points after 25 games, eerily similar to Harry at Spurs. He generally got Villa performing the best they had done for ages and earnt home and away wins against big teams, like Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United. Sound familiar? Only difference is Harry made the CL and reached the quarter finals, though you would have to say the Spurs side he's had was a lot better than O Neill's Villa side ever was. MON now appears to be following the same trend with an underachieving Sunderland who again were near the bottom of the table.
Plenty of Premier League experience. Unlike other possible candidates, he knows the PL better than most. He has actually won more Manager of the Month awards over the last 5 years than Harry.
I know this is premature, and I'll look like an idiot with this article if Harry doesn't take the England job. Perhaps I look like an idiot with it anyway. However I think it's inevitable Harry will take it, and for me MON would be the ideal replacement.
Thoughts?
MON anyone?
posted on 9/2/12
If he picks a lot of the Spurs players you could fool yourself into thinking England is Spurs in disguise
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Im slow Spurtle..but not that slow
posted on 9/2/12
he even had a go at a section of our support last season
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Chronic, that's one of the things I was remembering when I questioned this "love affair" which seems to exist. The reality has been that he is not a Spurs fan, although in fairness, he doesn't need to be and has never claimed to be, and he has frequently undermined the fans - comments like "what are they moaning about, this is as good as it gets" spring to mind.
I hope this doesn't sound as if I'm anti-Harry, because I am almost certainly his biggest fan, but I just don't buy into this he wouldn't take the England job talk, because I am sure he definitely would.
posted on 9/2/12
I don't know whether MON would leave Sunderland for us- he always strikes me as being his own man and not being swayed by what everyone else would view as a step up.
He was a Sunderland fan as a boy and imo will want to try and "complete" his job there.
For whats its worth I think Harry will go, realistically I doubt the FA will be in a position to make any announcement on a successor until early March (after the shortlisting and interviews) - if its Harry (likely) the key for us is whether its an immediate appointment which would be a disaster or a delayed appointment for May 14, (the final squad doesn't have to be announced until May 29) and he would get two friendlies under his belt against Norway and Belgium before the France game on 11 June.
Clearly the second option is better for us in the short term and you have to think that Levy/Mills etc will be pushing for this..
If it is this scenario we would need to keep the focus on Spurs and the remaining 10 odd weeks of the season as much as possible, although English opposition players better watch their step
posted on 9/2/12
I dont want MON. Has to be a big European name for me. To attract the calibre of player that would push us on that little bir more, and that will keep Bale Modric etc happy.
And yes Spurcat, when offered the job, there is 0 doubt in my mind that Harry will take it without hesitation.
posted on 9/2/12
A big European name for me too Chronic. The thing is that Harry's achievenments with us have raised the benchmarkand some of the names mentioned like Rodgers, Pardew, Hughton, Moyes etc, fall some way short of that.
posted on 9/2/12
Rodgers, Pardew, Hughton, Moyes
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1. Rodgers - i respect what he has done with Swansea, and he can finish the job there and I would happily send Caulker back there next season to work with him. He hasnt worked with big name players
2. Pardew - no, not for me.
3. Hughton - love the guy, hes doing well, maybe one day, but not yet.
4. Moyes - no, perfect fit for Everton and doing a great job there.
All of the above managers are too much of a risk. This decision is crucial as we are at that stage where I think we either push on, or we move backwards, we wont be standing still. Crucial appointment and has to be the right one.
For me Levy has to go all out for Mourinho.
posted on 9/2/12
The ones I'd be most happy with are Mourinho, MON and possibly Hiddink.
Then you've got the ones below that who might be good but I'm usure about like Moyes and Ancelotti.
Then there's the ones that I think we should avoid like Hughton, Rodgers and Poyet,
posted on 9/2/12
poyet can do one after he defended luis suarez in the racism stuff.
posted on 9/2/12
Chris Hughton is doing outstandingly well at Birmingham, but he and Spurs have had their time together and he never got the job then, so he's not going to get it now. Rodgers is flavour of the month these days, but so was Coyle a year ago, and look how he's struggling now. Plus Rodgers had an absolute stinker of a spell at Reading. Poyet is nowhere near good enough and never has been and Pardew left Reading and Southampton under a cloud due to his off field "activities" with players wives.
So that leaves us with Mourinho etc. Despite many peoples reservations as to whether he would come to us, I believe he would. He still retains property in London and he would see us as a challenge. The fact we have a new training ground nearly ready and a new stadium hopefully on its way soon, plus an excellent and improving squad, would make us an exciting opportunity for him.
posted on 9/2/12
Ian Holloway anyone?
likes to play open expansive and attacking football and loves talking to the press!! A shoe in for 'Arry!!