OUR NEXT MANAGER?

[ivoralljack]

Reading that Potter was offered a salary that would have made him one of the highest paid managers in the division. I also read that he was offered assurances about money for transfers. IF this is the case then it is doubly sickening that he still opted to bail out, particularly to a club that will likely struggle next season. (And it is my fervent wish that they do!! ) So what about all the fine words when we gave him his opportunity? What happened to the rebuilding project? What happened to the 3 year plan to return to the top flight? What happened to the empty promise that 'I'll be here for as long as you want me?' Just more lies and hot air; something we fans have had more than our share of in recent times. So what next? Do we appoint another liar prepared to ditch us the moment it suits him?

Of course the problem is that football is full of liars; people who will tell you anything to get what they want before dumping you for something 'better'. It's how the game is nowadays. Some of the names being mentioned include Cameron Toshack; Chris Coleman; Michael Flynn; Chris Hughton; Tony Pulis: Slavisa Jokanovic; Gary Rowett and David Wagner amongst others. Then there are dark horses such as Mark Hughes and the Cowley Bros who have a good record in the lower leagues.

We all know that we need a manager who will embrace and develop the Swansea footballing philosophy, so some of the above would appear to be non-starters. My own choice? In a dream world I'd love to see Michael Laudrup return with the Cameron/Richards duo as his backup. As I said, dreams. But of the remainder I tend to favour Jokanovic who had Fulham playing some dream stuff before he hit a bad spell and was sacked. Of course, any suggestion means that the manager involved would be prepared to take on the poisoned chalice that Swansea City has become under its present owners. And that could be a big problem.

But, whomever we choose, I hope some provision will be made to include Toshack and Richards to groom them for the future because they are responsible for producing many of the youngsters now performing so well for us. Just some quick thoughts of mine to kick off the thread. Other views warmly welcomed.

 

[Jackflash]

Exactly Ivor, he's not the first manager to say "They'd have to drag me out kicking and screaming."
As you say there would need to be an understanding between first team manager and academy as we ain't going to be in the buying market so actually he should be guided by Tosh and Richards inasmuch as this is the sort of football you should be looking at, as these are the players your going to get.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

First order of business on Monday is continuity and preparation for next season. There is now a gaping hole in football operations. In the interim, or in a worst case scenario of no viable candidate coming toward, Curt has to be recalled and teamed with Toshack. But it has to be done on Monday.

One piece of solace, when Martínez walked we picked up Sousa. Although not everboydy’s favorite, I always thought he did an excellent job with what he inherited. Remember not only did we lose Martinez, but 40 goals disappeared as well with Scotland, Gómez and Bodde .... so our total damage from Potter’s exit is not yet set. Where is our new “Sousa”.

 

[Jackflash]

I would assume one way or another we are now looking a James's departure.

 

[jackodiamonds]

Jesse Marsch looks a good option for me.

He's 45, ex—NY Red Bulls (set new team record for points when they won MLS I think), and is the current Leipzig assistant manager. However, he's apparently in charge of tactics and training there, so he's effectively the actual manager. Thing is, Julian Nagelsmann is set to take over the manager's spot in Leipzig this summer, which would push Marsch into a more conventional assistant role, which he might see as a step back.

He coaches aggressive, attacking, hi-tempo, high-press football, succeeded under financial constraints at NY, likes to concentrate on youth development and believes in morale/chemistry/team-building, and as an American is the US marketing home-run the owners wanted Bob Bradley to be.

Ticks a lot of boxes, and the Bundesliga is arguably the closest to the British game outside the UK so he should be able to adapt. "Assistant at a mid-weight Bundesliga team leaving to manage a Championship club" looks like a plausible career move too.

Top trivia: as a player he was drafted by Bob Bradley to play for DC United. SK & JL have got to love that...

 

[ivoralljack]

To add insult to injury it's being reported that Oli is wanted by both Sheffield United and BRIGHTON!!!!! A figure of £12 million is being touted. Any thoughts?

 

[Yankee_Jack]

To add insult to injury it's being reported that Oli is wanted by both Sheffield United and BRIGHTON!!!!! A figure of £12 million is being touted. Any thoughts?

Time for Oli to walk his talk

 

[Jackflash]

To add insult to injury it's being reported that Oli is wanted by both Sheffield United and BRIGHTON!!!!! A figure of £12 million is being touted. Any thoughts?

If those are genuine bids then I think we can say goodbye to him as well, we could well witness our worse fear over the next month or two of a fire sale.
What manager in his right mind would come to this club?

 

[Jackflash]

To add insult to injury it's being reported that Oli is wanted by both Sheffield United and BRIGHTON!!!!! A figure of £12 million is being touted. Any thoughts?

If it's true then it really reads ' Potter wants James & Mcburnie. (for starters)

 

[CroJack]

Where is our new “Sousa”.

Here:

He managed Kongsvinger in Norway.

"As a modest club, we have to think differently to find our way," he says. "We prioritised economy and decided to use youngsters to turn things around. Developing local talents instead of buying players elsewhere became a priority. We stopped paying big salaries to players, but rather spent the budget on our staff, including physical trainers and a chef."

Naturally, the changes did not take effect in a positive way immediately. Kongsvinger were relegated to the second division (the third tier) in 2013, but in the midst of more struggle, a second unusual decision was taken when the club brought in unknown 34-year-old coach Luis Berkemeier Pimenta in September 2014.

Pimenta, who speaks seven languages and moved to Luxembourg at the age of 5, followed a long line of Portuguese managers who have never played professional football themselves, including Carlos Queiroz, Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas and Leonardo Jardim.

"I understood quite early that I don't have a talent to be a footballer, and my dream has always been to become a coach", he tells ESPN FC. Thus he studied high performance coaching in Lisbon and sports psychology at John Moores University, where he helped with analysis at Liverpool's youth academy.

While in England, Pimenta met two young Norwegian coaches -- Leif Gunnar Smerud and Haakon Lunov -- and when they joined Honefoss (who had been promoted to the Tippeligaen in 2011), they wanted the Portuguese to join their staff. Pimenta, who had worked as an assistant at Belenenses' under-17 side and contributed to Queiroz's academy, saw that as a step forward.
Three years later, he would be in a managerial job of his own. Kongsvinger came calling as Nystuen was able to pick his own boss.

"We took a chance at Luis, but that was within our strategy. We were looking for a young and ambitious coach for our young players," Nystuen says. "During our conversations, we liked the way he thinks about football."
"On the pitch I am Espen's boss, and in the office he is my boss," Pimenta said with a smile. "It was good for me to come towards the end of the 2014 season when we had no chances of promotion. I got to know the team, and we laid the foundations for the next season together."

Those foundations were well built. Kongsvinger became unstoppable in 2015, winning their group in the third-tier by 20 points and enjoying a perfect home record. And in 2016 season, the club's meteoric rise has continued as Kongsvinger outscored all the teams in the second division, with 56 goals in 30 fixtures. They finished fifth after losing just twice since early July, qualified for the promotion playoffs and have a decent chance of going up again. Not only that, they did so with adventurous football that brought a lot of support from neutrals.

"One of our goals was to build an identity. We want to be able to implement different styles, but want the ball all the time. It is important to entertain the fans who come to watch us," Pimenta says, "When I came in, most of the people in the stands were of older generation -- those who remember the good days in the 1980s and '90s [when they would be fighting for the Norwegian Premier League title]. Now we are creating a new generation of supporters who like this team."

The backroom staff are working well together, too. Pimenta and Nystuen seem in perfect harmony, and the fact that both were born in 1981 allows them to be closer to the players, while assistant coach Goncalo Pereira is just 27.

"There is a short distance between directors, coaches and players, and that helps to create friendship within the squad. We work in a very good environment," Nystuen insists. "Luis has a great talent for coaching, a clear strategy and a strong mentality. Temporary setbacks don't affect him. He is an attack-minded coach who wants to dominate every game."
Kongsvinger may have been expecting a good league run, but their sensational cup form came as a huge bonus. They met lower division sides at earlier stages, but were drawn away against Stromsgodet in the semifinals, which was supposed to be the end of the road. "Stromsgodset won all seven home semifinal fixtures in their history, while Kongsvinger lost all four semifinals in their history -- the last of them 20 years ago," Pimenta says.
The task was immense, but they won 2-1, and the young coach was in tears after the final whistle. "It means a lot to all of us and to the region, and beating such strong opponents proves that we are doing something right," he says. "To see a local kid, defensive midfielder Harald Holter, assisting another local kid, right-back Fredrik Palerud, to score the first goal was amazing."

 

[ivoralljack]

Very, very interesting but would anyone at the Liberty have the foggiest idea about them? And I include Trevor Birch. Mind you, it might be a leap from their present level to succeed in one of the toughest divisions in world football. Btw, I must admit that they are unknown to me as well although, were I working as a DoF, I would know all about them.

 

[KVetch]

I don't think the team gave Potter any assurances about the roster. I'll bet the assurances were more like there would be £5 million after James, Oli and every other starting XI player was sold. These owners are classless and stupid. They really screwed up with James in January. Letting Fer and Montero go. I'm holding out hope that owners will sell the team this summer.

 

[CroJack]

it might be a leap from their present level to succeed in one of the toughest divisions in world football.

Who knows? Football is football. Potter has proved that you can be successful if you play a proper style of football even with a half of the squad from the U23. And there is a huge leap between us and Manchester City and we should have beaten them in the FA Cup.

Higly respected and experienced managers can fail as well. I'd rather have this guy or Cowley brothers than Big Sam and Pulis.

 

[Jackflash]

Is there any point in bothering who our next manager will be?
Whoever he is, if he's successful he'll have the stars sold from under him in the first window. These money orientated yanks have no interest whatsoever in the long term prospects of our club, just bleed it of every penny it produces.
Maybe another video should be made, 'From a King to a Jack.'

 

[CroJack]

Had a little chat with Luis and he is interested.

"Hi CroJack,

I see you have been reading some things about my football ideas and what I stand for.

Here’s another article in England that you might like (not only about me, but other promising coaches):

The 10 best managers in Europe you've probably not heard of... yet

Swansea would be an interesting project. We share much in our philosophies. Money has never been my priority.

Do you manage to get the contact details of the owners or sports director? Then I could hear their ideas from them."

"Hi Luis,

First of all sorry for my delayed answer. Had some family business in the past couple of days.

I've read all articles about your work at Kongsvinger and I know a bit about football in Scandinavia because I live in Copenhagen. I have been Swansea City supporter for over 30 years and I am a member of Swansea Supporters Trust who owns 21% of the club's shares.

I really think you should immediatelly get in touch with Trevor Birch who is the Chairman of Swansea City AFC and have a chat with him. You can find his contact info on the club's official site.

What Swansea need right now is a young manager with progressive ideas to continue the good work Graham Potter has done in 2018/19 season. We have many young talented players and we play high tempo, passing and attacking football. Passing from the back, vertical passing, quick transitions etc. You get the picture. That's our DNA. Martinez, Sousa, Rodgers, Laudrup and Potter all played so called Swanselona style of football. Inspired by Barcelona and now Pep's Manchester City.

Please, call Birch and tell him all about you.

Best regards and good luck.

CroJack"

 

[CroJack]

Very, very interesting but would anyone at the Liberty have the foggiest idea about them? And I include Trevor Birch.

I doubt it. According to bookies Cameron is now a huge favourite for the job.

What do you think about Cameron as our manager?

 

[Jackflash]

I doubt it. According to bookies Cameron is now a huge favourite for the job.

What do you think about Cameron as our manager?

It hurts to say it, but does it really matter, If it was Pep Guardiola, the fact that he'd be I handcuffs would make him
very little different to any other. They have already proved this with Potter, a possible budding Pep. but refused him players they thought not suitable. Potter took a lot of stick for leaving, but honestly can we really blame him? I don't think Premiership management was his ulterior motive for leaving, probably more for stability in a job. Where he would be allowed to progress the team rather than coaching it for financial gains at the end of each season.I wish him well, as he deserves better than he got with us. If Premiership management was his aim,then in a year or so's time I'm sure he could have done a lot better.
As for Cameron as next manager, I think we could do a lot worse, knows the squad and style of play,but we are all aware of what he would face in the coming season. A lot of the writing was on the wall in Birch's statement, money problems. This so called £30M hole must now be close to being accounted for, parachute payment, James sale, big reduction in wage bill, considerable reduction in non playing staff, etc. etc. But I still feel the downward spiral will continue under this ownership. The Millions of pounds that the club has received since they took over has basically disappeared.

 

[ivoralljack]

I doubt it. According to bookies Cameron is now a huge favourite for the job.

What do you think about Cameron as our manager?

I've already said that I think he's a coach with promise given his success with the U23s. As @Jackflash said above, he is immersed in the type of football that we need to see and would provide a certain degree of continuity. Whether or not this is the correct time to appoint him is something about which I'm not sure but I definitely think he has the ability to become a good coach at senior level. It also doesn't hurt that he has his dad to use as a sounding board when he needs some advice. We aren't going to appoint a 'name' coach, so I guess he has as good a chance as anyone.

PS: reading this morning that Shefki Kuqi is VERY interested in the post but we do need someone with decent experience.

 

[Behindthegoal]

Cam must be a lot older than his Dad was when he took over.

 

[Jackflash]

Shefki Kuqi ! now there's a name that brings back some memories, and smiles.