Portsmouth Managerial Speculation Increases
Posted on | June 10, 2009 | No Comments
Blame Dr Al Fahim. He’s taking so long (an entire week so far) to take over the club, that he’s leaving the media with nothing to write about regarding Portsmouth’s move for a new manager. So that’s exactly what they are writing about – nothing.
Today we’ll have a quick look at the attributes and drawbacks of the three main candidates, but first, here’s a summary of what we know so far about their chances of being appointed.
Slaven Bilic – seems to be the new favourite with his agent having reportedly said that he would be very interested in taking over. The trouble is, according to Sky Sports News, Rudi Vata isn’t his agent! That’s a classic, even by the standards we are seeing on this issue at the moment! Another story in the Portsmouth News today has a journalist friend of his saying that, although Bilic wishes to see through the qualifying campaign with Croatia, ‘he believes’ that Bilic would be interested in combining the two roles. It’s done and dusted, then.
Roberto Mancini – is the subject of my favourite managerial non-story so far. An article in today’s News says that, wait for it, Portsmouth have not contacted Mancini over the vacant position! That’s right, there has been no contact. In fact, Mancini’s agent is quite unequivocal about it. “We have not heard anything from Portsmouth. There is no news at this moment.” Wow.
Sven Goran Eriksson – Poor Sven has been left out a bit, but I think I’m right in saying that Dr AlFahim himself said last week that Sven was not on his shortlist.
I refuse to mention the other guy.
Moving on to their strengths and weaknesses, assuming that the eventual new manager will be one of these three (I think it will):
Bilic – seems to have done a very good job with Croatia, although they are struggling to qualify a little this time around. He has played in the Premier League, albeit 10 years ago. The problem for me is that he has never managed a club side, with the day to day involvement and the responsibility for tranfers that this entails. 3rd choice of three for me, although I wouldn’t be unhappy with him given some of the other names out there at the moment.
Mancini – a successful club manager. I think I’m right in saying he won three Serie A titles in a row with Inter. Dr Al Fahim has his own connections with that club, of course. The problem is his ongoing contractual dispute with Inter. If it’s rumbled on this long already, will he compromise enough to allow him to become a Premier league manager? A better choice than Bilic for me.
Sven – I’ve included him here because he would be my choice, so there! Great experience of the English game. Managerial experience here too, and relative success with a City team that was better than it is now. They didn’t want to see him go, and some of his team were talented young English players. The careers of Michael Johnson and Micah Richards have certainly both taken a dip since he left. So, he can spend money, but he can also nurture talent. He is also the only one that is a free agent! I’m not sure I would want my manager going off to manage a national side every couple of months, although you could argue that most of the players are away during those times anyway. I think the Doctor has ruled him out so that other potentially interested parties are not alerted to the requirement to act quickly! Just thought I would join in the speculation.
Anyway, it’s still as clear as mud with two of these candidates tied up and the other seemingly ruled out. I somehow still believe the new manager will be one of these three, but there may still be some twists and turns to come.
As I said, I refuse to mention the fourth guy.
Tags: Croatia > Dr Al Fahim > Harry Redknapp > Inter Milan > Manchester City > Micah Richards > Michael Johnson > Pompey > Portsmouth > Portsmouth FC > Portsmouth new manager > Portsmouth speculation > Premier League > Roberto Mancini > Rudi Vata > Serie A > Sky Sports News > Slaven Bilic > Sven Goran Eriksson
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