Rousseau

No, it's not true that it's "another director with a fancy name [...] what a Ckuf up." There's a lot of Ckuf ups around, but our DoF is not one of them. There are many examples of DoF with little or no experience of playing at a high level; just like there are many examples of those that have.

So... I wonder who's in charge for the remaining games? Nicholl? Tin Tin? KEVIN THOMPSON?!

Depends if I'm given authority...

That's not true. I'll leave you to wallow.

No, just little tactical tweaks -- like launching a long ball into our left half-space/channel, as John and whoever is next to him seem to sh*te themselves at seeing it...

Maybe I misinterpreted. I did mention character from the start -- could you not have pulled me up earlier? The structure is irrelevant, though: it's 'settled' -- relatively speaking -- so the only difference is in the character of the individual. It's not the type of authority we can give. It's innate in the individual. Was I just arguing with myself?

Yes, it'll be impossible to replicate Barca football. RB Salzburg have reached the Semi-final of the Europa playing great football; it's based on pace, energy and being direct. They can play possession football, but it's not their first strategy. It's all about being quick on transitions. It's pragmatic in its own way, but still modern. I do think we need our own style, which is traditionally tough defensively, while being pacey and powerful going forward. But, I think there's a way of implementing that within a modern approach. Salzburg have based it on pure energy, but within a modern framework of transition football, intelligent spacing and player positioning etc.

I did say in another post, other than in the job remit. I still don't think you can be given authority, in terms of respect.

Possession-based, yes, but I think pressing has come to the fore now too. Someone also that has an understanding of structure and spacing -- see the way Guardiola sets-up his sides to occupy space, and overload in specific zones etc., and then on the defence too, like keeping one full-back tucked-in to make a three at the back, to cover from counters. Warburton was, but more modern-lite! He didn't have the depth of knowledge, and couldn't deviate from that one play. Pragmatism, yes, but you can still have that pragmatism in a modern guise.

I think you're swimming against the tide. We'll need to agree to disagree. You cannot "GET GIVEN the authority". I'm out (couldn't find a Bannatyne gif...):

I disagree about Delia. He wasn't a 'modern coach', he was a fitness freak; different, and a change from what they have/had, but not modern. You can't be given authority, other than in being appointed. You have to take it. You have that character or you don't. And, even if you don't, it can be gained through winning. I agree about Gerrard.

Of course he's not got a 'footballing' background; otherwise you get a Levein situation at Hearts, interferring all the time. He doesn't actually scout players: the scouts scout the players. The DoF sets the strategy, of the player profiles etc.

Authority comes from innate character -- which none of those names had -- and winning. Their title is irrelevant.

That doesn't preclude a manager with a modern approach. Delia wasn't really 'modern', merely a fitness freak -- even that wasn't that great. Good times...

OK, special in the sense we still cling to that, but not special in the sense that a modern approach won't work (See Them).

You're pigeon-holing, missed my point entirely, seem to think Scotland is some special case, and insulted my intelligence. Great job. Again, my point was: we seem to be looking at a top-class, experienced manager, which would cost too much, or a complete unknown, which is perhaps too big a gamble; it's extremes. A middle way, where we look for an assistant who has worked with a top manager, who's looking for their first foray into management, may have provided a 'best of both worlds' scenario. It was hypothetical. I never called for the appointment of a "laptop manager", but merely disagreed with your perceived pejorative slant. Brendan Rodgers is not "old-fashioned", and I think he's doing alright...

Get in a proper manager and a lot of those 'problems' take care of themselves. IMO.

Who said they were? My point was that it might have provided the best value, including experience, leadership, modern ideas etc. We're looking at a top-class, experienced manager, which would cost too much, or a complete unknown, which is too big a gamble; it's extremes A middle way, where we look for an assistant who has worked with a top manager, who's looking for their first foray into management, may have provided a 'best of both worlds' scenario. It was hypothetical. I take it you're going with the Scottish media's pejorative slant on 'laptop manager'? It's a positive term in Germany... We need to stop pigeon-holing. Just because someone likes stats, doesn't mean that's all they look at. If a football club is not using stats in some form in this day and age, then something is far wrong. it's part of the problem that we are looking to go "old fashioned". The game's moved on; we have to move with it.

Now that I think about it, we should've been looking at a top quality assistant to appoint as our manager; someone that's involved with a top manager, that brings new, modern ideas. It offers more value than going after an unknown.

I'd take Buvac in a heartbeat -- he's the brains behind Klopp's Gegenpressing. Can we have Gerrard and Buvac as joint managers? Or Buvac as #2?

Oh... that proves it: Bad decision!

Yes, but clearly lacking when he doesn't have Bale in his team. Just saying.

Murty should never have been given until the end of the season -- to the end of the year was too long. But, he was, so we'll need to put up with it until the end of the season.

Perhaps.