rangersross

No, of course not, but this one of the best points of comparison we've got. It's clearly not easy to evaluate AZ's performance in the Eredivisie in a way that indicates how he might get on here. It's a lot easier to draw conclusions from the Europa League because we're also competing in it this season. I don't think a Rangers manager has had such a poor result in the EL since Caixinha. This wasn't years ago, or in some far-flung competition, it was two weeks ago in a tournament we'd be asking him to lead us in. The nearest comparison I can think of is if we were seriously considering an up-and-coming SPL manager (e.g., someone at Hearts) and, after leading 3-0 at HT, he'd lost 4-3 in the cup to Dundee or even Patrick Thistle (because the financial gap between AZ and Zrinjski is probably closer to that) a couple of weeks before we were going to speak to him. I don't think it would be unreasonable to go "he's been doing well but, Christ, that result's a worry", and I don't think the fact Wenger lost a game in 2011 changes that (per ForeverAndEver's post).

You don't think him delivering a result that poor, with a squad of roughly equivalent value to ours, in the very same competition we're competing in this season (less than two weeks ago) is relevant? You really think the context we get from that is only as applicable to our current situation as an EPL score from 2011?

Because all losses are equal… Are you saying we wouldn’t be fuming if we lost a Europa League game after going into HT with a 3-0 advantage against a side that’s spent about 30% of what we have? This was less than two weeks ago.

In his most recent ‘big’ game, their Europa League group opener, he was 3-0 up at HT but lost 4-3 to a side that isn’t even top of the Bosnian league.

The main thing Muscat has going for him is that he’s got a very clear style, has had some success with it, and would obviously try to apply those principles here ASAP. Even more than results, the thing that made me want rid of GVB and Beale is that we never seemed to be building toward a style that would consistently break down SPL sides. Gerrard had that and, when we peaked during 55, we were borderline unstoppable.

Correct - and even then they’ve only been able to get him when his career’s on the slide. If we could get someone with that level of EPL experience, it would only be after a couple of big failures, which would be a risk in itself.

But the loss I'm talking about happened in the Europa League against Zrinjski, a smaller club that's probably spent ~20% of what AZ have on their squad. It would be like us being 3-0 up against Aris at HT then losing 4-3.

Really don't think we can appoint Jensen knowing that, in the last two weeks, he's turned a 3-0 lead into a loss within 45 minutes. Especially as it happened in a competition we're competing in. Imagine if that happened here. He'd be dead on arrival.

I've watched highlights of a few recent AZ games - because clients can't really expect me to work the day after we sack our manager - and I wouldn't say they have a particularly strong style. They beat Fortuna 4-0 yesterday, but invited a lot of pressure in the first half, and were lucky to go in ahead. If teams sit in a bit more (e.g., Vitesse) they do look a bit vulnerable on the counter (a concern for us) but usually manage to create chances by shooting from distance and/or individual players cutting inside the box (I think Sakala would've suited his style really well). The most concerning thing is their performance in the Europa league. They basically went blow-for-blow with SK Brann (4th in Norway) and then managed to lose 4-3 after being 3-0 up at HT against Zrinski (4th in the Bosnian league):

Interesting we're putting so much stock in Sam Lammers's opinion.

I bet the club would say they're continuously succession planning, but I'd be very sceptical about that. It seems like they kicked out of neutral and into first gear just after the OF loss (by reaching out to Muscat, Eustace, and who knows who). I hope we were just casting a wide net at that stage because if Eustace is on a shortlist, it doesn't give me much hope!

Hard to argue with the logic. Bisgrove will definitely have an eye on advertisers. We've also had successive boards with little/no vision, so they naturally just revert to "what worked before" to play it "safe", which means they might think 'well, last time we hired a high-profile, ex-England international midfielder it worked out alright'. I think Lampard would be interested too.

To be fair, it's not like fatso invented that style of play, he just successfully implemented it in Scotland. It sounded like Muscat was their preferred option to replace him but their tramp owner stepped-in and insisted on his weirdo pal Brenda. It wouldn't bother me in the least to "copycat" the approach if it brings us success. On the other hand, what does worry me greatly is how poorly Muscat did in Belgium, and that's not even a freak occurrence when the whole club was doomed, because the managers either side of him had significantly better win %s.

Sometimes you can tell the answer someone wants from who they put the question to. My concern is: if you ask Ally, you probably know he's going to answer McInnes.

I think the links to Eustace in the Daily Mail 4-5 weeks ago were too random not to be based on something. Particularly as they came from a sports journalist who mostly covers English football and doesn't just write clickbait. I'm sure it was just an early, tentative enquiry, but it makes me think we're further into the process than we might think. Similar reporting from Australia around Muscat at that time too.

Hilarious that The Daily Record is pretending to have any kind of inside knowledge on Potter or the club - they know less than us. We couldn't afford his salary. We know that, his representatives know that, and he knows that. That's why I doubt it was even a conversation. This isn't an endorsement by any means, but I think it'll ultimately come down to Muscat or McInnes, and the former will get the job because appointing DM would piss off supporters.

Beale over Potter? Mental.

Can’t see him leaving for Scotland when he’s doing so well in the Eredivisie.

I still don’t feel like the people leading the club have drawn a line under 55, because they haven’t been able to develop a new vision for success, and appointing Gerrard’s assistant was the latest (and hopefully last) embodiment of that long-running issue. Despite our ongoing failings in the transfer market, we have players - in Butland, Cantwell, and Danilo - that you can build success around. I’m excited about the prospect of genuinely moving onto a new chapter. I think we probably need a good DOF to help us figure out what’s next because it’s a lot to ask of a manager alone.

Looked at it half an hour ago and PP had Muscat, Potter, and Marsch as the top three.

Get a DOF in ASAP to lead the recruitment process. That guy’s going to have to work in double time, but we need someone with a vision to find a manager who can work with him to implement it.

I think people have unrealistic expectations on who’s going to step-in at a minute’s notice and manage us for two games. We’ve previously had the likes of Murty, McCallum and Durrant in this position. You’re not going to get a top-tier team in place - it’s guys who are immediately available, in our immediate network, and motivated to help the club.

Totally acceptable interim team, as far as I’m concerned, gives us a bit of breathing space to get the right guy in.

Davis leading the interim team - interesting.

At least there are rumours spreading in the last hour or so that he’s away. Probably rubbish again but I’m going to cling to whatever hope I can get.