15 May 2026 22:48:45
John I'm going to aim this at you if you don't mind.
I heard and posted on here at the time that when AC and co first took over, they wanted Steven Gerrard. Talks happened but it never went through.
Then after Martin, they apparently tried again. More talks took place but Gerrard said no again.
The reason they were so keen on Gerrard, from what I heard, was because he's the only manager in recent times to actually prove he can win the title with us, and he'd done it not long before the takeover happened.
I also heard they believed he'd instantly unite the support. Like most fans did first time round, they hoped everyone would buy into it again and that, with proper backing, he could go and deliver another title.
This time though, I've honestly heard nothing concrete.
My gut feeling is Burnley are favourites. They can probably offer him almost everything he wants good structure, strong resources, and a chance to prove himself again back in England. I think he'd seriously consider that.
And we see how it turned out for Vincent Kompany before.
That said, Ayrshire Tattooist has had very good info before, so maybe he's hearing something real and maybe Gerrard would still be interested if things changed late on. Personally, I'd be happy enough with it.
But here's the bigger issue for me:
If they do part ways with Rohl, and Gerrard is genuinely first choice again, what happens if he says no again? Who do they move to after that? And what top-level manager wants to feel like they were only approached because option number one knocked it back again?
It starts becoming a vicious circle.
I know EHL was always adamant Russell Martin was first choice and that things were basically signed and sealed very early. To be fair, I respect EHL's info and the insights he brings on here everyone hears different bits and pieces from different places.
Honestly though, if Danny walks or it becomes mutual consent, I genuinely don't know who we go for.
I'm starting to lean toward Sean Dyche purely because of the authority and presence he'd bring to the dressing room.
Can't really see McInnes taking it, especially if he wins the league tomorrow.
Alex Neil? Not sure.
For me it's probably Gerrard or Dyche.
Beyond that, I honestly don't know who realistically wants it.
What's everyone thoughts going on all the rumours going about!
16 May 2026 05:51:50
Hearts won't win tomorrow, mate. You can't even get a bet on a penalty tomorrow, mate. Celtic and a red card for Hearts. It's the safest bet this season if you can find a bookie stupid enough to take the bet.
Alex Neil is a good manager. He always seems to get a lift at the start, then fade away towards the end, probably our ideal manager as it suits our way of playing throughout a season.
I think we'd be moaning after 4 months of Dyche. Very negative football, and he'd be celebrating a 0-0 with St Mirren like we'd won the Champions League.
I honestly don't think Gerrard would unite the fans.
Last time he was mentioned, the core group on here alone were very split.
I still believe the issue is the core group of senior players we have and the lack of identity. I honestly don't believe Pep would win the league with the current squad. Until we address these two issues, I honestly think we'll keep swapping managers every 8 months.
We need a proper alpha-type manager in charge, who the players will both respect and have a little fear of, and we need to change the culture of accepting defeat and moving on. A defeat should haunt the players for a week, like it doesn't for most fans.
16 May 2026 06:11:31
Thestigno1, you know by now, my friend, that my first choice for manager since Steven Gerrard left was Kevin Muscat. ? However I think that ship has sailed, and I just couldn't see us being able to get a manager like Kjetil Knutsen. ☹️ At this moment in time, If we were replacing Danny Rohl, and I honestly don't think we will, but anyway, to answer your question, I'd go for Derek McInnes, as imo he's exactly what we need just now.
? I think Gerrard will be the new Burnley manager, but I do think he would also be a good appointment for us at this moment in time. ? We would need a strong leader, imo, mate. ?
16 May 2026 07:28:47
How many times would u go back to someone who walked out on u and then let u down again more than once? U would have to question their commitment and if thy really wanted the job. Can't see McInnes leaving this summer regardless of result today. I like Dyche, but not sure how the fans would take to him, but maybe he's the type we need. I honestly don't get the Muscat thing, but maybe that's just me. I'm certainly not in the know, but I'm sure lots of managers though would love the chance to manage us.
Unfortunately, I think it would be more rookies than experienced winners, so we'd be in the same boat. I don't see many outstanding managers who we "get the club".
Whoever we get will be a gamble trying to put together a whole new squad, so perhaps are we not better with going with the one who already knows the problems and let him try and fix things?
16 May 2026 07:31:21
Mentioned Dyche yesterday.
16 May 2026 07:46:10
Actually, don't think it matters. They will only be here 9 months before we move onto the next one in the hope they start well and continue. So, just pick anyone and spend all the time trying to make the compensation package as low as you can get it. ?
16 May 2026 07:52:22
Dado - good reply, mate, and I agree with what you're saying.
Coops - again, good reply, and I agree with a lot of what you're saying too. Although like Kaiser, I'm not really sold on the Muscat idea either. I'm just not feeling it at all with him.
Would absolutely love Knutsen. For me he'd be the number one candidate. I just can't realistically see him coming though, unfortunately I think that's probably dreamland at this moment! ?
Kaiser, I get what you're saying about Rohl, but unfortunately for me anyway, I just don't think he's fully got it in him.
If it's true he's already missing home etc, and is already at the stage of "will I go or will I stay?", then to me that says his heart maybe isn't fully in it for the job ahead.
For what's required, I think the manager needs to be 100% committed and ready to take the bull by the horns. I just don't get much energy from him.
Same monotone whether we win, lose or draw. No real passion, no visible anger or rage when we lose.
Then you look at Martin O'Neill over the road, even at his age, he still has that energy about him. He hates losing, shows passion, fight and hunger. That's what I want to see in our manager. Someone kicking every ball, shouting for every foul, even the non-existent ones. ?
Out of the realistic options.
Fork, I agree, Dyche maybe ends up the best of the bunch we could actually afford and possibly convince to take the reins. He'd probably make us harder to beat, tighten us up at the back and stop us shipping silly goals.
McInnes, I would take as well, but he's maybe in the same boat as Gerrard already turned us down a couple of times. Plus with the backing and stability he has at Hearts, I don't really see him moving. I'd be amazed if he did.
16 May 2026 08:36:33
Stingo, Dyche would be a nightmare, and he'd be getting replaced in jig time.
16 May 2026 08:47:57
There are lots of good managers available, I'm sure if AC wants the right one he will find a way to support that cost. Key is, they need to be a leader, have gravitas and a system, style fitting for this club. Final part, they need to know what being our manager is.
Now, who that is, I don't know, but not Dyche for me and not an unproven experiment again.
This one has to be right, be here for the foreseeable, which means winning things.
16 May 2026 09:08:56
If Rohl wants to go back home, I don't have much of a problem tbh, Stig. I don't see that many other candidates that are like that just now. I do think there is more to him behind the scenes though and he hasn't been scared to drop Tav right or wrongly either.
16 May 2026 09:22:07
Agree, Stig, while it may not be pretty, but, you're right we'd be hard to beat and he may be hard work, but we'd need the midfield creating and our forwards finishing for it to work, not sure he'd get it tbh and we don't really need a stop gap, we need to build and constant change doesn't allow that.
16 May 2026 09:30:17
Here we go with systems again. Rohl has a system, he doesn't have the players to play that system. I am not sure why people can't see that.
With time he will. What manager could come in and implement a system with the players we currently have? Absolutely no one.
The best you can do is try and use tactics that suit the players you have. We criticised the last manager for not doing it, ie RM, now we criticise the manager we have that's trying to play to players' strengths and still complain.
But yes, let's get a new manager in, let's get 14 players in, then let's all sit moaning about how long it takes players to gel. Manager sacked in less than a season, costs another couple of million in payoffs/compen and reduces our net revenue v costs yet again.
This merrygoround just can't keep going. People say it's different, we have money to do it. Get it through your heads once and for all, it does not matter how much money our owners have, there is a ceiling on what we can spend.
16 May 2026 09:35:33
Gees, or maybe get it into their head. Changing management as frequently is why we win nothing. Rohl needs at least a pre season and more quality added in the summer.
16 May 2026 09:39:20
Spot on, Geesa, merry-go-round keeps spinning, we need to get off it.