Our Blog has run a poll for some days now, and – whilst Alan Curbishley was ‘top of the pile’ for a large amount of time, he’s now been replaced by most people’s favourite for the job, Chris Hughton.
One name that is gaining some amount of momentum on our poll, but also nationally, is Gianfranco Zola.
The Telegraph: Gianfranco Zola and Chris Hughton believed to be highly-regarded by the club’s board.
The Birmingham Mail: with Gianfranco Zola also believed to have held talks with Peter Pannu
Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, seems to suggest our next manager will more than likely be Roberto Di Matteo or Chris Hughton. Tom Ross of BRMB, however, seemingly suggests his own ‘two-horse-race’ of Chris Hughton or Gianfranco Zola.
OBE. Sorry, forgot that. He is officially recognised with the ‘Order of the British Empire’.
Once voted the best Chelsea player of all time, regrettably that suggests to me he’ll one day leave us and head to Chelsea. But when you’ve had a manager ‘defect’ to the ‘Dark Side’, you could well say it can’t get much worse (or better, depending on your take on McLeish!).
His 35 caps for a glamorous footballing Italian side, including 10 goals, have led to a lot of fans’ suggesting he’d be the new Messiah for our club, bringing glittering Italian and other European footballers to our club, to lead our charge into Europa. As a realist, I’d have to say this isn’t particularly likely, but his ambition and his reputation should make this possible even if only on a smaller scale.
Mr Zola, OBE was the U21 Italian football coach, which will prick the ears of many a Bluenose, desperate to see a manager who can ‘blood’ the likes of Nathan Redmond and Jordon Mutch properly. Interestingly, he actually replaced Alan Curbishley as manager at West Ham United. Here, he won praise for the flair of his team, and for the utilisation of youth players. Again rather interestingly, he was sacked by Sullivan and Gold. Another reason Blues fans would love to see him in post!!
His ‘win ratio’ is not particularly high with West Ham, but when you consider it was with a struggling Premiership side, which could well describe our last season, he achieved 23 wins out of 80, 21 draws and 36 losses.
The one bad thing I can say about the man is that – seemingly – West Ham thought Avram Grant was a better manager…
Whether that was true or not or if it will turn out to be The Hammers’ loss, our gain, remains to be seen…
For your consideration I give you Gianfranco Zola.
If you haven’t already read it you can read Kev’s case for Chris Hughton here
If you haven’t already read it you can read my case for Alan Curbishley here
If you haven’t already read it you can read AylesburyBlue’s case for Roberto Di Matteo here
Well, if we were indeed to appoint Zola and keep hold of Barry Ferguson – we’d have an OBE and a MBE on the books!
Zola for me too. I believe he will have more clout in the market and more respect due to his status as a player and the respect gained by the national media would help rid us of this much unwanted national media loathing of everything BCFC
According to the Daily Mail Chris Houghton will be named manager on wednesday. I think any one of the 3 on the shortlist will do a good job & also give us some decent attacking football, which is something they won’t be watching the other side of Brum next season!!!!
Whoever we get, I will still support them!!! I’ve watched some right poo over the years down at St Andrews and I still go and watch them even though I live 150 miles away.
So who cares really, who we get. We will like them more than the Vile like theirs…..or is that ours. Thats a fact!
We need someone who is proven in the transfer market. Zola’s record is very poor (if he was in charge of them at west ham), he paid £10m for savio. Alan curbishley should be favourite followed by Di matteo.
BBC WM have just announced at 7.10pm that it’s between Di-Matteo and Houghton with Zola out the running!
Zola??? I wonder….
I think Curbishley would be great but I wonder if not Chris Houghton is the right man for the job. Let’s hope that some of our players will stay and that Mr. Yeung will spend some money….
Personally I would like to see someone else than Mr.Pannu do the talking for the club. He don’t impress me anyway….
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that something will be sorted out in the next days so the planning for next season really can start.
As is said before Id take either Di Matteo or Hughton (Zola,im unsure,played some pretty stuff but his record wasnt amazing?) and hats off to the board if they do appoint one of the two…I must admit I was fearing the worst,that they’d totally bugger it up(Cotterill or Ince),so my faith is restored a wee bit.
Im hoping the new boss isnt totally restricted in the transfer market and can atleast keep hold off one or two of out stars!!!..i accept that some sales are required,id take 23 million combined for Foster,Dann and Jerome and try to hang onto Johnson,Ridgewell and Gardner.It’d be a pity to hinder the new appointment with an agressive firesale policy….However,Im feeling much more positive at the minute and excited about next season!!.
KRO
I saw Mr Zola on Easy Jet flight with his family on Satuday 18th from Gatwick to Olbia, Sardinia where he lives.
I guessed he was returning after interviews at BCFC. I caught up with him after leaving the plan asked him how he got on at Birmingham City and all he would say was “it is very difficult” , so I suggest he has pulled out of the running
Hope you get HUGHTON. As he is a good Manager. Did well at the toon. Did not want him to go.
Next season BRUM UP villa DOWN.