Newcastle United fans got uncharacteristically enthusiastic briefly last week. They heard that Patrick Vieira might be their new manager.
It was a sign that the club was thinking big. Vieira might be unproven, but when Manchester City groom you with the view to making you their manager somewhere down the line, you must have something.
Then the stories of the Frenchman’s imminent arrival cooled. In their place were tales of Steve McClaren. And that isn’t quite as get-you-out-of-your-seat exciting.
McClaren has just been sacked by Derby after allowing promotion to slip through his hands for the second season running.
Fans who know how owner Mike Ashley works believe that made him the ideal candidate to be the Magpies’ manager.
McClaren’s career is in a trough once more, they reason. He’ll be grateful for any job, let alone one in the Premier League. He’ll accept all the restrictions and limitations imposed. There would no compensation to pay. Perfect!
His last four jobs have ended badly. He was sacked at Wolfsburg, resigned from Nottingham Forest, resigned from his second spell at FC Twente, now sacked by Derby. Hardly a glowing CV.
When the official announcement of his appointment is made this week, it’s safe to say that the Toon Army won’t be hanging out the bunting in celebration.
In contrast, down the road at Sunderland the mood is very different. They feel they have the right man.
There’s a quiet satisfaction that the club have managed to persuade Dick Advocaat to do a U-turn and sign for another year.
He was only in charge for nine games at the end of last season but he not only saved them from the drop, he gave them the sense that he was a “proper” manager who knew exactly what he was doing.
They saw his emotional attachment to the club when he said goodbye and are impressed that owner Ellis Short and Sporting Director Lee Congerton refused to allow him to walk away quietly.
Having been rewarded for being pro-active when they hired Advocaat to keep them up, they already know he’s a safe pair of hands. Given reasonable funds, he could be more than that.
Of course, McClaren could also be the right man. It’s the “reasonable funds” bit that there would be doubts about.
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