Opinion

Newcastle v West Ham new manager search – Spot the difference

Intriguing to look at the new manager search if you compare Newcastle United and West Ham.

When clubs of any kind of a similar level are looking for managers at the same time, then it is usual for the bookies odds and press speculation to have a major cross over.

The leading candidates for one job, usually also seen as in the running for the other.

Rather bizarrely, there is absolutely no connection between the ‘shortlists’ for the two clubs.

It is almost as if they are shopping at completely different levels…

In the Claret and Blue corner, Sky Sports report that West Ham have spoken to, or are in the process of talking to (or their representatives): Frank de Boer, Slaven Bilic, Marcelo Bielsa and Unai Emery.

The betting reflects this with the following current odds:

4/5 Slaven Bilic

6/1 Marcelo Bielsa

7/1 Frank de Boer

8/1 Unai Emery

(To see all the odds for next West Ham manager go HERE)

Just to clarify who these four are.

Slaven Bilic managed Besiktas to 3rd in the Turkish League, qualifying for the Europa League. Previously did a greta job with Croatia.

Marcelo Bielsa is in charge at Marseille who finished 4th in Lige 1 and qualified for the Europa League, he is a former manager of Argentina.

Frank de Boer ended up second with Ajax this season after four successive title wins, though still gained qualification to the Champions League.

Unai Emery is Sevilla manager, finishing fifth in La Liga but winning teh Europa League for the second time in a row, including winning a place in the Champions League next season.

Meanwhile, in the Black and White corner…

We have what is being billed as a straight shootout between Steve McClaren and Patrick Vieira by the media, with once again the bookies odds backing that up:

4/6 Steve McClaren

4/6 Patrick Vieira

12/1 Michael Laudrup

14/1 David Moyes

16/1 Alan Curbishley

(To see all the odds for next Newcastle manager go HERE)

Confusion surround Vieira with press reports wildly fluctuating between him already been interviewed, right through to him having zero interest in he job and never having any contact from Newcastle…

If he is a contender, then his position in the game is as very respected figure but with zero experience, unlike the top four linked with the West Ham job, all of them having been there. seen it and done it. Vieira can’t do anything about that because everybody has to start somewhere, but taking on any manager with no experience has to be a leap in the dark.

Having said that, I haven’t spoken to a single person who would rather take on Steve McClaren than the unknown of Patrick Vieira. Most Newcastle fans appear to have a sinking feeling that McClaren is the only real candidate and the club are either stringing us along, or they are having to convince Steve McClaren to take the job.

This is the man with a list of mainly failure, apart from in Holland with FC Twente, his latest escapade saw him fail to reach the play-offs with Championship Derby and getting the sack.

I will leave you to make your own assumptions as to why the two clubs are being linked with a totally different set of managerial candidates….

Comments welcome below!

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