IMO you’ve got it more right than most.
OK so there’s a lot of hate being directed at the man but he has actually done a decent job since he’s been with you and what good would sacking him now do for anyone?
He’s maintained your position towards the top of the premier league and got some good results against big teams (especially us) during the process. I think the vitriol towards him is due to an expectation that you’ll win stuff, which is fair I suppose but it doesn’t mean that he’s not good at his job, it just means that he’s not been exceptional so far.
If I had a say in things then I’d keep him until the end of the season while interviewing and agreeing a start date for Conte or Zidane et al.
I don’t think either would want to jump in suddenly and take over a squad with so many older and / or static players in it because they’d want to put their stamp on the way you play and you simply can’t play modern high press football with your current squad.
I’d want the new manager to be introduced into the club in an observers role by early March, so that whoever it is can form relationships with the rest of your club management structure, and appreciate & identity what they need to change from day one of wearing the big hat.
That way you’d know who you need to pay off or sell and what kind of players you need to bring in, in the summer window, to play the expansive possession football that the likes of Conte / Zidane will insist on.
I don’t think that changing your manager right now has any logic because, despite some pantomime dame wailing from the childish and hysterical, you’ll finish in the top 4 if you don’t change anything and bringing your new man in now would signal to certain players that they’re not wanted, thus fermenting dissent for the rest of the season and possibly derailing the top 4 finish that Ole has already proven himself comfortable in achieving.
What does the Ole out crowd want to do - bring in Fat Sam tomorrow to save you from the relegation that certainly isn’t on the cards?