Woodward has been talking openly about the long term plans, the rebuilding process and everything else but I'm not sure if that's sustainable without proper structures, and the right personnel at the helm with knowledge to oversee that plan regardless of managers coming or going, being able to identify the right ones, the right profile of players and getting key decisions right. Also, being wise in the market and acting well and quickly, instead of spending one month with every deal.
This squad is lacking quality overall, intelligence, creativity, but mainly character and leadership. I see a very little margin to make these guys develop an exciting brand of football around the ball while remaining competitive at the same time. It's a mediocre team lacking spirit and a solid spine, so adding more young talents to the mix would be like building on quicksand, probably with every new signing sinking with the rest.
I feel that signing a progressive manager in a matter of weeks could be suicidal considering the circumstances, the pressure on the boys and their lack of attributes to do even the basics well on a constant basis, let alone the complex. Asking them to do certain things they don't dominate while being close to the relegation zone could create even bigger problems, so no matter if it's Ole or another one I think we need now a more safe approach.
This team will be always limited in terms of tactics and style, and will be pending on a thread from a mental perspective until we add better materials and some clear references, competitive players to sustain the team and release the pressure from certain individuals. Even if the ultimate goal is to introduce young talents at some point like Greenwood and Gomes, we can't really do it succesfully without a solid environement to guide them first. At the moment we have that structure composed partly by young players who are expected to deliver the goods, and even younger players coming to the rescue. More than developing anyone, we're probably leaving them devoid of all confidence by the current path. This is not sustainable in the long term.
Ole's surely in a weak position right now, and unless there's a quick reaction of the team he's probably gone in a matter of weeks. But considering the state of the club at every level I'd consider erasing the whole 'plan' and move on to more solid ground. In the current situation I think we need someone who can carry all the weight of this club on his shoulders, being a source of calm, confidence and effective solutions for a group of this weak and mediocre nature, aiming to build something solid and efficient despite being exciting or not.
And it goes against my desire but probably a 'Mourinho' type is the only thing that can work here at the moment, I mean a peak one like 10 or 15 years ago when he was more charismatic, energetic and hungry, and not the miserable prick he's nowadays.
So if Ole can reactivate the team somehow and remain here for the season it would be fine, as it would allow the club time to plan and analyze options. But if they're forced by the circumstances in the coming weeks, personally I'd forget about the promising german managers, the long term vision and the exciting football because there's nothing here at the moment to sustain that plan.
Zero clue about names to be honest, but if Ole leaves soon I would bring a tactical fox to get results somehow, and rely the less possible on the club to draw and oversee any plans and make any kind of decisions. Just support the leader, give him funds to buy the 3-4 needed columns (not necessarily expensive) to start building the house, and we'll see what happens in the future.
If at some point we have better structures and we're ready to operate like professional clubs do, then we can think about long term plans and aiming for brilliance. But now I think anyone asked to lead this plan with the idiots above, and the current basis of the team (nonexistant) is set to fail before starting.
