Now he's gone, who's next?

[Leyther_Matt]

Not sure how good his sources are, but a Red mate has just text me to say he's hearing Mike Phelan is being lined up for the job.

Interesting.
Phelan to us and then Gary Neville can insert himself as SAF's right hand man.

Quite possibly. Or maybe Utd's way at seeing how he does elsewhere before throwing him in for the main job when Ferguson finally gives it up?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I don't think we'd get him, but Di Canio is very much in the mould I am looking for.

I hate to drive traffic in this website's direction, but this recent article is interesting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... l-too.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A fascist?

IAMOUT!

One of the criteria I look for in a candidate is your disapporoval.

He's not really a fascist... it's a complex cultural thing.

Apparently he used to write a column in Corriere della Sera regularly denouncing the idiocy of racism.

While it's a matter of record that Di Canio has previously declared his sympathy with the historical tradition of fascism, such pronouncements don't represent an area of his life he wishes to relive or revisit. There is no denying the DVX tattoo on his shoulder (the Latin appellation for Benito Mussolini). It's the symbolic expression of an opinion expressed in his autobiography, in a passage which has frequently been misquoted so as to appear more incendiary than it actually is. "I am fascinated by Mussolini," Di Canio wrote. "I think he was a deeply misunderstood k individual. He deceived people. His actions were often vile. But all this was motivated by a higher purpose. He was basically a very principled individual. Yet he turned against his sense of right and wrong. He compromised his ethics."

The truth is that – today at least – you don't have to spend long with Di Canio to realise he is not a demented fascista; neither does he have any time for the sort of repugnant racial opinions held by at least two English Premier League footballers I can think of (and that's without even trying). While he was in Italy, his column in the national sport newspaper Corriere dello Sport routinely took the form of a rant against the idiocy of racism.

"The truth is very simple," said one respected source who knows Di Canio well, but was insistent that his name should not appear in this article. "Paolo is not, and has never been, a bad person, or an ideological fascist. Certain things he has said and done – like the salute with the Lazio fans – have to do with his psychological history, particularly his former compulsive tendencies and pronounced mood swings. Paolo is not mad. But he has had, as he describes in his autobiography... episodes."

Di Canio is involved in none of the activities which his detractors might imagine him enjoying: like consorting with Italian or pan-European neo-fascist groups, or cultivating politicians such as Gianfranco Fini or Alessandra Mussolini, the mention of whose names evokes nothing but scornful indifference from him. (Even though the latter, like Silvio Berlusconi, voiced her unsolicited support for Di Canio after the first salute in 2005.)

I know, though he doesn't advertise it, that Di Canio has many Italian friends who are unreconstructed socialists. He is not, he insists, a political animal. "I don't vote," he says. "I haven't voted for 14 years. Not just because of Berlusconi – though I don't support him. Italian politicians – all of them – think only about themselves, and making money."

"There's no shortage of far-right candidates."

"I would never vote for them."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peopl ... 73526.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Chrisfu]

I don't think we'd get him, but Di Canio is very much in the mould I am looking for.

I hate to drive traffic in this website's direction, but this recent article is interesting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... l-too.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A fascist?

IAMOUT!

Yep, don't need his type here. To be honest I'd completely forgotten about his fascist salutes to Lazio fans years back until reminded recently. "Kick It Out" does NOT go hand-in-hand with fascism, and nor should it, with fascist Italians claiming historically that they were a superior race to African (amongst other) races. The idea that some fans would take him into the club repulses me. We're better than that, and would be even if we were to be relegated again. Racist or not, some of his idealisms are far-out.

As for the Independent article, it's portrays him as a rather confused man rather than "complex". What he's saying is tantamount to dabbling with or "dipping your toe" into fascism. Picking out the bits that suit him. Either way it still stands that by performing a fascist salute he forever aligned himself with that whole putrid culture, and that's not something I could just turn a blind eye to because he'd be our manager.

He's an idiot, perhaps not evil or twisted or anything like that, but still a complete idiot.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

So if you accept that he' not racist, and I think the evidence is clear that he's not, which of his supposed 'idealisms' do you find objectionable?

Yep, I'm warming to this now - I'm in the mood for a determined psychopath. Keane or Di Canio it is.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Di Canio: a man with "episodes" who publicly bawled out one of his own players (a goalkeeper substituted after 20 minutes). That might be what many Bolton fans want to see after two years of Coyle's cuddles, but I rather doubt it would work higher up the league. As has been noted, working for a 'character' who's quite capable of coming the c*nt quickly grows very tiring indeed.

Worth noting also that Swindon have been placed under transfer embargo for exceeding the FFP-enforced limit of 65% of turnover. Lest this been seen as administrative oversight due to their recent tribunal-enforced payment for two players, let us remind ourselves that last season they paid £448,506 on fees to agents – more than three times the spending of any other League Two club; almost as much as the rest of League Two put together; more than any side in League One; more than 10 sides in the Championship. So possibly he can get us promoted if we outspend the rest of the Championship, the Premiership and half the Champions League.

I like Paolo di Canio. I'm glad he exists. But like Coyle, I'm glad he's not managing my club.

[SmokinFrazier]

I'd go for Solskjaer or one of the touted Dutch/German managers personally. Wolves did that and it's working out for them, so rather than us get another proven failure, I'd like to see us think outside the box a bit. Di Canio is another foreigner I'd have.

If that isn't possible, I'd have the English candidates being Curbishley, Hill and McCarthy. Ideally, Curbs but whether he'd come to us, I don't know.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Di Canio: a man with "episodes" who publicly bawled out one of his own players (a goalkeeper substituted after 20 minutes).

Apparently, after his bad mistake after 4 minutes, he was still arguing with his own team mates 15 minutes later. Di Canio decided his head wasn't right and brought him off. So what? He was restored to the team in upcoming matches.

When Rio Ferdinand criticised this episode, Di Canio's comment to him was "With respect, I have seen you more on Twitter than I have on the pitch these last two years."

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Foderingham was restored to the team after humiliation – for him, his manager and his club. If you're claiming that as a victory for good managment, I take it you don't work in HR.

As for having a go at Ferdinand - cute response, but hardly becoming conduct of a manager. Again, it smacks of someone who lashes out under pressure. Far too risky, even if we could afford him.

[coffeymagic]

My mate's just been on the phone and he says he's spotted Gazza walking down Chorley New Road with what looks like a fishing rod under his arm, an oven ready chicken in one hand and his cv in the other.

I'd still prefer that to McCarthy.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Foderingham was restored to the team after humiliation – for him, his manager and his club. If you're claiming that as a victory for good managment, I take it you don't work in HR.

Di Canio was entitled to look at the situation and say that the player's head was not in the right place for him to stay on the pitch. Has his form suffered since?

[SmokinFrazier]

The Mike Phelan shout is an interesting one. West Brom did that and it's paying off for them. I mentioned Steve Round a while ago too, and he's another potentially good manager who has plenty of experience working with quality managers, including BSA.

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on an assistant at all.

[Chrisfu]

So if you accept that he' not racist, and I think the evidence is clear that he's not, which of his supposed 'idealisms' do you find objectionable?

Yep, I'm warming to this now - I'm in the mood for a determined psychopath. Keane or Di Canio it is.

Seriously? Cherry-picking facets of Mussolini's character as it suits him and describing him as "deeply misunderstood"? He's off his nut if he thinks that the the whole Mussolini thing was some sort of misunderstanding...

I didn't accept that he wasn't racist either, just said I wasn't sure if he was. I don't think he's what we need aside from all of that, but even if he was, on the basis that he's quite the nut-job I'd be disgusted if he were to be appointed.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Foderingham was restored to the team after humiliation – for him, his manager and his club. If you're claiming that as a victory for good management, I take it you don't work in HR.

Di Canio was entitled to look at the situation and say that the player's head was not in the right place to stay on the pitch. Has his form suffered since?

I don't doubt he was entitled to make the change. But was he entitled to tell the nearby media that the goalkeeper who had recently gone 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal was "the worst professional - arrogant, ignorant"?

Because he was one of the worst players I have ever seen in a football match. He is a player like the others. Why can’t we change the goalkeeper? Is the goalkeeper is an element who plays on with another team because he has a different colour on his shirt? I know my players, I know Wes – he was the crappy player even against Stoke. Today what he did, it’s not only the mistake that can happen to everyone. The arrogance later, when he started moaning to the others, that was the worst thing for me because it let me realise that a player doesn’t recognise his mistakes that was clear miles away, that was a rubbish mistake. I said to him "now calm because we have to keep going", we give the ball straight away to them and then start again moaning to the others. Today he started behaving as the worst professional; arrogant, ignorant in some way – not as a person, as an athlete – I have ever seen. If he doesn’t come out and say sorry to the fans, for the professionalism in general, he is out from my team. I don’t want any argument from the fans ‘we play Oxford, we have a season’ - no. I don’t mind because this is my rules and [Leigh] Bedwell did very, very well. Maybe he behaved like this because the window’s closed. Another question mark. I’m ready to bring in a goalkeeper. I’m ready to ask my chairman if he doesn’t go out and say sorry to everybody because this has to come from the stomach and from the heart. If he doesn’t think he made a mistake in the way he behaved he has to think who he is? Cech? He was nothing until the day he joined me, not the club but me. He didn’t have one second as a professional, nobody wanted him because he’s 181cm. In English football everybody want 199 like the f***ing Preston goalkeeper. He should have his career cut and you know that is true, but just because we believed in him and there is no importance in that because he is very good – thanks to him because he did well last year – he forgot everything. He is arrogant, he’s still 20. He thinks he’s untouchable.

All very amusing at a distance, but would you really want a Bolton manager saying that about a Bolton player?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

It's one way of dealing with an arrogant twenty year old already buying himself Rolexes, yes!

As I say, the thing I'm most interested in is how he has responded since?

[89bwfc89]

Foderingham was restored to the team after humiliation – for him, his manager and his club. If you're claiming that as a victory for good management, I take it you don't work in HR.

Di Canio was entitled to look at the situation and say that the player's head was not in the right place to stay on the pitch. Has his form suffered since?

I don't doubt he was entitled to make the change. But was he entitled to tell the nearby media that the goalkeeper who had recently gone 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal was "the worst professional - arrogant, ignorant"?

Because he was one of the worst players I have ever seen in a football match. He is a player like the others. Why can’t we change the goalkeeper? Is the goalkeeper is an element who plays on with another team because he has a different colour on his shirt? I know my players, I know Wes – he was the crappy player even against Stoke. Today what he did, it’s not only the mistake that can happen to everyone. The arrogance later, when he started moaning to the others, that was the worst thing for me because it let me realise that a player doesn’t recognise his mistakes that was clear miles away, that was a rubbish mistake. I said to him "now calm because we have to keep going", we give the ball straight away to them and then start again moaning to the others. Today he started behaving as the worst professional; arrogant, ignorant in some way – not as a person, as an athlete – I have ever seen. If he doesn’t come out and say sorry to the fans, for the professionalism in general, he is out from my team. I don’t want any argument from the fans ‘we play Oxford, we have a season’ - no. I don’t mind because this is my rules and [Leigh] Bedwell did very, very well. Maybe he behaved like this because the window’s closed. Another question mark. I’m ready to bring in a goalkeeper. I’m ready to ask my chairman if he doesn’t go out and say sorry to everybody because this has to come from the stomach and from the heart. If he doesn’t think he made a mistake in the way he behaved he has to think who he is? Cech? He was nothing until the day he joined me, not the club but me. He didn’t have one second as a professional, nobody wanted him because he’s 181cm. In English football everybody want 199 like the f***ing Preston goalkeeper. He should have his career cut and you know that is true, but just because we believed in him and there is no importance in that because he is very good – thanks to him because he did well last year – he forgot everything. He is arrogant, he’s still 20. He thinks he’s untouchable.

All very amusing at a distance, but would you really want a Bolton manager saying that about a Bolton player?

No, definitely not, especially not about Bogdan (not got a soft spot for him or anything )

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Hmmmm. Some interesting differences as to who we want as manager between pre-Coyle going and post-Coyle going...

[DJBlu]

This is turning out to be a massive decision for the club.

Relief to anxiety all in one day. We aren't even playing and I'm worried about the result.

Anyone else glad it's the backroom staff that are off too?

[Worthy4England]

Hmmmm. Some interesting differences as to who we want as manager between pre-Coyle going and post-Coyle going...

There were quite a lot of "other" and "Frank Spencer" on the first one.

[midlands exile]

Anyone else glad it's the backroom staff that are off too?

Absolutely essential. They're just as guilty as OC, even if they haven't had the opportunity to make themselves look even bigger fools in the press.

[midlands exile]

Hmmmm. Some interesting differences as to who we want as manager between pre-Coyle going and post-Coyle going...

At least you're consistent, voting for Mick both times!