lookupsport

A I said in my other blog last week, there was never really any doubt that Harry would leave the South Coast and head north to the land of make believe. (As in make believe we are a big club with a divine right to win trophies, whilst playing attractive football, and keeping 60,000 fans with different opinions happy at the same time. Oh and do all that today please not in a few seasons time).

You have to feel sorry for the gum chewing foul mouthed ex Newcastle coach, but he knew what he was taking on when he signed on the dotted line, and I’m sure one look at his bank account will make him a little happier!

There was never any doubt in my mind that Redknapp would take over as that would mean massive upheaval on a personal level - he lives just an hour down the road from Portsmouth, and he has since said the extra money wouldn’t make any difference to his lifestyle.

The talk now is about either a Shearer/Keegan combination for no other reason than they are local (if only the FA used that philosophy when appointing England coaches!), or of Mark Hughes.

I’d like to see Keegan and Shearer take it on but I can’t see Alan leaving the comfort of the pundits box, where he can take pot shots at whoever the coach is without having to take any decisons himself, and I’m not sure Mr Keegan would like to come out of retirement into the cauldron again. He has twice proved that he cannot handle the pressure of big time management.

I’m not convinced that Hughes will be high profile enough for the Loony Toon Army either, and while he has the comfort of full board booking he would be daft to make that move.

Mourinho would never get his wife to live that far north - given the choice of dinner in The Ivy or a drink on the quayside I think she will always The Ivy.

That doesn’t leave too many options for Mr Ashley, although they had reportedly sounded out a number of suitable candidates. My money would be on Martin Jol who is currently 8/1. I think he has the pedigree and is also thick skinned enough to take the pressure, and has shown an ability to win over the fans (in not the board at Spurs).

Whoever they eventually go for, one thing is for sure. Ashley and the Loony Toon Army must give him time - not weeks or months but a minimum of 3 years to assemble a team of his choice and get them playing a style that the fans like as well as winning matches. Everybody wants success but the more astute people know it doesn’t happen overnight. It is no surprise that the 2 most consistent teams in the Premiership have been Manchester United and Arsenal and that they both have the longest standing managers.