Apparently the word is we are about to announce new manager Lucien Favre. I have to say its a bit of a masterstroke from Parish and Co. We have a aging squad with most players out of contract and we will be bringing in a very good experienced manager that likes to play young attacking players. In other words we will be getting a manager that will want to build his own team who will mostly be young hungry players. He had a lot of success at Dortmund. It's both exciting but also nervous times.

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Happy we finally have got a manager! He was a hero in Dortmund, but also the opposite when he was kicked out. A new manager, esp. a foreigner with no PL experience, is always a gamble.
I hope Favre lives up to his reputation about young players. They are our future - even if we get relegated!

All three examples are of players poached from other clubs. It would be great if we could have a manager who had the vision to buy young players before they peak (and are out of our price range).

Of all the names mentioned, Favre looks the best. Having to purchase (or free transfers) 6 or 7 players may well have worked in out favour. Lets hope he gets his work permit.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.

You are talking about the top players in the world!!!! costing upwards of 100 Million!!! but our academy is producing some great players. Who knows what Rak-Sayyi and Omilabu might be worth in a few years time? Our academy is at the best level since our great youth teams of the 1970's

If he really is a great manager then he will be able to identify when youth players are ready and when it will benefit the team. Parish has publicly stated a few times his aspirations to have as many as five or six local lads in the first team so I'm sure that would have come up in the interview process. I would also hope that Favre has watched videos of the U23s and U18s to see if Steve's dreams are realistic. What I hope Favre brings to the table is some knowledge and contacts that can get us some affordably priced stars from the continent. That is an area we have struggled with.

I don't really know much about Favre, but this isn't like FdB who only knew Ajax. Also, managers with experience and success in the Bundesliga seem to do ok in the PL.

Having consigned myself to an underwhelming appointment I am now filled with renewed optimism.

if we get him in then it completely vindicates the process and timing from Parish. I'd like to say that would spare him criticism in the future when we're making a big decision but there will always be a section of fans who get themselves in a right panic and start making all sorts of soppy statements, when actually things are under control and this is how long important things take.