Is it impossible to appoint somebody that occupies the space between the old guard (Pulis, Allardyce, Hodgson) and the untested idealists (FdB, Vieira)?

For my two cents I think we need someone who knows the league, understands the expectations and demands, yet can get the most out of our players and push us to be more competitive beyond just keeping our heads above water. I am not a fan however Rodgers does seem most fitting there but must be some other options surely?

If not, at best, I can see us continuing to swing the pendulum from one extreme end to the other - bring in an untested, fanciful manager and when they fail bring in the old blood and guts, steady but boring type to just keep us safe so the dream of a new horizon remains in existence.

Mr Hodgson might have no desire to continue.Football management at this level is very demanding, he will be 76 at the start of next season and I suspect that at his time of life short-term assignments are quite appealing.

Unless he has any health issues I'm almost certain he would take the job if asked. What else is he going to do? He seems to be in it purely for the love of the game and you have to admire that.

Roy would be daft to continue on for another season or more. If we stay up he can bask in the adulation that will come his way. And insist that the statue Parish allegedly promised of Roy and Ray in the walk up to the new stadium takes pride of place.

I remember wanting him before he went to Leicester. I'd be ok with him coming in, but I don't think he will. He speaks fluent Spanish and I just have a feeling he might go abroad to top up his tan.

Not read the entire thread but the last few pages are an interesting debate, it seems to me, on whether we go for pragmatic over a progressive manager. I'd like to point out another important factor: we're in a bit of a no-mans land as a football club.

We're not a "big" club - so someone like Rodgers will go to West Ham (who will be looking to replace Moyes) before us. Same with Cooper and definitely Potter.

But unless we are relegated we would be unwilling to take a gamble on someone up and coming - like Burnley did with Kompany.

Vieira was unusual in being relatively inexperienced as a manager but very experienced in the league. It didn't quite work out but it was an attempt to shift the way we play from pure counterattack. It was nice seeing us actually keep the ball a bit this past 18 months but without some shots...How did he decide to bench Eze?! Anyway that's another topic...