Not yet but with Ten Cate (is there a cooler-sounding name in management?) leaving Ajax to work for Chelsea it may well be. It is, after all, that time of year when club presidents and fans, with the media stirring it all up nicely, become nervous as they realise that their best-laid plans at the start of the season are starting to come apart. It may still be early enough to turn the team around with only two Champions League matches and around a quarter of the season gone, while it is not too early to be described as callous.
Well, what do we know? What are the facts? Ten Cate has moved to join Chelsea and, er… that’s it. But that’s boring, so here are a few ideas…
Cate was number 2 to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona and according to the Spanish press his former boss will be rejoining him at Chelsea. Then there is the Hiddink connection. Much admired by Abramovic, the current Russian manager, may be free to move as early as next week if England beat his side in Moscow in the European Championships.
Cate’s departure has left a vacancy at Ajax, one that could be filled by Tottenham’s Martin Jol, who, ironically, previously turned them down on grounds of loyalty. Surely if he’s offered the job again he won’t make the same mistake. Tottenham would then need a manager themselves which, talking of irony, would free them up to go for Sevilla’s Juande Ramos, that’s if they wanted him after his team have lost 4 league matches in a row. Who else is available? Klinnsmann, Lippi, Capello, sacked Crystal Palace manager, Peter Taylor, oh, and Jose Mourinho? It’s starting, mark my words, it’s starting.
1. Marcello Lippi – a proven winner that does it with style
2. Jürgen Klinsmann – former player would organise the team quickly and raise morale.
3. Mark Hughes – organise and strengthen areas we need to strengthen (but no Savage please!)
Who would your ideal manager be if Jol is pushed?