With his name coming up more and more, it's worth a thread to discuss.

The more I think about it, I reckon I'd be fairly satisfied with McInnes.

It's not an exciting name, but he has pedigree. He gets his teams properly fighting and has shown in the past when he comes to Tynecastle he really understands how to work the crowd. He could use that to his advantage if we are on his side. I just have this vision of a physical aggressive Hearts team blowing teams away at Tynie under him.

I also really do not trust any of these mups to get the right Jamestown pick. This is as safe a bet as there is.

Hugely experienced at a relatively young age. Cup winner. Multiple 2nd/3rd place finishes. No links to Hearts. He'll do for me I think.

I think he has an eye for a player, seems to build decent squads and gets his players working for him.

(05-05-2025, 12:38 PM)Rory Breaker Wrote: I think he has an eye for a player, seems to build decent squads and gets his players working for him.

That’s the big reservation I have around him in this system though is the signings seem to be largely made or in progress regardless of the manager - so is he someone who can adapt to the players he has rather than one who needs to mould a squad into what he wants?

I would’ve been all over him before Critchley and JA but now I’m not 100% sure. Fuck knows, it’s probably a safe appointment but at the same time what has he achieved this season that would have him deserving of a step up?

I would rather neither McInnes or McGlynn but I think I would prefer McGlynn as he actually plays decent football.

McInnes will have a good start then we’ll be chasing him out for his eye bleeding football.

(05-05-2025, 12:43 PM)Huevo en Mi Cara Wrote: That’s the big reservation I have around him in this system though is the signings seem to be largely made or in progress regardless of the manager - so is he someone who can adapt to the players he has rather than one who needs to mould a squad into what he wants?

I would’ve been all over him before Critchley and JA but now I’m not 100% sure. Fuck knows, it’s probably a safe appointment but at the same time what has he achieved this season that would have him deserving of a step up?

I'd imagine he's probably got Killie about where there budget says they should be? He got them up and into Europe so done a very good job overall.

It's the opposite of a project. We need a respected figure to raise the standards of the club badly.

Budge and McKinlay would get a shock if they try and fuck him about. He's not like Critchley and Naismith just grateful for the opportunity.

Personally want us to move away from the diddy English league managers and Scottish 'head coaches' and bring in someone who will actually improve both the team and the club.

Derek Mcinnes isn't it - and we'll be looking for another 'head coach' within a season.

[edit - won't be too disappointed with DM, just don't think he's the answer for the longterm]

He’s not the answer for the long term, but that’s probably the point.

You need someone to come in for 2-3 years, get the club on a consistent footing and then you can decide to go for someone with an exotic name.

I also think we are reading too much into this idea that JA just parachute in players and the coach/manager has to lump it or leave it. Surely it’s more likely that as soon as Del gets in he tells Jones/JA to run the numbers and find a big huddy to shell balls to and wingers to hit the byline, then they go and find them. If they are successful then they will go to England for a profit anyway.

All on board with Del getting Winnie’s big bad physical Hearts back

Record Sport understands that club chiefs would prefer the new man to have experience of Scottish football, however Falkirk boss and recently crowned PFA Scotland manager of the year John McGlynn is unlikely to be in contention.

Just all very meh for me, but of all the names mentioned, he's probably the best choice. 

Very much of the mindset that it makes no difference who we have in charge, as long as the board is in place as it is we're not going to make any significant progress.

(05-05-2025, 12:56 PM)Felix Wrote: Personally want us to move away from the diddy English league managers and Scottish 'head coaches' and bring in someone who will actually improve both the team and the club.

Derek Mcinnes isn't it - and we'll be looking for another 'head coach' within a season.

[edit - won't be too disappointed with DM, just don't think he's the answer for the longterm]

Derek mcinnes isn’t a head coach - but any manager who joins hearts will have the title of head coach because of our set up.

(05-05-2025, 01:11 PM)Billy Butcher Wrote: He’s not the answer for the long term, but that’s probably the point.

You need someone to come in for 2-3 years, get the club on a consistent footing and then you can decide to go for someone with an exotic name.

I also think we are reading too much into this idea that JA just parachute in players and the coach/manager has to lump it or leave it. Surely it’s more likely that as soon as Del gets in he tells Jones/JA to run the numbers and find a big huddy to shell balls to and wingers to hit the byline, then they go and find them. If they are successful then they will go to England for a profit anyway.

All on board with Del getting Winnie’s big bad physical Hearts back

JA might not be parachuting players in but someone is currently signing plers now and it’s not the manager.

Kabangu signing points to that as well, no way Critchley had a clue who he was.

McInnes might not be terribly exciting or imaginative, but this board is utterly incapable of choosing a manager, so going with a safe, obvious choice is probably as good as it's going to get.

He's won trophies at three of the four clubs he's managed. Bristol aside, he's pretty much performed as the clubs should have with their budgets. Maybe he's not the guy to bring a club up a level, but when we've been so consistently underperforming, that's a step up. He easily gets us third/fourth and maybe, just maybe, wins something.

McInnes with a decent budget would turn us into a hard to beat team and hopefully get some grit back into our line up.

It wouldn't be the best football but it also wouldn't be as bad as this season - we wouldn't be finishing in the bottom 6 with him in charge either.

I wouldn't be against it for a couple of seasons - but I don't know whether he would be willing to work with JA?

As I said elsewhere, the only problem I have with mcinnes is that he'll be somewhere between adequate and good. I don't want him to be our manager in 6yrs time, I want a Belgian wunderkind or something.

But, as downsides go it's not that bad.

Big Ash Taylor at the back shelling it to some 6 foot 4 lump   

I was impressed with his Aberdeen side circa 2015-18 ish? They had good pace out wide and weren't a total slog to watch as far as I remember. He had a bit of success bringing through young players from their academy too.

A big and fit physical Hertz, steamrolling over the top of the Lochend Brazil.

I feel like Shankland might extend if mcinnes comes.

(05-05-2025, 05:02 PM)Zizou Wrote: I feel like Shankland might extend if mcinnes comes.

Wake me up in 2026/27 season when they're all gone

Not going to try and rewrite history by saying I’m pleased by the appointment, but given our current board and their history of consistently picking the wrong option, it’s probably the stability we need for the next few years.

My only hope is that he comes in, boots some arses and gets us playing better football for a few years and then leaves to take over at Scotland after Clark chucks it.

Certainly better than bringing McGlynn back and watching him try and turn Frankie Kent into an attacking midfielder.

Wait, what?
Has he signed?