Speculation over the appointment of a new manager is great - the opportunity of a fresh start - I love it. For what it's worth here's my take on the runners and riders.
When we turned down Swansea over the summer my feeling was that we did it because we wanted Gary Speed to be our main man if/when Blackwell screwed up - I still think that is the most likely scenario, I agree with Alcoblade above the big question mark over him is that he hasn't had the top job before but I certainly wouldn't condemn him because of his links with Blackwell - I'll come back to him later.
Other candidates I will group into categories clearly this is arbitary and some candidates could fit into more than one group, but who cares:
1, Candidates with Blades credentials.
Paul Peschisolido - well liked by fans, learning his trade steadily - probably hasn't done enough yet to move up.
Craig Short - Well regarded at club, not so much of a fans favourite and no real depth of experience or success on the cv as yet.
Chris Wilder - A while since any close dealings with the club but clearly handling management well, could well be ready for a step up.
Bobby Davison - Even more of a longshot, but apparently on decent terms with McCabe, no record of management success in UK
Micky Adams - A fan with a pretty decent cv in management, still seems to have an appetite for the game despite having been around for a while now, doing a decent job at Port Vale, 3 promotions including taking Leicester up to the Premiership. Wouldn't be a bad call in my view.
Neil Warnock - It's inevitable some fans will want him back, I'm not one of them, he would bring too much baggage even if we could prize him away from QPR.
Alex Sabella - yeah right
2. Up and coming lower league guys
All of these blokes have the same essential question mark hanging over them, namely, can they do it at a higher level?
Eddies Howe - Bournemouth
Paul Buckle - Torquay
Keith Hill - Rochdale
Paul Tisdale - Exeter
I suspect at least one of these blokes will go on to bigger and better things but now doesn't seem the right time for the Blades taking the gamble on seeing if it will be with us.
3. Other Local Heroes
Sean O'Driscoll is the main talking horse here, no questioning his football style and considerable success but he'd be in the firing line at the Blades far more than he has been anywhere else, he's not media friendly, could he cope with a pressure cooker environment? I have my doubts that the raw meat chewers would be patient enough with him to allow him to do the transformation necessary.
Mark Robbins - Have to say I like Robbins, pissing off Barnsley by nicking him would be good fun, not sure he has done enough yet to convince at this level.
Other old lags and/or candidates we might have to pay some money for
Kenny Jackett - Doing a tremendous job at Millwall, was instrumental in laying the foundations for Swansea's recent success, no obvious links with the area, would be high on my list.
Brian Little - I've always liked him as a manager, all the experience in the world, has he still got the drive in him to do it under real pressure?
Peter Taylor - Bit of a wet blanket, but well connected and some decent success along the way, I wouldn't be that unhappy with him
Gary Johnson - Not everyones cup of tea but good experience at this level and I've always thought his teams play decent football.
Dave Jones - Could we prize him away from Cardiff? He's probably ready for a change, I would love to see him at the Lane
Lee Clarke - Seems to be doing a decent job at Huddersfield although he's doing it on the back of a big budget for that league, not convinced as yet.
Tony Mowbray - A dedicated purist in football terms, seems a bit of a difficult character, would the fans take to him? I'm not sure.
Phil Brown - Which Phil Brown would we get? the orange knob jockey of last season or the bloke who led HUll to the PL and kept them there? I have an irrational dislike of him but I wouldnt worry about that if he did the business.
Gary Speed - He would get my full support if he gets the job, no question about that. Does he need a mentor/sounding board to hold his hand over the first year or so?, I'm not sure, it's a sink or swim world in football management and solutions that are overly contrived often don't work, he would know who he wants with him and the club would probably just have to trust him on it. One off the wall suggestion from me though, Kevin Keegan? Would he be tempted with a hands off overview role? he ticks a lot of the boxes eg history with Gary Speed, huge PR value for the club globally, not doing anything at the moment. I await developments with interest.
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