Scolari

The Times this morning and BBC Sport this afternoon both report that we've gone for Scolari. I'm not enthusiastic.

Scolari has never worked in European club football. He has never been involved with English football in any way. He has never had to deal with a multi-million pound transfer budget (Cruzerio and Palmerias are big clubs in their own way, but don't operate on the same financial plane as a Premier League team). Some managers make the transfer to the EPL successfully (Wenger, Benitez, Mourinho), some don't (Gross, Houllier, Perrin) but they're all coming from at least comparable backgrounds.

Another thought: won't his temper produce problems? Shinawatra clearly wants someone who accepts boardroom influence on transfer policy, and, if you believe some rumours, selection. Isn't Scolari too much his own man to allow this? The same problem appears with rumours of Slaven Bilic or Martin Jol (both of whom I would prefer ahead of Scolari). Surely Scolari is smart enough

The one possible instrumental benefit is that he will bring with him some Portugese players. In between the ageing Hamann and the still green Gelson'n'Johnson we could do with someone like Tiago, Petit or Maniche. But, as the strongest argument in favour of a manager, this is staggeringly insufficient.

Can't we just stick with Sven?