Our New Manager

[0Neils40yarder]

20 hours ago, postiejim said:

Why would John McGlynn leave Falkirk and join Motherwell. They’re arguably as big a club if not bigger than we are. 

Falkirk toon, is bigger than Motherwell toon...is that what you meant?

[Great Balls of Shire]

5 hours ago, Mad Dog said:

The Scotsman seems to think that the young Belgian chap Will Still could be our man. Could possibly carry on JBA's legacy and add a more aggressive attack?

I saw that article, they had scott broon and steven naismith in it too.

Also Russell Martin, that was almost ok after seeing broon.....again quoted.

[weeyin]

6 minutes ago, Great Balls of Shire said:

I saw that article, they had scott broon and steven naismith in it too.

Also Russell Martin, that was almost ok after seeing broon.....again quoted.

While it would be hilarious if Martin was appointed and improved on JBA, that will have to be a pass from me.

[Kmcalpin]

2 hours ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

Falkirk toon, is bigger than Motherwell toon...is that what you meant?

It’s smaller than the Motherwell area in terms of population, but thats academic. 

[purestate]

Sorry bit of a long one but with data analytics in mind  thought for a bit of interest/ fun I’d try out some prompts to find replacement manager based on JBA style I.e

• Asymmetric 4‑2‑2‑2 with short, incisive passing and constant rotations.  
• Aggressive counter‑pressing, deliberately not contesting first balls but winning second balls.
• High regain numbers — among the best in Europe for possession recovery.
• Risk‑tolerant, blame‑free coaching culture that encourages bravery on the ball.
• Clear game‑model documentation (his “300‑slide football bible”).

These are much closer to

• Norway’s Bodo/Glimt school
• Denmark’s modern Superliga coaches
• Sweden’s positional-play managers
• Germany’s 2. Bundesliga pressing coaches

 

so potential names which popped up are

🇳🇴 1. Gaute Helstrup (Tromsø → currently free / often linked with progressive clubs)

Why he fits:

• Uses a fluid, rotation-heavy 4‑3‑3 / 3‑4‑3 hybrid similar to Askou’s asymmetry.
• Tromsø were one of Europe’s best small‑budget pressing teams.
• Strong Bodo/Glimt influence — exactly the model Askou referenced.  sportzeen.com
• Excellent at developing undervalued players.

Why he’s realistic:

• Affordable for a Scottish Premiership club.
• Comfortable working with limited budgets and selling clubs.

---

🇩🇰 2. Thomas Nørgaard (Lyngby assistant / former Fremad Amager)

Why he fits:

• Danish coaches share the same tactical lineage as Askou.
• Nørgaard’s Fremad Amager sides played aggressive, vertical, counter‑pressing football.
• Known for detailed game‑model work — similar to Askou’s “football bible”.

Why he’s realistic:

• Danish assistants often step into head roles abroad.
• Salary expectations align with Motherwell’s structure.

---

🇸🇪 3. Andreas Brännström (formerly AIK / Mjällby)

Why he fits:

• One of Sweden’s most tactically flexible coaches.
• Uses asymmetric buildup, overloads, and structured pressing.
• Excellent at improving players technically.

Why he’s realistic:

• Available.
• Has previously expressed interest in UK opportunities.

---

🇩🇪 4. Daniel Scherning (ex‑Arminia Bielefeld, 2. Bundesliga)

Why he fits:

• High‑pressing, transition‑dominant football.
• Strong emphasis on automatisms and structured rotations.
• Good with young squads — important for Motherwell.

Why he’s realistic:

• German second‑tier coaches often move abroad for stability.
• Would see Scotland as a stepping stone.

---

🇳🇱 5. Rogier Meijer (NEC Nijmegen – if available)

Why he fits:

• Dutch positional play with aggressive pressing triggers.
• Very similar to Askou’s short‑passing, rotation‑based buildup.
• Strong youth development record.

Why he’s realistic:

• Dutch coaches are increasingly open to UK moves.
• NEC’s budget is modest; not an impossible target.

[Happy Dosser]

41 minutes ago, purestate said:

Sorry bit of a long one but with data analytics in mind  thought for a bit of interest/ fun I’d try out some prompts to find replacement manager based on JBA style I.e

• Asymmetric 4‑2‑2‑2 with short, incisive passing and constant rotations.  
• Aggressive counter‑pressing, deliberately not contesting first balls but winning second balls.
• High regain numbers — among the best in Europe for possession recovery.
• Risk‑tolerant, blame‑free coaching culture that encourages bravery on the ball.
• Clear game‑model documentation (his “300‑slide football bible”).

These are much closer to

• Norway’s Bodo/Glimt school
• Denmark’s modern Superliga coaches
• Sweden’s positional-play managers
• Germany’s 2. Bundesliga pressing coaches

 

so potential names which popped up are

🇳🇴 1. Gaute Helstrup (Tromsø → currently free / often linked with progressive clubs)

Why he fits:

• Uses a fluid, rotation-heavy 4‑3‑3 / 3‑4‑3 hybrid similar to Askou’s asymmetry.
• Tromsø were one of Europe’s best small‑budget pressing teams.
• Strong Bodo/Glimt influence — exactly the model Askou referenced.  sportzeen.com
• Excellent at developing undervalued players.

Why he’s realistic:

• Affordable for a Scottish Premiership club.
• Comfortable working with limited budgets and selling clubs.

---

🇩🇰 2. Thomas Nørgaard (Lyngby assistant / former Fremad Amager)

Why he fits:

• Danish coaches share the same tactical lineage as Askou.
• Nørgaard’s Fremad Amager sides played aggressive, vertical, counter‑pressing football.
• Known for detailed game‑model work — similar to Askou’s “football bible”.

Why he’s realistic:

• Danish assistants often step into head roles abroad.
• Salary expectations align with Motherwell’s structure.

---

🇸🇪 3. Andreas Brännström (formerly AIK / Mjällby)

Why he fits:

• One of Sweden’s most tactically flexible coaches.
• Uses asymmetric buildup, overloads, and structured pressing.
• Excellent at improving players technically.

Why he’s realistic:

• Available.
• Has previously expressed interest in UK opportunities.

---

🇩🇪 4. Daniel Scherning (ex‑Arminia Bielefeld, 2. Bundesliga)

Why he fits:

• High‑pressing, transition‑dominant football.
• Strong emphasis on automatisms and structured rotations.
• Good with young squads — important for Motherwell.

Why he’s realistic:

• German second‑tier coaches often move abroad for stability.
• Would see Scotland as a stepping stone.

---

🇳🇱 5. Rogier Meijer (NEC Nijmegen – if available)

Why he fits:

• Dutch positional play with aggressive pressing triggers.
• Very similar to Askou’s short‑passing, rotation‑based buildup.
• Strong youth development record.

Why he’s realistic:

• Dutch coaches are increasingly open to UK moves.
• NEC’s budget is modest; not an impossible target.

Excellent research and analysis: thanks!

It seems a long way from Big Yogi's "Honest, hard-working  boys".

[AllyMax]

1 hour ago, purestate said:

Sorry bit of a long one but with data analytics in mind  thought for a bit of interest/ fun I’d try out some prompts to find replacement manager based on JBA style I.e

• Asymmetric 4‑2‑2‑2 with short, incisive passing and constant rotations.  
• Aggressive counter‑pressing, deliberately not contesting first balls but winning second balls.
• High regain numbers — among the best in Europe for possession recovery.
• Risk‑tolerant, blame‑free coaching culture that encourages bravery on the ball.
• Clear game‑model documentation (his “300‑slide football bible”).

These are much closer to

• Norway’s Bodo/Glimt school
• Denmark’s modern Superliga coaches
• Sweden’s positional-play managers
• Germany’s 2. Bundesliga pressing coaches

 

so potential names which popped up are

🇳🇴 1. Gaute Helstrup (Tromsø → currently free / often linked with progressive clubs)

Why he fits:

• Uses a fluid, rotation-heavy 4‑3‑3 / 3‑4‑3 hybrid similar to Askou’s asymmetry.
• Tromsø were one of Europe’s best small‑budget pressing teams.
• Strong Bodo/Glimt influence — exactly the model Askou referenced.  sportzeen.com
• Excellent at developing undervalued players.

Why he’s realistic:

• Affordable for a Scottish Premiership club.
• Comfortable working with limited budgets and selling clubs.

---

🇩🇰 2. Thomas Nørgaard (Lyngby assistant / former Fremad Amager)

Why he fits:

• Danish coaches share the same tactical lineage as Askou.
• Nørgaard’s Fremad Amager sides played aggressive, vertical, counter‑pressing football.
• Known for detailed game‑model work — similar to Askou’s “football bible”.

Why he’s realistic:

• Danish assistants often step into head roles abroad.
• Salary expectations align with Motherwell’s structure.

---

🇸🇪 3. Andreas Brännström (formerly AIK / Mjällby)

Why he fits:

• One of Sweden’s most tactically flexible coaches.
• Uses asymmetric buildup, overloads, and structured pressing.
• Excellent at improving players technically.

Why he’s realistic:

• Available.
• Has previously expressed interest in UK opportunities.

---

🇩🇪 4. Daniel Scherning (ex‑Arminia Bielefeld, 2. Bundesliga)

Why he fits:

• High‑pressing, transition‑dominant football.
• Strong emphasis on automatisms and structured rotations.
• Good with young squads — important for Motherwell.

Why he’s realistic:

• German second‑tier coaches often move abroad for stability.
• Would see Scotland as a stepping stone.

---

🇳🇱 5. Rogier Meijer (NEC Nijmegen – if available)

Why he fits:

• Dutch positional play with aggressive pressing triggers.
• Very similar to Askou’s short‑passing, rotation‑based buildup.
• Strong youth development record.

Why he’s realistic:

• Dutch coaches are increasingly open to UK moves.
• NEC’s budget is modest; not an impossible target.

That's more detailed than the system a lot of SPFL clubs use. They usually ask 'has anyone got the numbers for any sacked Scottish managers' 

[fizoxy]

1 hour ago, purestate said:

Sorry bit of a long one but with data analytics in mind  thought for a bit of interest/ fun I’d try out some prompts to find replacement manager based on JBA style I.e

• Asymmetric 4‑2‑2‑2 with short, incisive passing and constant rotations.  
• Aggressive counter‑pressing, deliberately not contesting first balls but winning second balls.
• High regain numbers — among the best in Europe for possession recovery.
• Risk‑tolerant, blame‑free coaching culture that encourages bravery on the ball.
• Clear game‑model documentation (his “300‑slide football bible”).

These are much closer to

• Norway’s Bodo/Glimt school
• Denmark’s modern Superliga coaches
• Sweden’s positional-play managers
• Germany’s 2. Bundesliga pressing coaches

 

so potential names which popped up are

🇳🇴 1. Gaute Helstrup (Tromsø → currently free / often linked with progressive clubs)

Why he fits:

• Uses a fluid, rotation-heavy 4‑3‑3 / 3‑4‑3 hybrid similar to Askou’s asymmetry.
• Tromsø were one of Europe’s best small‑budget pressing teams.
• Strong Bodo/Glimt influence — exactly the model Askou referenced.  sportzeen.com
• Excellent at developing undervalued players.

Why he’s realistic:

• Affordable for a Scottish Premiership club.
• Comfortable working with limited budgets and selling clubs.

---

🇩🇰 2. Thomas Nørgaard (Lyngby assistant / former Fremad Amager)

Why he fits:

• Danish coaches share the same tactical lineage as Askou.
• Nørgaard’s Fremad Amager sides played aggressive, vertical, counter‑pressing football.
• Known for detailed game‑model work — similar to Askou’s “football bible”.

Why he’s realistic:

• Danish assistants often step into head roles abroad.
• Salary expectations align with Motherwell’s structure.

---

🇸🇪 3. Andreas Brännström (formerly AIK / Mjällby)

Why he fits:

• One of Sweden’s most tactically flexible coaches.
• Uses asymmetric buildup, overloads, and structured pressing.
• Excellent at improving players technically.

Why he’s realistic:

• Available.
• Has previously expressed interest in UK opportunities.

---

🇩🇪 4. Daniel Scherning (ex‑Arminia Bielefeld, 2. Bundesliga)

Why he fits:

• High‑pressing, transition‑dominant football.
• Strong emphasis on automatisms and structured rotations.
• Good with young squads — important for Motherwell.

Why he’s realistic:

• German second‑tier coaches often move abroad for stability.
• Would see Scotland as a stepping stone.

---

🇳🇱 5. Rogier Meijer (NEC Nijmegen – if available)

Why he fits:

• Dutch positional play with aggressive pressing triggers.
• Very similar to Askou’s short‑passing, rotation‑based buildup.
• Strong youth development record.

Why he’s realistic:

• Dutch coaches are increasingly open to UK moves.
• NEC’s budget is modest; not an impossible target.

This is cool, some interesting names in there.

I used a similar prompt and claude sonnet gave me:

Jimmy Thelin, Scott Brown, Russell Martin, John McGlynn and...... Stevie Hammell!

Thought about using my opus credits from work to see if it gives me something better, but they're getting touchy about that theesedays. 

Instead, im going to give mine your list of answers and ask it why it didn't give me those. 

[Kmcalpin]

Very interesting, well thought out process Purestate. Any indication though of how successful these 5 “candidates” have been?

[fizoxy]

Gaute Helstrup - current assistant at bodo/glimt - so unlikely

Thomas Nørgaard - 39% win percentage over 290 games, with it being close to 47% over that last two teams, was the assistant coach at Sparta Prague in between. Seems to be under contract . 

Andreas Brännström - looks like hes been out of work for a year. About 1.5 points per game average over a lot of teams, all short stints. The only one of the list that looks lile they're available.

Daniel Scherning - also looks to be under contract, about 45% win rate at 2 Bundesliga, although thar started high and dropped at each club - could be from moving to a higher level. 

Rogier Meijer - he recently became Sparta Rotterdam manager, so can be ruled out.

[purestate]

7 hours ago, fizoxy said:

This is cool, some interesting names in there.

I used a similar prompt and claude sonnet gave me:

Jimmy Thelin, Scott Brown, Russell Martin, John McGlynn and...... Stevie Hammell!

Thought about using my opus credits from work to see if it gives me something better, but they're getting touchy about that theesedays. 

Instead, im going to give mine your list of answers and ask it why it didn't give me those. 

That was my initial experience as well because source was gambling odds.  I adjusted to exclude odds sites as source and prompted about European second tier countries or leagues. 
 

All listed appeared to have spells and sometimes seasons  of 60%+ win rates although thanks to fizoxy for further detail as I hadn’t got that far of validating at individual level. 
 

[Stuwell2]

Great research lads will be interesting to see if any of them are even quoted for the job never mind get it. 

[yosemite sam]

You do realise "purstate" that all your work will now appear in the tabloids as investigating journalists work.

😉

[SteelmaninOZ]

1 hour ago, yosemite sam said:

You do realise "purstate" that all your work will now appear in the tabloids as investigating journalists work.

😉

Yeah am waiting to see it in the tabloids as an exclusive 

[wellfan]

At least our new manager won’t be Steve Clarke. 

[Well-Made]

Love this idea of using AI to see if we can identify who we may look at.

 

Gemini gave me these 3

 

Losing Jens Berthel Askou to Toulouse is a massive gut punch right after he guided the Well to an incredible 4th-place finish and secured European football. His tactical blueprint—progressive, high-energy, attractive attacking football combined with an excellent track record of developing young talent—is exactly the foundation Chairman Kyrk Macmillan needs to preserve.
Given the board’s clear preference to move away from the traditional "Scottish managerial merry-go-round" (as seen with Michael Wimmer and Askou) and scout Europe or further afield, the next appointment needs to be data-literate, tactically modern, and capable of handling European qualification fixtures right away.
Here are four strong, realistic continental and international options that fit the exact tactical profile of what Askou built at Fir Park, rated on suitability:
### 1. Óskar Hrafn Thorvaldsson (Iceland)
Thorvaldsson is a highly progressive coach who built a reputation for playing some of the most attractive, high-pressing football in Scandinavia during his time with Breidablik, famously taking them into the UEFA Conference League group stages.
 * **Style of Play:** Ultra-progressive, possession-oriented, and aggressively attack-minded. He favors a fluid 4-3-3 that prioritizes overloading wide areas and high-tempo transitions.
 * **Youth Development:** Exceptional. Icelandic football relies heavily on blooding academy talent, and Thorvaldsson excels at molding young players into sellable assets.
 * **Why he fits:** He has proven, recent pedigree in navigating European qualifiers with a modest budget, perfectly matching Motherwell's upcoming campaign.
 * **Fit Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — *A tactical soulmate to Askou's approach and deeply accustomed to punching above his weight in Europe.*
### 2. Thomas Letsch (Germany)
The former VfL Bochum and Vitesse Arnhem manager is currently available and brings a wealth of high-level European experience. He was a product of the Red Bull Salzburg coaching pipeline, meaning his tactical DNA is deeply rooted in modern football fundamentals.
 * **Style of Play:** High-octane, intense counter-pressing. He relies on vertical progression, meaning the team looks to get the ball forward sharply and aggressively rather than keeping possession for the sake of it.
 * **Youth Development:** Strong background. He previously managed Salzburg's feeder club, FC Liefering, which is essentially an elite global academy.
 * **Why he fits:** He guided Vitesse to a European knockout run and kept Bochum in the Bundesliga against the odds. He represents a slight step up in pedigree that could signal massive ambition from the Well board.
 * **Fit Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) — *Slightly more pragmatic in transitional phases than Askou, but brings elite tactical discipline and European pedigree.*
### 3. Per-Mathias Høgmo (Norway)
If Motherwell wants an experienced hand who guarantees an incredibly entertaining, high-scoring side, the former Norway national team boss is an intriguing option. He recently managed Urawa Red Diamonds and previously worked wonders with BK Häcken in Sweden.
 * **Style of Play:** High-scoring, expansive 4-3-3. His Häcken side was famous for outscoring opposition, prioritizing creative freedom in the final third, and playing with incredibly high wing-backs.
 * **Youth Development:** Solid, though he tends to rely a bit more on established tactical roles.
 * **Why he fits:** He knows how to build a team that captures the imagination of the fans, ensuring Fir Park crowds (which are up 40%) stay highly entertained.
 * **Fit Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) — *Brilliant attacking style, though his higher wage profile and preference for slightly more experienced squads could be a hurdle.*
### 4. Kevin Muscat (Australia)
Currently managing Shanghai Port, Muscat has been heavily linked with a return to Western football for a while. As a coach, he has completely shed his former "hardman" player reputation to become one of the most exciting tactical minds from the Ange Postecoglou coaching tree.
 * **Style of Play:** "Ange-ball" adjacent. Relentless attacking, inverted full-backs, high defensive lines, and a strict emphasis on suffocating the opposition in their own half.
 * **Youth Development:** Excellent track record in the A-League and J-League at giving young, energetic players the platform to thrive in high-intensity systems.
 * **Why he fits:** He brings an incredibly sharp, aggressive style that would take Askou's foundations and supercharge them. He also knows the UK landscape well but represents the "wider areas" scouting mission perfectly.
 * **Fit Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.5/5) — *Tactically perfect, but prising him away from lucrative overseas contracts mid-season would require a massive financial push.*
### Summary Comparison
| Manager | Nationality | Preferred Style | European Exp. | Realistic Target? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Óskar Hrafn Thorvaldsson** | Icelandic | High-tempo, Fluid 4-3-3 | High (Group Stages) | **Very Realistic** |
| **Thomas Letsch** | German | Red Bull Pressing, Vertical | High (Eredivisie/UECL) | **Realistic** |
| **Per-Mathias Høgmo** | Norwegian | Expansive, Attacking | High (Scandinavia) | **Ambitious** |
| **Kevin Muscat** | Australian | Inverted Full-backs, Relentless | Asia Only | **Difficult** |
Given how smoothly Jens integrated his Nordic sensibilities into Fir Park, leaning back into the Icelandic or Scandinavian market with a candidate like Thorvaldsson seems like the most logical step to keep the momentum going without ripping up the blueprint.

 

Not saying any of them are affordable right enough..
 

[numpty]

I trust anything AI says about as much as anything the Daily Record says.

[dennyc]

irrespective of who we eventually turn to, what all this research shows is that there are plenty of decent, progressive options out there. No need to turn to the usual, washed out, living in the past ( resist it Grizzlyg)  favourites the Scottish media come up with. 

Hopefully something announced soon. 

[stv]

Did we officially advertise for candidates to apply . I may have missed that.

If not then we may have it done and dusted already

[Well-Made]

1 hour ago, numpty said:

I trust anything AI says about as much as anything the Daily Record says.

So do I (it has it uses though) but we aren't getting any rumours so why not see what it reckons..

 

**My company is heavy on AI as well...**

[purestate]

1 hour ago, dennyc said:

irrespective of who we eventually turn to, what all this research shows is that there are plenty of decent, progressive options out there. No need to turn to the usual, washed out, living in the past ( resist it Grizzlyg)  favourites the Scottish media come up with. 

Hopefully something announced soon. 

Exactly and just a bit of idle fun in meantime. 
maybe we should start the Steelmenonline Analytics Service

a few successes and we could sell

out to big tech for enough money to rebuild stadium 😜 

[Spiderpig]

54 minutes ago, purestate said:

Exactly and just a bit of idle fun in meantime. 
maybe we should start the Steelmenonline Analytics Service

a few successes and we could sell

out to big tech for enough money to rebuild stadium 😜 

We have defintely shown "a who dares wins" attitude this season so SAS might be appropriate 😂