Hughton was unemployed and looking for work at the time.......and - somebody more ITK than me can confirm or rubbish this - hadn't Hughton applied at the same time as we appointed Hyypia?
Whichever - the important thing is that it worked out fine for us. The difference between us and Palarse, though, is that they've got form for sacking, which automatically makes them a less attractive prospect for a manager. Although tbh out of work managers have got form for grabbing any job...
After four games? OK, maybe not QUITE after four games, but the assertion that Hyypia was shite and had to go appeared on NSC - in spades! - several months before he actually went. Wouldn't be too surprised to find that the first few rumblings of discontent appeared around match four.
Yes, the...
Hughton was out of work at the time, so could well have been a candidate even then - we just left him unemployed a further three months before engaging his services. But yeh, you're right, I wouldn't want to change things now, bearing in mind how things have ultimately worked out.
I'm not sure how much we should be taking the mickey out of Palarse.....in retrospect don't we wish we'd done the same with Hyypia?
On the other hand, it is quite enjoyable to have a chuckle at the moment.