Opinion: Two managers Newcastle United should consider

Newcastle United are still searching for a new manager. The club has a list of targets, but our editorial staff also have two managers in mind who should be considered for the role.

Time is against Newcastle United as the club’s top officials find themselves scrambling to find a replacement for Rafa Benitez. One would have assumed that Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley had an alternative plan in place if negotiations with Benitez fell through, but that has not been the case.

Newcastle United announced Benitez’ departure on Monday, yet a week later no interviews have been conducted. In fact, no reports have been published stating that managerial targets have even been contacted. What we do know is that a shortlist of candidates does exist and some of the names on that list include Patrick Vieira, Mikel Arteta, Claudio Ranieri, Anthony Hudson and Steven Gerrard. Some of those individuals would make good replacements, but some names should not even be on the list.

Our editorial staff has spent the last week reacting to rumors and analyzing a wide range of candidates, but this article will be different. Today, Carson and I will be proposing two managers – one each – that  we believe Newcastle United should strongly consider for the managerial vacancy left behind by Rafa Benitez.

Durim Halimi’s Proposal: Darren Moore

I must say I am quite surprised that Darren Moore has not been linked to Newcastle United as a replacement for Benitez. I am well aware of his lack of managerial experience, but he did a stellar job at West Brom for the 48 matches in which he was manager before the board sacked him for no reason. West Brom were relegated from the Premier League two seasons ago, but had Moore been hired two weeks earlier than he was the Baggies would have stayed up.

He did an amazing job bringing the best out of all his players and in the final weeks of their relegation season, West Brom were playing fearless football that resembled the way Ajax played in the Champions League. In the Championship, Moore helped West Brom maintain their integrity and implemented an attacking style of play which kept them in the top four. He was wrongfully sacked in March and to this day no one knows why the team let him go. Regardless, he is a young (45) free agent manager who would get maximum effort out of his players.

Carson A. Merk’s Proposal: Laurent Blanc

As I’m sure to read in our analysis of Blanc as a potential replacement for Rafa, both Durim and I rate him a 5/5 for the Newcastle United job. A French legend in his playing career, Blanc has brought his winning ways into his time as a manager. He found success at the helm of Bordeaux, Paris Saint Germain, and the French national team.

For me, Blanc is the perfect fit. He falls in the right range on the age spectrum, not too young and inexperienced but also not too old to be a long-term answer for the Magpies. I think he would bring an attacking style of soccer, great leadership, and a high-level pedigree to the sideline at St. James’ Park.