[overkill]

Bit of a surprise this in one sense, as he was doing a great job there, but not in another, in that it gives him a chance to prove himself in the Prem - and earn a lot more than he could as NI manager.

However, having said that, I think he's made a mistake. If he had taken NI to the Euro finals no-one would ever forgotten that achievement. On the other hand, spending 20 odd matches (which is all he'll be given - bar a miraculous set of results) struggling to keep Fulham in the top flight with no new money for players, and any decent ones continuing to be sold out from under him, is hardly the stuff of which legends are made.

Thoughts people?

[Speedoguy]

My only reasoning was he thought that N.Ireland were now at their pinnacle and would only be downhill from now on so took his chance while he's got it?.

[zmoosa1]

I suppose he's the sort of manager who likes to be in the thick of things. There isn't really any pressure on being the NI manager (no disrespect intended), so a move to the Premiership is a good move IMO. Any achievement there will boost his rep quite considerably.

[CFC1]

Like Overkill, I happen to think he's making a big mistake in leaving the NI job in general, but in taking the Fulham job in particular. To me, they have over-achieved for their previous manager, Chris Coleman, in the same way that Charlton did with Curbishley, (look what's happened to them!) and Bolton did with Allardyce (who I fear will also find it hard to survive next year). Sanchez was brought into the job with 5 games left, I think, and his record is:

a loss away to Reading,
a draw at home to Blackburn,
a loss away to Arsenal,
and a win against a drastically under strength Liverpool, who barely turned out, only to fulfil their fixture liability.

IMO, if Liverpool had anything to play for, they would also have beaten Fulham, leaving them with 1 point from 4 games and 4th from bottom, 2 points behind West Ham.
Far from Wigan et al bemoaning the Tevez situation still, the fact that Liverpool essentially "gifted" Fulham 3 points by the weak team they put out, seems to have slipped under their radar. Particularly as Man Utd are now at great pains to tell us that they will field their strongest side against West Ham on Sunday, in fairness to everyone else!

I can only see it ending in tears for Fulham next season, as the relegation trap door opens for them!

[RMCF]

Not surprised he has left NI, as he was rumoured to be leaving for ages now.

I can see why he wanted to be involved in football full-time and in the EPL too.

But I won't be surprised if he takes Fulham down next season. You tend to find teams start playing well when a new manager arrives, but sustaining this over 42 games next season will be different.

Time will tell.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Not surprised he has left NI, as he was rumoured to be leaving for ages now.

I can see why he wanted to be involved in football full-time and in the EPL too.

But I won't be surprised if he takes Fulham down next season. You tend to find teams start playing well when a new manager arrives, but sustaining this over 42 games next season will be different.

Time will tell.

In a way it reveals a lack of ambition, not a great deal of it. Fulham are not going anywhere but down next season, it will hardly therefore, enhance his chances of getting another EPL job, and frankly I would rather be managing an International side with the chance to play the top sides in Europe at the next EC, than a week in week out job against the rubbish that makes up two thirds of the prem.

If he took NI there, and there was a good chance he would have done, his job prospects would have been a lot brighter, and I don't doubt, whatever happened, he would have been fending off job offers. Now, after, let's be honest, a less than satisfactory start at Fulham, and the prospect of a season of struggle ending in failure, he's (possibly) set his whole career back by several years.

I think he's panicked after being bullied by an arch bully of a Chairman, and fallen on the wrong stool.

But, as you say, only time will tell.

[overkill]

.................and after todays result his decision looks even more iffy. 3-1 - to Boro! I bet he's wondering if he's done the right thing!

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by overkill

.................and after todays result his decision looks even more iffy. 3-1 - to Boro! I bet he's wondering if he's done the right thing!

Tough! ... Overkill, far from being the hero over here in Northern Ireland before the Fulham situation arose, the support for him has dissipated to the point that there are very few supportive voices now. Your 2 main posts in this thread so far, summarises the situation for a lot of people, who would now like to see him fall flat on his arse.

[RMCF]

He has already started the bad results!!

I think I'll get money on them to go down next season - looks a safe bet.

[alaniho]

Sad to see him go, he done a great job for 'Norn Iron'. But we respect his ambition to go to Fulham. Its a tricky job that though, i think Coleman did a great job over the years and probably would have got the same sort of results over the recent period as Laurie.

GOOD LUCK LAURIE

[overkill]

Originally Posted by RMCF

He has already started the bad results!!

I think I'll get money on them to go down next season - looks a safe bet.

I think so. He won't get any money, as the club are now a selling one, and that means by next September he won't have anyone coming in of the quality needed, and the last remaining 'faces' will have gone. Relegation seems a sure bet.

If he can keep them up he deserves a medal, as it is I think he deserves a conical hat and stool in the corner. Leaving a winning team to take on a losing one, and one that's set to carry on losing, is dumb by anyones standards.

[Kazman]

Pretty much agree with all of the above. i was surprised when I heard the news, thought the man had more sense.

The lack of ambition shown by the owner and board deserves nothing more than relegation.