Its been said but it is so true Woody came in too early, most of us supported him, but we were shocked/surprised with his appointment. He is not Jack Charlton and he did not have the funds that Bryan Robson had or Steven Mac or Aitor or GS. It even now feels a bit cruel for Gibson to do it, like sending keen boys into the front line of a major battle. For Woody what does he do look at jobs in the National League or be a number 2 at a Championship club or work with the under 23s at Boro. Myself I would go abroad and be a number 2 type at a biggish club, but it might be difficult domestically and there are language issues. A number 2 will give him time to reflect, learn more and apply to some degree to make him a better future manager. Going straight back into management at a lower level there is no time you carry the can 100% and you can do a good job and be sacked like Higgy at Pools but good is not good enough. Woody has time on his side to slowly build up his CV.
I remember I was working with a Wolves fan in 1986 on the South Coast he told me that a young Brian Little in his late 30s did a good job with Wolves as manager for a couple of months and was sacked unfairly in his opinion. Wolves were in a financial mess and were in was is now Division 2 and so they didn't have a bean. Brian went to Boro as a coach to Bruce Rioch with us in what is now Division 1. It was quite a step down. He did get the Darlo manager's job and did well there and I remember him managing Villa in the Premiership. The Wolves job came too early, bit he back tracked and built up his experience and ending up a Premiership manager.