On our way to Johannesburg for the big derby this weekend, I came across a SuperSport United fan. Naturally, there was only one thing to ask him: "Are you happy about the arrival of Stuart Baxter?"
"Yes, of course!" he said.
The man's name was James and he was from Mozambique. He told me he started supporting Matsatsantsa because of a former player of theirs, Tico-Tico Bucuane.
He seemed a little hesitant in his enthusiasm for Baxter, though.
"There is one worry," he said.
"Baxter is a good coach, and he will bring you trophies, but he doesn't have that X-factor."
"What X-factor?" I asked.
"The knowledge of the anonymous," he answered.
"Gordon Igesund had that, he was brilliant at that, he was always introducing players no one had ever heard of, like Dean Furman.
"The thing with a coach like that is he needs time. A coach like Igesund has a vision for many years' time, whereas a coach like Baxter is only likely to stay at your club for three years, if that."
"Ja, but he will get you trophies?" I asked.
"Ja, he can win you trophies and then he disappears like Gavin Hunt, and then what happens to our team?
"We have no fresh youngsters and we are left 10th on the log.
"I know Baxter can also scout talent, but Gordon… wow… Gordon had that knowledge of the unknown."
Do you think United should have stuck with Igesund, or is Baxter the man for the job?
