Might it be, we wondered, if he is simply not up to the job? He arrived with such high hopes. In his previous job he seemed top notch. But could there be a simple explanation for his truly dire performance in the big job: that he is simply out of his depth?
We were, of course, talking about Juande Ramos, after last night's game.
Labour can get rid of Brown, if its pipsqueaks can rouse themselves. We are stuck with letting Ramos see it through.