MHL 47

The Grant appointment was entirely understandable when considering who was advising Roman at the time, many were allies of Grant. Grant had made a name for himself in football by 'networking' and by limited achievements. Grant was/is a limited Manager/Coach but was smart enough not to muck around with a tried and tested formula for success. To compare him taking a team to the CL Final in 2008 and RDM winning it this year is an unfair comparison, that 2008 team was superior in many aspects, better defensively, more powerful throughout the side, a better Lampard, Essien at or near his pomp, Ballack, a fitter JT. Di Matteo's achievement was vastly superior, including beating Munich in their back-yard. Rafa will prove the most absurd to date. You go to games, you must know how the fans felt about him, his loyalty to the red side of Merseyside, I've no problem with his loyalty to them, just some of his comments and then expecting fans to think that's OK, it's just a bit of banter, I was only batting for my side, and then expect a few wins to change our deeply held dislike of them. Anyone appointed (well almost anyone) then would have had a hard time convincing the fans that they were the right person, his job is almost impossible and I have a real fear that there will be some longer lasting problems because of his appointment. His past achievements are long past and his record in the PL is far from good and to be honest anyone who'd wreck a team and it's spirit for Gareth Barry needs his head carefully looking at.

It's in too many places to be BS. I think he was talking from the view of one day him not being the Manager of them. From my experience at games, a lot of he fans don't need any stoking up, emotions are still running pretty high. My own view is that he'll probably never be accepted here, his red roots are too deep and the ill feeling a lot of fans have for that particular club is strong. What he said in the past and what he says now, doesn't effect me too much, it just confirms my thoughts of football managers and players generally, namely they'll say whatever they feel will ingratiate them to the fans the most. Most of them don't have he emotional bonds we have, and that's why things like his appointment here has hurt so many of us.

I hope he's missing us, because we are sure as hell missing him - Legend!

He might have done, you know http://www.standard....im-8343813.html

Right, let's stay with the positive vibe: 5. A weekend in Amsterdam sounds good and much better than a trip to Wembley 6. A new badge for the shirts 7. A new trophy to have your photo taken with Seriously now, I'm not so sure how many younger players will get played, most of the better ones who are ready, are out on loan, Piazon will get games, Marin should get some more time. The likes of Feruz, Saville, Ake might be a little too young to deal with some of the sides we'll play and who might be taking the competition seriously.

Trying to look for positives: Didn't a certain Portugese Manager win the Europa League then the Champions League in Back-to-Back seasons - we're just trying it in reverse More Sunday games = Free Car Parking at home games!! I'm struggling!!

I've a mate who spent his whole career as a premiership footballer (old 1st Division as well, who is now retired) who's still got lots of contacts at the London Clubs and he's told me that there are a few players who think he's OK and an improvement on RDM, others who think he's a complete waste of space, blaming them for his own shortcomings and tactically miles behind other coaches they've worked with. This also fits in line with what he told me about circumstances surrounding RDM's sacking, that was there was a huge split in the dressing room following the Clattenburg allegations, Robbie failed to heal this and may have even sat on one side of the split. To me it sounds as if the players are still 'apart' and performances would maybe bear this out. We need someone who can sort this, bring the dressing room together and integrate some badly needed additions to the squad, who are suiatble for the long term. I'm not sure RB is that bloke based on what I can make of his history.

Don't know where you got this rumour from. However we could do a lot worse than Jarvis. I'll tell you what I know of him, he was my Daughters Prom Night date, therefore we've a bit of knowledge about him as a person as well as a player. Quality delivery into the box, think Damien Duff at his best. Get's the ball, makes space and delivers the ball, doesn't fanny around trying to beat multiple players, he does what it says on the tin marked 'Winger'. Hard worker and chips in with 5-10 goals a season. I'd have him at Chelsea in a shot. He might not ever be a first choice, first name on the teamsheet player but he'd do us a good job and would be a better choice currently than Malouda. He's just bought a house near the Training Ground, however as his old 'home' is only 10 miles or so away I wouldn't necessarily make too much of that, plus and as a person he's a good-un. Still knocks about with his mates from school and hasn't got a 'celebrity' attitude. He's very loyal and would offer good squad-rotation options. Bottom line is he's a viable option and English which is important going forward. The other thing is I'd probably get to obtain a good few signed photo's, shirts, tickets, be in a photo of a goal celebration or two

Swansea, Norwich or QPR at home would do for me. Prefer to avoid tough aways like City, Utd or aways in the Nth East early on. It's also good to avoid aways to the newly promoted clubs early on in the season as they tend to have a 'feel-good factor' early on and often pull off an unlikely win, Burnley beating Man Utd was an example of this, later on in the season they couldn't beat an egg, Blackpool was another example, great early on but woefull later in the season.

At the Allianz Block 345, Row 6, Seat 14 or 15

Fellas - Something's come up at work and I can't get to the game tomorrow and I've two tickets to the game, away scheme tickets so will be decent seats. Ideally I don't want the tickets to go to waste, so if anyone wants them then PM me. Not bothered about the money, at this short notice I'd just like to get them to someone who'd like to go. If you're going to Munich I'll have a beer or four off you then!! I'll be in West London/M4/M40 area tomorrow and will have them with me.

There's a few that don't change, time leaving home for home games, only using the same set of services to on certain Motorways. But other things influence as well, such as I had a hair-cut the day we lost our home unbeaten record to L*******L, that's it no more hair-cuts on matchdays anymore. I took the Audi to the game versus Arsenal this season, no more trips in the Audi for me. Whereas when I was playing it was exactly the same superstitions all the time. The time I got to the ground for home games, the same seat on the coach/bus for away game's, right-sock on before left. Vick on the chest before up the nose - I knew really that any of them didn't make any difference really, but nevertheless had to do the same each time.

Or maybe the previous Manager had one way of playing/lacked the tactical skills necessary to perform at the level shown last night. And/or maybe the previous Manager had somehow managed to damage morale and team spirit to a level where the level of performance and teamwork shown last night was not possible - These are people and not machines after all. Whatever the reasons, it's a fantastic result and effort - ENJOY IT FOR WHAT IT IS/WAS! Still a few things that need sorting but at least effort, teamwork and spirit appear to be coming back.

£25m might be a little bit optimistic Muniain might cost that alone, but there's worse ways to spend £40-£50m in football than him and Llorente. Thing is Bilbao wouldn't entertain a swap or player exchange owing to their mainly Basque players policy, used to be Basque only I think.

Watching the Man Utd v A.Bilbao game and this fella looks a cracking player. Pacy, occupies wide areas, direct, can go past a man or two and looks like he's got quality in his passing. 20 years old and plays in area's where we desperately need to strengthen. Seems to have a great work ethic too. Would be expensive, maybe £25m+ but looks a good option.

If true probably a good indication of the manner in which he had tried the 'divide and rule' tactic with the players. There'll be more and more coming out from this point on. Things said early this morning by Alan Brazil (I know he can be a clown at times but is still connected with a few who do know some inner workings of a few clubs) relating to AVB's first meeting with Drogba, Lampard & Cole where he has allegedly said this'll be your last year at Chelsea, I'll be moving you on as soon as I can. Staggering If true, and no surprise that there may have been a lack of sympathy shown. How to make friends and influence people in one easy lesson - NOT

Make that 4, I'm there. Gone midnight before I get back, with or without the penalties. Unconditional support while we're there as always for me.

If you take the view that the relationship between AVB and a majority of the player's had broken down, then in football and in other sectors the player's will eventually outlast the Manager. It's a matter of economics and dynamics - change one or ten? Changing the ten won't generally happen. AVB tried to confront a situation he perceived as being unhealthy and lost - No surprise to me, there were rumours of players being unhappy with his micro-management of them and tactics as far back as September/October. If true then the Daily Mail's comments of him working long days and sleeping at the ground suggest that he was dealing at a level of detail he shouldn't need to and hadn't either appointed/been allowed to appoint a management team to support him. If you consider the minute detail of his scouting reports he used to prepare when working under JM then maybe it's no surprise that his management style may follow the same lines. If RA has taken the players aside and informed them they're not blameless then good for him, it needed doing, hopefully he also told a few of them a few home and professional truths. Roman for his and our sakes needs to get the structure of the club right now and allow a manager to control more aspects of the playing staff and style and the next Manager needs to be allowed to make all his own decisions regarding players in and out without a convaluted process of authorisation, say just a Chief Exec and probably/realistically in our case, Roman. It'll be stormy for a while yet, but with the right man in place, someone who will not 'dictate' or 'placate' but will rationally advise and discuss then the transition can be achieved. AVB in my view tried to dictate and manage too much detail, you could witness it from the touchline. Most of our players are long-in-the-tooth professionals who do not need this and probably reacted. The Manager needs the skill to recognise this and formulate a strategy that'll work in the long-term. I think the clubs statement said it all yesterday, they/we were in a position where something had to change, as is the way it was the Manager.

I'd agree 3 years isn't too much to ask, that is with a caveat that none of us know if any 'conditions' were attached to AVB's 3-year brief by the Owner/Board.If he's got carte-blanche to do as he feels he needs to do then in my view he tried to take an easy option by his 'show of strength' with Anelka & Alex and it's backfired on him. Now he seems to me to have a toxic-mix on his hands that will take at least two to three years to sort out and unless he gets the time and the mandate to clear the decks completely of people he doesn't want around then for him it may be a task he can't complete. Arguably he might not have been the right choice anyway for what was always going to be one hell of a job due to a lack of experience? The answer may have been to hire a hatchet-man to take apart the side (making the task and scope of the job abundantly clear to said person) with a view to replacing him when the dirty work was done. Ensuring players being brought in were to the second managers approval/plan would have been one of the more difficult parts though.

I took the time out to listen to this. If we had an idealistic football world and could wait the 10 years that the journo's were talking about (when AVB might return to 'haunt' us) or even the three years that AVB describes as the time he needs to complete his 'project' then he may be fine. No club aspiring to stay at the top-table has 10 years and unfortunately for AVB he will probably have a great deal less than the 3 years especially if minimum expectations of the owner are not met, although not many will factually know what those minimum's are. They're journo's and will spout off whatever they need to in order to earn their fee. As an aside take alook at the quote Cross has made here: http://inagist.com/j...47874128007168/ !!

Possibly because John Cross is a die-hard Arsenal STH

I'm sure you'll be right as they were the Birmingham fans, taking the piss. Having been there and watched AVB deliver his usual load of rubbish, I can be certain of this.

On the flip side of the coin, the clash could have been over that the players have been doing exactly as the Manager has been telling them - And we've all seen the results of that. The beauty of having the experience that AVB has at his disposal is that it's there to be drawn upon and used - To disregard this experience would be foolhardy, especially when choice of player options is limited. No one knows why or what happened other than those there, but put yourself in the players position and suppose the Manager was leading off in front of his Boss, would you sit there meekly and not respond, in you own work scenario what would you do? I'd make sure my point of view was heard, especially if it's your position and livelihood that's being challenged and once one person starts/breaks the ice others tend to join in. Is AVB trying to hard to do things 'his' way and ignoring help, a symptom of his own relative inexperience and insecurity?

All I'd expect is a fair and level playing field, I don't think we get it when Dowd ref's our games. If AVB's comments mean that he doesn't get our games for a while - Good. If it also means that we get a few 50/50's going our way then Good again.

Firstly considering the incorrect or questionable decisions in the game: The blatent & missed offside for the first goal The offside for the second goal The dubious penalty The dubious free-kick award that led to the first goal Then also consider who the ref was (Phil Dowd) and his treatment of us in the last three seasons, particularly our captain who Dowd appears to single-out. I've watched enough games to question this particular referee's ability and Lee Mason as well (or maybe even their ability to referee us impartially). My own feeling is that AVB has gone through the correct and stated process for raising the query and if it only means we don't get Dowd for a while then thats all good. SAF has done this for years now and judging by the refereeing on Sunday he's good at it. Fair play to AVB I say.