The Sarri Thread

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, El P. said:

Nope, I have never saw that with this group. I saw a lot of talent, but never strength.

In 2015 and 2017 everything went like we wanted and needed. No true competitors, no injuries, heck, even no UCL in 2017. We have won the leagues in easiest possible ways. I am not counting that as a strength.

You don't win leagues and be better than everyone else over 38 games if you don't have the right mentality. People keep on saying we won those leagues easily because there were no challengers etc. How about I turn that around and say we won those leagues because the others weren't good and consistent enough to keep up with us over 38 games? 

1 minute ago, El P. said:

It really seems like we need to have a perfect manager for this squad to be good

No. What we need is a manager who is adaptable and flexible (and for the love of god, please do not confuse this with asking Sarri to ditch his style!). Sarri may have the right idea but he's going about it the wrong way to execute that idea.

[El P. 1,354]

Just now, Jason said:

You don't win leagues and be better than everyone else over 38 games if you don't have the right mentality. People keep on saying we won those leagues easily because there were no challengers etc. How about I turn that around and say we won those leagues because the others weren't good and consistent enough to keep up with us over 38 games? 

No. What we need is a manager who is adaptable and flexible (and for the love of god, please do not confuse this with asking Sarri to ditch his style!). Sarri may have the right idea but he's going about it the wrong way to execute that idea.

Do you not remember our post January slumps for both of those seasons? And getting away with those only because our competitors were exhausted pre-Guardiola Man City and Spurs (no need to say more about them)? Also, let's take into account that we had JOHN TERRY at the squad for both of those. In 2015 there was even Ivanović. No, it wasn't Hazard or Azpi that mentally-lead this team to success.

Sarris' fault - 30%, players fault - 70%.

[LAM09 7,054]

People can change if they want to or recognize that they need to. Only have to look at someone like Alex Ferguson, who kept on adapting year in year out. 
And what would be the point of changing the squad selection? Sarri has tried doing that and we still see the same debacle like tonight.

You can see from the Alonso saga that he's arrogant/stuck in his ways until a point. Comparing him to arguably the best manager to grace the league is a nonstarter.

There was one point tonight that Hazard gifted the ball to Brooks in the middle of the park, and just jogged back. We honestly don't need the same shit when times are rough from our supposed "leaders".

To freshing things up and possibly have players show some commitment to the cause. When did Sarri last make sweeping changes?

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, El P. said:

Do you not remember our post January slumps for both of those seasons? And getting away with those only because our competitors were exhausted pre-Guardiola Man City and Spurs (no need to say more about them)? Also, let's take into account that we had JOHN TERRY at the squad for both of those. In 2015 there was even Ivanović. No, it wasn't Hazard or Azpi that mentally-lead this team to success.

Our post-January slumps? In 2014/15, we won 10 of the last 15 league games after January and in 2016/17, we won 12 of our last 15 games (Spurs won 13 of their last 15). How do they constitute slump?

I'll give you for the 2014/15 title but in 2016/17, Terry barely even played. Also, if you're gonna start finding excuses for our league titles, saying we only won because of this and that, then you might as well do it for the ones won in 04/05 and 05/06 as well. 

[Superblue 6,372]

Whether Sarri is here or not, the club have to be ruthless this summer. 

Players get retained for far too long at the club when they don't deserve to and the club being hell bent on getting their money back on every player that fails by loaning them out for a season or two as opposed to selling them is frustrating. Sometimes it is a good idea to build a player back up away from the club, but in other cases the club needs to learn to just take a loss sometimes and get rid.

It's always mentioned about the investment Guardiola received from City, but it's forgotten at times just how ruthless he and the club were after the first season getting rid of a lot of players who had been at the club for a long time and were no longer good enough and/or suitable for the changes Guardiola was looking to implement. Our club needs to do the same.

If this transfer ban does take effect it will be our last chance to clear the decks for a couple of seasons potentially and bring in a younger, more suitable crop of players for playing a more attractive brand of football.

[JDY 1,290]

A few reoccurring themes:

- We keep having 15-20 minute spells where we are absolutely awful & forget how to play. This is where we usually get punished. Today, Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves. They all scored a couple of goals in quick fashion and we couldn't recover.

- Every team is parking the bus against us, even the bigger teams. It's not easy to break teams down when they do this, we should all know from experience. Leicester are one of the first teams I've seen park the bus against Liverpool this season (surprisingly) and they couldn't find the winner. Newcastle the same last night against City and they looked as impotent as us. The difference is that City usually have a number of players that can score from nothing and we don't. I don't think it's as simple as 'play it quicker! up the tempo!'. Our midfield has no goals and our only winger that's played regularly and likes to shoot is Pedro.

[El P. 1,354]

Just now, Jason said:

Our post-January slumps? In 2014/15, we won 10 of the last 15 league games after January and in 2016/17, we won 12 of our last 15 games (Spurs won 13 of their last 15). How do they constitute slump?

I'll give you for the 2014/15 title but in 2016/17, Terry barely even played. Also, if you're gonna start finding excuses for our league titles, saying we only won because of this and that, then you might as well do it for the ones won in 04/05 and 05/06 as well. 

Ok, believe what you want. Point is that almost everything got our way in those seasons. Considering that we had no European competitions and no injuries in 2017, and that slump at 2015 was 12 wins from 19 (I meant whole second half of the season, not just last 15 games), with not-so-good Man City as our competitor, I think I have a point.

And I don't think we were bad in those seasons. I think we were very good. I just think we have won those titles by our talent, and great managers' ideas. Not by being mentally strong.

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

Or maybe, we just so happen to have a clueless manager who is a one trick pony! Our squad might not be WOW but it's still a decent side and should be good enough to at least be sitting comfortably in the top 4. 

Liverpool and City are light years from us in terms of personal and understanding of manager. 

Spurs are slightly better. 

Arsenal and United have a potent attack, whereas we don't. 

 

Truth be told, I think 5th is a perfect reflection of where we are at personal wise. 

[Irakozium257 350]

56 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Whether Sarri is here or not, the club have to be ruthless this summer. 

Players get retained for far too long at the club when they don't deserve to and the club being hell bent on getting their money back on every player that fails by loaning them out for a season or two as opposed to selling them is frustrating. Sometimes it is a good idea to build a player back up away from the club, but in other cases the club needs to learn to just take a loss sometimes and get rid.

It's always mentioned about the investment Guardiola received from City, but it's forgotten at times just how ruthless he and the club were after the first season getting rid of a lot of players who had been at the club for a long time and were no longer good enough and/or suitable for the changes Guardiola was looking to implement. Our club needs to do the same.

If this transfer ban does take effect it will be our last chance to clear the decks for a couple of seasons potentially and bring in a younger, more suitable crop of players for playing a more attractive brand of football.

Yes! This is definitely the conclusion to get from this game. Ruthless all around, there cannot be room for sentimentality whatsoever with regard to the squad. Azpi is one of the first who springs my mind. The guy is simply limited to be a starting RB for a team gunning for trophies. 

[Henrique 9,133]

3 hours ago, El P. said:

Mentally awful. They have won the league by Contes' brilliance and with having no true competition.

How come any manager is not good enough for our team? Mourinho was not good enough, Conte too, and now Sarri too. I am not talking about just this lot. Fabregas, Oscar, Costa, they were all not leaders, not strong reliable players.

Conte is not "brilliant". Full stop. Conte is one dimensional manager in terms of tactics, and he has poor squad management. Mourinho wasn't good enough anymore. He actually is far from special since 2010, and we are talking about 9 years ago. His work with United speaks for itself. Sarri is just an ordinary manager. He is an italian 60 years old manager with a CV that is as good as any manager in the Championship (I would say Bielsa got a better CV).

[Unionjack 7,531]

5 hours ago, Jason said:

A manager saying he's not able to motivate these players...

Why is he even still in the job?! 

We have had the same similar groyp of players for awhile and each manager has had the same problem with them.

They de motivate each other as a team. They tell each other they played well. They THINK that they as individuals played well. Eden came out after a bad game saying he didn't care cause he thought he played well.

Its a group mentality.

They need to be changed to a man and start all over again fresh!

[Unionjack 7,531]

4 hours ago, LAM09 said:

When did Sarri last make sweeping changes?

What other options does he have open to him that could be game changers?

We only have like for like on the bench.

[DDA 9,938]

I'd like to know what the fuck Sarri is smoking!!

[Unionjack 7,531]

7 minutes ago, DDA said:

I'd like to know what the fuck Sarri is smoking!!

Nothing like what I've got cause this keeps you alert and helps your creativity.

A problem of many he is facing is he doesn't have a different set of players to chooses from. They all have the similar like for like skillsets/chaeacters.

We have no gamechangers to go to.

[DDA 9,938]

22 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

Nothing like what I've got cause this keeps you alert and helps your creativity.

A problem of many he is facing is he doesn't have a different set of players to chooses from. They all have the similar like for like skillsets/chaeacters.

We have no gamechangers to go to.

Our squad is pathetic mate. Compare it too City. Pool and even United. Embarrassing. We need to play the youth now. Juat put Odoi, Amps and RLC as starters. How can it get any worse?

[Unionjack 7,531]

14 minutes ago, DDA said:

Our squad is pathetic mate. Compare it too City. Pool and even United. Embarrassing. We need to play the youth now. Juat put Odoi, Amps and RLC as starters. How can it get any worse?

Right now buddy I'm open to all options!

Maybe the yoof would be proud to put the 1st team kit on and be able to show it in how they fight??

[DDA 9,938]

☝️

It seems as if Sarri isn't instructing these bunch of pretenders to play shit football. I have been saying it from the start, this bunch of players have zero footballing intelligence. It's as obvious as it was Jimmy Sav was a wrongun. When will Roman, Marina and co wake the fuck up. We have a piss poor squad and now it seems we have a manager who is afraid to trust playing the young lads in Prem games. *sigh*

[dimmas 131]

18 minutes ago, DDA said:

☝️

It seems as if Sarri isn't instructing these bunch of pretenders to play shit football. I have been saying it from the start, this bunch of players have zero footballing intelligence. It's as obvious as it was Jimmy Sav was a wrongun. When will Roman, Marina and co wake the fuck up. We have a piss poor squad and now it seems we have a manager who is afraid to trust playing the young lads in Prem games. *sigh*

Too many player with their backs to goal, and make no movement off the ball, its totally true.

 

Except hazard, i cant think any player from us who didnt really struggle with that.

 

For me our biggest problem is from our advanced midfield duo, they both just really awful. Kante cant do anyhthing when hisback to goal, lack technical skill and football iq. What he can do only sideway or passing back to our defender.

And kovavic, i already hate how he play, embarassingly toothless when he have the ball. Only give the ball to hazard, no movement off the ball after that, no diagonal pass, only passing sideway again and again

[11Drogba 2,000]

Ok, the players are bad, but is Sarri, who thought Alonso is the best left back in Europe the guy to solve our squad's problems.

If you look at the managers who have been successful at PL recently unlike Sarri they are all obsessed with nutrition and fitness. Also can you imagine Guardiola like this after a loss? Sarri should be coaching smaller teams at weaker leagues where the tempo is slower and there is less competition.

People talk about Terry and Lampard but I don't think they would have a lot of respect for this guy.

[Laylabelle 9,535]

Sarri ball.. Shitty ball... 

I don't care about pretty attacking football. We can't do the basic bit at the moment and score! Or defend it seems.