The Next Manager?

[Ossie the King 634]

Let's not rewrite history too much. Jose's team know how to score goals, indeed only City scored more than us last season and in the two league-winning seasons of his previous stay (and the third year when he didn't win) we were either the top scorers, or second-top scorers in the league.

We've absolutely destroyed top teams as well. But football isn't just about scoring goals, much like boxing isn't about swinging wildly at your opponent leaving your chin exposed. It's a much more nuanced sport than that which is why Kevin Keegan has zero league-winners medals as a coach.

[Spike 12,049]

The one thing out of losing Mourinho is that we got to start seeing attacking football now..no more sitting back shite.

No more 'I don't know what to do so I'll pass to Hazard' shit or that 4-2-3-1 shit. i hate to be the guy discussing lineup or tactics but I want to see a three man midfield. Matic can't spot a pass for shit and Cesc can't defend for his life, at least RLC can sort of do both to even it out.

Cesc - RLC

Matic

[Spike 12,049]

Let's not rewrite history too much. Jose's team know how to score goals, indeed only City scored more than us last season and in the two league-winning seasons of his previous stay (and the third year when he didn't win) we were either the top scorers, or second-top scorers in the league.

We've absolutely destroyed top teams as well. But football isn't just about scoring goals, much like boxing isn't about swinging wildly at your opponent leaving your chin exposed. It's a much more nuanced sport than that which is why Kevin Keegan has zero league-winners medals as a coach.

They do know how to score goals but in a 'team sense'. A lot of the time it seemingly depended far too much on the individual genius of Hazard's dribbling and Cesc's passing. Defensively the team was a rock solid unit but the team was less of a unit in offence. That is how I see it anyway. The right balance needs to be struck.

[Spike 12,049]

The club had seemingly stagnated under Mourinho, nothing was really changing. He never really did shake things to keep the opposing teams on their toes, he never really did experiment either. That happens though, the best teams stagnate and sometimes a catalyst for change is necessary. I'm not happy Mou is gone but I am optimistic that things are going to change around here. For better or worse change is something that needs to happen. The game constantly evolves and when club don't evolve with the game they are left behind.

[Ossie the King 634]

They do know how to score goals but in a 'team sense'. A lot of the time it seemingly depended far too much on the individual genius of Hazard's dribbling and Cesc's passing. Defensively the team was a rock solid unit but the team was less of a unit in offence. That is how I see it anyway. The right balance needs to be struck.

Again, I think that downplays a lot of the nuances involved in football. For Cesc to have time to play a pass or for Hazard to have space to operate in you need 10 other players working together to create that. It's about dragging the opposition around the pitch, letting them overcommit in one area and attacking the space they've left. I know this is very simple stuff and something everyone understands but it's occasionally worthwhile getting right back to basics.

When something is reiterated a number of times, like Jose or Fergie are footballing geniuses, there is obviously going to be another line of thinking that arises that simply asks 'but are they?'.

The biggest issue for me all season has probably been Diego Costa not doing the basics, occupying the right areas and Jose specifically mentioned that. If we can fix that then we go a long way towards sorting a lot of the issues facing this team. Cesc has someone to target, Eden has someone to drag defenders away from him etc.

[Ossie the King 634]

The club had seemingly stagnated under Mourinho, nothing was really changing. He never really did shake things to keep the opposing teams on their toes, he never really did experiment either. That happens though, the best teams stagnate and sometimes a catalyst for change is necessary. I'm not happy Mou is gone but I am optimistic that things are going to change around here. For better or worse change is something that needs to happen. The game constantly evolves and when club don't evolve with the game they are left behind.

The one constant at this club has been Roman continually chopping and changing managers. The change you see has to be instigated by someone - who is that?

Real change will only come when there's someone dictating the direction of this club who knows something about football. We don't have that. We did have it two days ago. We had one of the finest footballing minds of his generation who apparently stagnated whilst taking this club to it's first title in five years and couldn't get us to play attacking football whilst getting us to score more goals than almost every other team in the league.

[Spike 12,049]

The one constant at this club has been Roman continually chopping and changing managers. The change you see has to be instigated by someone - who is that?

Real change will only come when there's someone dictating the direction of this club who knows something about football. We don't have that. We did have it two days ago. We had one of the finest footballing minds of his generation who apparently stagnated whilst taking this club to it's first title in five years and couldn't get us to play attacking football whilst getting us to score more goals than almost every other team in the league.

Goals don't always equate to attacking football. You know this. Inter and Chelsea had to outscore everyone in their latest CL triumphs but they didn't really playing attacking football did they? I'll give it to the club they've had games where they've attacked tremendously but it wasn't exactly the core ethos of the club under Mourinho, was it?

If Mourinho hadn't stagnated why is the club 16th with a -8 differential? Why did he use the same starting XI, with the same formation, with the same tactics every week? It's not as if it's a completely different team as it was last season. I think you have your head in the first half of last season still, last season is over, dead and buried. There is no room for sentimentality of the past.

The finest footballing mind of his generation wouldn't have lost the lockeroom, wouldn't be 16th and wouldn't look like a man out of his depth.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Hiddink: "I want to get some good insight before I make my decision. I want as much information as possible." #CFC (DT)

Hiddink: "#CFC are in a bad situation and there are reasons for that. I want to gain some good insights on that before I make my decision"

Hiddink: "Whether or not I'm visiting #CFC's next match depends on my 1st conversation. Then I'll decide if I should stay in London longer"

[Cosmin 2,484]

The one constant at this club has been Roman continually chopping and changing managers. The change you see has to be instigated by someone - who is that?

It doesn't have to be a certain manager to change things. It's about the club's philosophy. The best example is Barcelona. They have a philosophy. All of their teams, even the youngest team of their academy, they all play in the same system. That's how they prepare their youth for the big team. We need a philosophy, we need to have a constant idea of football and stick to it. And the manager is not the answer. The manager can't give you stability in modern football. It's not about that anymore. If you have a philosophy, then you can afford replacing the manager once in a while (look at Bayern, Barca, Real) and still be successful. But if you only count on "hey, let's put this guy here and expect him to build an empire", it's not gonna work ON LONG TERM. There will never be another Sir Alex because football has changed. Completely.

[Ossie the King 634]

Goals don't always equate to attacking football. You know this.

Absolutely. And by the same token 'attacking' play doesn't always lead to goals and goals don't always lead to wins. Otherwise teams would simply play with 10 strikers high up the pitch. As I said earlier, it's a chess game. Sometimes you have to let the other team have the ball and exploit them on the counter. Even Wenger finally realised this away to City last year.

If Mourinho hadn't stagnated why is the club 16th with a -8 differential? Why did he use the same starting XI, with the same formation, with the same tactics every week? It's not as if it's a completely different team as it was last season.

Exactly. The same players when Jose is apparently a 'chequebook manager' according to some. Where was his John Stones to bring in? Where was his Pogba?

Why were were outspent by City in the summer?

He knew he needed more players, everyone did. He was given Pedro to replace Cuadrado and Falcao to replace Drogba. Who was the addition? Papy Dojflnslnf. That's not on him. The club stagnated and showed NO ambition to reclaim the title.

The finest footballing mind of his generation wouldn't have lost the lockeroom, wouldn't be 16th and wouldn't look like a man out of his depth.

But he did. I actually think he was undermined by the board who not only failed to acquire new players for him, but sold Cech to Arsenal and strengthened them immeasurably.

That's not to say he didn't make mistakes but did the board do anything in the summer to back their coach? The answer is surely no isn't it, yet you're optimistically thinking they'll be the ones to make the changes necessary to take us forward?

I just don't have as much faith in Michael Emenalo as you.

[Costa19 858]

Hiddink: "I want to get some good insight before I make my decision. I want as much information as possible." #CFC (DT)

Hiddink: "#CFC are in a bad situation and there are reasons for that. I want to gain some good insights on that before I make my decision"

Hiddink: "Whether or not I'm visiting #CFC's next match depends on my 1st conversation. Then I'll decide if I should stay in London longer"

Read into -> "Im not sold on the squad and want to know if the club will spend money in January"..

[Ossie the King 634]

It doesn't have to be a certain manager to change things. It's about the club's philosophy. The best example is Barcelona. They have a philosophy. All of their teams, even the youngest team of their academy, they all play in the same system. That's how they prepare their youth for the big team. We need a philosophy, we need to have a constant idea of football and stick to it. And the manager is not the answer. The manager can't give you stability in modern football. It's not about that anymore. If you have a philosophy, then you can afford replacing the manager once in a while (look at Bayern, Barca, Real) and still be successful. But if you only count on "hey, let's put this guy here and expect him to build an empire", it's not gonna work ON LONG TERM. There will never be another Sir Alex because football has changed. Completely.

Mate you are absolutely 100% spot on. The only thing we disagree on is where that philosophy comes from. We had ONE footballing person in a position of any real power at the club and we sacked him.

But that's a fantastic post and something I've said elsewhere. Barcelona is a club of the people and the ideology outlasts any manager. Bayern have that. United do have it but they've faltered in the last few years. But I still think they know who they are deep down.

Manchester City have it too. They know exactly who they want to be and they hired people to work below their owners to do it, and they still backed their coach 100% despite everyone knowing they want Pep. They are the model to follow (so depressing to type that).

But your post is fantastic mate and you seem to totally get that we need an ideology, but that we have NO-ONE their to implement it. That's why I have no optimism.

[Spike 12,049]

Absolutely. And by the same token 'attacking' play doesn't always lead to goals and goals don't always lead to wins. Otherwise teams would simply play with 10 strikers high up the pitch. As I said earlier, it's a chess game. Sometimes you have to let the other team have the ball and exploit them on the counter. Even Wenger finally realised this away to City last year.

Exactly. The same players when Jose is apparently a 'chequebook manager' according to some. Where was his John Stones to bring in? Where was his Pogba?

Why were were outspent by City in the summer?

He knew he needed more players, everyone did. He was given Pedro to replace Cuadrado and Falcao to replace Drogba. Who was the addition? Papy Dojflnslnf. That's not on him. The club stagnated and showed NO ambition to reclaim the title.

But he did. I actually think he was undermined by the board who not only failed to acquire new players for him, but sold Cech to Arsenal and strengthened them immeasurably.

That's not to say he didn't make mistakes but did the board do anything in the summer to back their coach? The answer is surely no isn't it, yet you're optimistically thinking they'll be the ones to make the changes necessary to take us forward?

I just don't have as much faith in Michael Emenalo as you.

I have faith in Emenalo? I never said a thing remotely close to that. Have a word with yourself.

Bloody hell.

[Ossie the King 634]

I have faith in Emenalo? I never said a thing remotely close to that. Have a word with yourself.

Bloody hell.

Ok that was a low blow. Sorry.

But who exactly do you have faith in? Where does your optimism come from? Roman's chequebook isn't even as powerful as it once was with the increased buying power throughout the league.

Who are you backing to lead us forward if not the technical director?

[Spike 12,049]

Ok that was a low blow. Sorry.

But who exactly do you have faith in? Where does your optimism come from? Roman's chequebook isn't even as powerful as it once was with the increased buying power throughout the league.

Who are you backing to lead us forward if not the technical director?

I don't buy into long term managers. Not many clubs do have that leisure. I have optimism that if the board can hire the right manager at least 2 to 3 years of good football can be played before they are sacked for the next manager. I'm not saying it's going to happen but I remain optimistic. If [it's a big if] they show the patience they showed with Jose with every next manager, it's a step in the right direction. Really, Jose was given far more time this season than any other manager before him. I doubt AVB, Scolari or even Carlo would have lasted this long with the club sitting around the relegation zone.

I do believe Roman's buying power is as strong as it was ten years ago but I do believe that the club is trying to move away from the sugar daddy method to a more self sustained method. The money is there, they are just refusing to use it. Much like Arsenal a few years back.

I don't have much faith in the board, but I'm not going to let them get me down.