The English Football Thread

[Rmpr 8,977]

Exactly. We wouldn't have done either of those things had some players not gotten AVB fired because Roman believed his project and philosophy and was willing to give him time and allow him to have a chance to prove that he can be the solution for our managerial stability issues.

I get that, but it was not our Board's fault (pretty rare, lol). They didnt ask for players to place their ego's above the club, but oncenit did happen, there was no turning back...

We had to sack him to save our season. Oddly enough, the success Di Matteo magically achieved turned against him and Roman thought the same thing. Really good that this Benitez shit is happening, a great reality check to all of us!

[Stingray 9,441]

WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS USAGE OF THE MULTIQUOTE FUNCTION GOING ON.

Yeah, the ladies are at it tonight!!!

[Jase 43,479]

I don't know. How is choosing who starts and who doesn't considered bad man-management skills.

Of course he made mistakes and was partly responsible for the club's position, but choosing what he thought was the best team and playing people based on their skills not names were not part of those mistakes, in my opinion, at least. If some multimillionaires threw a tantrum for not getting what they want and tried to undermine his work, that is not his fault.

Had he played the players based on their skills, he wouldn't have tried to play an open expansive attacking football with a high defensive line with the players we got then when clearly they were not suited to play that kind of style.

[Laylabelle 9,351]

We did pretty well after the sacking of AVB, (not in league terms obviously) but it worked out. We were doing well with RDM. Ok we were knocked out of the group stage of the champions league stage but we looked dead certs for top 4, and were still mentioned in the race for the title. Things went majorly downhill after RDM went.

Does seem a kinda dont know what you had etc till its gone somewhere else!Saying that we had a great rest of season with RDM and wouldnt change that.Just a shame what we've been left with at the moment

[zolayes 14,489]

I get that, but it was not our Board's fault (pretty rare, lol). They didnt ask for players to place their ego's above the club, but oncenit did happen, there was no turning back...

We had to sack him to save our season. Oddly enough, the success Di Matteo magically achieved turned against him and Roman thought the same thing. Really good that this Benitez shit is happening, a great reality check to all of us!

does the Russian know reality and football ,,,he is still playing FM

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I get that, but it was not our Board's fault (pretty rare, lol). They didnt ask for players to place their ego's above the club, but oncenit did happen, there was no turning back...

We had to sack him to save our season. Oddly enough, the success Di Matteo magically achieved turned against him and Roman thought the same thing. Really good that this Benitez shit is happening, a great reality check to all of us!

Not saying it was our board's fault. In fact, I agree with everything in your post. But perhaps we can only say we had to sack him with the gift of hindsight after winning the CL and FA cup. At the moment of sacking him it was still a bit more debatable.

Had he played the players based on their skills, he wouldn't have tried to play an open expansive attacking football with a high defensive line with the players we got then when clearly they were not suited to play that kind of style.

That's different. I didn't say he played to the players' strengths (which he should have and that was actually my biggest criticism to him) but that he picked players based on skill and not names.

We did pretty well after the sacking of AVB, (not in league terms obviously) but it worked out. We were doing well with RDM. Ok we were knocked out of the group stage of the champions league stage but we looked dead certs for top 4, and were still mentioned in the race for the title. Things went majorly downhill after RDM went.

But the problem is RDM was (in my opinion rightly) never considered as a long term solution unlike AVB who had Roman's trust. Once we sacked Boas, we were doomed to go back to the managerial merry-go-round.

[Laylabelle 9,351]

And had we never won the Champs League RDM wouldnt have been kept on and I guess we'd ended up with Rafa sooner maybe?!Scary thought lol

[Jase 43,479]

And had we never won the Champs League RDM wouldnt have been kept on and I guess we'd ended up with Rafa sooner maybe?!Scary thought lol

Even with RDM winning the CL, we could still have ended with Benitez last summer. Board reluctant to give RDM the job then and Benitez was linked to us if you remember.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

And had we never won the Champs League RDM wouldnt have been kept on and I guess we'd ended up with Rafa sooner maybe?!Scary thought lol

Exactly. Roman was forced to hire RDM. Our season was always going to get screwed when the owner doesn't trust the manager.

[Laylabelle 9,351]

Even with RDM winning the CL, we could still have ended with Benitez last summer. Board reluctant to give RDM the job then and Benitez was linked to us if you remember.

Yep do remember that but think the CL win and the fact they players respected and performed for him infulenced it.But if Rafa had been brought in there been no more welcome then is now no doubt

[different level 1,056]

LOL at the people saying we made a mistake with sacking AVB just because Spurs are 2 points ahead of us, while the season is far from finished. Bale won't be saving his arse forever and with the tougher league games to come, I can see them struggling a lot and many people will revert back to the idea that he is shit.

[zolayes 14,489]

How long before Roman's son is ready to manage.??

[Strike 7,217]

2 points...

oh. still within touching distance. this weekend i hope Liverpool beat Spurs

[Strike 7,217]

Our remaining games - Fulham(A) , West Ham (H), Southampton (A), Sunderland (H) , Spurs (H), Liverpool (A), Swansea (H), ManU (A), Villa (A) , Everton (H)

Spurs - Liverpool (A) , Fulham ( H) , Swansea , Everton(H), Chelsea (A) , ManC(H), Wigan (A), Soton(H), Stoke (A) , Sunderland (H)

Arsenal - Everton Swansea (A), Reading (H), West Brom (A), Norwich (H), Fulham (A) , ManU(H), QPR(A), Wigan (H), Newcastle (A)

Regardless of Arsenal's relatively easy run-in, 5 points should be a good enough advantage to defend. also Tottenham have a tough run-in and i think 3rd should be easily achievable if we can put away the mid-table teams.

[NishC300 1,865]

You cant, this is not distinguishable. Nasa itself has said it cant be viewed from outer space.

Its length is huge, but it is way too straight to be a highlight when you look down. If I showed you a way broader picture of the whole Asian continent, even knowing exactly where it is, you would take 5min searching for it...

well then your correct sorry. Arsenal's defense's gap would also take some time to point out

[Blue Armour 4,278]

Our remaining games - Fulham(A) , West Ham (H), Southampton (A), Sunderland (H) , Spurs (H), Liverpool (A), Swansea (H), ManU (A), Villa (A) , Everton (H)

Spurs - Liverpool (A) , Fulham ( H) , Swansea , Everton(H), Chelsea (A) , ManC(H), Wigan (A), Soton(H), Stoke (A) , Sunderland (H)

Arsenal - Everton Swansea (A), Reading (H), West Brom (A), Norwich (H), Fulham (A) , ManU(H), QPR(A), Wigan (H), Newcastle (A)

Regardless of Arsenal's relatively easy run-in, 5 points should be a good enough advantage to defend. also Tottenham have a tough run-in and i think 3rd should be easily achievable if we can put away the mid-table teams.

We'll need maximum points from the next 4 games. The last 6 are all tricky fixtures....

Man Utd might seal the title before their game against us and Arsenal, but we're playing them at Old Trafford...Villa away and Everton at home..not the most like-able fixtures...

[Strike 7,217]

We'll need maximum points from the next 4 games. The last 6 are all tricky fixtures....

Man Utd might seal the title before their game against us and Arsenal, but we're playing them at Old Trafford...Villa away and Everton at home..not the most like-able fixtures...

Yes. next few games absolutely crucial. can't have Arsenal breathing down our neck in April when we face the tougher games

[Kezza 1,965]

I think us and spurs will leap frog each other until we play one another. That game will decide the top 3 maybe 4 IMO