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Cronky

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  1. I think you've forgotten what it's like to struggle! I checked, and in the four seasons before the one that you named, you came first twice, and second twice. That's not exactly taking over a shitshow. The players that you've named are only poor in comparison to the ones that Pep brought in - as you acknowledge, at considerable expense. And in Rodri's case, it's hard to believe that Pep decided to pay a club record £60m for an 'absolute donkey'. But as I said, he has transformed football, and he could hardly do better than what he has achieved at City - 5 titles in 6 seasons speaks for itself.
  2. 1. Pep - actually a difficult manager to assess in comparison with others, because he's always had great players and massive clubs to work with. But his ideas have revolutionised football at the top level, and his long list of trophies has to put him up there. 2. Klopp - has become a major irritant, but has proved himself with big clubs and smaller clubs alike. He has a record of success to point to, and his teams always play with great energy. 3. Howe - difficult to separate off my bias, but he has over-achieved massively with two clubs that were right on the ropes. How he would deal with a post at a big club which wasn't a rescue job is an intriguing issue. He has to mould things his own way and perhaps isn't so adaptable - bit like Brian Clough. My belief is that there's more to come from this guy and we have to hang on in there. 4. Postecoglou - tempting to put him equal third with Eddie, but that would have been a cop-out. Like Eddie, he has his own ideas and his own style, and has forged his own way. Next season could really be his year. 5. Emery - has that record of success, and his clearly doing well with Villa. Players seem to rate him highly. I get the impression that he's a bit of a moody sod though. He seems to have his lapses.
  3. Drat and triple drat. I was hoping they'd field a slightly weakened side. Looks like we will be arranging the public transport in a suitably obstructive position.
  4. I don’t think Eddie would get a job with the big six yet. Those owners probably need the reassurance of past trophies. I think there’s also a prejudice that British bosses are glorified Mike Bassetts whereas foreign managers are insightful, scientific professorial types like Arsene Wenger. We nearly didn’t employ Eddie ourselves of course. When we lost to Villa last season and to Liverpool at home this season, the view that was expressed on here quite a few times was that Eddie had been outsmarted tactically. Well by the same token, Eddie has outsmarted quite a few big names over the last two years. Long may he go under their radars, say I.
  5. Yeah, this. Many so-called neutrals, inside and outside the media, want us to fail. It’s nothing against Eddie. It’s the all too human desire to feel better by laughing at someone continuing to fall flat on their face. Over the years, we’ve provided others with much entertainment of that nature, and they don’t want it to stop. They must dread the huge celebrations that will follow should we eventually win something. There’s also the issue of Geordies being slightly separate in identity from the rest of England. Bit like the Scousers, though of course they have years of success behind them. It’s all got a bit weird. The pundits acknowledge the problems Eddie has had this season, and then proceed to talk like they don’t exist. At times, it sounds like they’re trying to persuade the owners to sack him.
  6. I'm guessing he called him a bastard. If you're going to publicly accuse someone, you shouldn't leave room for speculation like that. Either put up or shut up.
  7. The difference between the teams was the quality of the players, particularly in the case of Palmer. He must be nailed on for the England squad. Chelsea are still a bit incoherent but their passing and touch on the ball gave them crucial advantages. No need to panic.
  8. Isak was driving me mad with his failure to get involved. Then the minute he got the ball in that position, I just knew he'd score. Tino is having a great game. Best I've seen from him.
  9. Cronky

    Lewis Hall

    Indeed. All a bit speculative, but I wonder if one of the areas that worries Eddie is Hall's ability to defend the back post against tall opponents. Not a problem for Burn obviously, and full backs with that weakness can be easily targeted. Some soft goals can be given away. (Remember Poyet v Nobby, FA Cup semi-final?) Having a back three and playing Hall as a wing back might ease that problem, but that's not Eddie's preferred formation.
  10. We'll have to see, as you say, but I think Amanda sold the idea to the PIF as a long-term investment, rather than an opportunity for a quick dash for glory. Apart from anything else, FFP makes it impossible to repeat an Abramovich or a Sheik Mansour anyway. So I'm hopeful that the owners will be patient and accept some bumps on the way. It also seems that the day to day running of the club is in the hands of Amanda and Co, and that the Saudis are overseers rather than hands-on. Again, I take that as encouraging in the long-term. Finally, I quite like Yasir. He doesn't come across as a remote or arrogant figure. I think he's enjoying the ride and has made decent relationships with those running things. The early indications have been good, as far as I can see.
  11. I see Fernandez repeated this gesture of giving Rashford the penalty kick even though he's not the designated taker. Can you imagine Ferguson allowing that? Mind you I think Ferguson would have shifted Rashford on a while ago.
  12. The big clubs want a manager with a big reputation. And then who's going to tell a Klopp or a Guardiola that this player is going to be signed or sold whether they like it or not? The bigger problem is the lack of patience for long-term growth, brought about by the big income gaps between the CL clubs and the other Premiership clubs, and between the Premiership and the Championship. It's like one poor season and your job's in jeopardy. We saw that a bit with Eddie. Bottom of the league to the Champions League in 18 months. We then fall to mid-table (for a variety of reasons) and the media start saying we're after Nagelsmann. I have faith that the powers behind the scenes will continue to back Eddie, but it just shows you the atmosphere in which clubs now tend to operate.
  13. I don't think a clear dividing line is possible. In practice, both parties have to come to an agreement or a signing can't go through. The manager / head coach is the most important component in a football club, and there's no point in signing a player that they don't want. On the other hand, most Premiership managers have a short shelf-life - the average is two years. I can see the point of a Director of Football, but I'd question how well it often works in practice. Of course, if you have a very good manager who is hard-working, committed to a long-term stay and who isn't looking for the next opportunity to move somewhere bigger, then there isn't a problem. You can give that guy a bit of power. I think we're in that privileged position.
  14. Dodgy use of the word 'literally' there.
  15. Cronky

    Lewis Hall

    There is so much conflicting information about this deal. If Chelsea let him go because they needed the funds to remain within FFP, it seems very unwise of them to give us the chance to wriggle free by making it performance-related. But the more this goes on, the more likely it looks like this is what has happened. Will we really pay £35m for a player who over the course of a season hasn't really been deemed fit to come on as a sub, let alone as a first team regular? I'm doubtful. We could sign him at the end of the season for £35m and then loan him out, but can we really afford to pay that amount for a player who we're not using?
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