NWR General Football Thread

Re Benitez, I really don't see the point of having a coach if the President is going to say who plays, as in Perez with James Rodriguez and Abramovitch with Shevchenko a few seasons ago, which IIRC was the reason Mourinho got the heave the 1st time round. I suppose they play the role of scapegoat, but not much else.
 
Re Benitez, I really don't see the point of having a coach if the President is going to say who plays, as in Perez with James Rodriguez and Abramovitch with Shevchenko a few seasons ago, which IIRC was the reason Mourinho got the heave the 1st time round. I suppose they play the role of scapegoat, but not much else.

The coach is there to manage and develop club assets in the supposed club style and spirit.

Otherwise if the coach resigns like say Pochettino from Southampton and a new coach like Koeman takes over they will expect to ship in a new squad when they move as they generally do with backroom staff. I don't think Pochettino instigated the purchase of many (any?) players by Sp*rs and they are doing very well - considering.
 
I think Pocchetino instigated/approved of the purchases of Alli and Alderweireld, both of whom are having tremendous seasons. But I agree that his coaching has done wonders with other players.
 
The coach is there to manage and develop club assets in the supposed club style and spirit.

Otherwise if the coach resigns like say Pochettino from Southampton and a new coach like Koeman takes over they will expect to ship in a new squad when they move as they generally do with backroom staff. I don't think Pochettino instigated the purchase of many (any?) players by Sp*rs and they are doing very well - considering.

I know that, Warren. I'm specifically referring to cases (common enough nowadays) where the coach doesn't pick the team. Or picks the team at his peril if - as happened to Benitez- they only draw away from home to Valencia, cos he picked the Croat instead of the Colombian that Perez wants to market his club in Latin America (as if James Rodriguez is going to do that!)
 
Have to say that the Premier League is more interesting than it has been for years - have even watched a few games this year - anything to take my mind off the continuing woes of Colchester United..
 
Have to say that the Premier League is more interesting than it has been for years - have even watched a few games this year - anything to take my mind off the continuing woes of Colchester United..

Paul,
Likewise, I've stopped believing in The U's". I think they're for the drop. Even the stadium announcer is pessimistic, he's missing the last game for a Spain trip with me!
Do you ever go to watch them?

Russ
 
I know that, Warren. I'm specifically referring to cases (common enough nowadays) where the coach doesn't pick the team. Or picks the team at his peril if - as happened to Benitez- they only draw away from home to Valencia, cos he picked the Croat instead of the Colombian that Perez wants to market his club in Latin America (as if James Rodriguez is going to do that!)

Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho: An imaginary WhatsApp chat between the great out-of-work managerial minds
 
Paul,
Likewise, I've stopped believing in The U's". I think they're for the drop. Even the stadium announcer is pessimistic, he's missing the last game for a Spain trip with me!
Do you ever go to watch them?

Russ

Hi Russ

I still have faith that the focus on youth will pay off long-term but agree we will do well to avoid the drop this time round. I am a "half" season ticket holder so I go quite regularly, pretty much all Saturday home games and the odd away game too.

Paul
 
Paul.
You're very dedicated. I can't manage the enthusiasm and I live pretty nearby.

They certainly need some luck from what little I've seen and friends have said. Last match I saw they beat ipswich so what do I know.

Russ
 
Any fans of Scottish fitba out there?
I guess they're all Scots, Paul.

Whilst browsing the fixtures on the bookie's coupon in the pub it repeatedly becomes apparent that nobody present has the faintest clue about Scottish soccer other than Celtic's dominance and Rangers' financial woes.
They're familiar with nearly all the club names but apart from such as Aberdeen, the Dundees, and Inverness they've no idea of where the clubs are based.
 
A bit like the English league, maybe there was a bit more fun in the 80s and 90s when the competition was closer with Aberdeen and the Dundee and Edinburgh clubs in the mix. It seemed that after the sniggering at Rangers' fate, it became pretty obvious the top division needed them back ASAP to keep up the league's profile and European rankings.

Can anyone explain how Scotland has managed to produce (proportionally) so many top managers over the years?
 
Radio Five Live were particularly patronising last night referring to Leicester City qualifying for the Champions League or Europa League & no consideration they might win the Premier. And then Liverpool equalised.........though the pundits still unable to recognise that The Foxes are in with a good opportunity. (BTW, mine's only a pecuniary interest).
 
I agree that 5Live pundits can be unbearably patronizing and unimaginative, but I do agree that Leicester almost certainly won't win the league. They have been phenomenal this season and deserve mountains of praise, but they just don't have enough depth to the squad. Vardy and Mahrez' goals have dried up over the last four games - they need them fully fit and scoring again ASAP. That said, they've weathered this mini-storm well, as they've suddenly become very tight defensively. I'm an Arsenal fan, and if we cock it up this year, I'd love Leicester to be the team to take it, but I fear it will be City.

Boy, being an Arsenal fan is a joyless experience. Even when we're top, I spend the whole time waiting for us to fall. We might wait decades for another season with all the other big boys in a "transitional state" - if Wenger doesn't win it this year, he never will again.
 
Agree re. Leicester, though if they hang on for a top four finish I think that would still count as a good season? Some very enjoyable games this week (and at the weekend in the FA Cup), though the overall impression remains that there are no faultless teams at the top - hanging on for three points last night would have been a big result for Arsenal; 5pts clear of City is a decent gap; that said they are still fighting on four fronts, so could be more twists to come. If Wenger does win it this year would seem like the perfect time to call it a day; just don't see an English team winning the CL at the moment.
 
As a foxes fan I'm under no illusions. And even if we get into one of the European competitions (currently 7 points ahead of 4th placed Spurs) look at poor Southampton, whose season is not going too well.

A good mate who I sometimes watch Brighton with reckons you can judge a team by its goal difference. Ours is a good three goals less than the other top teams. I can't see Leicester winning the 1ership, but at least it's a lot more fun than last January. And boy is the team spirit good. Ranieri will keep them working.
 
Jo, I recall a R5 programme that dealt with the dominance of Scottish managers. IIRC at that time there were 8 Scottish managers in the PL. Again, if memory serves correct, they all came from within 30 miles of Glasgow (like the '67 European Champions) and 4 came from the same square mile. Fergie was one of that 4 so others with a better understanding of Glasgow geography might shed some light on that. I always heard him referred to as a Gorbals lad.
The programme concluded that it was a result of UEFA manager qualifications and the SFA. The qualification became mandatory and the SFA offered the best courses. The great retired Scottish managers were involved in creating the courses. After Fergie was qualifed he gave his time free to SFA to teach some of the courses in his summer holidays. IIRC the courses gained a reputation and a number of European managers are counted in SFA alumni including Mourinho.
 
Surely everyone wants Leicester to do it? And virtually none believe they will. It is a great opportunity and they really only have to beat Arsenal and City, both clubs have history in not finishing their opportunities. Time will tell, I'm rooting for them.
 
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The unpredictable nature of it this year certainly is refreshing.
As are the performances of Leicester and Watford.

Perhaps
1. Arsenal
2. Man City
3. Leicester
4. Spurs
5. Liverpool (that might just be me hoping!, though if out of top 4 better to avoid europa league)
6. Man Utd
 
As a foxes fan I'm under no illusions. And even if we get into one of the European competitions (currently 7 points ahead of 4th placed Spurs) look at poor Southampton, whose season is not going too well.

A good mate who I sometimes watch Brighton with reckons you can judge a team by its goal difference. Ours is a good three goals less than the other top teams. I can't see Leicester winning the 1ership, but at least it's a lot more fun than last January. And boy is the team spirit good. Ranieri will keep them working.
Southampton's problems this year have mainly been caused the injuries to Pelle and Rodriguez which have left them short of strikers for large parts of the season. I saw them against Palace on Saturday and Saints were by far the better footballing side, but obviously that counts for nothing if you can't score goals. I still think they'll end up in the top half by the end of the season which wouldn't be such a bad outcome given the number of players who were sold over the summer.
 
Very interesting, Damian - thanks - I'll have to have a look for that one. I think the unpredictability of results across the division has and will work in Leicester's favour, but I do sense them running out of steam a bit, and their game does rely on quick breaks, so tiredness may catch up with them. I think the team that leaves the CL first could win the league; no fit Kompany could cost City.
 
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