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The 2013-2014 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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Moyes has his faults (why not sub Rooney for Wellbeck) but my word the players...
Oh dear...
Rooney, Kagawa, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Buttner, Nani ALL awful
It still boggles my mind that Rooney got fed a 300k/w contract. Overpaid lamp post.
You'd think with no more pressure, 10-days rest they'd be looking to play out the season with pride. But nope.
Then again maybe its a subconscious ploy to avoid the Europa.
With most of their transfer targets opting to stay put or go elsewhere, and the existing players not wanting to play for the manager, and officially no CL football next season as of today...United have a long way to go and all to do.
Oh dear...
Rooney, Kagawa, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Buttner, Nani ALL awful
It still boggles my mind that Rooney got fed a 300k/w contract. Overpaid lamp post.
You'd think with no more pressure, 10-days rest they'd be looking to play out the season with pride. But nope.
Then again maybe its a subconscious ploy to avoid the Europa.
With most of their transfer targets opting to stay put or go elsewhere, and the existing players not wanting to play for the manager, and officially no CL football next season as of today...United have a long way to go and all to do.
PEC 5 - 1 Ajax
PEC not only wrote history this evening they did it in style.
They won in a fantastic style Ajax were washed away, PEC played an open attacking football.
Ajax scored first with a great shot, then there was a firework incident and the match was stopped.
But after the restart there was only one team playing football.
----------
They'll be dancing till next week.
PEC not only wrote history this evening they did it in style.
They won in a fantastic style Ajax were washed away, PEC played an open attacking football.
Ajax scored first with a great shot, then there was a firework incident and the match was stopped.
But after the restart there was only one team playing football.
----------
They'll be dancing till next week.
Kariya,
Moyes appears to be mentally weak, lacks confidence in his decision making - leading to delay in taking action, and doesn't inspire - if interviews/conferences are representative. Has he shown anything this season to suggest he can get beyond the level he was stuck at with Everton? Of course a number of players need to look at themselves, but they have been to a higher level than the manager; nothing I've seen points to Moyes getting there.
Who are Manchester United's targets? How many stayed put or went elsewhere? Didn't Arsenal fail to sign Gundogan? Four players should do it, that and a manager with the required ability.
Likely paper BS - a previous target. Doubt Wenger would play him at right back.
Cheers,
OW
Moyes appears to be mentally weak, lacks confidence in his decision making - leading to delay in taking action, and doesn't inspire - if interviews/conferences are representative. Has he shown anything this season to suggest he can get beyond the level he was stuck at with Everton? Of course a number of players need to look at themselves, but they have been to a higher level than the manager; nothing I've seen points to Moyes getting there.
Who are Manchester United's targets? How many stayed put or went elsewhere? Didn't Arsenal fail to sign Gundogan? Four players should do it, that and a manager with the required ability.
Likely paper BS - a previous target. Doubt Wenger would play him at right back.
Cheers,
OW
Moyes confidence is gone probably because of what the players have done to him week in week out. He's changed things because he wants to know he's strongest XI but the players don't play so he keeps changing it to find something to work with. Hence the vicious cycle. Now he's trying to stick with certain players but they're still uninterested. Its a no-win situation.
The players are professionals and they should act it. If you're wearing a United jersey and earning big bucks you shouldn't be looking externally for motivation. Chelsea change managers like toilet paper but they still show up even when they're figuring things out. These lads just run around like headless chickens. Refusing to adapt. Pining for Fergie's return. Its not like the squad underwent a massive overhaul. These are the same players that won the title last year. They should know each other in and out.
Oh well, looks like they've gotten their wish. I don't see Moyes lasting beyond summer (Van Gaal looks set). But many of the stating XI don't deserve to stay either.
As for transfers; Kroos, Gundogan, Rossi, Fabregas (again), Cavani, Pjanic, Garay, Shaw etc. all don't seem keen.
I think Arsenal were after Gundogan too. But unlike the rest of the top 4, United are actually in dire need of midfielders whilst the rest are just looking to bulk up their existing squads.
Will be interesting to see what Glazers and Woody do in the summer.
Moyes has been using 'try' and 'hope' since the start of the season, 'nick something' etc. It is depressing and it seems to be part of his make-up, not something brought on by the players. The strongest XI is an excuse; how long does he need? He never scouted Manchester United for Everton? He doesn't know within four months? Time and time again when things have started to go well, Moyes has changed it. Why? Why screw it up? The players have been a mixture of playing for the manager and lost; what exactly are they supposed to be adapting to? Does Moyes know? The players aren't clean but when you see Smalling and Buttner as full backs, you know the wide attacking will be a struggle.
On Chelsea, how did the players behave on and off the field under AVB? It isn't there yet.
Manchester City need at least one defender and cover for Toure, Arsenal need a striker and their backup midfield has been mixed, Chelsea will go for a striker and need to address an ageing defence, Liverpool need to strengthen to cover domestic and Europe, and so on. How many first line targets will arrive and how many will go elsewhere? The papers are full of lists; how many are genuine contacts? How many clubs can Messi play for at the same time?
On some of the transfers mentioned:
Kroos; all I've seen is running down to 2015 - money from Bayern or the next club he chooses. Has he said a definite no?
Gundogan; he seems to be doing the best thing given his back.
Fabregas seems to be a tease; trying to cement his position at Barcelona.
Shaw; who is he keen on other than Chelsea?
There is money - even more if the Nike deal goes through - and players to go round. They want shooting if they can't get two team improving midfielders.
Cheers,
OW
On Chelsea, how did the players behave on and off the field under AVB? It isn't there yet.
Manchester City need at least one defender and cover for Toure, Arsenal need a striker and their backup midfield has been mixed, Chelsea will go for a striker and need to address an ageing defence, Liverpool need to strengthen to cover domestic and Europe, and so on. How many first line targets will arrive and how many will go elsewhere? The papers are full of lists; how many are genuine contacts? How many clubs can Messi play for at the same time?
On some of the transfers mentioned:
Kroos; all I've seen is running down to 2015 - money from Bayern or the next club he chooses. Has he said a definite no?
Gundogan; he seems to be doing the best thing given his back.
Fabregas seems to be a tease; trying to cement his position at Barcelona.
Shaw; who is he keen on other than Chelsea?
There is money - even more if the Nike deal goes through - and players to go round. They want shooting if they can't get two team improving midfielders.
Cheers,
OW
A number of national newspapers are reporting Moyes is about to get the sack with Ryan Giggs taking charge for the rest of the season.
No Jimmy Jimmy on the soundtrack?
Any chance of a drug fuelled Umbro design to celebrate the 20 something anniversary of that shirt?
Cheers,
OW
apparently they tweeted that right after saying happy birthday to Dion Dublin.
Attachments
Several news outlets are reporting that the board decided to can Moyes after the loss to Olympiacos, and that pretty much everyone within the club knew the axe was going to fall before the Everton game.
Nice highlight reel. Can't wait to see what the new kits look like.
Nice highlight reel. Can't wait to see what the new kits look like.
It's the end of an error.
However, Moyes is far from alone in being to blame for United's malaise. Isn't the clause the board put in his contract that enabled the club to only pay him out for one season if he failed to finish at least fourth a powerful disincentive for the players to go out and play for him? Yes, the players do collectively share in the blame for their lackluster performances and seemingly forgetting how to win within the scope of mere months. This season is an institutional failure from top to bottom, but relieving Moyes of duty is the first necessary step towards potentially making things right.
Klopp says he's not up for the job. He's one of the few people in football I would actually take at his word. That's a killer blow. So the next realistic target is someone like van Gaal — RVP will be thrilled, Rooney probably not so much. Thought I read that Laurent Blanc was unsettled at PSG, or PSG is unsettled with him. That could work.
However, Moyes is far from alone in being to blame for United's malaise. Isn't the clause the board put in his contract that enabled the club to only pay him out for one season if he failed to finish at least fourth a powerful disincentive for the players to go out and play for him? Yes, the players do collectively share in the blame for their lackluster performances and seemingly forgetting how to win within the scope of mere months. This season is an institutional failure from top to bottom, but relieving Moyes of duty is the first necessary step towards potentially making things right.
Klopp says he's not up for the job. He's one of the few people in football I would actually take at his word. That's a killer blow. So the next realistic target is someone like van Gaal — RVP will be thrilled, Rooney probably not so much. Thought I read that Laurent Blanc was unsettled at PSG, or PSG is unsettled with him. That could work.
van Gaal isn't the long term solution United wants and not easy to work with but IMHO his unique ability is to instill a fresh & different attitude and ideas into the clubs he spends time with:
At Bayern he converted the winger Schweinsteiger into a central midfielder, switched Lahm from the left to the right, choose the amateur players Müller & Badstuber over the 1st squad stars, later converted the 17 year old midfielder Alaba into a left back position and formed a 4-2-3-1 system just like he used at Barcelona
in hindsight obvious choices ... at the time he was very often criticized for it, but it was necessary.
combined with Heyneckes "people-skills" and defense tactics it turned out the right system for a big club.
How many different player combinations did Moyes try ? 30-40 ? he simply never had a concept or idea apart of "let's try something different"
At Bayern he converted the winger Schweinsteiger into a central midfielder, switched Lahm from the left to the right, choose the amateur players Müller & Badstuber over the 1st squad stars, later converted the 17 year old midfielder Alaba into a left back position and formed a 4-2-3-1 system just like he used at Barcelona
in hindsight obvious choices ... at the time he was very often criticized for it, but it was necessary.
combined with Heyneckes "people-skills" and defense tactics it turned out the right system for a big club.
How many different player combinations did Moyes try ? 30-40 ? he simply never had a concept or idea apart of "let's try something different"
Man Utd are not a sacking club was it?
Meh...twas bound to happen. Fans were crucifying him week in/week out. Moyes and his players didn't help his case either. But he was doomed to fail from the get go. Woody didn't sign anybody and the players forgot how to play football once their daddy left.
Van Gaal has played his cards right and is now looking to be the only viable replacement. The others are unavailable or don't care.
Too bad for Spurs who look set to miss out on another target. Unless they get De Boer which is doubtful.
The upcoming transfer window will be very interesting. Especially if you're a United, Everton, and Liverpool fan.
Meh...twas bound to happen. Fans were crucifying him week in/week out. Moyes and his players didn't help his case either. But he was doomed to fail from the get go. Woody didn't sign anybody and the players forgot how to play football once their daddy left.
Van Gaal has played his cards right and is now looking to be the only viable replacement. The others are unavailable or don't care.
Too bad for Spurs who look set to miss out on another target. Unless they get De Boer which is doubtful.
The upcoming transfer window will be very interesting. Especially if you're a United, Everton, and Liverpool fan.
I don't think the United players ever respected Moyes, and Moyes was never able to gain that respect either. Rooney became almost unmanageable even for Fergie toward the end, it will be interesting to see how the next manager handles him.
It will also be interesting to see if United end up with another long-term manager or if they adopt the new normal and fire managers every handful of years (or less) from now on.
It will also be interesting to see if United end up with another long-term manager or if they adopt the new normal and fire managers every handful of years (or less) from now on.
Sacking club; the same league position and showing promise - that he is up to it - and he keeps his job. Moyes didn't lose his job because of Woodward, Ferguson and Gill leaving at the same time, or the players, he's gone because of his errors and failings. A proper selection process - not a ridiculous crowning - and Moyes wouldn't have been appointed.
Crucifying; the home fans have been good to Moyes, the away support very good.
Respect; you don't gain respect by pissing on a winning staff - his first act and he screwed up. Add in sending the players out not to lose rather than to win and the morale sapping conferences/interviews. If the manager is van Gaal, Rooney is at best second choice to RvP and he falls into line or gets lost.
If someone like van Gaal is appointed, let him have three years - maybe stretch to four if needed; giving the options of having a number two intended to be the next long term manager or being at the point where the preferred candidates for the long term are available.
Cheers,
OW
Crucifying; the home fans have been good to Moyes, the away support very good.
Respect; you don't gain respect by pissing on a winning staff - his first act and he screwed up. Add in sending the players out not to lose rather than to win and the morale sapping conferences/interviews. If the manager is van Gaal, Rooney is at best second choice to RvP and he falls into line or gets lost.
If someone like van Gaal is appointed, let him have three years - maybe stretch to four if needed; giving the options of having a number two intended to be the next long term manager or being at the point where the preferred candidates for the long term are available.
Cheers,
OW
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I hope for your sake that does not mean a RETURN to the infamous Tiger Stripped shirt.
I really dont think that you two understand Louis van Gaal, he is a deeply flawed man.
A very talented manager who really does understand tactics, and can motivate players he likes. He is best suited to running a National team so that he has time to unwind, and recharge. But he has major problems with the day to day running of a team in a league, if everything is going good no problem, but as soon as a problem occurs he starts to meltdown. He also is known to hold a grudge, he is incapable to saying he is sorry, because he is always right about everything.
He is also very arrogant and inflexible, he has real trouble admitting when he is wrong, and will blame just about everybody else if it goes wrong.
He takes teams to great heights or to very depths, there is never a middle way.
But he has one huge blind spot, he hates the press with a fiery vengeance of a thousand suns, his press conferences are legendary.
The main reason he is the National Manager of the Netherlands is after the disaster of 2012 EC the team needed sorting out, no mister nice guy.
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