NOT TRUE!
I am ready and able, they need only contact me. That said this would draw the attention of my beloved WEDNESDAY and once they call me I will leave any club I am with and be off to HILLSBROUGH....
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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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NOT TRUE!
I am ready and able, they need only contact me. That said this would draw the attention of my beloved WEDNESDAY and once they call me I will leave any club I am with and be off to HILLSBROUGH....
I think Pep could get more out of City than Pellegrini is doing, but it would be the biggest challenge he's faced so far - Barca and Bayern were both in good shape when he took over.
Arsenal didn't look great against City but they did grind out a win - these are the kinds of performances that could see them to a title if they keep it up.
LVG is an old manager set in his ways - he's never going to radically alter his preferred style. If anything he seems to be getting more cautious every season.
Mourinho might win something at Man Utd, but he'd be out within three seasons, leaving the club in disarray. Mou vs Pep in the Premier League is the narrative the pundits are hoping for, of course.
Arsenal didn't look great against City but they did grind out a win - these are the kinds of performances that could see them to a title if they keep it up.
Looks like the current Man Utd squad/players are deeply shackled by LvG. I really hope LvG sets them free for the next couple of games - what's the worst that can happen? United might lose again and he'd be out of a job? Meh! So be it - he should go down swinging!
LVG is an old manager set in his ways - he's never going to radically alter his preferred style. If anything he seems to be getting more cautious every season.
Mourinho might win something at Man Utd, but he'd be out within three seasons, leaving the club in disarray. Mou vs Pep in the Premier League is the narrative the pundits are hoping for, of course.
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Van Gaal walked out 5 minutes into his press conference. Obviously the results have not been good enough but he deserves much more respect than he is getting right now.
The journos have different timings and number of questions answered - they're good. Already ignored what was said in favour of printing what suits; if only all jobs were as easy.
Cheers,
OW
Cheers,
OW
I feel bad that I forgot to mention that USA international Abby Wambach retired last week! 255 caps and 184 goals, one of the best players the USA has ever produced.
As for Louis, it is hard to feel sorry for a guy who makes LVG's money - that goes for any other manager at that level. Sure, the questions are banal and leading, but it's all a big performance. Also, LVG likes to dish it out, I'm sure he can take it.
With that being said, Man Utd's bad form coupled with Mourinho's sacking has pretty much made LVG's life a living hell until further notice. Will Man Utd go after Mou? They passed over him once already, but if Man City get Guardiola there may be a sea change in the balance of footballing power in Manchester.
As for Louis, it is hard to feel sorry for a guy who makes LVG's money - that goes for any other manager at that level. Sure, the questions are banal and leading, but it's all a big performance. Also, LVG likes to dish it out, I'm sure he can take it.
With that being said, Man Utd's bad form coupled with Mourinho's sacking has pretty much made LVG's life a living hell until further notice. Will Man Utd go after Mou? They passed over him once already, but if Man City get Guardiola there may be a sea change in the balance of footballing power in Manchester.
I don't think it is about feeling sorry for LVG, just it would be nice to see a straight report; not only Manchester United and not limited to sport, the Press can't resist.
Anyway, isn't it about time Klopp was sacked?
Cheers,
OW
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Some Fergie Time runs; 1995 to 2002:
Anyway, isn't it about time Klopp was sacked?
Cheers,
OW
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Some Fergie Time runs; 1995 to 2002:
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I don't think it is about feeling sorry for LVG, just it would be nice to see a straight report; not only Manchester United and not limited to sport, the Press can't resist.
Anyway, isn't it about time Klopp was sacked?
Ah, you forget how this works. New managers bring a "new feeling of optimism" in the dressing room, and from there they either move on to the 1) "honeymoon period" if they win, or the 2) "blame the previous manager for the mess and tell everyone how much work there is to do" period if they struggle. After that, if they start/keep winning they are "resurgent," or if they struggle "the honeymoon period is over" (this is Klopp's position). From there the winning manager is in good shape. The struggling manager is then said to be "struggling to impose his system" on the players, who may brief the media on their complaints about tactics/training/man-management.
At this point the media wonder whether the manager will "lose the dressing room," and when the manager gets irritated at the suggestion he is described as "under pressure" or "embattled"; we will now see grumbles from the fans, and photos of fans brandishing hastily-made critical "banners" on bedsheets or A4 printer appear in the match reports. The press now pester the board/chairman/owners about the manager's tactics/man management/recruitment policy, and when they support the manager it is seen as the "dreaded vote of confidence." At this point any out-of-work managers are "rumored to be possible replacements," and the board is said to have "given the manager two games to save his job" (LVG is now firmly in this stage). From here, either results improve and the whole process resets...or the manager gets sacked and replaced - and the whole process resets.
In short, the only way to ensure that you never get sacked is to constantly win... unless you manage Real Madrid, Bayern, or Chelsea, in which case you'll be sacked after 2-3 seasons regardless.
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Sorry to say, but that was very reason he had to leave Dortmund / the Bundesliga. His team played one-dimensional and had a really hard time to compete against any opponent - since those knew they could just wait deep + standing compact while Dortmund's defense was leaking goals left and right. Dortmund still gets those "comedy" / slapstick goals now under Tuchel, albeit more seldom - but now they are incredile flexible when attacking, scoring even more goals than Bayern. Word is that the Prem isn't that advanced tactically so that a hardcore "pressing-machine" à la Klopp could still disrupt the opponents matchplan and win plenty of matches like Dortmund did years back when they surprised to whole Bundesliga (and even international heavy hitters). Remains to be seen if that key really works as intended. His style was 100% burnt out and decoded before he left.
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Anyway, Hertha is placed third. All is good and Christmas can come.
so burnt out he took his team from dead last to top 6, and the german cup final and he coached in a league were bayern take what they want
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Yep. Dead last with a squad that is as superior to the others teams as Bayern is to them. Missing the CL with that squad is no easy feat so finishing seventh is nothing to write home about. You watched the Cup finale? Ridiculous.
Of course Klopp is an excellent coach, but he (and his team / Buvac) yet has to show that he can improve and evolve his once brilliant tactic(s) - as they were (are? - Lord B's description sounded awfully familiar) absolutely one sided. Shining against the top teams, those that attack themselves, is one thing but once you coach one of these you face mostly those that are happy with a draw and have no intention to have the ball much themselves or the need to entertain the audience with fancy football.
Lost 2-0 at Stoke and the worst thing is that I am not one bit surprised.
I respect LVG for what he has done before and he is not the only one responsible for the bad form, but I don't see things getting any better under him. He needs to go.
I respect LVG for what he has done before and he is not the only one responsible for the bad form, but I don't see things getting any better under him. He needs to go.
Liverpool got a clean sheet against Leicester, and won the game to boot! A Christmas miracle!
Can't get cocky though, Liverpool are still 8th in the table and 5 points off 4th place and most of the teams ahead of us continue to win matches. I would have much rather seen Liverpool beat Watford last week. Still, its the kind of result/performance Klopp needs to be getting out of the team.
And Benteke did a goal. Actually, given the the straightforward counterattacking tactics Leicester and other overachieving clubs are using, Benteke is the right tool for the job - big, powerful and capable of receiving the ball "in the mixer."
Personally I don't believe in sacking managers as often as is done these days, but LVG surely looks to be on borrowed time. Maybe the fans will get what they want and Giggs will finish put the season as manager. But be careful what you wish for...he might do a Shearer.
Thats just the thing - firing LVG will probably do away with the boring style of play Man Utd have been laboring under, but pretty much everyone agrees that the root of the problem is that the squad is not very good. They lack quality all over the pitch. Still, under a different manager, with different tactics and more confidence I would expect to see better football from the same group of players.
But if LVG goes the players will be exposed - no more scapegoat for bad performances.
EDIT: Good grief, Arsenal completely sucker-punched and then kicked while down by Southampton.
Can't get cocky though, Liverpool are still 8th in the table and 5 points off 4th place and most of the teams ahead of us continue to win matches. I would have much rather seen Liverpool beat Watford last week. Still, its the kind of result/performance Klopp needs to be getting out of the team.
And Benteke did a goal. Actually, given the the straightforward counterattacking tactics Leicester and other overachieving clubs are using, Benteke is the right tool for the job - big, powerful and capable of receiving the ball "in the mixer."
Personally I don't believe in sacking managers as often as is done these days, but LVG surely looks to be on borrowed time. Maybe the fans will get what they want and Giggs will finish put the season as manager. But be careful what you wish for...he might do a Shearer.
Thats just the thing - firing LVG will probably do away with the boring style of play Man Utd have been laboring under, but pretty much everyone agrees that the root of the problem is that the squad is not very good. They lack quality all over the pitch. Still, under a different manager, with different tactics and more confidence I would expect to see better football from the same group of players.
But if LVG goes the players will be exposed - no more scapegoat for bad performances.
EDIT: Good grief, Arsenal completely sucker-punched and then kicked while down by Southampton.
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Nobody is, and that is why this season has been so great.
Interesting match between Man Utd & Chelsea. First off, it has to be taken in the context of the season as a whole for both teams, but a draw was probably a fair result. Could have been 1-1 or 2-2.
I thought Chelsea were really poor - playing essentially without a striker, which made them really toothless up front. So many giveaways! bad ones too. Zouma is fast and powerful, but more than once he passed straight to a Man Utd player in his own final third, or kicked the ball wildly out of defense without looking where it was going. Inexcusable. Ivanovich got burned by Martial over and over throughout the match. Chelsea sat really deep in the second half and conceded 2/3 of the pitch to Man Utd. They really missed Costa and all his cheating, niggly play. Man Utd did not have to deal with sustained pressure on their defense and even when Chelsea broke they were nearly always heavily outnumbered. Matic's ballooned shot in his 1v1 with De Gea was laughable. Pedro/Azpilicueta probably would have scored if it weren't for a superb double save by De Gea.
Man Utd kicked the hell out of Hazard the whole match. Atkinson was terribly inconsistent with his calls. The handball call on Willian could easily have been a PK, though you could make the argument that his arm position was natural as he was trying to swivel and control the ball.
Man Utd - the commentators kept remarking on how improved a performance this was for Man Utd. True in a sense - Man Utd adopted a noticeably more positive/energetic/persistent approach, perhaps spurred on by rumors circulating in the press that a loss would mean the end of LVG. Still, I think Chelsea flattered them a bit with constant giveaways and defensive errors. They still looked slow - it wasn't as obvious because Chelsea sat so deep and they never really had to battle for the midfield apart from the first 20 mins of the match. Rooney had one good longish-ranged shot but then missed a late open goal chance and had an airshot during his 1v1 with Courtois (he was offside but didn't know it when he swung). I was surprised that Fellaini was not brought on to serve as a target for the good crosses Man Utd managed to put in towards the end of the match. Jones came in late for Blind, leading me to believe that LVG (like Hiddink) was more afraid of losing than anything else. Man Utd defended well for most of the match, but Chelsea did get in behind a few times and only their lack of finishing quality/world class saves from De Gea prevented a goal.
Martial was the only player in the stadium that really looked capable of doing anything, and came within a hair's breadth of scoring, plus nearly assisted on Herrera's (?) point-blank effort that was blocked by Courtois. Mata had that early potshot go off the bar too.
Both keepers were excellent. It's amazing how many points each has probably saved his team this season simply by dominating their areas and making fantastic saves. I wish Mignolet played like that. De Gea can punch a ball 30 yards, Mignolet barely manages half that (unless he flaps at it - which happens all too often).
Both teams will probably be happy with the result, though Man Utd are now winless in 8 matches. They are at home to Swansea next...should be a winnable game.
I thought Chelsea were really poor - playing essentially without a striker, which made them really toothless up front. So many giveaways! bad ones too. Zouma is fast and powerful, but more than once he passed straight to a Man Utd player in his own final third, or kicked the ball wildly out of defense without looking where it was going. Inexcusable. Ivanovich got burned by Martial over and over throughout the match. Chelsea sat really deep in the second half and conceded 2/3 of the pitch to Man Utd. They really missed Costa and all his cheating, niggly play. Man Utd did not have to deal with sustained pressure on their defense and even when Chelsea broke they were nearly always heavily outnumbered. Matic's ballooned shot in his 1v1 with De Gea was laughable. Pedro/Azpilicueta probably would have scored if it weren't for a superb double save by De Gea.
Man Utd kicked the hell out of Hazard the whole match. Atkinson was terribly inconsistent with his calls. The handball call on Willian could easily have been a PK, though you could make the argument that his arm position was natural as he was trying to swivel and control the ball.
Man Utd - the commentators kept remarking on how improved a performance this was for Man Utd. True in a sense - Man Utd adopted a noticeably more positive/energetic/persistent approach, perhaps spurred on by rumors circulating in the press that a loss would mean the end of LVG. Still, I think Chelsea flattered them a bit with constant giveaways and defensive errors. They still looked slow - it wasn't as obvious because Chelsea sat so deep and they never really had to battle for the midfield apart from the first 20 mins of the match. Rooney had one good longish-ranged shot but then missed a late open goal chance and had an airshot during his 1v1 with Courtois (he was offside but didn't know it when he swung). I was surprised that Fellaini was not brought on to serve as a target for the good crosses Man Utd managed to put in towards the end of the match. Jones came in late for Blind, leading me to believe that LVG (like Hiddink) was more afraid of losing than anything else. Man Utd defended well for most of the match, but Chelsea did get in behind a few times and only their lack of finishing quality/world class saves from De Gea prevented a goal.
Martial was the only player in the stadium that really looked capable of doing anything, and came within a hair's breadth of scoring, plus nearly assisted on Herrera's (?) point-blank effort that was blocked by Courtois. Mata had that early potshot go off the bar too.
Both keepers were excellent. It's amazing how many points each has probably saved his team this season simply by dominating their areas and making fantastic saves. I wish Mignolet played like that. De Gea can punch a ball 30 yards, Mignolet barely manages half that (unless he flaps at it - which happens all too often).
Both teams will probably be happy with the result, though Man Utd are now winless in 8 matches. They are at home to Swansea next...should be a winnable game.