Presumably they'll start the next league campaign with him in August, but I wouldn't put any money on him lasting the season.
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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Presumably they'll start the next league campaign with him in August, but I wouldn't put any money on him lasting the season.
I'm sure that will depend on results. The Championship is a tough league to get out of.
A truly impressive escape by Huddersfield - taking points off both Man City and Chelsea to avoid relegation. Swansea are all but down.
This is especially welcome for Liverpool fans, as it means either a win or a draw against Brighton at Anfield guarantees a top four spot. David Wagner has done his old friend Klopp a favor.
This is especially welcome for Liverpool fans, as it means either a win or a draw against Brighton at Anfield guarantees a top four spot. David Wagner has done his old friend Klopp a favor.
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We face Man U tonight, and I'm glad we don't need the points.
I suspect they will be looking to get a result for the old manager.
Glad to hear he is on the (slow) road to recovery.
I think Sunday will be a bit of an anticlimax. Still at least we have the CL and WC to look forward to.
I suspect they will be looking to get a result for the old manager.
Glad to hear he is on the (slow) road to recovery.
I think Sunday will be a bit of an anticlimax. Still at least we have the CL and WC to look forward to.
Not much mileage left in the league. I am still just the tiniest bit worried about Liverpool's top four spot, but I am a pessimist.
Well as long as you try and out score the opposition you'll do alright. Decide to defend all night and I'd worry.
Meanwhile West Ham are doing okay. Apparently we have the most (money) to play for as we can finish between 10th and 17th. £2,000,000 per place up for grabs.
A draw is probably a fair result tonight. Gives Man U what they needed to secure second.
A bit of a squabble between Noble and Pogba, but other than that not a great game for the neutral.
Few good saves from Adrian.
A bit of a squabble between Noble and Pogba, but other than that not a great game for the neutral.
Few good saves from Adrian.
A good piece from the always-excellent David Conn on the growing financial inequality in English football. When I say the richest clubs are going to be on top forever, I mean it - and this is why.
To a certain extent, it is completely fair to say that true "competition" in the football pyramid is a fiction. There is some space for movement between rich and poor, but the richest have rigged the system to ensure that they will never lose their status as top dogs - and perennial winners.
To a certain extent, it is completely fair to say that true "competition" in the football pyramid is a fiction. There is some space for movement between rich and poor, but the richest have rigged the system to ensure that they will never lose their status as top dogs - and perennial winners.
Glad West Ham finished the season with a bit of pride. Up to 13th in the end. Will that be enough for the board to keep Moyes on? Not sure.
He was unfortunate with injuries for sure, but that's what happens sometimes.
No other real surprises, so a bit of a dull finish.
He was unfortunate with injuries for sure, but that's what happens sometimes.
No other real surprises, so a bit of a dull finish.
No, the real story is how Pep Guardiola (remember the slightly condescending coverage of this time last year? "he doesn't 'get' England" etc) spent a year/season - his first year and season - watching, learning, thinking, studying, analysing (and making mistakes) and then spent a further year putting what he had learned into stunning practice.
Look at the stats: 100 points, a staggering goal difference both in terms of goals scored (at 106, almost 40 more than United, the second placed team) and goals conceded (a mere 27), and, out of 38 games, they have won 32, lost two and drawn four. Manchester City this season have shown themselves capable of delivering a masterclass in sustained excellence, and Pep mastered how to do this in his second year as a Premiership manager.
No doubt they have been the team of the year. But I do hope for a closer competition next year. It feels like the Premier League was decided in 2017.
But that also comes down to the choices made (and options available) to the other managers.
Yes, Pep had access to serious sums, but he crafted something incredible from that which is more than could be said for Jose Mourinho, who also spent a lot of money, but whose team often looked like plodding journeymen, and who never - not once - seriously challenged for the title, notwithstanding the fact that they came second.
Leaving Arsenal aside, I would have liked to have seen both Spurs and Liverpool do better; I like the ethos - and indeed, managers - of both teams.
However, over at Stamford Bridge, I'd imagine that Conte will depart pretty soon.
I think Conte's situation is a given.
Liverpool could still win the CL which is pretty impressive.
Spurs will lose at least one key player in the summer for sure.
So would @Lord Blackadder!
Illustrated very well by the goal difference stats. Top 6 are all > 20, everone else is < 0.
I'm really pleased to see Salah break the scoring record, even if it is just a number. Even if this turns out to be the peak of his career, he was probably the best striker in the world for a season.
Liverpool ended the season with a textbook 2017-2018 performance to secure a top four finish and ended up not even needing it as Chelsea slumped to victory against ex-Red Rafa Benitez's Newcastle.m Liverpool were undefeated at Anfield this season and lost only 5 matches, second fewest behind Man City. The squad has some significant injury issues, but should still be able to put out a very strong team for the CL final. If Trent A-A and Robertson can go out there and give a 110% performance, and if the front three are at their best, Liverpool have a shot - though they are still very much the underdogs.
At the moment, there is a pretty big gulf in class between the top 6-7 teams and everyone else. This isn't to say those teams don't have any money or playing/managerial talent, but the teams at the top have far more, plus the wealth they need to maintain that gap.
Liverpool ended the season with a textbook 2017-2018 performance to secure a top four finish and ended up not even needing it as Chelsea slumped to victory against ex-Red Rafa Benitez's Newcastle.m Liverpool were undefeated at Anfield this season and lost only 5 matches, second fewest behind Man City. The squad has some significant injury issues, but should still be able to put out a very strong team for the CL final. If Trent A-A and Robertson can go out there and give a 110% performance, and if the front three are at their best, Liverpool have a shot - though they are still very much the underdogs.
At the moment, there is a pretty big gulf in class between the top 6-7 teams and everyone else. This isn't to say those teams don't have any money or playing/managerial talent, but the teams at the top have far more, plus the wealth they need to maintain that gap.
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I read Moyes is unlikely to be retained by West Ham.
Favourites to succeed would be Benitez or Pellegrini. Not sure I understand why either would want to come. But apparently 30 managers have declared an interest.
Favourites to succeed would be Benitez or Pellegrini. Not sure I understand why either would want to come. But apparently 30 managers have declared an interest.
Hart and Wilshire are left out of the England squad.
The press are leading with this story in big font, but in many ways this is a non-issue. "Experience" is only valuable in the squad so long as the player is capable of carrying his weight on the pitch. Otherwise David Seaman would be on the plane to Russia.
Hart has a lot of experience and was once excellent, but Pickford and Butland (and Pope, who will presumably take Hart's slot) are all successful Premier League goalkeepers and that in itself qualifies them to be in the squad; it is inarguable that Hart has had a worse season than any of those three. As for Wilshere, he is an injury risk and, given his recent form, not a risk worth taking.
Also RE: Everton. I am the last person to stick up for Big Sam, but dumping him now means that clubs really do see him as merely a firefighter. It seems just a touch shabby from Everton, who, if they are not careful, could find their status as a "just outside the top four" club jeopardized if they foul up their next managerial appointment.
The press are leading with this story in big font, but in many ways this is a non-issue. "Experience" is only valuable in the squad so long as the player is capable of carrying his weight on the pitch. Otherwise David Seaman would be on the plane to Russia.
Hart has a lot of experience and was once excellent, but Pickford and Butland (and Pope, who will presumably take Hart's slot) are all successful Premier League goalkeepers and that in itself qualifies them to be in the squad; it is inarguable that Hart has had a worse season than any of those three. As for Wilshere, he is an injury risk and, given his recent form, not a risk worth taking.
Also RE: Everton. I am the last person to stick up for Big Sam, but dumping him now means that clubs really do see him as merely a firefighter. It seems just a touch shabby from Everton, who, if they are not careful, could find their status as a "just outside the top four" club jeopardized if they foul up their next managerial appointment.
Moyes to Everton maybe?
As for Hart. If he's not good enough to get into the West Ham first team, he's certainly not good enough for the England squad.
I think he's likely to struggle to find a club given his sporadic form. I'm not blaming him for all the goals we let in btw, but I don't believe he helped much either.
Unfortunately, I think his - that is, Hart's - confidence is gone, and - frankly - West Ham's defence weren't much help in restoring it. No, I wouldn't blame him for all the goals - that wold be unfair and untrue - and goalkeepers have a right to expect that a defence will do some of the work.
However, his best days are clearly long behind him.
Re Wilshere, he is clearly injury prone and that is an unacceptable risk for any responsible manager to take. In fact, if Wilshere doesn't watch out, he will be one of those of whom it is said "he has a great future behind him."
Adrian always looked miles better in goal for West Ham, regardless of the defense in front of him. Given Hart's awful form, his omission from the England squad really shouldn't be a shock to anyone.
Wilshire is a less clear cut case to me. England could really use a midfielder who's comfortable on the ball, but his injuries and inconsistency obviously worked against him. Fabian Delph is a lower beta player, but he did log significant time with City this season and looked half decent for the most part.
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