The fact it took several weeks in putting together indicates you're right, as it does the possibility there was a fair bit of negotiating going on. Gracia does do things that seem to me to be less than perfect (Delaying substitutions for instance) but by and large I think he is doing quite well. He has developed a much more flexible approach than some (all?) of the previous incumbents. Also he seems to be a more agreeable person than some we could mention, without being a soft touch. There have been some big egos in this job and that can get up people's noses when they have to deal with it day in day out. Maybe Gino is human. It's a shame his English isn't too hot, but I rather like his style: Courteously avoiding media sensation-seeking - it appeals to the old-fashioned English part of me.
He needs 7.5 years to have the time to save for a modest semi-detached in the area. Much will happen in the seven years to come. If Javi sees out all of it he may see the UK leave the EU, rejoin, leave again and then rejoin in 2015. In that time it is perfectly possible that Peneranda may open his account for us and Jose Holebas launch a stand up comedy career with his ‘bloke in baggy pants’ tour.
Any modern contract will have performance clauses built in and this is happening more in employee contracts.
Hopefully the contract has plenty of gray area. As in, a large section of the contract stipulating that if Javi brings such a talentless footballer onto the pitch, the contract is void.
Gary Neville said last night (yeah, I know...) that even if the headline of Gracia's deal is 4 more years, the likelihood is the club has a 6 month notice clause written into it. Such is the reality of modern football.
Gracia, IMO, is doing a very good job. Currently being let down by poor finishing and officiating. What I would like him to do is start making a bigger thing of the decisions in interviews after the game. When it's one or two then yes be a good sportsman, when it's an avalanche then point it out and maybe we'll start getting some of the decisions magically go our way.
They can't help themselves can they. If we offer a 4 year deal (well actually it was 4.5 years) then of course it has to have a sacking clause in it. Then he talked himself down from 6 months, to 2 months then 2 weeks, just to make the joke even funnier. Carragher was so dismissive of Watford all match. I'm surprise he didn't hurl a gob full of flehm at Gracia when he saw him.
It looked like he's getting to that point now. He looked a broken man at the end in the post-match interview. I think if we get another bad call in the next couple of matches, then he will blow a fuse and we'll all see a different side to him.
I don't think he's got it in him. Last night was his chance and he just looked depressed when he should have been seething.
I disagree. Everyone has it in them after a certain point. I think JG massively outperformed Ssssslither yesterday too. He's doing a great job with pretty modest resources!
Where have I disagreed with that in my post? But Gracia is too nice after the games. One (of the few) reasons these decisions keep going against us is because our manager doesn't highlight them enough. It's time he started sowing that seed in the next match official's mind. When it comes to things like this, the current tactic of 'preferring not to talk about officials' isn't working clearly....other managers do it successfully, so it's time to stop trying to beat them, and to start joining them.
The club does the talking. We just became the first club (ever or in ages) to challenge a refereeing decision to arbitration don't forget. Coaches who speak out just get fined. It's just fluff for the fans and has no obvious effect.
You haven't. I was referring to the likelihood of JG getting angry at some point. I think he's got it in him to be more aggressive post-match, although I'm not sure it would help us if he was.
