Where Do We Go From Here?

Even though they didn't buy Zouma, I would of been extremely happy with any of those players. Ecstatic with all of them. Overpaid I disagree. Mina hasn't seemed to stay fit but as we and England know is a threat at set pieces. Digne will go on to much higher things and a more successful club.

 

Don't give me hope.

 

Yeah, I agree. I was using an extreme example and saying even if those players were worth a third of what they paid, they’re still a hell of a lot better than what he’d have had to work with at Watford.

 

Model 500 or ay ay ay zztopy ?

 

Nope, a UFO concert classic with the same lyric.

 

The Haircuts were more my style, tbh.

 

I’d happily swap Doucoure for Mina and a bit of cash.

Digne could go to a Spurs or something but he’s already been pushed out at PSG, Roma and Barca. Good player but destined to be a big fish in a smaller pond.

 

A change in culture comes from the top. Pozzo appears to rule with an iron fist and an element of fear. There's no debate, "it's my way or the bye-bye way!"

 

They say the definition of insanity is making the same mistakes over and over again.

 

Leventhal on the latest ‘emergency’ ‘From The Rookery End’ podcast has claimed the club are looking for a coach who plays expansive football and integrates young players.

Unsure how true that is - but it would back up the stories that Gino and Giraldi had fronted up to Pearson about not doing either of those things. And would also put paid to the odds of Puel, Hughton, Allardyce ever being considered an option.

 

Whilst I would very much welcome that, I’m not sure the owners should’ve got too annoyed or been that surprised about a very much old school manager they parachuted in to do a very specific short term job not playing expansive football and youth.

 

Yes...he mentioned Sabri Lamouchi and Quique Setién....who will be sacked by Barca soon.

 

Rock Bottom!

 

A bit harsh, if true. How can a manager implement an expansive style of football and drag a team from certain relegation? Sounds like Gino has lost it.

 

You with your leg warmers and big sweater.

 

Strangers in the Night, head in the speaker bin, air guitar at the ready.

 

While I agree with the broader aspects of that, I do think its a bit more nuanced than that. Minimal rotation of players and lack of desire to come away from a pattern of play that had been found out is definitely an issue.

Looking back at Friday, the team selection, the subs - I wouldn't even be surprised if it was known then he wasn't staying. And some sort of argument was had around him seeming to sabotage the game with some decisions. Unlikely but stranger things have happened.

 

It’s unrealistic to integrate the young players in the middle of a relegation battle. The young players need time to settle, and make some mistakes. If we were mid-table, or at the start of the season, then it’s fine to expect that, but not when you take over with 9 points from 17 games. One advantage of going down is that we can surely put some of the young players in from the start

 

I think 'expansive football' is what is being suggested that want going forward next season. As for the season, I think expecting expansive football is a stretch - but a switch in tactics and perhaps to use a few more players wasn't. Leventhal is probably just marrying the two trains of thought together.

 

Perhaps. When younger players are mentioned, I suspect that's more for next season - I think Pearson may have had it put to him that he could have used Joao Pedro a bit more, maybe Pussetto and maybe Quina.

Yes Quina is young and raw - but he's played enough to be familiar with the team and I don't think he offers less than Cleverley or even Doucoure have done.

 

Pussetto is 25, him being a young player shows how ancient our squad is!

 

There's 'integrating' young players in the first team, and then there's giving your big name 18 year old Brazilian 5 minutes here and there despite often finding ourselves down and in need of something, or steadfastly refusing to play the young lad who did very well whenever called upon last season, despite Cleverley being finished

 

Lol. Setien from Barca to Watford. Definitely going to happen

 

That's what they said about Deulofeu.

 

Deulofeu had been knocking about on loan for years at smaller clubs. Would be very surprised if this happens. You're not ITK are you?

 

I'll have to PM you.

 

Why not?

 

A direct move, of course not. But he's almost certain to get sacked there imminently - not sure it's out of the question that we approach him this summer once he's available. We wanted him before supposedly.

 

A massive downward step for him. Knowingly joining a club who's owners give the Head Coach little, or no autonomy, with a squad not fit for purpose. Can't see why he wouldn't take it.

 

I'm a long time lurker on these boards and as this is my first post, I appreciate this will attract a healthy dose of skepticism, especially in light of all the rumourmongery over the last couple of days.

A few weeks ago I was told that Gino had received two bids for the club, both conditional on us staying up. Gino was prepared to go with the first bid, but a second larger offer came in shortly after, which apparently has been accepted.

I'm afraid I can't reveal names to avoid getting my source into trouble, but I have to say as a season ticket holder of 20+ years, I would be extremely concerned if either of them came to pass. Both interested parties are well known to the Premier League. One has a track record that can only be described as abject failure, and the other is fronted by someone who frankly I would be ******* mortified if they were associated with my club.

Given the uncertainty of our situation, I'm sure it's far from a done deal. My source is someone I've known for a long time and although I'd be skeptical myself if I heard this info from elsewhere, he has impeccable credentials.

 

Can I just make a point about poor recruitment of defenders. Last season we conceded 59 goals. Bournemouth with a player many on the forum wanted us to buy Ake a consistent presence, let in 70. Dour well organised and solid Burnley let 68 goals in and Southampton 65. The relegated sides let in on average 75 goals. To date we have let in fewer goals (57) than any of the current bottom five sides. Last season we scored 52 goals in 38 matches, to date we have scored 34 in 36.

Sometimes I think people’s perceptions on where the problems lie are out of step with the facts. Compared to the teams our size and budget our defence is significantly better than them. I know people think our defenders are old, slow, technically poor, did not cost enough and make too many mistakes. But in terms of goals conceded, as a unit, they are no worse than the typical Premier League squad operating in the bottom half of the league, and significantly better than teams that to date have been relegated. So either the coaching has created better outcomes than would be expected or the players are better than many believe them to be.

So as well as the cultural changes at the club, I hope the supporters also are more objective in their assertions of where we are and what needs to be done to improve matters.

 

Cant see why we would sack a manager if the club was in the process of being sold. Let the new guy get his hands dirty and incur any pay-off surely?