Question 2

[Craig_H]

In the other poll, just under 60% (at last count) said we DO have the squad/players to win the league...

So question 2 is primarily to those people...

[Pacman]

In the other poll, just under 60% (at last count) said we DO have the squad/players to win the league...

So question 2 is primarily to those people...

Yes.

IMO paco leaving has hit us hard.

You can't spend every day with a person for over 10 years working closely together without it effecting you it's impossible. Give it time to settle down and I think we'll be fine.

[Craig_H]

The question is based on the notion that we have the right players. If we do, but dont win the title, does that therefore mean we dont have the right manager?

My thinking is that Rafa's ideas and theories (main ones being rotation, cautious mentality & seeing not losing as a bigger priority than winning) arent ones with which you can win the Premier League. If he doesnt change his thinking, he wont win us the title.

If his methods arent title-winning methods, and bearing in mind the purpose of his job is primarily to win the league, i wonder what the point is of him being in charge?

It's like employing someone to achieve something and then coming to the conclusion that his methods wont achieve the objective. So what do you do? Leave him be and watch the failure continue?

For the record, i'm not saying i DO want Rafa sacked. But i am asking if there's any real point in having someone who's methods (IMO) stand in the way of winning the league.

[Craig_H]

Yes.

IMO paco leaving has hit us hard.

You can't spend every day with a person for over 10 years working closely together without it effecting you it's impossible. Give it time to settle down and I think we'll be fine.

Am i right in assuming then, that you're basically saying we WILL win the title?

My point about Rafa is purely based on 'if' we dont win it.

The saddest thing is that, from what i've seen thus far, the biggest threat to our title challenge doesnt come from Arsenal, Man Utd or even Chelsea.

It comes from Rafa's stubborness and apparent refusal to accept that he might not be right with some of his methods.

[JohnDoe]

The question is based on the notion that we have the right players. If we do, but dont win the title, does that therefore mean we dont have the right manager?

You're ignoring that there are other factors other than "player ability" and "manager ability" that influence a team's chances to win the title.

And the question can also be a bit misleading, since there's a big difference between challenging all the way to the end and not winning it and being 30 points off the top.

[Craig_H]

You're ignoring that there are other factors other than "player ability" and "manager ability" that influence a team's chances to win the title.

And the question can also be a bit misleading, since there's a big difference between challenging all the way to the end and not winning it and being 30 points off the top.

I appreciate that there are other factors. They include mentality, motivation, tactics etc. And those are down to the manager too.

There are of course external things which the manager can have little or no control over.

That's where Question 3 comes into play tomorrow

[Manofthebog]

Am i right in assuming then, that you're basically saying we WILL win the title?

My point about Rafa is purely based on 'if' we dont win it.

The saddest thing is that, from what i've seen thus far, the biggest threat to our title challenge doesnt come from Arsenal, Man Utd or even Chelsea.

It comes from Rafa's stubborness and apparent refusal to accept that he might not be right with some of his methods.

Can't really argue with the bloke, seeing as he's done it all with Valencia.

[Red_Polo]

Not as clear cut as yes or no. Clearly Rafa doesn't have to win the league this season to keep his job. If we finished 5th though, barring some extenuating circumstance, I think serious question marks would hang over him. I'm not sure it's easy to say exactly where I'd draw the line, it depends more on performance and signs of progress/decline than it is about the finishing positions or points tallies within those two limits.

[Red Chilli]

Yes he is

[AFII]

Not as clear cut as yes or no. Clearly Rafa doesn't have to win the league this season to keep his job. If we finished 5th though, barring some extenuating circumstance, I think serious question marks would hang over him. I'm not sure it's easy to say exactly where I'd draw the line, it depends more on performance and signs of progress/decline than it is about the finishing positions or points tallies within those two limits.

[Red Chilli]

Am i right in assuming then, that you're basically saying we WILL win the title?

My point about Rafa is purely based on 'if' we dont win it.

The saddest thing is that, from what i've seen thus far, the biggest threat to our title challenge doesnt come from Arsenal, Man Utd or even Chelsea.

It comes from Rafa's stubborness and apparent refusal to accept that he might not be right with some of his methods.

I think the biggest threat comes from Arsenal and SCUM, but each to his own.

To be fair to Rafa though, if it was your job/career/reputation all on the line, you'd want to do it your way following your own principles and beliefs, rather than listen to all the armchair managers. It may work, it may not, but I'm sure Rafa will feel happier knowing that he did it his way

[Pippo]

Yes. The man is clearly a talented coach, I think he will get better in the Premier league every year.

He now has the money to buy quality, which he has with Torres and potentially Babel.

A couple of points for this season though, We are 4 points off 2nd place with a game in hand. We havn't seen the best of Torres, Babel, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Carragher or Finnan yet. It's October. We could still win the league.

[Big Dave]

As long as we finish within a reasonable amount of points of the eventual winners, say up to 8 points, then yes.

If we finish another season 20-30 points adrift then I'd have serious questions.

I think that Rafa is possibly one of the best managers / coaches anywhere, and I'm chuffed we've got him. He's got some great performances out of some seriously mediorce players and actually won trophies with us. We really do need to push on now though.

[Big Dave]

Am i right in assuming then, that you're basically saying we WILL win the title?

My point about Rafa is purely based on 'if' we dont win it.

The saddest thing is that, from what i've seen thus far, the biggest threat to our title challenge doesnt come from Arsenal, Man Utd or even Chelsea.

It comes from Rafa's stubborness and apparent refusal to accept that he might not be right with some of his methods.

I think that we should remember that in the second half of last season, we had one of the strongest teams in the league. I know it counted for **** all because of our ****ty start to the season.

Rafa's tactics this season seem to be no different than last season, so I really do think that if we are close to the top teams come the new year, and assuming that the second part of the season goes as per last year, we'll be well off.

[fatistuta]

The question is based on the notion that we have the right players. If we do, but dont win the title, does that therefore mean we dont have the right manager?

We have the right players, we without a doubt have the right manager.

Whether we win or not depends on whether we have the right circumstances.

You can't control everything, but Rafa tries.