The New Manager Thread

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Still undecided.

Just don't know if I trust Rafa with a big transfer budget if we do get a buyer...

[Big-Red-Ed]

I love Rafa but in my heart of hearts I feel he needs to go but occasionally I have doubts. I think these are mainly loyalty issues because deep down proper fans remain loyal, sometimes even in the face of overwhelming evidence.

One of my doubts revolves around what if Rafa had been given full backing these last 3 transfer windows.

For this reason only, I wouldn't be unhappy, if we get new owners with proper money, that Rafa be given one more year to redeem himself.

No new owners etc.. then he has to go.

[Mattshark]

I love Rafa but in my heart of hearts I feel he needs to go but occasionally I have doubts. I think these are mainly loyalty issues because deep down proper fans remain loyal, sometimes even in the face of overwhelming evidence.

One of my doubts revolves around what if Rafa had been given full backing these last 3 transfer windows.

For this reason only, I wouldn't be unhappy, if we get new owners with proper money, that Rafa be given one more year to redeem himself.

No new owners etc.. then he has to go.

We can't afford to let him go without new owners and it would only cause much greater destabilisation of the club.

[el matador]

The benitez to juventus link is getting much more solid than i thought it would.

If wants to go then fine, but juventus need to cough up the reported £16m fee for him because otherwise he aint going anywhere.

He can go there and turn them into a boring team team full of below standard players some of whom cant even control a football.

[Craig_H]

Yes but Craig, who really knows if playing those two players from the start would have changed the result. It's pure speculation.

Lets say that he had played Kuyt and Benayoun from the start and we'd drawn 0-0. Perfectly plausible. You could have made the exact same point about why Rafa didn't start with Aquilani (20 million) and Maxi (after a string of mom-contender performances). I think Rafa is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't in some cases.

Lack of firepower up front cost us that game.

Obviously, it's about choosing the option that you feel is most likely to succeed in getting you goals. I think players with a proven record of getting goals are more likely to succeed than ones with no proven record of getting goals in english football, and who are also still adjusting.

In your last line, you mention that lack of firepower cost us the game, and i agree. I think that in itself suggests the choices of Maxi and Aquilani werent perhaps the best selections, because Kuyt and Benayoun have a record of providing firepower, whilst Maxi and Aquilani, for various reasons, dont.

[el matador]

Obviously, it's about choosing the option that you feel is most likely to succeed in getting you goals. I think players with a proven record of getting goals are more likely to succeed than ones with no proven record of getting goals in english football, and who are also still adjusting.

In your last line, you mention that lack of firepower cost us the game, and i agree. I think that in itself suggests the choices of Maxi and Aquilani werent perhaps the best selections, because Kuyt and Benayoun have a record of providing firepower, whilst Maxi and Aquilani, for various reasons, dont.

craig - i think that maxi has proved himself to be a really decent signing and his touch and vision are really top class. He's different to kuyt because he plays wide and his delivery and link up play are better.

Kuyt scores more goals but being a striker you would expect him to but maxi can score 10 - 15 goals if he plays a full season. When he was at mallorca (i think) he scored something like 20 goals a season from midfield before he moved to atletico so he does know where the net is.

[Craig_H]

craig - i think that maxi has proved himself to be a really decent signing and his touch and vision are really top class. He's different to kuyt because he plays wide and his delivery and link up play are better.

Kuyt scores more goals but being a striker you would expect him to but maxi can score 10 - 15 goals if he plays a full season. When he was at mallorca (i think) he scored something like 20 goals a season from midfield before he moved to atletico so he does know where the net is.

I'm not saying Maxi isnt a good player, but at that precise moment in time, when he's still adjusting to english football and finding his feet, and in a must win game, i think opting for a player who IS adjusted and has a proven record of scoring goals for us, would've been a better decision and would've given us more chance of scoring.

[Mike]

I'm not saying Maxi isnt a good player, but at that precise moment in time, when he's still adjusting to english football and finding his feet, and in a must win game, i think opting for a player who IS adjusted and has a proven record of scoring goals for us, would've been a better decision and would've given us more chance of scoring.

I think Maxi has done well when he has played, if he got picked i would not be too upset about it.

[Craig_H]

I wouldnt be either, if there was some genuine goal threat in the rest of the side.

[Mike]

I wouldnt be either, if there was some genuine goal threat in the rest of the side.

Goal today for Maxi craig

[CJ]

craig do you see how players are doing in training? and know how fit they are?

NO?

Well rafa does. Some good teams do lose to ****e. its always happened and always will.

This season hasnt been good enough at all. its not football manager its not pick 11 most attacking players and we will win.

Madrid try that and it doesnt work.

and for being defensive why do most succesful coaches love keeping clean sheets?

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I trust rafa with a big transfer budget its with a smaller one where there are more risks that he hasnt done brilliantly. he has shipped most of the flops out there are probably 3 player that there is debate about.

its easy to look at messi and buy for 100m but if you dont do that then you do take more gambles. like morientes who wouldnt have thought he would have done well.

[red g]

Yes but not 18 filing times !! I recon 90% of losses this season we had better quality than we were facing. Not good enough end of

[Craig_H]

Goal today for Maxi craig

Indeed it was, let's hope it becomes a regular thing

craig do you see how players are doing in training? and know how fit they are?

NO?

Well rafa does. Some good teams do lose to ****e. its always happened and always will.

This season hasnt been good enough at all. its not football manager its not pick 11 most attacking players and we will win.

Madrid try that and it doesnt work.

and for being defensive why do most succesful coaches love keeping clean sheets?

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I trust rafa with a big transfer budget its with a smaller one where there are more risks that he hasnt done brilliantly. he has shipped most of the flops out there are probably 3 player that there is debate about.

its easy to look at messi and buy for 100m but if you dont do that then you do take more gambles. like morientes who wouldnt have thought he would have done well.

Every manager sees his players in training, doesnt mean their decisions are never wrong.

Teams do lose to ****e, yes. 18 losses in one season, is very very ****e though and i have higher standards than that.

I agree that you cant pick 11 attacking players - where did i imply that i advocate picking 11 attacking players?

I think you need to have at least 3 or 4 genuine goal threats in your side, especially at home, and i feel this increases your chances of scoring goals and winning, as opposed to having just one in your starting XI.

As for transfers, i think it's been pretty hit and miss with Rafa, about 50/50 and the flops have outweighed the successes in the last 12-18 months, which has cost us big time, in terms of league position.

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If wants to go then fine, but juventus need to cough up the reported £16m fee for him because otherwise he aint going anywhere.

Surely if it's his call we don't pay squat?

[pezzzer]

Surely if it's his call we don't pay squat?

He wldnt get a penny If he left us so some quarters think he's hanging on to b sacked or juve to pay him up instead. But like my dad use to say " the gutter press will never let the truth get in the way of a good story"