The New Manager Thread

[Finnish_Red]

And then he'll go to Old Trafford. Wait and see.

This was our best chance of getting him. Once he's done Man Utd, he wont come to us.

IMO we had 0% chance with our clubs financial/ownership situation.

[el matador]

this period of limbo is really getting on my nerves.

Since Rafa replaced all the backroom staff with his own men, all the leaks coming out of the club have virtually ceased.

With the exception of 'senior anfield sources' - aka purslow and benitez' mouthpiece guillem balague.

We need to move on and until its resolved we will keep hearing how cheeky ****ers like chelsea are bidding £20m for mascherano. FFS £20m wouldnt buy his left nut.

When you think villa want £25 for milner and chelsea want to pay £20m for masher who just happens to be the finest defensive midfield player in the world and the captain of argentina.

[JHP]

I know the purpose of an Internet Forum is to discuss issues / put views forward etc and that the subject of this particular discussion relates to Rafa potentially leaving and a replacement.

So I shouldn't be surprised to read a whole load of differing views many of which I will not agree with.

However I increasingly find myself frustrated by a few posters who continually put forward the same positions - mostly Rafa should come out and say he's crap or we should get Mourinho.

I'd just like to point out that
Rafa (because he doesn't share your views) isn't going to make the statements about himself that some people want i.e that he's crap but will try to be better in future
Mourinho isn't going to join us at least in the medium term.

Can we move on please?

[kris90210]

I find it worrying if heads dropped early and the manager was unable to raise them again throughout the rest of the campaign. Very worrying indeed.

Just to clarify, because your post doesnt really say so - do you actually put any blame on the manager? Just curious.

It is worrying. I do think he can turn it around though. A few signings to freshen the team up and add depth.

I do put blame on the manager, yes. I think his tactics are too defensive against weaker teams. I think his signings have been very poor over the past 3 years (overall). And I really think his decision not to sign a backup striker last summer was totally stupid. Not having backup for Torres is what cost us the league the season before last. To not address that... very, very questionable.

So yeah, the manager has to take responsibility. BUT, I do feel that last season is the first season under Rafa where we have gone backwards. He deserves a chance to put things right. I also feel that he is working under very difficult circumstances. Mourinho's Chelsea started coming undone towards the end, when Abramovich started to interfere. Rafa's situation is 100 times more difficult. My other reason for backing Rafa, is that I just dont think we could replace him with a better manager at this present time.

As I said in my last post, in 12 months time the club should be sold, and we will be in a far more stable position to replace the manager and give that replacment money for squad building.

[red n white]

What about Louis Van Gaal? He's done well with Bayern and plays some good football.

Funny that, Nebbers, isn't it ?

van Gaal takes over a mediocre Munich side and turns them into a team playing exciting, attacking football without spending ****-loads of money to do so - yet, people go on about Mourinho's success with a defensive-minded controling way of playing supported by heavy spending.

Goes to show, how much most football fans fall for the glitter and show and do not recognize the true success story behind the Madrid final.

Just imagine van Gaal plus the right financial ressources ...

[dww]

I'm not sure it is fair to portray it that way. Bayern are the most cash rich club in Europe and more or less have their pick of any player who goes to Germany and have a squad with very expensive acquisitions in it such as Ribery and Robben. van Gaal has done a great job forming a very good team from a position where they were very mediocre before he arrived but it is not a tale where he has taken a poor team with no resources to that sort of success.

Both managers have done well to make a team of the quality they have given the relative weakness of the leagues they compete in but both are the financial powerhouses of those leagues.

Mourinho managed to do a very good deal for Ibrahimovic and his gamble of paying big money on a 30 year old in Milito has payed off exceptionally well.

I think anyone who doesn't recognise the achievements of Mourinho is being more than a little disingenuous.

[cream]

And then he'll go to Old Trafford. Wait and see.

This was our best chance of getting him. Once he's done Man Utd, he wont come to us.

I thinks thats always been the case. Can't see Baconface being around for more than 2/3 seasons. Mourinho's got it all worked out.

[dww]

If he could give a justifiable reason why we're generally **** away from home and have lost 19 games this season, then maybe.

Why....do my opinions need altering?

I'll assume that that is a genuine misunderstanding of my point and not you seeking a pointless argument.

My post was a genuine enquiry as to whether any explanation could put to bed the reservations you have about Rafa, is there anything that could be said that would overcome your idea of his limitations as a manager.

[kris90210]

I thinks thats always been the case. Can't see Baconface being around for more than 2/3 seasons. Mourinho's got it all worked out.

True, this scenario looks pretty likely doesn't it

[DannyMan2006]

Funny that, Nebbers, isn't it ?

van Gaal takes over a mediocre Munich side and turns them into a team playing exciting, attacking football without spending ****-loads of money to do so - yet, people go on about Mourinho's success with a defensive-minded controling way of playing supported by heavy spending.

Goes to show, how much most football fans fall for the glitter and show and do not recognize the true success story behind the Madrid final.

Just imagine van Gaal plus the right financial ressources ...

Bayern Munich were one of the highest spenders in the transfer market last summer, buying such expensive players like Gomez and Robben. They've also been lucky enough to have a couple of top class youngsters come through this year.

It was no mistake that they came back from a poor season by their standards to win the double. Getting to the champions League final was a massive bonus they didn't expect and they had some luck along the way to get that far.

[red g]

i dont think maureen will end up at old trafford.

Although i think he would do well with us, i think RM might be his first major **** up,

Really not sure he will do well there.

[Shanks]

Two or three years at Madrid to win the league and Champions League and then....

Man Utd.. imo

[DannyMan2006]

i dont think maureen will end up at old trafford.

Although i think he would do well with us, i think RM might be his first major **** up,

Really not sure he will do well there.

I think his problem is that if he goes there he will be taking on what many have described as one of the best teams of all time in Barcelona.

Ibra hasn't worked out, but in David Villa they're going back to basics to how they were with Eto'o. I expect them to up their game next year, will be a tough season for Jose to get the better of Barca.

[kris90210]

absolutely - patience is non-existant there too. Will be interesting to see how he does

[Craig_H]

Was that aimed at me?

I'll answer you mate. Yes, I DO think he's partly to blame, for example the confidence issue. Rafa is simply not that kind of manager but I'm sure he's learning and trying to change. It may be a bit too little too late, but I've seen signs that he's trying to improve. He's always given the thumbs up to every player being substituted, but he's not the one who will behave like a friend, like a lover.

I don't think he's stupid Craig, so I hope he improves in that regard. Morale may have been bad but that's down to a poor start to the season and our team performing way under our expected level. We were too far behind early on and they never believed that they could overturn that deficit, last year's spirit was gone. Rafa has failed in that aspect but I don't think it's enough to state that he isn't good enough for this club.

No it wasnt aimed at you, it was aimed at kris - that's why i posted it in response to the post from kris, which i quoted.

I dont discuss the management situation with you.